The RaceFail09 discussion going around.
I'm not reading it. I have no intention of reading it. That is my perogative. And here's the thing: As a rational, thinking, educated human being, it is my right and privilege to not read it. I know the argument, I know the dis-ease and issues. It's a topic open for discussion and clarification all the time in my classroom. I don't need or want perfect strangers - people whom I haven't met, who don't know me personally and more than likely never will - telling me that I MUST go and read more about it ONLINE!
I'm an educated woman whose degrees are in History and Literature, so I'm well aware of the issues and 'trends' of racism. I'm a teacher. I'm in a school all day that is REALLY diverse. I have all kinds of students, male and female, black, white, Asian, latino, whom I deal with everyday, who have to live with racism. I'm an educator! I TEACH these kids what racism is, what it does to a whole society. I see its effects every day! And handle the fall out from it every day, all day long.
and goddammit, I deal with it pretty fucking well. I don't need to come home and spend what little liezure time I have reading pseudointellectual (or even intellectual) discussion about it on people's - ON MY - LJ.
Who cares that a bunch of elitists who don't know how the 'other' half lives decide to write about what they DO know? What difference does THAT shit make to a 30 year old, under-educated mother of two who can't find a damn job? Or to a 33 year old woman who's losing HER job - not because of race, but because of MONEY? What does it matter to the 17 year old high school graduate - who can't get into college because he doesn't fit a 'profile' or quota - that he's NOT REPRESENTED in a genre he doesn't give a shit about anyway? I'll tell you what it matters: NADA.
It's so goddamn sad that educated people are arguing about 'class' and 'privilege' and 'representation' in entertainment (I realize that is only PART of the discussion, that there are other important issues being talked about), when the world is facing the troubles it's facing right now. Just, really fucking sad and pointless in this particular moment.
Does not wanting to delve into the same freaking discussion that's been hashed and rehashed make me a bad person? NO. Choosing to prioritize MY time does NOT make me evil OR a racist OR ignorant. Focusing my effort on making and ACTUAL DIFFERNECE IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S lives, TEACHING THEM that racism is wrong and where it is and how INSIDIOUS it is, is a WHOLE HELL of a lot better than WRITING about it on my journal - than BLOGGING about it to my 'friends.'
I do my part. I don't need people telling me that I don't simply because I choose not to read about it now.
I'm not turning off comments, so comment if you want, but I've said my piece.
I'm not reading it. I have no intention of reading it. That is my perogative. And here's the thing: As a rational, thinking, educated human being, it is my right and privilege to not read it. I know the argument, I know the dis-ease and issues. It's a topic open for discussion and clarification all the time in my classroom. I don't need or want perfect strangers - people whom I haven't met, who don't know me personally and more than likely never will - telling me that I MUST go and read more about it ONLINE!
I'm an educated woman whose degrees are in History and Literature, so I'm well aware of the issues and 'trends' of racism. I'm a teacher. I'm in a school all day that is REALLY diverse. I have all kinds of students, male and female, black, white, Asian, latino, whom I deal with everyday, who have to live with racism. I'm an educator! I TEACH these kids what racism is, what it does to a whole society. I see its effects every day! And handle the fall out from it every day, all day long.
and goddammit, I deal with it pretty fucking well. I don't need to come home and spend what little liezure time I have reading pseudointellectual (or even intellectual) discussion about it on people's - ON MY - LJ.
Who cares that a bunch of elitists who don't know how the 'other' half lives decide to write about what they DO know? What difference does THAT shit make to a 30 year old, under-educated mother of two who can't find a damn job? Or to a 33 year old woman who's losing HER job - not because of race, but because of MONEY? What does it matter to the 17 year old high school graduate - who can't get into college because he doesn't fit a 'profile' or quota - that he's NOT REPRESENTED in a genre he doesn't give a shit about anyway? I'll tell you what it matters: NADA.
It's so goddamn sad that educated people are arguing about 'class' and 'privilege' and 'representation' in entertainment (I realize that is only PART of the discussion, that there are other important issues being talked about), when the world is facing the troubles it's facing right now. Just, really fucking sad and pointless in this particular moment.
Does not wanting to delve into the same freaking discussion that's been hashed and rehashed make me a bad person? NO. Choosing to prioritize MY time does NOT make me evil OR a racist OR ignorant. Focusing my effort on making and ACTUAL DIFFERNECE IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S lives, TEACHING THEM that racism is wrong and where it is and how INSIDIOUS it is, is a WHOLE HELL of a lot better than WRITING about it on my journal - than BLOGGING about it to my 'friends.'
I do my part. I don't need people telling me that I don't simply because I choose not to read about it now.
I'm not turning off comments, so comment if you want, but I've said my piece.
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