Author and self-help guru Iyanla Vanzant decided to join the world of “alternative facts" Saturday with a series of tweets about racism, sexism and homophobia. Things began when Vanzant tweeted, “Racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism have no power over you unless you believe they do.”
Racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism have no power over you unless you believe they do.
The energy of dominant thoughts and words creates the conditions in our lives.
The tweets ran contrary to very real societal factors, with just one recent example being President Donald Trump’s calls to defund Planned Parenthood despite the nonprofit organization’s track record of helping advance reproductive rights for women. There was also the matter of one of arguably the largest protests ever in response to increasing governmental encroachment on women’s rights. Trump’s recent executive order restricting travel for refugees from several predominately Muslim countries, police killings of unarmed black citizens, and North Carolina’s controversial HB2 “bathroom bill” were all cited as examples contrary to Vanzant’s claim. Needless to say, Iyanla's mentions were lit.
From the "tell us how you really feel" category
@4truthnjustiz @IyanlaVanzant So, Iyanla, did Emmett Till do it to himself? DO TELL. I want to know.
Ignorance is contagious.
Iyanla lives about 15 minutes away from me. Idk what her problem is but I hope it's not an airborne pathogen.
In case you were wondering if the woke clapback existed.
@IyanlaVanzant tell that to your ancestors, beloved.
Historical context...something Iyanla's tweet lacked.
@IyanlaVanzant LOL so i guess them slaves were just letting racism keep them in chains, rape them, and starve them huh?
Ether was "delivert" with this GIF.
@IyanlaVanzant put down that prosperity bible and go wash your mouth out pic.twitter.com/xRrrNd3id4
Let us fix that for you.
.@IyanlaVanzant Fixed: "When you're privileged, Racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism have no power over you unless you believe they do." YW.
Savagery at its finest.
I hate Oprah for inventing Iyanla Vanzant
Facts only.
@IyanlaVanzant People who don't get jobs or housing because of racism need to stop giving their power away!
You know that feeling when your own words are used against you?
https://t.co/16x6UpjfTR RT @IyanlaVanzant Racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism have no power over you unless you believe they do.
Boom.
I can't believe Iyanla just cured racism and homophobia with one tweet. Wow.
Riley Freeman for the win.
It appears Vanzant tried to walk back the tweet and provide some further context with an additional tweet a few hours after her mentions were left in tatters. Vanzant wrote, "Your life is a reflection of what you believe. If you really believe something or someone can stop you, it can and it will."
Your life is a reflection of what you believe. If you really believe something or someone can stop you, it can and it will.
And while a handful of supporters offered her tweets of support, the overwhelming majority of Twitter replies seem to indicate Iyanla lacks the nuance to discuss these matters in a public forum.
