The things I say are going to come off very harsh, but it's going to save us all a lot of grief later on:
1. Whenever there's an ongoing conversation, there has to be consensus about what the terms being used means.
This is not just an "ongoing conversation". This isn't some new internet meme. This isn't just us squabbling on the internet, inventing cool new words. This has - and always has had - real consequences. This is not theoretical or academic.
I think this post (http://guerrillamamamedicine.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/we-dont-need-another-anti-racism-101/) may help. Pay attention to what she says about the place of rhetoric and theory in white culture. You can get all the vocabulary right and still be doing things that hurt people of color. It is not about saying the right things. It is about doing the right things.
2. All I'm really trying to do is understand where you're coming from so that I can read your posts the way I think you want them read. Since I'm on the periphery of a conversation in which you're immersed, I need to occasionally wade in check your assumptions.
Therein lies your mistake. This is not understanding me. It's not about me at all. This is about people of color being oppressed. This is about kids kicked out of swimming pools for "changing the complexion", and college professors harassed by cops in their own home and millions of other racism-laden interactions people of color endure DAILY.
This is about people who are being oppressed. Period. End of sentence. Understanding and decoding my words won't make a lick of difference. Whether or not you know the right words - it won't change what's happening down your street. It won't change the unfairness in who gets college eductions and jobs. It won't change which people fear the police at a traffic stop and which ones have nothing to fear because they're white.
It won't change that a book about a black protagonist had a white model on the cover because black faces "don't sell" (http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/), thus affirming the old message that black faces are inferior to white ones and teaching it once again to children of color who walk into bookstores and libraries to find covers of people like THEM are not there or off into some other area because they can't hang with the superior white people books.
It won't change that a movie based on a popular ALL ASIAN cartoon was cast with white actors and only one actor of color (http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/). You think Asian kids who loved that show represented see that Hollywood thinks they're not worthy to be lead roles and the only PoC is the BAD GUY?
Coming in with an academic interest in the words is insulting, whether or not you intend that. This is not about teaching you at your convenience.
When you comment on these discussions, you are commenting on other people's pain and oppression. You are talking to, with, and about the people from whom OUR privileges come. We have lived many facets of OUr lives at THEIR expense and have not been forced to notice. We come to it at our leisure. We notice racism when we want to. People of color have it shoved in their face every day.
When you "wade in to check assumptions" you're derailing something meant to translate into positive action, taking focus away from racism and the people it hurts most. You're making about your understanding, your feelings, your point of view and you.
Casual academic interest is not appropriate here, because this is not casual or academic. It is serious, it is real. Please respect that.
If you need further reading material, it is beyond plentiful:
- Links for Clueless White People (http://delicious.com/starkeymonster/forcluelesswhitepeople) - Racism 101 Primer (http://mystickeeper.livejournal.com/303397.html) - Even more links! (http://sophy.livejournal.com/1163325.html) - ibarw
Start from there and just keep following links. I promise, the well will not run dry.
no subject
1. Whenever there's an ongoing conversation, there has to be consensus about what the terms being used means.
This is not just an "ongoing conversation". This isn't some new internet meme. This isn't just us squabbling on the internet, inventing cool new words. This has - and always has had - real consequences. This is not theoretical or academic.
I think this post (http://guerrillamamamedicine.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/we-dont-need-another-anti-racism-101/) may help. Pay attention to what she says about the place of rhetoric and theory in white culture. You can get all the vocabulary right and still be doing things that hurt people of color. It is not about saying the right things. It is about doing the right things.
2. All I'm really trying to do is understand where you're coming from so that I can read your posts the way I think you want them read. Since I'm on the periphery of a conversation in which you're immersed, I need to occasionally wade in check your assumptions.
Therein lies your mistake. This is not understanding me. It's not about me at all. This is about people of color being oppressed. This is about kids kicked out of swimming pools for "changing the complexion", and college professors harassed by cops in their own home and millions of other racism-laden interactions people of color endure DAILY.
This is about people who are being oppressed. Period. End of sentence. Understanding and decoding my words won't make a lick of difference. Whether or not you know the right words - it won't change what's happening down your street. It won't change the unfairness in who gets college eductions and jobs. It won't change which people fear the police at a traffic stop and which ones have nothing to fear because they're white.
It won't change that a book about a black protagonist had a white model on the cover because black faces "don't sell" (http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/), thus affirming the old message that black faces are inferior to white ones and teaching it once again to children of color who walk into bookstores and libraries to find covers of people like THEM are not there or off into some other area because they can't hang with the superior white people books.
It won't change that a movie based on a popular ALL ASIAN cartoon was cast with white actors and only one actor of color (http://aang-aint-white.livejournal.com/). You think Asian kids who loved that show represented see that Hollywood thinks they're not worthy to be lead roles and the only PoC is the BAD GUY?
Coming in with an academic interest in the words is insulting, whether or not you intend that. This is not about teaching you at your convenience.
When you comment on these discussions, you are commenting on other people's pain and oppression. You are talking to, with, and about the people from whom OUR privileges come. We have lived many facets of OUr lives at THEIR expense and have not been forced to notice. We come to it at our leisure. We notice racism when we want to. People of color have it shoved in their face every day.
When you "wade in to check assumptions" you're derailing something meant to translate into positive action, taking focus away from racism and the people it hurts most. You're making about your understanding, your feelings, your point of view and you.
Casual academic interest is not appropriate here, because this is not casual or academic. It is serious, it is real. Please respect that.
If you need further reading material, it is beyond plentiful:
- Links for Clueless White People (http://delicious.com/starkeymonster/forcluelesswhitepeople)
- Racism 101 Primer (http://mystickeeper.livejournal.com/303397.html)
- Even more links! (http://sophy.livejournal.com/1163325.html)
-
Start from there and just keep following links. I promise, the well will not run dry.