For my own edification, is there a sanctioned definition somewhere that says the phrase "color blind" (as used in this kind of context) actually means "can't see/distinguish between colors".
You did not ask me "what do you specifically, Meg, mean by colorblind?"
You asked me "is there a SANCTIONED DEFINTION SOMEWHERE". You were asking about information on other people, other things, other conversations.
You showed me no evidence you looked at any of the broader context for yourself. You didn't say, "I went to this webpage and saw this" or "I went to that blog and they said this...". In fact, the only source you cited was "[your] understanding".
You asked it's place in the context of ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSIONS. And that, yes, is asking for my notes rather than reading - or showing that you had read - those discussions for yourself.
Changing the mirror absolutely does change the object.
As a physical reality, no. Making someone who is 300lbs look skinny in a funhouse mirror will not make them fit into a size 4. Neither will teaching anti-racist rhetoric make someone anti-racist. Until their attitudes and environments are shifted, it will only make them better at camouflaging their racism.
If you don't believe me, do some research on African death curses.
"African death curses". Seriously?
You just summarized many thousands of different beliefs about death, magic, spirituality, and the afterlife of the entire population of AN ENTIRE CONTINENT in one neat little sentence?
Because people who come from Africa obviously believe the same exact things. *nods*. Someone who is Maasai obviously believes the same as someone who is Zulu or someone who is Ashanti. Of course. You can summarize what they believe in just saying "African". [/sarcasm].
You, summarized all the many religions, belief systems, tribes, groups, peoples, races, and organizations on the world's second largest and second most populous continent with one word: "African".
As a linguist? You ought to really be ashamed of that statement. Because you damn well know how diverse language is even among the people who live within the same political borders. You wouldn't say "European language", because you both known and respect that language in Germany does not function like language in France or language in Russia.
Yet to you, "African" is a sufficient descriptor.
Because you are a white American, and have had your head filled by media that only shows starving, half-naked people in tribes when they talk about Africa. Because you carry around an attitude that all Africans are the same.
No matter what word you had used there, the action would have been the same. Because your word reflected your attitude. You could have said "tribal" or (insert other polite word), but so long as you hold any belief, conscious or subconscious, that one word is sufficient, you will have done something racist.
Even if your intent was to summarize the many individual tribes who may believe in death curses, using one word "African" to shove them all into a neat linguistic box is still indicative of the attitudes and prejudices you hold as a result of your culture.
White Americans tend to want neat boxes. For us, we say "African" and "Native American" and "Asian" as if they were homogenous. As if one group who qualifies geographically is interchangeable with another.
You probably didn't mean to express that, but you did mean it on some level. And your language reflected that.
no subject
For my own edification, is there a sanctioned definition somewhere that says the phrase "color blind" (as used in this kind of context) actually means "can't see/distinguish between colors".
You did not ask me "what do you specifically, Meg, mean by colorblind?"
You asked me "is there a SANCTIONED DEFINTION SOMEWHERE". You were asking about information on other people, other things, other conversations.
You showed me no evidence you looked at any of the broader context for yourself. You didn't say, "I went to this webpage and saw this" or "I went to that blog and they said this...". In fact, the only source you cited was "[your] understanding".
You asked it's place in the context of ANTI-RACISM DISCUSSIONS. And that, yes, is asking for my notes rather than reading - or showing that you had read - those discussions for yourself.
Changing the mirror absolutely does change the object.
As a physical reality, no. Making someone who is 300lbs look skinny in a funhouse mirror will not make them fit into a size 4. Neither will teaching anti-racist rhetoric make someone anti-racist. Until their attitudes and environments are shifted, it will only make them better at camouflaging their racism.
If you don't believe me, do some research on African death curses.
"African death curses". Seriously?
You just summarized many thousands of different beliefs about death, magic, spirituality, and the afterlife of the entire population of AN ENTIRE CONTINENT in one neat little sentence?
Because people who come from Africa obviously believe the same exact things. *nods*. Someone who is Maasai obviously believes the same as someone who is Zulu or someone who is Ashanti. Of course. You can summarize what they believe in just saying "African". [/sarcasm].
You, summarized all the many religions, belief systems, tribes, groups, peoples, races, and organizations on the world's second largest and second most populous continent with one word: "African".
As a linguist? You ought to really be ashamed of that statement. Because you damn well know how diverse language is even among the people who live within the same political borders. You wouldn't say "European language", because you both known and respect that language in Germany does not function like language in France or language in Russia.
Yet to you, "African" is a sufficient descriptor.
Because you are a white American, and have had your head filled by media that only shows starving, half-naked people in tribes when they talk about Africa. Because you carry around an attitude that all Africans are the same.
No matter what word you had used there, the action would have been the same. Because your word reflected your attitude. You could have said "tribal" or (insert other polite word), but so long as you hold any belief, conscious or subconscious, that one word is sufficient, you will have done something racist.
Even if your intent was to summarize the many individual tribes who may believe in death curses, using one word "African" to shove them all into a neat linguistic box is still indicative of the attitudes and prejudices you hold as a result of your culture.
White Americans tend to want neat boxes. For us, we say "African" and "Native American" and "Asian" as if they were homogenous. As if one group who qualifies geographically is interchangeable with another.
You probably didn't mean to express that, but you did mean it on some level. And your language reflected that.