Courtesy of The Witchita NAACP Blog
Sigh.
Kevin handles his business well, though, and the Mayor seems to now understand why his actions were problematic. Unfortunately, there are a lot of comments over there that show that some people just don’t get it and never will.
Let me just say this: using that stupid-ass movie White Chicks as an argument for why engaging in racist imagery like blackface is just A-Ok and LOL! OMG! Teh Funney! doesn’t cut it. For one, White Chicks was a stupid-ass movie and not funny in the least (well, I haven’t actually seen it, but I’m sure if I were masochistic enough to do so, I would hate it), and two, its just not the same thing. There is no well-documented history of whiteface being used as a method of subjugation. It’s just not there, so people, please stop with that bs, ok?
Spiegel Online recently ran an article about German Dollmaker, Marcel Offermann, and his newest creating – a blackface Barack Obama doll. This stereotypical depiction yet again illustrates the way in which mainstream German society continues to marginalize and other People of Color, both at home in Germany and abroad.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,558768,00.html
Kathrin ´s last blog post..Literary Activism Reincarnate: ChangeMakers/ChangeBloggers Initiative – Coming to Your Town!
When I wrote about this incident I made a point of discussing racism as well but I do feel that there is something that is missing from your critique and the one offered by the NAACP.
This was an attack on black women. It was also an attack on trans women. The mayor makes reference to smelly vaginas by the name that he chose. There is also in the way that he performed a mockery to the trans experience. He is applying that they are men in dresses and not women…merely cartoon figures.
It seems to me that when the black community confronts racism it is always so one dimensional. We often miss intersections of class, sexuality or cisexual status. Intersectionality needs to become a priority because there is no one way to be black.
Renee ´s last blog post..Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger, Too Bad It Wasn’t The Gong Show
Renee–You are right on point. As someone that works to bring an intersectional analysis to his writing, I’m glad that you’re reading here and keeping me on my toes.
I learn so much from comments. I hope you will continue.
And don’t be surprised if your comment finds itself on the front page of the blog tomorrow. Smartness needs to be amplified, and I’m not one to let smartness hide in a comment thread. I’m just saying…
ok, I just got done writing about how Oregon police are going to do nothing about the Obama effigy hanging and the ‘n” word teaching teacher whose suspension comes with a new job and originally with pay and then I read this. Seriously . . . a Mayor?!?
Thanks for writing this b/c I don’t have the strength right now. grr
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