Posted by Bitch Lab at 10:08 am and filed under Archiving, Racism & Race, So 1998 ::
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For what it’s worth, I don’t like Bitch Lab, I don’t read her, I don’t think she’s very bright, and I think the main thing she piggybacked on recently was a comment thread to a post she didn’t author. Nice appropriation, that.
So: Don’t like Bitch Lab? Join the club, and don’t read her. Read the women she rips off instead. They’re better.
So: Don’t like Bitch Lab? Join the club, and don’t read her. Read the women she rips off instead. They’re better.
03-27-2006
Just go ahead and bitch
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[...] Bitch|Lab: Good Advice From Gloria Yamato For Whites Who Want To Be Anti-Racist [...]
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I like those four categories. interesting stuff.
yeah, I read this somewhere awhile back –at least the first part. the second is new to me about the four types of racism. interesting. great to get this out there.
p.s. sorry ’bout your backyard! lol
[...] C. [...]
I’m fighting against the intertia that suggests that I not write at all. I like your four part categorization scheme– the heirarchy of awareness seems like a very useful tool in analyzing where people (I) go wrong.
A recent place I’m conflicted relates to your statement here:
In general, is it better to contribute, even if ignorantly– or is it better to passively read? Blackademic’s post seemed to be a call to engage in dialogue– to cease passing through like a tourist. Your post, on the other hand, seems to be a call to cease annoying people by “arrogantly relying solely on interrogating people of color”. As I end my comment, I realize that I just walked the loop again, interrogating you directly. I apologize.
Well, I think in this case it’s reasonable to ask questions — it’s a direct response to something Bitch | Lab wrote.
But more broadly, I don’t see a contradiction you seem to. There are any number of ways to contribute to a discussion without interrogating people of colour on the “people of colour experience”, or whatever.
I’ll draw the parallel to piny’s post on trans issues at Feministe. piny’s always encouraged people to contribute to the discussion, but hasnever been shy about directing people elsewhere if they want to know the basics or trans issues.
I agree with Knifeghost and go one farther. In real world terms, white folks shouldn’t expect people of color to march in front for the white folks’ struggle to come to terms with their white priviledge.
Oftentimes well meaning white folks (myself included as I have been guilty of this as well) will find a couple of token friends or people they can ‘relate to’ and then use them as their resource for ‘all that’s about color’ or put them up as a buffer when called on any subtle or direct racism they may exhibit, ‘But Joe told me he didn’t mind…I already had that discussion with…” or “I have many black friends, how can you say i’m racist?”
Or…”I talked to my black friends about racism and now I feel I’m all set, thank you.”
No, white people need to talk to white people and air their feelings amongst themselves. And if we dialogue with people of color and listen to them without judgement or making correction, but really listen, then we can take that and apply it in our own community. Our job as white people is to help our brother and sisters of ‘whiteness’ root out their racism and help keep the discussion going ourselves, not expecting people of color to push the cart for us.
If you really listen to people of color who are dialoguing about race issues, you will find plenty of ’smack-downs’ in their words i’m sure to help keep you and me on track. We as white folks often have a problem with the idea that our way ain’t always the right way.
that’s the way i read that if that helps anyone. Hit me if I’m wrong.
“We as white folks often have a problem with the idea that our way ain’t always the right way.”
Precisely. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that when I start feeling defensive in a discussion about race, it probably means I have something to learn.
@ ScottM and KnifeGhost
Just to clarify — my bad! The essay was written by Gloria Yamato, not me. Not that I don’t agree with it. In my haste, I must have left off the citation information, which had originally been placed in a note at the bottom. I’ve updated the post with relevant details and planned on posting a more comprehensive excerpt when I found time scan it.
[...] Bitch|Lab: Good Advice From Gloria Yamato For Whites Who Want To Be Anti-Racist [...]
Seems to me that the best way for anyone of any race to fight racism is to call it what it is when they hear it from someone of the same race they are. How often have I heard a racist remark from someone when only people of the one race are present; I guess they figure we’re “all in the same club” and they can say such things without fear of condemnation. Justifiably so, since rarely do I hear anyone else call them on it. That’s the time when real progress can be made; when people find out that they can’t express racism in any setting, not just multi-racial ones.
@ RonF
http://blog.pulpculture.org/20.....sshattery/
Thanks for playing White Liberal Bingo!