Comments for white noise http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:02:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by Maneuvers to Avoid Confronting Racism | illvox: anarchist people of color, race, anarchy, revolution http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-286 Maneuvers to Avoid Confronting Racism | illvox: anarchist people of color, race, anarchy, revolution Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:02:33 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-286 [...] White Noise Share and [...] [...] White Noise Share and [...]

]]> Comment on What can mothers do? by VoiceUpNorth http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/what-can-mothers-do/#comment-285 VoiceUpNorth Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:01:33 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-285 It doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing. Different cultures don't have to melt together and we don't have to live divided to hang onto our heritage. When I was a kid I went to school alongside (and was friends with) kids from Zimbabwe (Living in London), Pakistan (London), Sri Lanka (London/Toronto), Vietnam (Living in Toronto), El Salvador (Toronto), India (London/Toronto), Somalia (Toronto), Jamaica (London/Toronto), Hong Kong (Toronto), Japan (Toronto), Malaysia (Toronto), Trinidad (Toronto) and many other countries. I had moved between (Germany/Spain/England/Canada) and didn't quite fit into any London or Toronto culture as I grew older and had communication problems (APD). I had little in common with the white kids. Most of my friends were immigrants too. Most of my friends are still a mixed bag of backgrounds. My children have attended Seikh Temples, attend Budhist weddings, celebrated Ramadan, join in Carribana, visit my sister and her partner for Gay Pride Parade, skate with their Dad and travel (I work for an airline). I've seen from experience that we can be friends with people from many backgrounds. We don't have to blend or live separately to hold onto our cultures. It just isn't either/or. I think we (people in general) become defensive whenever we feel we are taking the "blame" for something. It's human nature. Some people are more defensive than others. We get defensive if someone thinks our lifestyle isn't eco-friendly, our attendance at the circus is perpetuating animal cruelty, we don't sacrifice enough to buy fair trade guaranteed products or any number of choices or sometimes non-choices that make us part of a mainstream systemic injustice in the world. We can try to educate ourselves about these things and attempt to do our part to make things better. Sometimes, these things are out of our control. I can't afford to always buy the eco-friendly products. But I can at the least be aware of the problem and make changes that are within in my control. I try to be aware of racism and try to do my part in combating it. Being defensive ultimately doesn't change anything. It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing thing. Different cultures don’t have to melt together and we don’t have to live divided to hang onto our heritage.

When I was a kid I went to school alongside (and was friends with) kids from Zimbabwe (Living in London), Pakistan (London), Sri Lanka (London/Toronto), Vietnam (Living in Toronto), El Salvador (Toronto), India (London/Toronto), Somalia (Toronto), Jamaica (London/Toronto), Hong Kong (Toronto), Japan (Toronto), Malaysia (Toronto), Trinidad (Toronto) and many other countries. I had moved between (Germany/Spain/England/Canada) and didn’t quite fit into any London or Toronto culture as I grew older and had communication problems (APD). I had little in common with the white kids. Most of my friends were immigrants too. Most of my friends are still a mixed bag of backgrounds. My children have attended Seikh Temples, attend Budhist weddings, celebrated Ramadan, join in Carribana, visit my sister and her partner for Gay Pride Parade, skate with their Dad and travel (I work for an airline). I’ve seen from experience that we can be friends with people from many backgrounds. We don’t have to blend or live separately to hold onto our cultures. It just isn’t either/or.

I think we (people in general) become defensive whenever we feel we are taking the “blame” for something. It’s human nature. Some people are more defensive than others. We get defensive if someone thinks our lifestyle isn’t eco-friendly, our attendance at the circus is perpetuating animal cruelty, we don’t sacrifice enough to buy fair trade guaranteed products or any number of choices or sometimes non-choices that make us part of a mainstream systemic injustice in the world. We can try to educate ourselves about these things and attempt to do our part to make things better. Sometimes, these things are out of our control. I can’t afford to always buy the eco-friendly products. But I can at the least be aware of the problem and make changes that are within in my control. I try to be aware of racism and try to do my part in combating it. Being defensive ultimately doesn’t change anything.

]]> Comment on Prioritising our selves by VoiceUpNorth http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/09/prioritising-our-selves/#comment-284 VoiceUpNorth Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:25:26 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=79#comment-284 Interesting. I've always thought that fear led people too much. But it hadn't occurred to me that it was a primary motivator. I wonder how much fear leads me. I've always been told how fearless I am. But I know I am not fearless. I grew up with feast or famine and I'm always scared about finances (greed). I could have pursued a degree in my favourite subject, but decided I wouldn't take on student debt for a degree that wouldn't be financially lucrative. I am not afraid of upsetting people, I upset people all the time. I am not afraid of pain, I have the scars to prove it. I am afraid of being destitute. Others live in poverty all of their lives. I've experienced it in cycles repeatedly. I detest the feeling of helplessness. When I've faced an attacker, I had someone to hit and rage against. When I've faced going hungry, I didn't have anyone to be angry at. All I had was just my hunger. As for death being a primary fear, I'm not convinced that's at the heart of things for everyone. I don't know if I'm alone, but I always thought that if I die, I won't exist anymore. So I can't regret or miss life, it would essentially be over in the blink of an eye with only an empty shell to show for it. The only people who might be sorry would be those who might miss me. It wouldn't be my loss, so what is there to fear? Just be disappointed if it happens early. I think we should really fear losing those close to us. Because we can't get them back. I find when you point out racism around you, it's really not that terrible. People shuffle their feet, look awkward and at worst, try to turn it on you. I've never felt I needed to play along. What's the worst that could happen? Rejection? If you play along, you have to listen to that crap over and over again! Silence is taken for agreement. Agreement is validation for prejudices. It's easier to rip the band aid off immediately and face things head on than to give people the wrong impression and let them feel betrayed later. If I don't agree, I say something. Thanks for the post, it was something to think about. Interesting. I’ve always thought that fear led people too much. But it hadn’t occurred to me that it was a primary motivator. I wonder how much fear leads me. I’ve always been told how fearless I am. But I know I am not fearless. I grew up with feast or famine and I’m always scared about finances (greed). I could have pursued a degree in my favourite subject, but decided I wouldn’t take on student debt for a degree that wouldn’t be financially lucrative. I am not afraid of upsetting people, I upset people all the time. I am not afraid of pain, I have the scars to prove it. I am afraid of being destitute. Others live in poverty all of their lives. I’ve experienced it in cycles repeatedly. I detest the feeling of helplessness. When I’ve faced an attacker, I had someone to hit and rage against. When I’ve faced going hungry, I didn’t have anyone to be angry at. All I had was just my hunger.

As for death being a primary fear, I’m not convinced that’s at the heart of things for everyone. I don’t know if I’m alone, but I always thought that if I die, I won’t exist anymore. So I can’t regret or miss life, it would essentially be over in the blink of an eye with only an empty shell to show for it. The only people who might be sorry would be those who might miss me. It wouldn’t be my loss, so what is there to fear? Just be disappointed if it happens early. I think we should really fear losing those close to us. Because we can’t get them back.

I find when you point out racism around you, it’s really not that terrible. People shuffle their feet, look awkward and at worst, try to turn it on you. I’ve never felt I needed to play along. What’s the worst that could happen? Rejection? If you play along, you have to listen to that crap over and over again! Silence is taken for agreement. Agreement is validation for prejudices. It’s easier to rip the band aid off immediately and face things head on than to give people the wrong impression and let them feel betrayed later. If I don’t agree, I say something.

Thanks for the post, it was something to think about.

]]> Comment on Mothering as credibility: a cross-post by Anonymous http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/11/mothering-as-credibility-a-cross-post/#comment-283 Anonymous Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:59:53 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=85#comment-283 One more tool to keep track, the gold coin analogy. Think there are 4 people, a white couple (of both sexes) and a black couple. There are 40 gold coins in a heap. Each person is asked to pick equal number of coins, in a fair system it would be 10 each. They all take 10 coins initially. Now due to male privelege, both the black male and the white male take, 5 coins each from the females of their corresponding race respectively. Now the score is white male,15,black male,15,white female,5,black female 5. Due to white privelege, the white male takes 5 coins from the black male and the white female takes 5 coins from the black female. With sexism and racism, total scores will be white male, 20, white female 10, black male 10, black female 0. This is considering sexism and racism incur the same equal proportion of gains and losses(5 points in the analogy). If we eliminate racism, the scores would be, white male,15,black male 15,white female 5,black female 5 whereas if we eliminate sexism, the scores would be, white male 15, white female 15, black male 5, black female 5. One more tool to keep track, the gold coin analogy. Think there are 4 people, a white couple (of both sexes) and a black couple. There are 40 gold coins in a heap. Each person is asked to pick equal number of coins, in a fair system it would be 10 each. They all take 10 coins initially. Now due to male privelege, both the black male and the white male take, 5 coins each from the females of their corresponding race respectively. Now the score is white male,15,black male,15,white female,5,black female 5. Due to white privelege, the white male takes 5 coins from the black male and the white female takes 5 coins from the black female. With sexism and racism, total scores will be white male, 20, white female 10, black male 10, black female 0. This is considering sexism and racism incur the same equal proportion of gains and losses(5 points in the analogy). If we eliminate racism, the scores would be, white male,15,black male 15,white female 5,black female 5 whereas if we eliminate sexism, the scores would be, white male 15, white female 15, black male 5, black female 5.

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by CJ http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-279 CJ Tue, 20 May 2008 01:20:29 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-279 Maia - Wondering how you were and what was up with White Noise. Haven't seen an update in a while. Need some help? Need some encouragement? Need some motivation? I'm here. :) Much love, CJ. Maia -

Wondering how you were and what was up with White Noise. Haven’t seen an update in a while. Need some help? Need some encouragement? Need some motivation?

I’m here. :)

Much love,

CJ.

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by Katie http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-278 Katie Mon, 05 May 2008 16:09:34 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-278 TBM - no one gets to be "recovered" from racism. Or "inoculated." That's a pretty privileged way of thinking about it, as a kind of passing illness for which only the enlightened can spread the vaccine. It also puts it on an almost entirely interpersonal level. I challenge you to rethink that. Christie - actually, there's often LOTS more one can do than just "be aware." Just a few things that come to mind are - speaking out in defense of POC - naming racism when you see it - actively being antiracist at your place of work - challenging other white people on their racism, and holding them accountable. "Often all we can do is be aware" reads to me like the uttermost of liberal paralysis and enabling. TBM – no one gets to be “recovered” from racism. Or “inoculated.” That’s a pretty privileged way of thinking about it, as a kind of passing illness for which only the enlightened can spread the vaccine. It also puts it on an almost entirely interpersonal level. I challenge you to rethink that.

Christie – actually, there’s often LOTS more one can do than just “be aware.” Just a few things that come to mind are

- speaking out in defense of POC
- naming racism when you see it
- actively being antiracist at your place of work
- challenging other white people on their racism, and holding them accountable.

“Often all we can do is be aware” reads to me like the uttermost of liberal paralysis and enabling.

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by A Book With Wings http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-277 A Book With Wings Mon, 05 May 2008 05:09:52 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-277 wow. great blog here. wow. great blog here.

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by Christie http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-263 Christie Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:58:38 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-263 Wow. Powerful stuff. Thanks! I know I've fallen into many if not all of these traps. When I finished reading, I found myself tempted to throw up my hands (though not to the extent of thinking I may as well join Aryan Nations, LOL!). Is the conclusion that often all we can do is be aware? Wow. Powerful stuff. Thanks!

I know I’ve fallen into many if not all of these traps. When I finished reading, I found myself tempted to throw up my hands (though not to the extent of thinking I may as well join Aryan Nations, LOL!). Is the conclusion that often all we can do is be aware?

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by The Bear Maiden http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-232 The Bear Maiden Sat, 22 Mar 2008 06:37:10 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-232 OK, so you've made me laugh, cuz I've heard several of these. And... I've even heard some of them from brownfolk. My freind the Fat Lady posted a video of Tracey Morgan from a recent SNL ep, in which he declares "We are a racist country. The End!" Racism is a disease, with symptoms and everything... and it's contagious as hell, and we all have it. But I hope that maybe some of us have recovered... scarred maybe, some lingering effects maybe, but hopefully we've recovered and are now inoculated against it and can go around helping to inoculate others... Great post. OK, so you’ve made me laugh, cuz I’ve heard several of these. And… I’ve even heard some of them from brownfolk.

My freind the Fat Lady posted a video of Tracey Morgan from a recent SNL ep, in which he declares “We are a racist country. The End!” Racism is a disease, with symptoms and everything… and it’s contagious as hell, and we all have it.

But I hope that maybe some of us have recovered… scarred maybe, some lingering effects maybe, but hopefully we’ve recovered and are now inoculated against it and can go around helping to inoculate others…

Great post.

]]> Comment on “The focus on individuals as racists is a dangerous distraction from the real systemic problem of racism” by darkdaughta http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/the-focus-on-individuals-as-racists-is-a-dangerous-distraction-from-the-real-systemic-problem-of-racism/#comment-231 darkdaughta Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:48:31 +0000 http://feministwhitenoise.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-231 This works for so many people trying not to deal with the reality that they can oppress no matter how nice they try to be. It works for men, for heterosexuals, for able-bodied people, for married people for sexually conservative people...for so many different people with privilege. I've seen and heard all of this before sometimes coming out of people I frankly thought knew better. Thanks for posting this. This works for so many people trying not to deal with the reality that they can oppress no matter how nice they try to be. It works for men, for heterosexuals, for able-bodied people, for married people for sexually conservative people…for so many different people with privilege.

I’ve seen and heard all of this before sometimes coming out of people I frankly thought knew better.

Thanks for posting this.

]]>