irresistible-revolution:

thinking about how katara, in sokka’s own words, “stepped up and took on so much responsibility” after their mother died, such that her face has literally replaced kya’s in sokka’s memory, and the deep reserves of emotional and physical fortitude demanded of brown girls, especially girls from the global south, and the intense emotional and material labor they’re called on to perform for their communities, not only cooking, cleaning and childrearing but providing emotional support and strength so that men can grieve. katara stepped up and filled their mother’s absence as much as she could for sokka, but no one could do the same for her. she had to “become” her own mother. imagine the deep wells of grief and resentment she had to carry. no wonder she lashed out in “the southern raiders,” and no wonder she harbored such intense hatred for yon rah. but deep down i think a part of her was angry at kya too, for leaving behind shoes she had no choice but to fill.