Unlike many of my liberal and progressive friends, all of whom thought that the birther controvesy was now over with the release of the long form by the prez this morning, I understood - prophetically, cuz I'm genious like that, - it would not end here. Actually I had hoped that it would end but the farcical continuation wasn't truly confirmed until this afternoon while I was listeing to NPR. Did you hear the responses? We'll have to inspect this paper? And why wasn't it given out before this? And why doesn't it look like my birth certificate?
NPR spoke deep to me this morning. During the morning call in show a caller pointed out the fact that he felt that this was simply the way that racist people are able to "other Obama" and make him "not one of us" an "outsider" "not American", etc. I thought, "Yes!" In my mind I understood that was the logical missing part of the puzzle. If you simply replace the "he's not American" slogan with Nigger theeeeeen the refusal of this group to desist the idiocy in the fact of proof makes sense. Birthers and the rest of the human race are unknowingly having difeerent conversations - we are talking about the legitamacy of the proof anf they are talking the actuality of him being a Nigger. It's not about the proof or the paperwork.
You can't prove he isn't a nigger to these people*, can you? In fact I'm sure, if taken seriously, you couldn't actually scientifucally prove someone isn't a slur. I mean, what experiement or paperwork could you produce to show that one isn't a faggot or a bitch - etc. Those arguements are outside of the realm of logical and that's why logical responses don't work on these people.
*I mean we do carry Black cards but I don't think think those are accepted outside of the black community.
See? Doesn't the illogicality :) of those convercations make a bit more sense? Now that I think on it that way - trump needs his ass kicked. and I'm not watching appretice anymore - not even to see NENE go off on Star...dang...
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Facebook and minding your business...
Every once in a while I am reminded about someone from my past. It might be an old field hockey teammate who hit me up on my page or it might be another chick my bf says he is 'friends' with and so I skedaddle over to their facebook page to check them out. Usually I am so frustrated!
There simply isn't enough information on folks on there! I mean, first why do they have those privacy things anyway? I want to see the full body shots with full access to pics (are they fat now? do they have children? are they married? where do they vacation?). The face shot and the note "This person doesn't share information with your nosey ass" gets on my nerves.
Where is the section (and they should add this) for how much they make yearly? And whom they are dating? Are they happy? Do they own a house? Are they even in a relationship? Are they still friends with so and so? Etc. All of these ideas I'm going to send to that rich dude a.s.a.p.
At the same time, I am very close to the chest with my facebook page. I always say because I have everyone on there (unhappily - but how do you refuse a friend request??). I have business contacts, professors, mentors, pastors, church members, etc! I can't just go around saying whatever I like willy nilly! I will definitely be judged for what I say on there!! And what about people who just want to know my business like am I fat now? Do I have children? Am I married? Where do I vacation? - I mean seriously, folks need to stay out of my business!
To that end - believe you me, I will never put any personal information on facebook or myspace for that matter - because of my business contacts....
There simply isn't enough information on folks on there! I mean, first why do they have those privacy things anyway? I want to see the full body shots with full access to pics (are they fat now? do they have children? are they married? where do they vacation?). The face shot and the note "This person doesn't share information with your nosey ass" gets on my nerves.
Where is the section (and they should add this) for how much they make yearly? And whom they are dating? Are they happy? Do they own a house? Are they even in a relationship? Are they still friends with so and so? Etc. All of these ideas I'm going to send to that rich dude a.s.a.p.
At the same time, I am very close to the chest with my facebook page. I always say because I have everyone on there (unhappily - but how do you refuse a friend request??). I have business contacts, professors, mentors, pastors, church members, etc! I can't just go around saying whatever I like willy nilly! I will definitely be judged for what I say on there!! And what about people who just want to know my business like am I fat now? Do I have children? Am I married? Where do I vacation? - I mean seriously, folks need to stay out of my business!
To that end - believe you me, I will never put any personal information on facebook or myspace for that matter - because of my business contacts....
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ashley Judd and her comments....
I've been walking around pissed for two days. Not specifically at Ashley Judd for her comments - but everything they stand for and everything they highlight. Most importantly the relationship between black women feminists and womanists and white feminists. The struggle for me is whom is allowed to speak and who is heard. I am pissed because women of color have been screaming at the top of our lungs about this issue and it never received the level of attention it has this week and that took a white woman to do it -- reminding us of our voicelessness. Simply put - again a white woman is heard and a black woman is silenced.
Never mind that throughout history, and now, white feminist women jump on an justice issue (like reproductive justice) and pretend as though they discovered it. Wading through our community spewing harmful righteous indignation at the easy target when if they simply talked to us first they (we) could have had an effective activist moment.
AND lastly - Who are you to speak for me? I, black woman hear me please for once just listen and let me speak my truth, am affected by the misogyny that white men eat up with glee and impunity in mainstream rap music. Why couldn't this woman come into this conversation and lift lift up the voices of the poor, struggling, no health insurance having, tired, worn out activist of color who have dedicated their lives to this issue? This is one of the main gafts that white feminists make when interacting with black feminists and womanists. It's exactly why we stop blogging with you, writing with you, talking to you and communing with you. Some times your whiteness is bigger than your woman-ness.
So, Ashley - you can kick rocks for picking on hiphop to sell your book and commercial and (some underground) rap can kick rocks too for degrading and dehumanizing your partners for capital gain. And regular black men for nodding your heads to it. For regular black women for nodding your heads to it. To porn for propagating it. For white men who buy and enjoy it without consequence. Ugh - I can't. Really. I'm so pissed.
Never mind that throughout history, and now, white feminist women jump on an justice issue (like reproductive justice) and pretend as though they discovered it. Wading through our community spewing harmful righteous indignation at the easy target when if they simply talked to us first they (we) could have had an effective activist moment.
AND lastly - Who are you to speak for me? I, black woman hear me please for once just listen and let me speak my truth, am affected by the misogyny that white men eat up with glee and impunity in mainstream rap music. Why couldn't this woman come into this conversation and lift lift up the voices of the poor, struggling, no health insurance having, tired, worn out activist of color who have dedicated their lives to this issue? This is one of the main gafts that white feminists make when interacting with black feminists and womanists. It's exactly why we stop blogging with you, writing with you, talking to you and communing with you. Some times your whiteness is bigger than your woman-ness.
So, Ashley - you can kick rocks for picking on hiphop to sell your book and commercial and (some underground) rap can kick rocks too for degrading and dehumanizing your partners for capital gain. And regular black men for nodding your heads to it. For regular black women for nodding your heads to it. To porn for propagating it. For white men who buy and enjoy it without consequence. Ugh - I can't. Really. I'm so pissed.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Guess what?
Bekabug has a boyfriend. Officially and confirmed. Sweet. I'm psyched. You won't find this information on Facebook - I think that too much personal information, No?
Well La Di Dah. We went to Carmines, our back in the day regular spot. So I'm sitting here on my bed cracking up because when the TV plays music he kinda rocks back and forth and dances even though he is sleep! - music truly is in his soul.
The conversation went great, even when we talked about the where should this thing should go should it work...AKA..are you looking for a wife or not sucka? -- I'm still working on that softening technique. But I'm still me and that must be a beautiful thing, to someone, somehow -- well I like it ;). BUT we are on the same page - no pressure (caveat4u-smile).
I wish I were open enough to talk about him out loud...isn't that too sappy? and so Jill Scott "flashing her diamond" five years before the regrettable demise of that same marriage?? Chante's got a man that's...gone??? Right, don't want to jinx it. He definitely will eventually one day post comments here since he reads regularly (even when its too long) and he is into politics just as much as I am(points)...maybe I can get him to be a feminist (dreams). Sigh. I feel lucky so that's gotta be a good sign.
(Why is Latoya dressed like she is commanding an army??? It's project manager not general silly!)
Toodles.
Well La Di Dah. We went to Carmines, our back in the day regular spot. So I'm sitting here on my bed cracking up because when the TV plays music he kinda rocks back and forth and dances even though he is sleep! - music truly is in his soul.
The conversation went great, even when we talked about the where should this thing should go should it work...AKA..are you looking for a wife or not sucka? -- I'm still working on that softening technique. But I'm still me and that must be a beautiful thing, to someone, somehow -- well I like it ;). BUT we are on the same page - no pressure (caveat4u-smile).
I wish I were open enough to talk about him out loud...isn't that too sappy? and so Jill Scott "flashing her diamond" five years before the regrettable demise of that same marriage?? Chante's got a man that's...gone??? Right, don't want to jinx it. He definitely will eventually one day post comments here since he reads regularly (even when its too long) and he is into politics just as much as I am(points)...maybe I can get him to be a feminist (dreams). Sigh. I feel lucky so that's gotta be a good sign.
(Why is Latoya dressed like she is commanding an army??? It's project manager not general silly!)
Toodles.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Complexities of Priveledge...
I was contemplating Angry Black Bitch's post yesterday "The battle hymn of an angry black woman" about the oppression that black women face. As I read her increasingly angry prose, I thought...that simply doesn't sum me up. I'm not simply a black woman. Maybe 'the man' hasn't gotten around to showing me that I'm nothing and can be violated and abused at the whim of the state but I got the sense that the straddled with kids, poor, bad health, and barely educated trope doesn't quite fully encompass my story - I don't want be the angry pissed black women today - is that okay? Or do I have some loyalty maintain that front line?
And if I'm not a poor, angry, etc etc pissed off black woman, then what am I? Shouldn't it be essential for people to fully understand and interrogate their privilege? At least in order to make them understand why they should buy in the idea of social justice?
That brought me to the idea of trying to define my privilege. I think we have to find a way to be honest about the way that racism and patriarchy and classism play on our loyalties by rewarding some folks for something and other folks for other things. You want an example I know. What I saying is this...wouldn't we benefit from saying that black men, for example, can both be victims of racism and oppressors as men at the very same time? Yes, we women do, all the time. Yet they don't see it. Partially because it benefits them to be blind to the ways that they create and maintain oppressive relationships with black women but, not to let them off the hook but, because there is some aspect of privilege that is invisible to those who hold it.
Until I began working with the welfare population I never fully had to face my personal privilege. I thought all black women were just like me - not so. I really never understood that one could be illiterate in the United States, never actually knew anyone, never understood what that means, how it really impacts your life - I know people who have been to public school and they read just fine! But there are cracks the size of Wasila that people are falling through and now I work with them almost exclusively - the crack people. So just being able to read and write is a privilege - never mind confidently add and subtract. But even folks who come through our doors who are smart, struggle with presentation, the way they dress, and talk, and walk - basically the hated ghetto word gets thrown around the office everyday. We shake our heads and lament that there is nothing we can do for the 90% of them that embrace their way of being or have no idea that it is something they should be ashamed of (should they be ashamed of it?). Real talk. If you are a rapper...you can get away with it. A poor parole in Brooklyn with an ice cream cone tatooed on his face? Not a chance.
Womanist musing recently had a post about a big girl who was responding to the massive posts about street harassment and the dangerous prevalence of it...she noted that she was never sexually harassed but ridiculed for her size- to the point where she was secretly excited when someone did come on to her in the street. I had to pause -- could sexual harassment also be a part of one's privilege?? Whaaa??? I know intellectually that male acceptance of your sexually is essential ( I know some women who never had at all and the way that their esteem was unredeemable) but daily (unwanted?) reassurance of your femininity as a privilege? Pause... I. suppose. one. must. address. that.
You know it burns me to even think about it. Street Harassment has gotten to be my most hated daily interaction with black men and let me tell you how often I get back at them about it... but one day when I'm old they won't be paying me any attention - how will I really feel about that?? Hmmm food for thought.
Anyhoo - I'm normally angry about something...
especially the way Republicans seem to think that this government thing is a game...or that main stream hip hop can continue to belittle black women's humanity but soon as Kanye puts up a painting of a naked white women/thing on his CD cover its censured (because he is black *side eye. If he was a white man it would be cool, no?),
but I think the day I read the angry black battle hymn post, I just wasn't angry. I felt guilty. I was a black woman and I should be angry at all of the things that are going on in the world. But instead I wrapped myself in my privilege, put my feet up, and ate a bucket of chicken (baked) instead. Fight tomorrow. Promise.
In the back of my head,though, some tiny room with a wooden door in the attic - I thought, "Well crap, if I can't get myself to review and deny my own tiny insignificant privilege how in the world can I demand that white folks, and rich folks, and men, and educated folks, and light skinned folks *side eye, and long hair folks, and you get my drift...acknowledge and deny their own privilege?"
Sigh.
if you know let me know....
And if I'm not a poor, angry, etc etc pissed off black woman, then what am I? Shouldn't it be essential for people to fully understand and interrogate their privilege? At least in order to make them understand why they should buy in the idea of social justice?
That brought me to the idea of trying to define my privilege. I think we have to find a way to be honest about the way that racism and patriarchy and classism play on our loyalties by rewarding some folks for something and other folks for other things. You want an example I know. What I saying is this...wouldn't we benefit from saying that black men, for example, can both be victims of racism and oppressors as men at the very same time? Yes, we women do, all the time. Yet they don't see it. Partially because it benefits them to be blind to the ways that they create and maintain oppressive relationships with black women but, not to let them off the hook but, because there is some aspect of privilege that is invisible to those who hold it.
Until I began working with the welfare population I never fully had to face my personal privilege. I thought all black women were just like me - not so. I really never understood that one could be illiterate in the United States, never actually knew anyone, never understood what that means, how it really impacts your life - I know people who have been to public school and they read just fine! But there are cracks the size of Wasila that people are falling through and now I work with them almost exclusively - the crack people. So just being able to read and write is a privilege - never mind confidently add and subtract. But even folks who come through our doors who are smart, struggle with presentation, the way they dress, and talk, and walk - basically the hated ghetto word gets thrown around the office everyday. We shake our heads and lament that there is nothing we can do for the 90% of them that embrace their way of being or have no idea that it is something they should be ashamed of (should they be ashamed of it?). Real talk. If you are a rapper...you can get away with it. A poor parole in Brooklyn with an ice cream cone tatooed on his face? Not a chance.
Womanist musing recently had a post about a big girl who was responding to the massive posts about street harassment and the dangerous prevalence of it...she noted that she was never sexually harassed but ridiculed for her size- to the point where she was secretly excited when someone did come on to her in the street. I had to pause -- could sexual harassment also be a part of one's privilege?? Whaaa??? I know intellectually that male acceptance of your sexually is essential ( I know some women who never had at all and the way that their esteem was unredeemable) but daily (unwanted?) reassurance of your femininity as a privilege? Pause... I. suppose. one. must. address. that.
You know it burns me to even think about it. Street Harassment has gotten to be my most hated daily interaction with black men and let me tell you how often I get back at them about it... but one day when I'm old they won't be paying me any attention - how will I really feel about that?? Hmmm food for thought.
Anyhoo - I'm normally angry about something...
especially the way Republicans seem to think that this government thing is a game...or that main stream hip hop can continue to belittle black women's humanity but soon as Kanye puts up a painting of a naked white women/thing on his CD cover its censured (because he is black *side eye. If he was a white man it would be cool, no?),
but I think the day I read the angry black battle hymn post, I just wasn't angry. I felt guilty. I was a black woman and I should be angry at all of the things that are going on in the world. But instead I wrapped myself in my privilege, put my feet up, and ate a bucket of chicken (baked) instead. Fight tomorrow. Promise.
In the back of my head,though, some tiny room with a wooden door in the attic - I thought, "Well crap, if I can't get myself to review and deny my own tiny insignificant privilege how in the world can I demand that white folks, and rich folks, and men, and educated folks, and light skinned folks *side eye, and long hair folks, and you get my drift...acknowledge and deny their own privilege?"
Sigh.
if you know let me know....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)