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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
How to Get Your Book Banned in Arizona
Step 1: Write about people who aren’t white.
Step 2: THERE IS NO STEP TWO.
You will very rarely see me curse, tumblypoos, but…but…I mean, what the fuck? How is this even possible? This reads like an Onion article.
To be clear, it is now ILLEGAL to teach de la Pena’s novel (which I’ve read and which is excellent) in schools, not because the book contains violence or drug use or massively unerotic blow jobs, but because it contains Mexican American characters. (The protagonist of the novel is only half Mexican, but apparently that is too Mexican for Arizona.)
That’s it. That’s the whole reason it can’t be taught in schools.
Unbelievable.
Get it, John Green.
“It’s not the same,” Ana said. “I don’t know anybody like that.”
;_;
Fucking Arizona.
Fucking racism.
When we consider the myriad school shootings that have occurred between 1992 and 2002 (there have been twenty-eight cases), several constants stand out. All twenty-eight cases were committed by boys. All but one was committed by a white boy in a suburban or rural school. We speak of teen violence, youth violence, violence in the schools. but no one in the media ever seems to call it suburban white boy violence, although that is exactly what it is. Try a little thought experiment: Imagine that all the killers in the more famous shootings in the 1990s - Littleton, Colorado; Pearl, Mississippi; Paducah, Kentucky; Springfield, Oregon; and Jonesboro, Arkansas, were black girls from poor families who lived instead in New Haven, Boston, Chicago, Newark. Wouldn’t we now be having a national debate about inner-city black girls? Would not the media focus entirely on race, class, and gender?
Of course it would: We’d hear about the culture of poverty; about how life in the city breeds crime and violence; about some putative natural tendency among blacks towards violence. Someone would probably even blame feminism for causing girls to become violent in vain imitation of boys. Yet the obvious fact that these school killers were all middle-class white boys seems to have escaped the media’s notice, in part because race, class, and gender are only visible when speaking of those who are not privileged by race, class and gender but invisible when speaking of those who are privileged by them.
Michael Kimmel: Men, Masculinity, and the Rape Culture (via mollay)
“Yet the obvious fact that these school killers were all middle-class white boys seems to have escaped the media’s notice, in part because race, class, and gender are only visible when speaking of those who are not privileged by race, class and gender but invisible when speaking of those who are privileged by them.”
(via dreams-from-my-father)
(Source: bhr.off-the-chain.org)
If I Were A Poor Black Kid
Forbes writer Gene Marks, a white man, attempts to put himself in the shoes of lower class black youth. Check out the satirical responses by Scientific American, WNYC, and others.
By ‘put himself in the shoes of’, we’re talking, ‘glance out from the window of his posh, climate-controlled office and make assumptions that poverty is just a lack of money (addressed here and here) and that everyone has easy access to free technology.’ Toxic privilege levels in the original post, to the point that a Forbes staff writer called him out for trolling.
(Source: microaggressions)
En un lugar de Tejas: So I've been reading about sexism in modern TV all day today...
I must’ve perused reviews of twelve different shows already.
AND IT ALL MAKES ME SO MAD. It’s the same rehashing of violence-against-women-as-opening-gimmick, racist 2-D portrayals, slut-shaming/’player’-glorifying dichotomy, dudebro misogyny, objectification of women, shots at GSMs—especially…
I agree with you on all counts, especially when it comes to shows that bill themselves as comedies. What are your perspectives on shows that are more so drama’s than comedy and they way the represent sexism, race, religion and sexuality? What shows do you think have done a decent job?
Sorry to ask so many questions but it’s rare I have a chance to talk about this stuff with people other than my amazing husband <3 Also I didn’t see an ask, if I missed it lemme know :x
Ahhhh, oops! I just checked, and I… don’t seem to have an ask. That’s a bit awkward, considering I ask for questions pretty frequently. I’ll try to fix that after I finish this reply!
As far as dramas versus comedies on this issue… I feel like while comedies often use the discriminatory jokes as their driving gimmicks, dramas tend to err on the side of violence against women, violence by minorities, etc. far too often for anyone’s good as well. Violence against marginalized groups is a very real issue, and needs to be portrayed in a way that respects the victims. I want to say that Criminal Minds does a passable job in this, though it probably has issues that I’m blanking on at the moment, but the most egregious series I’ve seen regarding crimes against minorities, especially women, is Law and Order: SVU. The browbeating of the victims by the defense in particular is painful and horrific to watch, and I can’t even bring myself to watch the show because even if the rapists and abusers do get punished in the end, which is a good thing, the way the show takes to get there is exhibitionistic at best and triggering at worst. As far as racism, while characters in dramas generally get more characterization than their comedic counterparts, and while most of the good-guy teams I’ve seen on crime shows feature POCs, they still show a disproportionate amount of POCs as perpetrators, which I feel is like a tacit rationalization of profiling by race.
This is becoming quite the post, but to address religion and sexuality portrayals… I’ve seen a few shows feature a ‘crazy cult’ episode, which tries to show the dangers of religious extremism, but does so in a way that could be generalized as ‘dangers of having too much faith’, which I find problematic. Being not as well-versed in TV shows as I should be to make this argument, I haven’t seen any episodes that attacked non-cult religious minorities, but I’m sure they’re out there. For sexuality… well. I’ve noticed that a few shows feature an obligatory nightclub, dance party, etc. scene which mainly serves as an opportunity for the camera to zoom in on breasts or backsides, so while there’s nothing wrong with sexuality, there’s definitely objectification going on here, which makes it problematic. Additionally, slut-shaming often shows up, especially in sex-crime episodes. I haven’t seen many shows cover GSM issues—when they do, they’re presented from a cis-hetero perspective and tossed under the umbrella of dangerous or irresponsible lifestyles, depending on the episode’s main theme.
I’m interested in your views of these topics! Again, I’m not very well-versed in many shows (my raging came mainly from reviews of current shows and the memories they dredged up of shows in the vein of According to Jim and Two and a Half Men), so I’d like to hear your perspective of shows that you’ve seen.
I think that the material conditions to fully eradicate sexism and racism will only exist after we start to dismantle capitalism, but we cannot reach a point where that dismantling is even possible without acknowledging that sexism and racism divide the working class against itself SO WE GOTTA TAKE OUT THE DIVIDERS!
That is, attack ruling class institutions that propagandize such shit, AND AND confront backward members of our own class, like the person on the left in this comic.
The relationship between oppression and class struggle is deeply dialectical - success in either is built on co-prioritizing each. You can’t try to have one without the other without tipping over the whole works.
Z, I love you so much. The following comes out of a place of love. haha
When I read “We have to take out the dividers”, my brain also reads “We shouldn’t talk about race and gender so much” or “We have to remove your identities to make ‘our’ issue more whole” and “Our issue is more important than yours”.
I almost think it’s an issue of ownership. The Occupy Movement is, without a doubt, white-male-centered. The issues that are being addressed are considered universal (not just because they are) but because they affect white men. Whereas, police brutality and poverty were previously billed by the media as problems suffered by POC and poor, single, mothers - and there was no uprising that drew months of media attention and a brand-name radical movement. Why? Because white guys weren’t affected. Now that they are on a very material level, it is all of a sudden EVERYONE ELSES job to put their silly identities away and make way for the real, true, revolution, right? WRONG. All of my problems, are your problems and all of yours are mine. Regardless if I’ve actually experienced them or not. Why don’t these activists fight racism/sexism with the passion that they do capitalism?
The material conditions that are needed to begin eradicating racism and sexism exist on an individual level, within activist communities. Those material conditions aren’t as complicated and sticky to address as the structural material conditions needed to fully eradicate sexism and racism. Those material conditions are white men who monopolize activist spaces sitting down for a second and hearing out POC and women and then proceeding to centralize discussions of race/gender (and sexuality) ALONG SIDE of critiques of corporate power and capitalism.
That is how we start. I’m not interested in simply waiting for capitalism to fall and THEN we can talk about race and gender.
It needs to happen now.
It needs to stop being denied.
It needs to stop taking a backseat.I’m not denying that the relationship between race, gender and capitalism is complex, but I feel like a different complexity is being created by white activists who simply don’t want to address these issues. Talking about race and gender is only divisive because white activists make it that way. When I say something regarding race, I’m not putting all the white folks in the corner to wear dunce caps, I’m talking about real shit.
This is just another way that white male activists get to dictate the way that race is discussed. Instead of being a NECESSARY building block to a fully inclusive movement, race and gender billed as divisive because it hurts all the white folks’ feelings.
^What provocatoria said, except I’m not honestly sure about dismantling capitalism. I think it needs to be drastically reformed, but… yeah, I’m leaving the realm of Things I Know Enough About to Maintain a Discussion Over, so I’m going to shut up now.
(Source: bibliofemme)
*blinks*
Okay, I’m trying to take a really deep breath here, but …
Are you telling me that some motherfucking white dudebro actually got out a motherfucking pen and a big old sheet of poster board and seriously sat his ass down and wrote out “Why are you harassing us white kids when you could be arresting BLACK PEOPLE??? Who have serious medical conditions (i.e. addiction) but no access to treatment? ISN’T SOCIETY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE POLICE ARE CURRENTLY FAILING THE RACIST PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX BY PICKING ON WHITE FOLKS???”
And then
And THEN
A whole bunch of OTHER motherfuckers got on tumblr and reblogged his goddamn picture without a single fucking critical word?
Because apparently they see this sign and think “YEAH. He’s right! WE SHOULD BE ARRESTING BLACK PEOPLE INSTEAD.”
Yeah, okay, if you did not see an immediate problem with this sign the minute you saw it, I am totally fucking DONE with YOU.
I could think of about ten other things this guy could have wrote on a sign to make it more effective and less awful.
thecurvature: You’re implying crack can only be sold by black people.
Uh… probably because the vast majority of people arrested on drug charges, especially crack, are Black. Pay attention.
losing so much faith in the occupy movement every day
A friend of mine in Seattle sent me a picture of a different sign that said this exact phrase taped to some trashcans at OccupySeattle.
It is not just this one white guy who feels this way, there are plenty of racist white folks in the Occupy movement
….but will you see people who are putting OWS on a pedestal talking about race? no. If they do, they’re trying to get you to shut up about race by appeasing you, there is no discussion or consideration of race within the Occupy Movement at large. When I say that, they’ll think “Well why don’t you get more involved and bring it up”….my response is fuck you, if you’re so fucking radical that classwarfare is coming out of your asshole….why don’t YOU bring it up? yeah, that’s what I fucking thought.
Um… I’m actually among those white people who reblogged this picture a while back, but I wasn’t aware of the racist implications when I did. I apologize, and I’ll pay closer attention in the future.
(Source: hasslechassels)
The word and it’s meaning is wrong, but the sign is true. There is no contest about it. I am probably the least racist person out there. ….I don’t wish to exploit you. I apologize for the upset and tears it caused you. Please, you have every right to think that I am wrong, just please realize that people who are not white can be extremely racist too.
Kelly Hannah Peterlinz, person holding “Women are the Niggers of the World” sign at SlutWalk NYC
__________________
Wait wait wait, so the moral of the story is “I’m sorry but black people are racist too” Apologies: you’re doing it wrong.
Also, let’s talk about how she wants all pictures of her with the sign taken down because they make her cry. White people are really great a erasure.
(via provocatoria)
Hey Kelly, since you obviously won’t listen to reason from POC, how about you hear it from another white woman? YOU NEEDED TO APOLOGIZE, AND YOU DID IT WRONG. Here’s how you should have said it: “The word and its meaning are wrong, and I wish I had understood that sooner, before I offended countless people with my sign and my ignorance. I apologize for the upset and tears it caused you. I have learned from this mistake, and will never repeat it again. I’m sorry.”
Pushing the blame onto POC for having the potential to be racist is the second most idiotic thing you could have done, after your attempt at ‘reclaiming’ one of, if not THE most offensive word in the English language.
One last helpful word of advice from someone who (with embarrassment) shares your skin tone: check your fucking privilege.
Posted on a friend’s FB status. :(
Disparity in the justice system is an important issue that will continue to be ignored by most.
Here is the news story, if you’re wondering whether this really happened. A screenshot isn’t that convincing, if you don’t already think this country is capable of this kind of immense cruelty.
What’s really disturbing, when I googled the story, was how many people were defending the unequal punishment. “What about Brown’s priors?” seemed to be a common thread.
a) You’re being judged for the crime you commit, not the total sum of your life’s misdeeds, when you are tried in the American justice system. And fifteen years for $100? Come on, people.
b) 40 months for a crime which destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of Americans, all so some asshole could line his pocket.
You can get away with all of the shit if you’re rich, but if you’re poor, God help you for trying to keep a roof over your head.
Also, it helps to be white.
Look at the way Roy Brown’s bones are sticking out of his skin. And he gave himself up to police because he felt guilty. HE FELT GUILTY. Is what’s-his-face-CEO remorseful about screwing over so many people? He doesn’t have to be. He’s soaring over the heads of the plebeians in his zeppelin of privilege.
FUCK EVERYTHING.
So I just read the list of demands for Occupy Houston
And I am SO ANNOYED. While I agree with almost all of the demands at the national level, most of the ones at a local level are targeted to a VERY specific audience: white people and hipsters. The first thing on the “randomly organized” list is “connecting and expanding bike trails”, and while I recognize that Houston is not by any means a bike-friendly city, is this really something relevant to the cause of overthrowing Kyriarchy? I mean I can see how it’s relevant to veganism and being free from the capitalist world of automobile ownership, but somehow to me it really comes off as a matter of convenience.
There has also been a lot of controversy the past few years in Houston over expanding our (very, very crappy and) limited public transportation system- specifically, the (relatively new- it was just built about 7 years ago) light rail (train system) that runs over a small section of downtown and the surrounding areas. It’s been successful, but people are upset because it gives poor (read: black folks) easier access to richer parts of the city. There have been proposals to expand it that have been met WAY TOO MUCH resistance from people, because the construction will be long and annoying and then poor people will be able to mingle with them. WHY ISN’T THIS ISSUE ON HERE?!? Because it mainly effects the poor people who have ALWAYS been poor and people of color.
What really pissed me off, though, was this: “Pressure Mayor Parker to direct chief of police to cease all small cannabis arrests and cease the searching for small amounts in traffic stops or in person. To follow the NYC commissioner’s precedent this week of no longer making arrests if marijuana in not in plain sight.”
The specification of cannabis makes it so fucking obvious to me that this is a white person’s movement. Studies have shown that marijuana is a drug used mainly by white people (though black people get arrested for it a disproportionate rate, naturally). They couldn’t give two shits about the drug war. They don’t give a fuck about the poor and people of color that get stopped by cops for no reason. They don’t give a fuck that there are higher prison sentences for crack than for coke, despite being the same drug historically used by different classes of people. In the comments section someone argues that decriminalizing marijuana will save the city money on drug tests and allow more people access to job. THEN WHY JUST MARIJUANA?? Are people who use other drugs less worthy of jobs?
I really am incredibly mad about this. I have been going back and forth about participating but I seriously doubt I will now, especially if arrests will be as random, frequent and violent as they have been in New York. I am not going to the fucking fodder so you have more bike trails to get high on. Fuck this.
applause.
Reviewed ‘em: national-level demands are sound. Local-level…
I like the ones about ending Congressional pay raise power and revoking Congressional socialized healthcare (I think they call it something different) until all Americans have it, but yeah… that cannabis law… small sentences only? What about the disproportionately-high prison sentences? Jeez. Also, I get that other drugs are dangerously addictive, but how about throwing in an equalizer for the crack/coke sentences if they’re the same drug? /needs to research that
Most of the other local demands look fine to me, but I am viewing this through the lens of white privilege, so I may have missed something important. Also, the confusion is strong with their phrasing. Some of those ‘demands’ read like word soup, so I don’t get what they mean…
