(no subject)

[violachic]

Well.

I have unwittingly put myself right in the line of fire of Race Fail '09. I suppose I should admit to myself that it is my white privilege that kept me out of it until I purposefully got involved.


The 400-some comments in my email inbox are fascinating to go through. I don't have the first clue where to jump back in with the discussion, but I can't just throw the topic out there and disappear.

I am glad the band-aid got ripped off the wound, but I am truly sorry to the people who actually got hurt- and that would be the PoC (or, a new term I learned, FoC (Fen of Color)) in the community.

I don't see this whole Race Fail thing going away any time soon (yeah, I know, brilliant analysis), and I have no idea how to actually help the situation. But in the meantime, I am going to support projects such as verb_noire, and try not to let the righteous white folks get away with convincing themselves that they're... well, righteous.


The next sound you hear will be my forehead repeatedly hitting my desk.

Edit: If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the startrek community. Look for a post I made. Then look for the folks who showed their asses.

Comments

[tanyad.livejournal.com]

I disagree with you on this one Mikey. I hope you don't mean to come across this way, but it sounds like you are reducing this issue to an internet flame war gone amok ala John Scalzi here. This is not an issue I can sit quietly by and just read about, nod my head and wonder when it will go away. You might be able to view it as internet fight gone awry but the core issue is not one that can or should be ignored under the guise of it's just an internet argument. I can't ignore the fact that I can't find anyone who looks like me that isn't a token or stereotype in some of the media I consume, I can't ignore the fact that people are making this issue all about them and how they are being oppressed by those uppity colored folks who dare to want to be represented in SF/F tv, books, and film. This isn't something I can just turn my back on because it trickles down to me and to anyone who gives a whit about representation, appropriation and such things. I think if folks just take a stab at it, understand the core issue and look past the wankery on LJ and beyond maybe, just maybe folks can get somewhere on the topic of race.

[belmikey.livejournal.com]

I don't expect you to ignore it. Not in the least. I think I'd be shocked if you did.

I'm just saying that arguing about it on the Internet isn't going to change a damned thing. I don't know what will, but that won't.