Comments on: Expecting More

By: Transphobic Words and Deeds « Questioning Transphobia

Transphobic Words and Deeds « Questioning Transphobia — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:34:02 +0000

[...] is what happens when conversations about issues surrounding disability, race, trans people, and other oppressed classes of people start: Privileged people walk in and demand to [...]

By: Daughter of the Ring of Fire - Quick Hits

Daughter of the Ring of Fire - Quick Hits — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:10:24 +0000

[...] A Question of Feminism or a “Movement”? – about the need to hold feminists accountable to each other and, especially, the need for white feminists (and those with other privileges) to be accountable to those with fewer social privileges. Discussion can be found at the original post and at Feministe [...]

By: Ico

Ico — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:06:48 +0000

You know Littlem, at some point I’m just going to start copying and pasting what you are saying. It’s amazing how you are so consistently ignored.

Ditto Littlem’s comments. Also, while it’s nice that Sudy is linked to, I notice that there is no retraction of support for Marcotte’s book.

The controversy about Amanda’s article was about something much bigger than Amanda

Right now, the controversy is about you promoting Amanda and her book on Feministe, in spite of the tremendous silencing/hurt/appropriation/etc that occurred not more than two weeks ago. And while you’ve qualified that promotion with, “Yeah I know this hurt some people — sorry” — you haven’t actually retracted it DESPITE the fact that the very promotion is a slap in the face of many of the WoC bloggers who left (and you know this; yet you’re sticking to your guns and supporting the book anyway?) and DESPITE the racist imagery.

“Sorry” doesn’t cut it. An apology is MEANINGLESS if there’s no sincere action to accompany it.

Why have you not demanded some kind of apology/citation/action from Marcotte?
Why are you promoting her after all that happened these past weeks?
Why are you promoting a racist book?
Where is your support for women of color?
Where?
Where?

By: Thomas, TSID

Thomas, TSID — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:09:55 +0000

While it’s not the topic of the post, I want to second, third and fourth the kudos to Samhita, who lays down solid post after solid post and whose contributions should not be overlooked just because the founder is high-profile.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:47:39 +0000

“Ethnically ambiguous” is how I enjoy putting it. And, lord, am I exposed to racist remarks! I had a boss tell me once to remove a “fat Puerto Rican chick” from an image we were working with. But when people actually do know, it’s far more hurtful and complex to deal with. There’s the people I’ve been friends with who think the fact that I’m not completely Puerto Rican makes it cool to call me “spic” because obviously they’ve just been dying to use a racial slur with impunity, and the boyfriend’s drunk mother who has told people, “Don’t let her last name fool you, she’s Mexican!”

Littlem: I am laughing so hard. You put it beautifully.

By: littlem

littlem — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:59:03 +0000

ust want to say, Hi, I’m Puerto Rican, Irish, and (other stuff), and I’m in the same boat. It’s always nice to find out there’s more of us out there who get the “What are you?” and then the subsequent decline in respect…

Personally I enjoy offering the response “human”.

If the busybody or marketing-genius-in-their-own-mind is savvy enough to pick up the metamessage “And it’s really none of your business”, so much the better.

If you just can’t tolerate “not knowing what I am” from looking at me without your head going ‘splodey, then you’ll just have to tote a lot of tissues to clean up the mess, because I’ve consulted my calendar and I’m afraid we just don’t have time to accommodate your xenophobia today. Or this week. And probably not this year.

*Option to insert mournful concerned front-office face here*

So if you feel you just must, check in with us again next millennium, mmmkay?

By: ThickRedGlasses

ThickRedGlasses — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:57:28 +0000

To Alicia:

Just want to say, Hi, I’m Puerto Rican, Irish, and (other stuff), and I’m in the same boat. It’s always nice to find out there’s more of us out there who get the “What are you?” and then the subsequent decline in respect…

Two of my best friends are, shall we say, “ethnically ambiguous.” Whenever the three of us go out together, at least one of us is asked “what are you.” And I know that some people are genuinely interested, but they always sound a little confused when they ask. What’s worse is that we often witness extremely racist comments. The people who say these things think they’re in a safe place, because they don’t realize that one of the people that they’re disrespecting is standing right next to them. That’s difficult to deal with.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:25:37 +0000

To ThickRedGlasses:

When I tell them that I’m Puerto Rican, Irish, and Polish, I often get, “Oh, that’s interesting” like it’s never happened before. I think I benefit from skin color privilege, since I’m light skinned, but when people find out I’m Hispanic, I notice I get treated differently. It’s like I’m assumed White until I say otherwise.

Just want to say, Hi, I’m Puerto Rican, Irish, and (other stuff), and I’m in the same boat. It’s always nice to find out there’s more of us out there who get the “What are you?” and then the subsequent decline in respect…

By: lethal

lethal — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:15:34 +0000

When any of us have a soapbox, an opportunity to get up and talk, we must continue to stand by those who aren’t called on.

Amen.

By: In light of Appropriation and Race « Questioning Transphobia

In light of Appropriation and Race « Questioning Transphobia — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:54:43 +0000

[...] at Feministe wrote an article linking back to Sudy’s post, also linked [...]