We Have Feelings Too or The Cost Of Being A POC in Race Discussions
I just read this post at Angry Black Woman. Amazing.
Fyi, IBARW is International Blog Against Racism Week. It's this week.
August 3, 2009
We Have Feelings Too or The Cost Of Being A POC in Race Discussions
Posted by karnythia
Originally I wasn't going to write any posts for IBARW. Then it was just going to be the one. I'm up to three now. Because it's been that kind of week. And since this post is about emotion it's probably not going to be as polished as some of my other pieces. Or as polite. But, that's the risk you take when you talk about race and racism with a POC.
One of the things people tend to say to me (especially after they've tried to hammer sense into someone's head for hours only to discover that bigotry can be a security blanket to some people) is that they don't know how I keep my calm in these conversations. And I tend to wave it off, because really I don't see a point in talking about the emotional impact of participating in these discussions. No, that's a lie. I do talk about it. In safe spaces, behind closed doors with people I know I can trust. Because that's the only place it's (generally) acceptable to show weakness as an anti-racist POC. Otherwise the slurs and the misconceptions and the appropriation and the fucking fail will make you cry in front of people who have already made it clear that your feelings don't matter to them.
...
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Now this might shock and/or offend some people, but I have to say that today is not a day when I give a fuck. Because when POC have teaching moments? It costs us. Sometimes a little. Sometimes a lot. It's a sacrifice that we choose to make in an effort to improve things. It's a moment (or more) out of our lives that we knowingly open ourselves up to things that any sane person would want to avoid under normal circumstances. Because there is no other option.
Oh, we could leave the people saying awful things to wallow in ignorance. But in the long run isolationism is not actually a helpful position. Especially since we are living in a global society, and there really is nowhere to withdraw to for the long haul. So, we wade in when we can, and we try to make sure that if even if the person saying offensive things doesn't get it; other people reading will have access to the right information. And sometimes when the fail is too big and the pain is too acute? We get sarcastic and snark the stupid. Because you have to do something to ease the trauma when you're 100 comments in and people are still insisting that the 65 links to respectable websites, 23 bits of anecdata, and the entire weight of history are all wrong and it's the fault of POC that racism isn't gone because they insist on being people of color instead of "normal" white people. It's hard enough to stand strong in the face of willful stupidity, don't expect us to be nice about it too.
There are links to more IBARW posts at the link as well.
Comments
You must be talking about this thread, which linked to a piece of shit "blog" by someone advertising his services to employers as a union-busting consultant to go bust unions, and replete with gems like this:
and
and
Qualified whites lose out
and
Some people are asking why only I am writing this blog if I am from another country, not living in Canada anymore.
and
and
Dear Employers
We studied Canadas biggest private sector union CAW and find that they have a system that allows them to get away with racism and never get charged.
If you want to have peace to do business and never face racism charges we can tell you how to hire. CAW perfected a system to hire certain people who ensure that the organization is always protected. These people are called Proxy Racists in a blog that I am writing about.
Contact me at; clsinframedia2008@rediffmail.com and I will share the strategy.
SAVE MONEY-SAVE TIME-HAVE THE FREEDOM TO GET ON WITH YOUR BUSINESS.
You want to defend that "blog" as representing POC? Do it somewhere else. There is no contradiction between the struggle of workers against employers and the struggle of workers of colour against racism. They are one and the same. Shit, however, is shit, no matter what icing is layered over it.
Tch. Tch. Tch. You sound quite impassioned. Defending your earlier reactions regarding that thread? As for myself, I wasn't defending that blog, I was merely commenting on the reactions to it.
Well, my comment was somthing like this....
This is vicious anti labour garbage, and does nothing to aid or promote either anti-racism or contribute to any discussion to promote the betterment of practices within labour. This troll is gone. May as well close the thread.
.
I personally have no problem with my reaction
Polunatic stated....
Not very helpful if there are serious issues that need to be dealt with as suggested. Sounds like the campaign of a disgruntled member to me, particularly the part about not getting support from other racialized people. Not saying there's no issue, just that this will not be a productive way to go about dealing with it.
.
If I'm not mistaken, Polunatic is recognising that this may very well be a serious issue, deserving to be discussed in a thread untainted by some white persons personal anti-labour agenda, and certainly having nothing to do with racism.
There was another reaction thread to just that, where I aknowleged that the issue deserved a hearing and invited anyone to do so, and I so invite again.
Anyone is welcome to discuss this if they can do so without a fundamental anti labour stance. After all, this is a progressive forum. Jullrah, thanks for pointing this out. I hope someone takes up the challenge.
Tch. Tch. Tch. You sound quite impassioned.
Yeah, when individuals attack workers and women and advertise their scab services in public, I get very impassioned.
Absolutely not - I was just reiterating them, loudly, in case anyone missed that first thread. I'm not on the defensive here - I'm attacking the piece of shit who has gone back to India to run his media/communication business and is hiring himself out as a union-busting scab. Why, did I sound overly defensive to you? If so, I heartily apologize for your misunderstanding.
Well, you coulda fooled me when you said:
I guess I misunderstood that as being a complimentary kind of comment. Again, my apologies for my misunderstanding of the term "enlightening blog" as being some kind of positive description. My bad.
No! oldgoat! No way I am gonna lock horns with you........lol! Forgive me, I could not resist. I just now visited, saw that thread and commented on the reactions, not the content of the blog itself. Reminded me of how emotions get all hetted up when the subject of racism comes up. Thought of how minorities of all sorts and people in power see things quite differently, how we all react depending on our perspectives, on our individual experiences.
It can fairly be argued that racism, indeed discrimination of any sort hurts the perpetrators and their collaborators the most.
And it is difficult for people who have been discriminated against, to bring up the subject in the first place, let alone talk about the hurt caused, the pain that is viscerally felt. When you read that blog, you see that union racism is at the core of it and the "shit" (attacks on women, other people of colour, the very union itself) sprays out of it.
Address or attack the racism and you render all the shit......welll...........to Shit!!
I just saw this comment.
Sure, Jullrah, anything can be fairly argued.
You're still wrong, though.
And since this thread has gone all to hell re. the original topic, I'm going to close it and with regret in my heart, un-sticky it.
Considering this as a piece of astonishing insight doesn't really do justice to the internalized reality, and the effort it takes to lay it out like this.
Awesome.
that made me happy that there's someone writing n showin how we feel bare times in a day lol
Bumping. Perhaps when I figure out how to make a stickie I will do that too.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Now this might shock and/or offend some people, but I have to say that today is not a day when I give a fuck. Because when POC have teaching moments? It costs us. Sometimes a little. Sometimes a lot. It's a sacrifice that we choose to make in an effort to improve things. It's a moment (or more) out of our lives that we knowingly open ourselves up to things that any sane person would want to avoid under normal circumstances. Because there is no other option.
We get sarcastic and snark the stupid. Because you have to do something to ease the trauma when you're 100 comments in and people are still insisting that the 65 links to respectable websites, 23 bits of anecdata, and the entire weight of history are all wrong and it's the fault of POC that racism isn't gone because they insist on being people of color instead of "normal" white people. It's hard enough to stand strong in the face of willful stupidity, don't expect us to be nice about it too.
Link here.
When I read this post, it reminded me of the reaction and subsequent actions of both readers and moderators alike when Union Racism was the topic of discussion not so very long ago. I loved it. Whites pronouncing on whether or not a POC could barge into the sanctified whiteness of Babble and talk about Racism and Union racism no less. A Blog was mentioned. It was pontificated as a "Piece of Shit" Blog. To most Whites it "was" a piece of shit" blog. But then, for victims of systemic racism, shit kinda emotions get aroused. To someone who has endured racism and most especially Union racism, it is an enlightening blog. The pontificators and defenders of the status quo in Unions, wrote the whole piece off as anti-labor. No thought or quarter was given in examining whether or not racism took place in that particular posting for a Union job, it was written off as the grumblings of a disgruntled member. Great posting this one and thanks to Maysie for bringing it to our attention, because it exposes how racism is defended, yes, even written off by people who think they are enlightened and call themselves progressive. Want confirmation? Visit that posting on Union racism!!