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anniekoh · 4 years

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elsewhere on the internet: talking about racism

This set of articles has been languishing at the back of the queue for three years!

Political Correctness Wanted Dead or Alive: A Rhetorical Witch-Hunt in the US, Russia, and Europe

Anna Szilagyi (2016, Talk Decoded)

Possibly the most common way of attacking political correctness, is to label it “tyrannical”. Covert speech strategies may also support this construction. For instance, anti-PC politicians often utilize adjectives for fear (including “afraid”, “frightened”, “scared”, “terrified”) to describe how PC affects the behavior and feelings of people. The former leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage claimed: “I think actually what’s been happening with this whole politically correct agenda is lots of decent ordinary people are losing their jobs and paying the price for us being terrified of causing offence.” Suggesting that the British are “terrified” because of political correctness, Farage urged his listeners to think of PC in terms of intimidation.

At the same time, the fearsome vocabulary provides a background for anti-PC populists to present themselves as “brave” and “courageous” “saviors” of their “victimized” societies. The next quote by Nigel Farage exemplifies this trend: “I think the people see us as actually standing up and saying what we think, not being constrained or scared by political correctness.” In a similar fashion, Geert Wilders declared: “I will not allow anyone to shut me up.”

Why White People Freak Out When They’re Called Out About Race

Sam Adler-Bell (2015, Alternet) @SamAdlerBell

Sam Adler-Bell: How did you come to write about "white fragility"?

Robin DiAngelo: To be honest, I wanted to take it on because it’s a frustrating dynamic that I encounter a lot. I don’t have a lot of patience for it. And I wanted to put a mirror to it.

I do atypical work for a white person, which is that I lead primarily white audiences in discussions on race every day, in workshops all over the country. That has allowed me to observe very predictable patterns. And one of those patterns is this inability to tolerate any kind of challenge to our racial reality. We shut down or lash out or in whatever way possible block any reflection from taking place.

Of course, it functions as means of resistance, but I think it’s also useful to think about it as fragility, as inability to handle the stress of conversations about race and racism

Sometimes it’s strategic, a very intentional push back and rebuttal. But a lot of the time, the person simply cannot function. They regress into an emotional state that prevents anybody from moving forward.

...

RD: I think we get tired of certain terms. What I do used to be called "diversity training," then "cultural competency" and now, "anti-racism." These terms are really useful for periods of time, but then they get coopted, and people build all this baggage around them, and you have to come up with new terms or else people won’t engage.

And I think "white privilege" has reached that point. It rocked my world when I first really got it, when I came across Peggy McIntosh. It’s a really powerful start for people. But unfortunately it's been played so much now that it turns people off.

The Language of “Privilege” Doesn’t Work

Stephen Aguilar (2016, Inside Higher Ed) @stephenaguilar

I believe that “privilege” is a sterile word that does not grapple with the core of the problem. If you are white, you do not have “white” privilege. If you are male, you do not have “male” privilege. If you are straight, you do not have “straight” privilege. What you have is advantage. The language of advantage, I propose, is a much cleaner and more precise way to frame discussions about racism (or sexism, or most systems of oppression).

... does giving up a “privilege” seem incoherent? It might, because generally privileges are given and taken by someone else. They are earned, and are seldom bad things to have.

Now try shifting your language to that of advantages. Ask yourself, “What advantages do I have over that person over there?” That question is much easier to answer and yields more nuanced responses.

Kimberlé Crenshaw on intersectionality

Bim Adewunmi (2014, New Statesman) @bimadewunmi

“I wanted to come up with an everyday metaphor that anyone could use”

“Class is not new and race is not new. And we still continue to contest and talk about it, so what’s so unusual about intersectionality not being new and therefore that’s not a reason to talk about it? Intersectionality draws attention to invisibilities that exist in feminism, in anti-racism, in class politics, so obviously it takes a lot of work to consistently challenge ourselves to be attentive to aspects of power that we don’t ourselves experience.”

...

“Sometimes it feels like those in power frame themselves as being tremendously disempowered by critique. A critique of one’s voice isn’t taking it away. If the underlying assumption behind the category ‘women’ or ‘feminist’ is that we are a coalition then there have to be coalitional practices and some form of accountability.”

The Persecution of Amy Schumer: Political Correctness and Comedy

Teo Bugbee (2015, Daily Beast)

We have developed highly advanced ways of recognizing and articulating when we feel offended, but very few ways of making something productive out of our own hurt feelings.

I’ve questioned if my choice to overlook what’s hurtful in Schumer’s comedy for the sake of what’s insightful is a sign that I’m complicit in the faults of white feminism, not valuing the importance of others’ feelings on this matter enough. This argument of apathy gets used often on social media to raise awareness around issues of race, sex, gender, and other topics surrounding justice and a need for change, and it is often useful, but it can also be a blunt instrument. Where I’ve landed for the moment is that not all marginalized people feel the same way about every issue—even on social media, but especially outside it—and asking everyone to respond in the same way to the same joke takes a simplistic view that flattens the complexity of marginalized communities just as much as it does the white, cisgender mainstream.

However, if we’re going to ask audiences to keep in mind the multiplicity of responses that a person might have to a work of art before they attempt to control someone else’s opinion, then it’s only fair that comedians follow the same rule.

What’s Wrong (and Right) in Jonathan Chait’s Anti-P.C. Screed

J. Bryan Lowder (2015, Slate)

One of the main problems with the constellation of leftist ideas he bemoans is that many of the people who use them most loudly do so out of context. Concepts like “microaggressions,” “trigger warnings,” and “mansplaining” originally had specific meanings and limited uses, often within the academy. They described or were meant to address specific situations or phenomena, and more important, they were intended to function as diagnostic tools of analysis, not be used as blunt, conversation-ending instruments. Believe it or not, most of these “PC buzzwords” are actually useful from time to time: “Straightsplaining” is a real (and very annoying) thing, and it’s often a productive way of thinking about an interaction. But it’s also not always a useful or fair way to characterize a disagreement between a queer person and a straight interlocutor. Precision is what’s needed.

Additionally, though it is impossible to say this without sounding condescending myself, a lot of the abuse of PC rhetoric comes from young college students who have not yet grasped the difference between a measuring tape and a sledgehammer. Of course, given that contemporary mainstream politics offers little for those hopeful souls who want to make truly radical change in the world, you can’t really blame them for gravitating toward a mode of critique that at least feels somewhat empowering. Here, first-year, is a framework by which you can reveal the (screwed-up) hidden structures of the world and use your newly honed textual close-reading skills to mount offenses against those structures—go for it. What works on a novel doesn’t necessary translate to a complicated, changeable human being, though, so it’s no surprise that the deployment of microaggression and cissexism and other social justice lingo can sometimes come off as strident and simplistic. It often is.

But then, so is crying that only Reason can save us from the illiberal wolves waiting in the wings of our great system, which has a “glorious” history on social justice, by the way.

Want To Help End Systemic Racism? First Step: Drop the White Guilt

Sincere Kirabo (2015, thehumanist)

The point of identifying and exposing inconsistencies within the social systems and cultural norms of the United States isn’t to make whites feel guilty, but to garner greater empathy that will inspire change. The main problem with white guilt is that it attempts to diminish the spotlight aimed at issues germane to marginalized groups and redirects the focus to a wasteful plane of apologetics and ineffective assessment.

This is why some don’t like discussing racism, as those more sensitive to these matters sometimes allow guilt to creep into their thought processes, effectively evoking pangs of discomfort. This can lead to avoidance of the primary issues altogether, as well as the manifestation of defense mechanisms, including denial, projection, intellectualization, and rationalization.

Many are acquainted with the concept of Catholic guilt. Catholic doctrine emphasizes the inherent sinfulness of all people. These accentuated notions of fault lead to varied degrees of enhanced self-loathing. I liken white guilt to Catholic guilt: both relate to a sense of inadequacy emanating from misguided notions. Though the latter is anchored in an imagined source, they both speak to feelings of remorse and internal conflict that does the individual having them no good.

Keep in mind that the call to “recognize your privilege” does not translate to “bear the blame.”

#racism #intersectionality #political correctness #social justice #linguistics

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howmanyheartaches · 7 years

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This is my contribution for docholligay’s BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA BROTP CONTEST HEY Y’ALL PLEASE JOIN IN!!!

Big shout-out to ARLHT who came up with this story (I insisted on the prompt “Double Date” – in the “Sailor Moon” category of course) – it fits so nicely into Doc’s love for amusement parks, so here we go!

On a rare occasion

It is good to have a friend. A friend who is always there for you. To pick you up when you’re down. To measure your powers against …

It was a tale as old as time: two over-ambitious blondes met with their significant others in an amusement park, left them somewhere and almost forgot about them, decided to make each other frozen yoghurts and eat all of it in a challenge.

All in the name of honor, of course.

Mina rubbed the insides of her hands together. Oh, this was easy! All she needed to assembly was the healthiest toppings offered and Haruka would not dare to touch them.

But midway while sprinkling some peach juice on top of a few slices of apple, she stopped. Damn, that stuff was sweet! Haruka would totally eat it!

And also, as butch as she was, but that bitch did like to eat a salad.

Frustrated, she almost let the filled cup with frozen yoghurt drop to the floor. Whilst deeply in thoughts, the blonde did not notice that Haruka had stolen herself away. Mina even found herself biting her well-manicured fingernails with her signature glitter nail polish – she was dead serious about winning and now concerned about losing.

The usually confident leader of the Senshi managed to put some pieces together that yelled “Granny sweets!” from afar, but she was also pretty sure that Haruka’s grandma had actually given those sweets to her. All in all, Mina swore to herself never to do a foodie challenge again. And she should have known better after the great Chicken Wings Inccident from last year. Maybe Rei was right after all – she really was stupid.

She almost dropped the cup a second time, when Haruka showed up directly behind her, bending down to whisper in her ear: “Time is up!”

“Lesbian, get away from me”, but Mina jumped back, just in case Haruka didn’t do as told, as Haruka never did as told. Badly trained by that seer. A shame.

“Oh, I see you are scared that you are going to lose!”

Minako could hear a little girl asking “Mom, why are these women yelling?”, but yelled nevertheless: “Swap!”

They swapped the cups as commanded. And then Mina saw for the first time what Haruka Tenoh, Sailor Uranus, Princess of Uterus, was truly capable of.

“This is not allowed!”

“So you have the guidebook of the Grand Challenge Tour De Amusement Park?” This was a rhetoric question. If anyone was going to write a pamphlet, it was surely Haruka.

“This is not the official title!”

“There is no guidebook!!”

Mina took a deep breath. She could do it. She could eat the DAMN PICKLES that Haruka had organized from the hot dog booth next door.

Only that she hated pickles.

Which Haruka knew.

They had been to McDonald’s too often. Freaking Haruka and her freaking 20 pieces of Chicken McNuggets.

And Mina was very certain she would hate pickles even more ON TOP OF FROZEN YOGHURT. More deep breaths followed. Minako, you can do it. You are a fabulous warrior princess.

Two minutes later, she could hear the little girl saying “Yuck, one of these women is now puking!” while Mina threw up in a trashcan outside of the froyo shop.

“Don’t you like it, Mina? I made that all for you and only you!”

Mina pressed your eyes together. She would have screamed for revenge, if her mouth wasn’t occupied differently.

* * *

“Didn’t you swear to yourself to never do a foodie challenge again?”

“I would never do such a thing, Tenoh, besides, this is a speed challenge.”

Mina pointed her chin at the little girl that had supervised her fall at the frozen yoghurt shop, while taking Haruka’s cotton candy from the candy man: “Ah look, there she is, that girl said you’re her hero for wearing men’s slacks!”

As Haruka looked in the pointed direction, Mina made use of the little medallion that Rei had once given to her. The salt inside was supposed to keep ghosts away, in reality Mina was happy to have it during breakfast. But not only eggs sunny-side-up needed the material Michiru was made of! With her medallion emptied, she handed Haruka the cotton candy that was color-wise a rainbow tribute.

She secretly thanked Rei for her thoughtful gift, well knowing, that Rei would not take that tribute. This morning though, she had been happy to see Mina wearing it with her pink crop top and matching Daisy Dukes. It was a nice memory, to see Rei happy – but it would be even nicer to also end this day with winning against her best friend. She could barely do while doing sports – and when they all played beach volleyball, Haruka was always on her team. They were slaying together – Haruka mostly because Michiru liked watching her in her beach volleyball outfit. But now it was time to slay Haruka.

Haruka accepted it, still thinking another person on this planet would enjoy her get-up made off cargo pants and a Hawaii shirt: “Oh, so you think you can beat the wind?”

“Shut up, air pump, and put.that.countdown.down.”

Haruka did as told – for once! - with her BB8-cased smartphone. She seemed eager to start, with the tempting smell of cotton candy in the air: “Okay. Ready. Steady. Go.”

And as the eating contest kicked off, Haruka dug into her colorful pile of cotton candy – only to emerge with her face all warped.

“I can’t eat this”, she declared grossed-out.

Mina smirked, strutting off with her own delicious pink cotton candy: “And the master becomes the student …”

* * *

“Haruka, love, I certainly don’t have to remind you of the fact that it is very hard to get a decent wine in this resort, no? So, please toast with us.”

“Yeah, Mina, you’ve heard her too”, Rei tilted her head in Michiru’s direction, staring at Mina. She was almost able to feel compassion for her girlfriend, who sat sunken into the fancy chair at the only luxurious restaurant in the whole amusement park.

“To this truly rare double date”, Michiru lifted her glass, as Haruka tried to grasp hers shaking. Rei could barely hide her laughter as she sat next to Michiru, ever the most elegant woman in any room, anywhere.

Three glasses clicked, because Mina, for the first time in her life, did not take any likening to alcohol at all – and had no shame of not hiding it.

“Minako, you look almost green-ish. Are you well?” Michiru looked at Mina piercingly and Mina didn’t believe for one second to be on Michiru’s mind even.

“You know damn well I’m not well, Ursula.” Mina rolled her eyes. She had felt better with the cotton candy, but had lost her draw at the “who lasts the longest at the roller coaster” point of the tour. Now, all she wanted to do was to vomit for the rest of her pathetic days, no matter how she usually ate her way through everything Michiru paid for.

“Michi, how was your day so far?” Haruka managed to ask, her mouth still aching from the dose of salt.

“Splendid. I always enjoy spending time with Rei, we had a nice walk through the flower exhibit”, Michiru smiled at Rei, which was being mirrored just as passive-aggressively back to her. It wasn’t a lie, but it hadn’t been a nice walk either, it had been a “Rei flames Mina like the firecracker she is, because she’s shocked that Mina of all people would abandon her in an amusement park” run (greenhorn mistake). Which Haruka overlooked in her first shock: “So you’re rather here with Rei than with me?!”

Michiru just smiled and didn’t say anything.

Haruka leaned in to Mina, almost eating a handful of Mina’s long hair by accident: “Mina, we have to abort.”

“Why, because you know you’re going to lose at the live action ghost train?” Because this was a done deal for Mina. So she leaned forward, letting her Kobe steak almost eat a handful of her hair as well.

“We’re going to the live action ghost train next!” She announced publicly, ignoring Haruka’s sudden flash of angst. Haruka was a lesbian after all.

“Oh, good for you! I know how you don’t get all worked up about bad actor’s performances at all“, Rei grinned.

“You’re such a courageous girl, honey”, Michiru cooed, putting a hand on Haruka’s. Haruka froze on the spot, her heart pounding so loud she was afraid Michiru could hear it.

This was no good.

But Mina did not see the signs.

It was too late to go back.

* * *

“World Shaking!”

“Rukruk, that was decoration made from cardboard!”

“But it looked … very realistic … I …”

“Shat your miniskirt? Do you really think people will believe the electricity we-”

“AAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Venus Love Me Chain!”

“Do you really think people will believe that a pipe broke as well? I’m wet!”

“That’s what she said!”

“That’s what I said because you destroyed a water effect and now I’m under water!”

“HELLO you were the one WHO SCREAMED! Did you really just freak out because of a spider made of plastic? Do you sissies make your weirdly-aging daughter carry out real, small spiders or the old lady that is living with you?”

“Please shut your pie-hole.”

“Most importantly – I won!” A V-sign was thrown in the total dark.

“You won? I won!”

“You said I won so I won!”

“If you’ve won and were not scared, why did you transform …?”

“I don’t want people to notice that Minako Aino is with a full on idiot.”

“So Sailor Venus is.”

“You agreed with me that you’re a full on idiot - so I won.”

* * *

Michiru loved these moments, when the lake was so quiet. Superficial as it was. But the sun was real and it was warming her up even underneath of her sprawling sunhat. They had waited for a stormy moment for their swan-shaped boot to be blown to the middle of the lake and now everything laid still, with the sun powering up again. It was perfect, especially with the pleasant company that was Rei Hino, after all these years.

Even with the smoke in the background, but the two of them were facing in a different direction, watching the Ferris wheel go round and round.

“Did you hear that?” Rei looked up from the cone of ice-cream Michiru had treated her to.

“Yes, my dear, it’s the sound of ‘we can finally go to a proper restaurant’.”

* * *

“At first I thought the handcart would clash with your dress, Rei, but it suits you”, Michiru complimented her best friend while gently touching her arm.

“Right? Target looks always good with a weak girlfriend in tow”, Rei didn’t even flatter Mina with a look at her. Her head held up high, she pulled the handcart that parents could rent for their kids to tug around - with the kind of confidence you could only have if you’ve grown up with Usagi Tsukino and Minako Aino.

“Can you maybe not try to kill me with your leg?” Mina complained at Haruka and her long limbs that were absolutely everywhere.

“You just tried to kill me in this tunnel of horror!”

“You did!”

Haruka finally sighed, giving in, but not able to move her leg away from Mina’s shoulder.

“Michiru, please don’t tell Seiya about this”, she whined.

“Oh, I thought you’d wanted me to snapchat this? I used Minako’s account specifically because she has such a following!”

Haruka shrieked.

“Come here, Tenoh”, Mina pulled Haruka’s foot in a tight embrace. Haruka groaned, but let her foot be some kind of massaged. Yes, it was good to have friends. Especially if you did not think about the fact that your wife needs the account details from your best friend to make fun of you.

And Mina won at last.

#docholligay #writing #one true pairing #brOTP

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