- Joined
- Mar 28, 2010
- Messages
- 1,025
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- 140
This is an anonymous forum, so even though I will probably never be "outed" in real life for saying what I did, I still feel like I need to say something in my defense. I would understand if those offended do not feel like they want to hear what I've got to say, but I would assert that they might also learn something from my perspective:
In regard to the original post that started all this, it seems like Forthefuture did come from a rather sheltered upbringing. He says in one part of his original post:
"I have never seen so many African Americans concentrated in one location. The culture here surrounding civil rights and a lot of sociocultural implications associated with poverty and racial disparity can really be felt here." something about "the history books coming alive."
In another part he says:
"In any case, everything I learned in history textbooks really came alive that day."
These comments bespeak a lack of awareness of issues surrounding African American History, Urban Demographics, and Racial and Class dynamics beyond what is taught in a high school social studies class. In my mind, two things can contribute to this lack of awareness: a lack of exposure to an immediate physical environment where such issues are prevalent, and a lack of exposure to cultural products such as music, movies/TV, or news items that raise these issues either explicitly or implicitly.
Forthefuture stated that he, "grew up in really a suburban middle class community in California" This points to a lack of exposure to an immediate physical environment. Proof of the lack of exposure to cultural products can be gleaned from the tone and content of his posts entirely. I feel like anybody who's listened to his fair share of 90's rap, seen movies like "Training Day," "Boyz 'N the Hood," "Do the Right Thing," "American History X," or TV shows like "The Wire" could have put the experience Forthefuture had in North Philly in a much more informed context.
Therefore, without the necessary upbringing and cultural education, he could not have known the effect his comments would elicit from those who do possess those qualities. I can't say I was as uneducated in these matters as Forthefuture, but I'm not perfect either. The only exposure I had ever had in relation to the subject of "Blackface" was in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s 2009 Oscar Speech regarding Robert Downing Jr.'s role in "Tropic Thunder," in which he said,
"To be a white actor, playing a white Australian actor, playing a black actor in black face I say, are you out of your mind? (laughs from audience) I mean you know I can understand getting into your character for the art of the charter's heart and soul but that's enough of taking the parts from the black people. Man, the brothers need to work. You know. That's enough of that. I appreciate it."
Therefore, I've only heard the expression used in a comedic context. Only after my comment elicited such a hostile response did I then google blackface and find out its real socio-historical connotations.
It's one thing when people are racist in an intentionally malignant way, but when people like myself and Forthefuture are bashed and pinned as racists and idiots, any further progress that could have been made in the way of constructive dialogue and education about race stops. Perhaps it was appropriate for Forthefuture to apologize once for his lack of education and awareness, but I felt like the degree to which he was made to feel like a complete d*ck was unnecessary and excessive, especially considering his earnest tone in recognizing his apparent mistake and his humility in trying to make amends. Now he has taken down his post. What kind of message does that send? Basically, that if your personal subjective experience does not fit within certain guidelines of political correctness, you should not voice them. So in the future, rather than putting his viewpoint out there to be a starting block for intelligent and constructive dialogue, he's probably now more inclined to shut up to avoid scorn.
I'm Asian. I grew up in white-america. I'm no stranger to racism. But I am not of the opinion that the burden of education about race, which in my opinion is the only viable way to deal with racism in a multi-racial society, should be the sole-burden of the uneducated. Everyone should pitch in. I feel like if I make a comment that you construe as racist, you and I each have our respective responsibilities:
I have the responsibility to be humble and recognize that I have made an error, to have the decency to apologize, and to be receptive to being educated about the nature of the error.
You have the responsibility to be cognizant of where I'm coming from, why I made the comment, and if it was made from a place of ignorance rather than malice, to summon the patience to point out my mistake and possibly educate me on the nature of the error.
This way, we both make an effort: I make an effort to meet you where you are, you make an effort to meet me where I am. We do it with mutual respect. Everybody goes away better for the experience.
To me, this showing of unforgiving intolerance negates connection, compassion, and understanding, the very instruments that can unify people, heal racial division, and transcend prejudice.
