megwrites

sparkymonster has a completely RIGHT but horrifying post on A lesson in good vs. bad irony thanks to Amanda Palmer.

WARNING: deeply triggering images of hate crimes, lynching, and disturbing imagery. The last image in particular really hit me in the gut. As I said in comments, I literally threw up in my mouth. Which is pretty much the only appropriate response to something like that.

The post arose from Amanda Palmer (yeah, I know, right? Apparently, she's going for an epic Round Two Of Assflashing) making this statement on Twitter in response to Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video (spelling and punctuation hers):

ironic product placement is only ok if you take no money & beyond that give all the income to something ironic. like the Klan.

sparkymonster does such a spectacular job of taking Palmer to task and laying out, bit by bit, just how outrageous and painfully wrong that statement is that I can't add to it. Just go over to that post (if you're able to do so) and read it.

Re: Norman Spinrad's complete fuckmuppetry.

Yes, I commented, but I think the best commentary so far can be found in this post from author NK Jemisin, who says the things I really wish I had been smart enough to say.

Especially this:

African Americans -- those of us who are the descendants of slaves, specifically -- are not cultural blanks. We are not white people with black skin. Not even slavery could erase who and what my ancestors were. Slavery forced them to give up a lot, yes: language, many customs, overt expression of their religious beliefs, even the physical distinctions that set one African ethnic group apart from another. But they kept what they could, and passed it on to their descendants, and that legacy is neither small nor insignificant. Some of this legacy we're aware of -- our prayers, our art, our cuisine. Some of it we're rediscovering -- our contributions to civilization, our real history. Some of it we've even been magnanimous enough to share with the rest of America. Bottom line: we don't just call ourselves African American as an affectation, or a pointless point of pride. We call ourselves this because we are different.

I can't begin to express just how much is right and true and yes about this. I really can't. Just get over there and read it for yourself.

( Brief comment, not important or interesting. Just go read what NK Jemisin has to say because it's far better than anything I have to say. )

This is a really excellent post about hijab, niqab, and other forms of Islamic headcoverings and modest dress. Run, do not walk, to go read this post. Not only is it highly educational, but I so appreciate that the OP has taken the time and effort to lay all this out for the benefit of those who should already know better. And oh, my fellow privileged Americans, we ought to know so, so much better.

I had some commentary, but you know what? I have nothing to say that would not be covered completely by the above post. Just go read already. Read it twice, in fact. Three times if you can.

I can't help but find this article from The Washington Post by Christopher Fairman, "The Case against Banning the Word Retard" to be a mix of ignorance, obnoxiousness, and privilege waving.

The varied and evolving uses of such words ultimately render self-censorship campaigns unnecessary. And restricting speech of any kind comes with a potential price -- needlessly institutionalized taboos, government censorship or abridged freedom of expression -- that we should be wary of paying.

As a writer, the concept of freedom of speech is near and dear to me. I think of writers in countries who truly do not have the freedom to speak freely - those who face imprisonment, beatings, torture, and execution for the mere act of criticizing their governments or writing fiction that those in power find too provocative, too controversial. I think of the people who could only get their political protests heard beyond Iran's borders through Twitter. I think of those who do not even have that much access to make themselves heard when those in power decide they must bear their burdens in utter silence.

( Examination of the article and of language )

This right here is pretty much a prime example of what people have been talking about when it comes to why the media sucks re: race and size issues. If that's Young Hollywood, I'm gonna have to quit watching movies made in the states 'til a new generation is born. Because damn. That's a pretty pathetic white-washed list. There are a lot of up and coming actresses of color they could have picked. America Ferrara, Zoe Saldana, Gabourey Sidibe, Rosario Dawson, Naomie Harris, Jessica Alba. And there's more I just can't think of at the moment.

Not that I read or think of Vanity Fair as a publication that anyone should read. They reviewed Lolita and said that it was "The only convincing love story of our century." Sexual abuse is a love story? Nice to know.

But this is a magazine that a lot of people read, a lot of people put stock in what appears in its pages. So when only white, thin, able bodied actresses appear in its pages - it's clear. Color, fatness, and disability are unattractive, so they can't mar the perfect glossy pages of such a couture publication. That's the message, and it's getting through to so many women of color. When they see such a prominent magazine saying that people like them are not part of the next generation of Hollywood - you think that doesn't have an effect?

So yeah, Vanity Fair can bite me. Hard. Because half of these actresses aren't even good. Did anybody even hear of Kristen Stewart before she did Twilight? Who the hell is Rebecca Hall anyway? And why is Evangeline Lilly on this cover? Prior to doing Lost her big roles were "Student Next to Locker" in Freddie vs. Jason and a police officer in the Lizzie McGuire Movie. Seriously. She gets on the cover because she did Lost and that makes her "Young Hollywood"? What the hell, VF?

Why doesn't her Lost castmate, Dania Ramirez, get a place on the cover? Since her resume is much better (FYI, she did a 3 episode stint on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Caridad [blink and you'll miss her, though] and a lot more work besides and even got cast in X-Men 3 and Heroes). Why not Michaela Conlin of Bones? Grace Park of BSG and The Cleaner? Mindy Kaling, who works on probably the most popular comedy series on TV and does fabulous work? Or Julia Ling who's done more TV work (House, ER, Grey's Anatomy, and her role on Chuck).

How is Evangeline Lilly a better representation of Young Hollywood than them?

Answer: she's not, but she's very traditionally attractive and white and thin.

There is just no objective standard for deciding who to call "Young Hollywood" that would get you this group of people - all white, all thin, all able - on a cover. Not amount of money made, not time in the business, not awards, NOTHING. The only standard therefore, must be, that this magazine privileges and prizes whiteness and thinness above all else. Because that's the only way you can justify putting these women on a cover and calling them "Young Hollywood."

There's still time to make Tu Publishing a reality. For those who don't know, Tu Publishing is a small, independent press for multicultural genre fiction for children's and YA books. I've said before and I'll say it again, I love YA but it is a genre, especially where SF/F YA is concerned, in dire need of diversity. Such projects as Tu Publishing are definitely steps in the right direction. They're looking for $10,000 by December 14th. They already have $6502. You can donate via your Amazon account, which is even more awesome. It's the 11th so that three whole days to help out!

I know that right now a lot of us are struggling with limited funds, so coming around asking for money for a start-up small press may not seem like the best thing when there are thousands of other charities just as deserving. But by my math, that's $3,498 they need. If 3,498 people could just chip in a dollar. A single dollar, they'd get there. If 700 people (approximately) could chip in five bucks, they'd get there.

And if you can't chip in money - which a lot of us can't this season for various reasons, and that's okay - you can always help spread the word. Retweeting, reposting, and linking are free as the wind. (Thanks to ecmeyers for the links).


And now for something less good. The NYTimes, in a moment of spectacular foolery, though that this list of gifts for POC would be a good thing. (Thanks to karnythia for this).

What amazes me is that several human beings who ostensibly possess some common sense looked over this list and thought it would be all right to publishing on the website. It wasn't just the one person. Oh no. Several people conspired together - probably patting themselves on the back - Which leaves me baffled. On what planet is this a good list? On what planet is this not a big ol' gift-wrapped box full of CRAP.

How do you not see the condescension and aversive racism and just plain ol' boundary issues with a white person handing their unfortunate POC friend a copy of The Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Loving, Trusting Relationships by Hill Harper? Or handing hair and cosmetic products to a non-white friend as though somehow you, as a privilege white person, can instantly have insight into the kind of cultural pressure put on people of color concerning their looks by getting them a gift? Never mind that you, as a white person, probably have no idea how to navigate any other hair/cosmetic products that aren't geared toward us pinkish, caucasian folks. Never mind that giving hair and cosmetic products (unasked for) to someone you're not very intimately acquainted with is creepy and crossing a boundary.

Oh, NYTimes, I'd say I'm surprised at your failure, but I'm not. I'm just sorry that your fail is so public and so saddening, because it is. And I'm sorry that so many people have yet another instance of racefailing shoved at them - because they really shouldn't.

Oh, 2009, I'm glad you're nearly over. Because I'd really like if the Year of White People Failing could just never happen again ever.

And a special finger-waggle to fellow White Women Authors who have made 2009 so atrociously failtastic. Seriously, my fellow white ladies, can we please deal with our shit and stop making other people's lives difficult already? And if you think I'm not including myself, I am. I have a lot of work to do before I can begin to consider myself a good ally - and part of that starts with understanding that being an ally is an action you take, not a title you earn. That it is still, after all this time, NOT ABOUT ME.

So maybe we - as white women who should know better - can look back, see that we've done a lot of failing, soul-search on our own time and in our own damn spaces, dry our White Women's Tears and do better than we have been. We can't fix the past, but we sure as hell can and must do a lot better in the future.

I really need to try to insert more positivity on this blog, because I feel like I'm really just either whining about how writing is haaaaaaard (because being, say, homeless or working twelve hours a day digging ditches is just a breeze) or complaining about things.

That day, however, is not today. So if you're in a squeetastical mood, you may not want to read what I have to say.


1. Squee Kill #1 - NaNoWriMo Not So Grate Askhully (For Me).

( Why I Failed NaNoWriMo. )


2. Squee Kill #2 - Thanksgiving, even less grate askhully (culturally).

( In which I kill your squee and your turkey leftovers. )

A quick signal boost for something awesome:

Arthur Hlavaty (aka supergee) is offering a scholarship for a person of color to attend the IAFA (International Association for the Fantastic in the Art) conference this year. The theme is Race and the Fantastic, with such luminaries as Nalo Hopkinson and Laurence Yep and Takayumi Tatsuki as the guests of honor.

The qualifications for the scholarship are:


The only qualifications are that you have an interest in race and fantastic literature including science-fiction and/or horror, identify and are known as someone who is not white, will be 21 or over in March, want to actively participate in conference activities/discussions, and cannot get money from a university to help you attend. You can be at a university with poor funding, be a grad or undergrad student or someone else who does not qualify for funding, or not be affiliated with a university. We will decide on our own criteria, including (but far from limited to) any writing you have done that we have seen and if we already know you personally; the decision is not subject to debate.

So if you are reading this and you qualify for it, I would definitely urge you to take a shot. The decision will be made on November 12th, which gives you six days. I'd certainly love to be able to go to this conference (eee! Nalo Hopkinson! My inner fangirl shrieks with joy!) and there has never been a topic that needs talking about as much as race in SF/F.

handyhunter has a must-read Special Guest post on Cultural Appropriation over at Dear Author.

If you need a sample of how true the post is:

It is not diversity to have white people running around in foreign lands without much thought to the people who are native to those lands. I can’t say I find it romantic when they’re in the middle of colonizing another country either; I’m not sure how I’m supposed to root for our heroes when they’re killing or enslaving other people, or condoning/profiting from it

I recommend that you get over there and read it (several times, even) immediately. Bookmark it for later reference. Everything she says is right and true and I couldn't agree more.


Et tu, Amy Poehler? What's so funny about desiring a big, black woman? written by What Tami Said over at Racialicious.

Poehler is about some sort of “girl power.” She launched the “Smart Girls at the Party” Web series to “help girls find confidence in their own aspirations and talents.” Perhaps this kind of empowerment is only for some girls–ones of the right color and size–because I can’t imagine how seeing themselves portrayed as undesireable might empower young, black girls or girls who are overweight. Always being the butt of the joke rarely inspires confidence.

( brief comment on the Et tu, Amy Poehler article. Go read the article, it is better and more important than my comments! )

As always, The Angry Black Woman blog comes through with a post from karnythia about The Do's and Don'ts of Being a Good Ally

( My own thoughts. Karnythia's are better and more important. Go read there first! )