Open-Ended Question about Responding...

There have been several instances in my last four years as an undergrad that I have been lost for words. Why? Because these things have been said to me by at least five different people:

"Before I met you, I didn't like Black people..."

"But I'm not afraid of you because you have a calming energy..."

"I've never been friends with a poor Black person before, but you seem different..."

"You're not loud and ignorant though...it must be because you're only half-Black..."

These are exact quotes from different people (both friends, ex-friends, and ex-girlfriend). I never know how to respond to these types of statements. In my heart I know the only reason why they say these things is because they have never been exposed to actual people of color. They clearly have relied on television and their parents as a resource. In my heart I'm glad I can change this awful misconception.

But in my heart there is a part of me that would find joy in making people like this uncomfortable and "afraid." Because I have been told time and time again that statements like this don't stem from malice, but from ignorance, it's hard for me to access my anger. Instead I passive aggresively write blogs about it. But hopefully this will be a little more productive! Now it's your turn...

How would you respond to statements like these?

Newsworthy...

Check out this article about the banning of "ethnic chauvinistic" education in Arizona. That type of wording should ban ALL history classes, but especially the romanticized version of American history. Instead the law would probably just affect the Mexican-American program.

Remember how we got here...

Reverse racism...reclaiming America...protecting American values....These are all clever ways of saying "We enjoy whatever power we have over others and we are scared shitless of being treated in the same manner as those we hate and oppress." To put your main objectives so bluntly wouldn't garner as much support as vague nationalist chants.

Did you know that Arizona has some the most fanatical militia groups? They use fear-mongering tactics to scare its members into thinking that minority groups are taking over the country. This goes past reverse-racism...they predict a "Great War" which will ultimately result in reverse-slavery. Check out this opening picture on the Arizona Citizens Militia Website:



Or how about this video from another militia groups website:



We can not continue to pretend that these groups are anything other than white supremacists. There's really no denying it.

Check out a few websites for yourself:
http://www.arizonamilitia.com/
http://www.myspace.com/northernarizonamilitia

My message to all of these crazy extremists, remember the history of this country. And to everyone else, regardless of how you feel about immigration, don't leave the law in the hands of these people or to politicians who do nothing to monitor their actions.

Here are a few reminders:

"Spectacular"

I first saw this video on Feministing, but I reallllly wanted to post Kiely's response video. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, ex-Disney star Kiely recently released her first single. It goes a little something like this...



This video is disgusting. Talk about perpetuating rape culture. You are probably able to form your own opinions, but I do want to relay a few legal things:

NO MEANS NO
SILENCE MEANS NO
YES while intoxicated MEANS NO
...someone who is passed out can not legally consent.

Women are constantly taught to blame themselves when they experience sexual assault. "I shouldn't have been wearing that. I shouldn't have been walking alone. I shouldn't have drank so much." Our parents tell us to be careful and to protect ourselves.

What should the real message be and to whom should it be delivered? It's rather simple actually: "DON'T RAPE!" For far too long, the message has been loud and clear: "Boys will be boys"...and girls are just going to have to learn to deal with it. This awful mentality only supports sexual assault while shaming the survivors into not seeking the help they need.

Kiely doesn't see what the big deal is. Here is her response:



AWFUL.

Intersections

I'm sure many of you have heard about Constance McMillen and the blatant violation of her human rights on behalf of her high school. But just in case, she is the high school student who requested to take her girlfriend to prom. In response, the administration decided to cancel prom entirely. Of course this pitted the entire class against Constance, when the real anger should have been aimed at the homophobic actions of those in charge.

In a more recent update, Constance was duped into going to a fake prom while the real prom took place across town. This was orchestrated at various levels including students AND parents. This is just an awful testament the complete lack of humanity some people are capable of exhibiting, however there is a piece to this puzzle that has been overlooked. There were other invites to the fake prom, including two developmentally disabled students. What originally started off as a story focused mainly around gay issues has become a revealing intersection of ableism and heterosexism.

Constance was not welcomed to the prom because she was viewed as something laughable, deviant, and wrong. What then was the reasoning for lying to the other students? What message does this send to youth across America? The answer is simple: "Difference" will not be tolerated. If this example isn't proof that marginalized groups need to come together to fight against prejudice, I don't know what is. I now see that there is no age limit on bullying. SHAME on all those involved in this awful event and SHAME on anyone who thinks this type of behavior acceptable.

Nice...

Free Speech...it works both ways...

I'm writing this post because of the recent events that occurred at University California San Diego. Follow this link to read about the off-campus "Compton Cookout" a group of fraternity students planned. The idea of the cookout was to dress "ghetto."

Here is an appalling excerpt from the event description and the dress code:

For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks -- Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes -- they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red.

...The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.

Disgusting, I know. The reclaiming of degrading epithets may for some help take the power away from them, but throwing words around like ghetto, bitch, nigga, or countless others keeps these words in daily use and sends the message out that they are ok to say at all. And it gets even worse. Because this event was visible to the public via facebook, there was a large student reaction on campus. After this reaction, even more racially charged instances of hatred occurred:

Days after the cookout, the editor of the Koala, a campus publication known for mocking Muslims, Latinos and Asians, appeared on the university's student-run TV station to defend the event. While on the air, he referred to offended black classmates as "ungrateful niggers." The following day, a sign with the words "Compton Lynching" was found at the TV station. And on Thursday, a noose was hung in the Geisel Library.

Follow this link for the full article.

Hundred of students held a peace march across campus demanding the administration step in and take disciplinary action against the fraternity and the publication editor. The campus atmosphere has grown thick with tension as the issue of "free speech" comes to the forefront of the debate.

Now, I am no lawyer, so I really have no idea if the incidents have crossed the legal lines of free speech. I am a student on a college campus however. And sometimes I see these types of behaviors, slurs, and epithets practiced in my campus community. While the administration can reiterate the college's ideals and hold as many diversity workshops as they wish, cultural change must come from the students themselves. Yes there are hateful, ignorant people in all spaces, but there will always be those people.

OUR VOICES NEED TO BE LOUDER THAN THEIRS!!!

I am so proud of the students and faculty at UCSD for using their voice to send the right message:



The age of Obama is not some fantasy post-racial America. If anything, having a president of color has intensified race tensions as fears of reverse-racism arise. The racial elephants in the room reveal themselves as soon as racist individuals feel that the people around them will have similar views. This is not about black versus white, this is about people committed to human equality and the ending of all oppression versus people who would rather perpetuate hate and ignorance. Allies can and should be found across all lines of diversity.

And yes there are those in the middle, the ambivalent. In fact, the ambivalent are probably the majority of students on campus. They are those who may or may not have an opinion either way but don't feel motivated to do anything about it. Those are the students these protests need to be aimed towards! Hate can be a powerful force, but love and dedication will prevail every time. "Your silence will not protect you," so don't ever be afraid to use your voice!

Sarah Palin is NOT a feminist

Meet Bay Buchanan:



Bay seems to think that Sarah Palin is a feminist in "its truest form." Now, I could sit here and go over all the reasons why Sarah Palin is NOT a feminist, but instead I have a question:

What does feminism mean to you?

Part of feminism, to me at least, is about all people having the opportunity, knowledge, and the resources to make non-pressured choices. It's fine that Sarah chose to, and had the privilege to be able to, raise a family and maintain a political career. The fact that she uses that career to take away other women's ability to make their own reproductive choices is NOT feminist.

What do you think? Is Sarah Palin a feminist?

Westboro Baptists take on Gaga...

For those of you are not familiar with the Westboro Baptists, they are the "Christian"-hate group (kind of oxymoronic?) consisting mostly of one family, the Phelps. They are unpopular with most people regardless of any religious affiliation. This is probably due to the fact that they protest the funerals of soldiers who have died in Iraq because they are guilty of "defending a country that is accepting of fags." They are also the people behind the website godhatesfags.com. Find out more about these lunatics here.

Apparently, they also REALLLLLLY hate Lady Gaga.

So...not that anyone really takes the Westboro Baptists all that seriously, but this kind of crap really can't be helpful in the "take us seriously" department...




Awful...

TRANSPHOBIA ALERT!

I hate to admit that I check Perez Hilton, but occasionally it happens. Most of what he says is vile and unnecessary, but he does keep up with a lot of queer issues. He recently posted a blog about "Another Pregnant Man!" His post was pretty standard, but the comments were disturbing. Follow this link to read the full post and comment section, but here are a few gems:


Honestly, ignorance very rarely surprises me anymore, but every once in a while I get slapped in the face with just how awful and misinformed people can be. When it comes to racist commenting on sites like youtube, it is basically a given that people wouldn't repeat in real life what they say during anonymous posting. However, I hear transphobic comments made all of the time, including in supposed queer-affirmative spaces. The commenter who was for gay rights but not the rights of trans people especially angered me. I just don't understand why we don't get it yet. Oppressed peoples will continue to be as such until all minorities are free from oppression. Instead of focusing on the differences between us, we should be focusing on the universal experiences of being treated as anything less than what we all are...HUMAN.