What’s up, Feministe?
My name is Latoya Peterson, and I am the editrix of Racialicious.com, a blog about the intersection of race and pop culture.
I’ve also been known to write on video games every now and again for Cerise and contribute to Clutch Magazine whenever I can catch a breath.
Earlier this year, I had a major crisis regarding my understanding of feminism, where I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue to embrace this label. I wrote about it in the context of anti-click moments (when one realizes feminism was not necessarily made with them in mind), whether or not feminism has to address race, who we think we are fighting for (or struggling with, as one of my commenters pointed out), choosing to identify as a hip-hop feminist, and on and on.
So, that leads me to why I am blogging here. When I got an email from Jill asking if I wanted to be a guest blogger for the summer, I was both excited and apprehensive.
I was initially excited because I enjoy reading what the Feministe crew has to say on most topics, even when I disagree. There are also a lot of things I get into that would be fun to analyze from a feminist framework that doesn’t necessarily have enough of a race hook for me to discuss on Racialicious. Visions of video games, manga, music videos and American comics danced in my head and I started keeping a master list of things to write about on Feministe.
But, as the summer blogging started, and I saw how some of the guest contributors were treated here, I was reminded of that apprehension. It seems that even in a space like this, it is difficult to have a discussion that honestly looks at race or colonization or religious bias without it going to hell. I’ve watched a few of the bloggers I respect be attacked for essentially being themselves; and I read all kinds of fallout attacking one of my friends.
That’s not cool. It made me wonder if I was taking the wrong vantage point while blogging here – that while I wanted to have fun and talk about pop culture, maybe it would be better to reinforce some of the other messages that were not given enough consideration.
In the end, I have decided to split the difference and blog about a little bit of everything. I’m still planning to write some things on comic and video game heroines, manga-style feminism, the Pussycat Dolls, Tila Tequila, music videos and messaging, paranormal smut fiction and reggaeton. But I will also be outlining my understanding and application of hip-hop feminism, dissecting musical lyrics and ingrained misogyny, issues with discussing feminism and class, the perils of religious bias, capitalism, colonialist bias in the feminist gaze, why feminism is a battleground, and understanding the limitations of both lived experience and theory.
So, all in all, this is going to be an ambitious two weeks.
Looking forward to some interesting conversation.
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(Sidenote: I often listen to music as I compose a piece, as well as make references to certain lyrics and artists. So, most of my posts will have a soundtrack at the end of the piece, what I was listening to while I was writing the post. Some of these will relate directly to the post, others will not. Some of these songs will probably be considered controversial to place on a feminist blog but since I plan to address these issues at length, I don’t see much of an issue. I am aware of at least one deaf feminist who reads my work on the regular, as well as another feminist who can’t play video on her PC, so I will try to include a link to the lyrics whenever I can. I cannot guarantee that all the songs I link to will have lyrics available, or an English translation. My apologies in advance.)
Public Service Announcement – Jay-Z (off the Black Album)
Welcome Latoya! Can’t wait to read your posts, particularly the ones on comics and videogames!
I’m a big fan of Racialicious and I’m excited to see what you do here.
yesss. can’t wait to read what you have to say.
Awesome, I am here with Bint last week and you this week? The cool is overwhelming!!!
And those sound like some damn awesome topics….(puts on reading game face).
Yay!
I’m now very curious about your thoughts on paranormal smut. :)
Hi Latoya! I’m still really excited that you decided to accept and can’t wait to read your posts.
(And you’re far from being alone in disappointment at how some of the other guests have been treated. In fact, I’m pretty sure that all of the Feministe bloggers agree with you there.)
Hello Latoya…I am a huge fan and I just wanted to say that I am thrilled to see you blogging here. I look forward to reading all of your posts
Hi Latoya! I love what you do at Racialicious (as you know) and I am looking forward to seeing what you’ll do here.
I share your apprehension about writing about pop culture and yet feeling the need to blog about “serious” stuff. But I think you do an excellent job at Racialicious relating pop culture to the “serious” stuff, and I am looking forward to it here.
Embedding Jay-Z on a feminist blog? You’re coming out swinging, LP, and I’m excited to see what’s next.
Since I love Racialicious I’m really looking forward to your guestblogging spot here. Embedding Jay-Z only furthers my excitement.
Glad to see you here! I’m a regular Racialicious reader and always find your posts interesting and thought-provoking.
Welcome!
Glad to see you here!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Let the games begin!
I am pants-pissingly excited!
Darn, I am out of town this week with limited access, but will definitely have to check in to catch your stuff here. Yay Latoya!
you showing up here, that had me incredibly happy. add in jay-z and im fucking ecstatic. i’m with renee on looking forward to reading every post you put up!
I’ve read Racialicious for a long time and have always really enjoyed reading your posts..I’m really excited to see what contributions you have to make to Feministe!
Yay!
I am an avid reader of Racialicious and am soooooooooo happy you’re here. Double dose of Latoya for the next few weeks! YES!
As everyone else has said, I’m really excited you’ll be blogging with Feministe! I’m an avid racialicious reader (far less frequent commenter), but i look forward to reading your insights here!
Thanks, y’all. I appreciate the warm response.
Things are going to be tricky, because I’m still running Racialicious in the meantime. Ah well, I’ll do my best.
And I forgot to mention in the above posts, I take requests. Feel free to drop me a note in the comments here or at my regular spot if there is something you want me to cover/expand on.
(I don’t take musical requests though – I’m in the driver’s seat on this one!)
I love racialicious and am so glad to see you at another of the blogs I frequent! Welcome!
I’m a huge fan of Racialicious and, on a side note, hip hop, and I’m thrilled that you’re here this next couple of weeks. Salut!