What’s the point if I don’t offer commentary/reaction pieces? Well, a sort of reminder for me and a -pointer-> for you!
Two articles and two snapshots from the Life and Times of Joy-Z.
Article 1: You know I love Pasha Malla (who wouldn’t?). Self-Portrait of a Racist. I rather wish I could regularly be this honest, but you know, it’s not always safe. It’s easier to discuss these things in America than in other places, I suppose, if only because it is so often necessary. Hopefully I will get around to going on about how I agree with such-and-such points in this article, but for now, I’d like to note that the ‘new’ thing I saw in this article was the Tarek Fatah quotation:
“Why is it that whenever [any] ethnic minority organizes events, the only other community invited to participate is the dominant white community?” — and ends on a note of despair: “While I value diversity, I am tired of celebrating it.” Mr. Fatah insists that minority groups need to come together and celebrate their “common humanity.”
New thought nugget for chewing!
Article 2: Chinese-American activists are opposing Bill Richardson’s nomination to Obama’s cabinet based on his (mis)handling of the Wen Ho Lee case some ten years ago.
I remember feeling superweird reading about Wen Ho Lee in the paper, ten years ago. Assorted thoughts I had:
(1) But he’s from Taiwan – how do you know what he feels about China, just because he’s Chinese?
(2) How do they deal with white guys that do this stuff? I wonder if I could find some articles on that. (Never did try.)
(3) How can they just lock him up without having determined anything really? (Oh, Younger Joyce, wait a few years and see the kind of shit that goes down on the ‘locking people up for *mumblemumble*’ front.) If someone pulled this shit on my parents, I would be fucking PISSED. (I think the article I was reading had a quotation from Lee’s daughter.)
(4) Shit, what kind of crap might I get from people about this?
Snapshot 1: First week of college, hanging out in the commons, if you will. Talking with a guy about being in a new place where everyone else knows someone, knows how things work.
Foreign not-yet-friend: Well, I’m a racist. Who isn’t? I don’t get black people. There really aren’t any back home. I can’t understand what they are saying when they talk.
Me, feeling superuncomfortable: Um, well, sure we all have people we are uncomfortable with before we know them as people and you can’t prevent having some prejudiced thoughts, but I wouldn’t call myself a racist. If I were you.
Foreign friend: But why not? I am. I, am a racist.
Me, continuing to hedge: Well, I feel like, while that may be true, in America, it’s just too strong a word. If you say ‘racist’, the implication is that there is, in addition to the thoughts, some kind of knowing, malicious acting upon those thoughts, against people. So…
Foreign friend shrugs. Topic changes. I feel odd relief, unsure why America is as it is.
Snapshot 2: In the car with my Dad, one of many father-daughter talks. They all seem to happen in the car, when there is no escape for either of us.
Dad, very matter-of-fact, per uze: It sucks to be a minority no matter who you are or where. You’re going to get crapped on, it’s inevitable, but you just deal with it and do your thing. Your thing is your business, not the crap. (A call to study more, I’m sure.) Besides, America’s probably the best place to be a minority; there are so many minorities that you are not bearing the full brunt of the shitty treatment. Plus, you are a girl. Don’t let them give you crap!
Heh, hate as a zero-sum game. They can only enact so much hate! The upper-bound of racist effects effected!
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