Kerfluffle!

[sapote]

Maybe it's being, you know, a Southern white girl descended from a slave owners (feel free to defriend me!), but I've never understood what's so traumatizing about people accusing you of racism. When someone accuses me of being racist I usually go, "Huh. Really? Oops!" and then say "Let me think about that and get back to you! I'm quite sorry!" and try to be less racist next time. None of us can claim to be a) raised outside of society or b) raised in a perfect society, so really, can't you be expected to pick up some mental detritus now and then?

Is it racist of me to say that finding out you're being a little racist is not the end of the world? I don't even think it's that much of a reflection on your character as long as you consistently try to improve your level of treating-everyone-as-well-as-possible.

I'm not trying to open the whole can of worms again, incidentally, it's just that every time there's a discussion on fannish ethics, all those worms seem to get out anyway, and I decided to take it to my own lj instead of getting it all over someone else's.

Comments

[rilestar.livejournal.com]

See, I think a lot of the problem arises from people equating being labelled 'racist' with being labelled 'Nazi'. And to them, being labelled as such is an immense slap in the face. If you start from that understanding, you're more likely to dismiss the tag straight off as unwarranted, and less likely to analyse your behaviour to see whether there is a less obvious racial bias at work in your thinking.

I find it interesting that the images racism called up for you sound so specifically American

That was somewhat intentional - in that you're American, so I chose imagery that you would understand - and partly as a result of American culture being so pervasive. There are many Australians these days who know your culture and references better than they know our own. But hell, yeah - there is a hideous history of racism in Australia ... well, scrap the word 'history' - one only has to look at the ongoing government intervention in the Northern Territory to see that it's alive and well and as appalling as ever.

I've had many an argument with people where we've actually been arguing the same side, but misunderstandings about the meanings of terminology has obscured the fact. That's why I feel that we need to be mindful of the terms used, and how they're understood by the audience - especially if we want to encourage analysis and thought, as using language and approaches which shut down communication is counter-productive.

[sapote3.livejournal.com]

Which, that's the imprecise terminology, isn't it? Because racism is just one of the isms, it covers everything down to a dim, nervous feeling.

I've seen Rabbit Proof Fence! But even in my own country, we are the Racism Place (even though there are more Klan members in New Jersey than in North Carolina) - I go by the site of the Greensboro Lunch Sit-In every time I take the bus home. My favorite person in my church growing up was an old man who liked to tell stories about being the white guy on the trip to integrate barbeque pits outside of Chapel Hill and getting pissed on by the owner's wife. So both for reasons of stereotypes and reasons of lived history, those are references I identify with more...

What is a better word for "racism"? We can solve this right now!

[sapote3.livejournal.com]

oh, I thought of you when I learned this morning that my phone turns itself back on to act as an alarm clock, even if I have turned it off for the express purpose of not waking up at 6:30. Maybe your phone does this too and you don't know it yet!