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Wherein Webbgirl tries and most likely fails at being articulate about RaceFail '09.
So I haven't posted anything yet regarding the RaceFail '09 issue that's been going on for the past couple of months on LJ. (If you're still unaware about this, there's a great link round up at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rydra_wong 's lj.)
There are a couple of reasons for why I haven't posted anything, but the main one is that these days I feel far less articulate than I used to be. Or maybe it's just that I'm realizing that I was never really all that articulate in the first place. (I suspect that this may also stem from having so many brilliant writers and thinkers on my flist. My inadequacy issues, let me show you them.) That makes me somewhat fearful that I won't be able to convey myself clearly and I'll end up showing my ass somehow. Thing is, as an adult if I want to grow as a person? I need to be willing to show my ass sometimes and risk getting called on it.
I know several folks on my flist are SFF readers and devour the genre, me not so much. I've dipped a toe here and there but I really couldn't tell you who most of the major authors are. Because of that, it would be easy for me to say that 'wow this whole thing sucks but it doesn't really impact me or my interests'. What that highlights to me is that I have the ability to be able to walk away from the conversation if I feel to overwhelmed or if I'm feeling spectacularly inarticulate. I don't want anyone to think that this is me saying that everyone has to post on the subject or that I believe what I have to say is particularly profound in any way. However, this is my journal and I do feel like I need to get some of this out somewhere besides my own brain. I should disclaim and state that this post is more about folks reactions to the issue than it is about the issue itself*.
Here goes... This part is really for those who might actually read it who are part of the majority culture/race in whatever country they live in. It's a plea to think before you respond. That doesn't mean don't respond. It means check your privilege and make sure you have your pants on. And know that even if you do have your pants on, you may still have a gaping hole where your ass is showing. It happens to the best of us.
I've seen more than one person post that they're tired of hearing about RaceFail and that other groups have it hard so those PoC should just quiet down because they're tired of hearing/reading about it. My initial response to these posts is incoherency. My second response is to shout at the top of my lungs that THIS ISN'T FUCKING ABOUT YOU!! The whole discussion in RaceFail is about racism and the marginalization of not only Fen of Color, but Writers of Color as well. It's not about sexism, ageism, fatophobia, homophobia or any of those other issues. Are they bad things? Yes. Do people have to deal with them and end up disadvantaged from them? Yes. Nevertheless, they are still COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to this conversation. The conversation is about systemic racism.
While we're on this subject, can PoC be bigoted? Yes. Also completely irrelevant to this conversation.
I know there are some folks (myself included to a degree) who use what they view as shared experiences as a way to relate to people that they don't know very well. I think that this may be what happens in a lot of these conversations by well meaning white fans who try to share a hardship to show how they understand to some degree what the PoC is going through. I get the temptation. I've even done it myself. I'm not pointing this out to make an excuse or even explanation of behavior, I'm pointing it out as a warning. DON'T DO IT.
Again, the conversation in this case is not about you, your hardships or what you believe qualifies you to completely understand what a PoC goes through on a daily basis. Just like a straight Asian man is never going to understand the issues that a lesbian, white woman goes through everyday. While there are compare and contrasts that can be discussed, one group can never fully understand the situation of the other. Brining up those types of scenarios in these discussions generally devolves into a 'who had it worse' contest which is neither productive or relevant. It's also something that nobody is ever going to win.
Anyway, I'm leaving this open for comments. Disagreement is welcome, rudeness or arguing for the sake of arguing is not.
*As for the original issue that kicked off the whole cascade of fail, there were some spectacular failures by folks who are supposedly professionals and really should be able to deal with criticism of their work (or their friend's work) without devolving into name calling or marginalization.
rydra_wong 's lj.)There are a couple of reasons for why I haven't posted anything, but the main one is that these days I feel far less articulate than I used to be. Or maybe it's just that I'm realizing that I was never really all that articulate in the first place. (I suspect that this may also stem from having so many brilliant writers and thinkers on my flist. My inadequacy issues, let me show you them.) That makes me somewhat fearful that I won't be able to convey myself clearly and I'll end up showing my ass somehow. Thing is, as an adult if I want to grow as a person? I need to be willing to show my ass sometimes and risk getting called on it.
I know several folks on my flist are SFF readers and devour the genre, me not so much. I've dipped a toe here and there but I really couldn't tell you who most of the major authors are. Because of that, it would be easy for me to say that 'wow this whole thing sucks but it doesn't really impact me or my interests'. What that highlights to me is that I have the ability to be able to walk away from the conversation if I feel to overwhelmed or if I'm feeling spectacularly inarticulate. I don't want anyone to think that this is me saying that everyone has to post on the subject or that I believe what I have to say is particularly profound in any way. However, this is my journal and I do feel like I need to get some of this out somewhere besides my own brain. I should disclaim and state that this post is more about folks reactions to the issue than it is about the issue itself*.
Here goes... This part is really for those who might actually read it who are part of the majority culture/race in whatever country they live in. It's a plea to think before you respond. That doesn't mean don't respond. It means check your privilege and make sure you have your pants on. And know that even if you do have your pants on, you may still have a gaping hole where your ass is showing. It happens to the best of us.
I've seen more than one person post that they're tired of hearing about RaceFail and that other groups have it hard so those PoC should just quiet down because they're tired of hearing/reading about it. My initial response to these posts is incoherency. My second response is to shout at the top of my lungs that THIS ISN'T FUCKING ABOUT YOU!! The whole discussion in RaceFail is about racism and the marginalization of not only Fen of Color, but Writers of Color as well. It's not about sexism, ageism, fatophobia, homophobia or any of those other issues. Are they bad things? Yes. Do people have to deal with them and end up disadvantaged from them? Yes. Nevertheless, they are still COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to this conversation. The conversation is about systemic racism.
While we're on this subject, can PoC be bigoted? Yes. Also completely irrelevant to this conversation.
I know there are some folks (myself included to a degree) who use what they view as shared experiences as a way to relate to people that they don't know very well. I think that this may be what happens in a lot of these conversations by well meaning white fans who try to share a hardship to show how they understand to some degree what the PoC is going through. I get the temptation. I've even done it myself. I'm not pointing this out to make an excuse or even explanation of behavior, I'm pointing it out as a warning. DON'T DO IT.
Again, the conversation in this case is not about you, your hardships or what you believe qualifies you to completely understand what a PoC goes through on a daily basis. Just like a straight Asian man is never going to understand the issues that a lesbian, white woman goes through everyday. While there are compare and contrasts that can be discussed, one group can never fully understand the situation of the other. Brining up those types of scenarios in these discussions generally devolves into a 'who had it worse' contest which is neither productive or relevant. It's also something that nobody is ever going to win.
Anyway, I'm leaving this open for comments. Disagreement is welcome, rudeness or arguing for the sake of arguing is not.
*As for the original issue that kicked off the whole cascade of fail, there were some spectacular failures by folks who are supposedly professionals and really should be able to deal with criticism of their work (or their friend's work) without devolving into name calling or marginalization.
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I dunno. That seemed plenty articulate to me. Well done.
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ON topic: I haven't commented on the issue and I didn't take a stand because I'm white and from Europe and the ratio here of white vs PoC is like billion to ten, maybe... Plus, I have like two PoC (that I know of) on my flist and I didn't want to offend them and make them think I"m a bad person (which okay, I am, but still)... After reading your post though (and a sudden interst of my flist in the issue) I might actually post something on that topic... Dunnno yet, have to think it through.
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I completely get why a lot of folks haven't been comfortable commenting on the issue. I also reeeally get the fear of sticking your foot in the wrong place in these discussions.
I'm still fearful that I'm going to say something and my intention will be unclear or I will speak from a place of ignorance. I'm really trying to view it as an improvement process for myself and that with that there are going to be times where I screw up and get spanked for it.
I do get that you have to be in a mental and emotional place where you're ready to take that potential spanking before wading into these discussions. Otherwise...YIKES.
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M.
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