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Things shouldn't be this hard
Jun. 28th, 2009 02:59 pmIt's a hard thing, sometimes, when you realize just how ingrained racism is in SF/F literature, especially the mainstream. Especially when, if you're like me, you come from the blind, privileged section of the world that has been able to overlook such things and still can, if they choose to.
I try to choose not to, but sometimes that means that I can't feel as warm and fuzzy about books which other people seem to get a kick out. Which is a small thing compared to what fans of color have gone through, and believe me I'm not here to harp on my poor White Woman Pain (oh, the hardship of being white! *swoons dramatically*).
Case in point? Not only did I just get finished with a book about thousands of alternative universes, none of which included a universe in which White/European was not the dominant culture, but I picked up "Dead Witch Walking" by Kim Harrison and got kind of a nasty surprise in a few passages both in terms of race and queerness.
( The bits of text and the problems I find in them and a discussion therein. As always, no cookies and constructive discussion only. )
I try to choose not to, but sometimes that means that I can't feel as warm and fuzzy about books which other people seem to get a kick out. Which is a small thing compared to what fans of color have gone through, and believe me I'm not here to harp on my poor White Woman Pain (oh, the hardship of being white! *swoons dramatically*).
Case in point? Not only did I just get finished with a book about thousands of alternative universes, none of which included a universe in which White/European was not the dominant culture, but I picked up "Dead Witch Walking" by Kim Harrison and got kind of a nasty surprise in a few passages both in terms of race and queerness.
( The bits of text and the problems I find in them and a discussion therein. As always, no cookies and constructive discussion only. )
