Concert of my Life

On “Asian American”, a Story

Last year (2011), I attend the UC Students of Color Conference, hosted at UC Davis. Each UC sends a delegation ranging from 20 to 70 students to the conference to attend workshops and participate in dialogue on issues facing students of color. These students range from seasoned student activists to students more or less new to concepts of social justice (such as myself at the time).

One of the traditional components of SOCC is the Closed Caucus spaces. During one segment of the conference, participants can choose from various identity-based caucus spaces to attend. Caucuses included African American/Black/Black Diaspora, LGBTQ, White (Allies), Latin@, Native American/Indigenous, and Asian/Pacific Islander, also known as “API”. The reasoning behind Closed Caucus spaces is that there are certain issues unique to various communities and so they should have a closed space to dialogue on these issues.

**This story happened more than a year ago, so I may fudge some details**

**I use “we” a lot. I use that as a general phrase for the group. I was not a facilitator**

Now these caucus spaces were about an hour and half long. TL;DR, the API caucus space was highly unproductive, if not a disaster by some accounts. Part of it could be attributed to lackluster facilitation, though I feel that the problems that arose are indicative of wider issues (at least here in California).

First, after doing community agreements, the facilitators asked the group, I’d guess 30-50 people, what topics they wanted to talk about. A lot of important issues came up. There was no plan on how to actually start or decide on what to talk about. What ended up happening was that we took the group outside of the classroom (it had bolted seats) to the grassy area outside and split into two groups. There we started the conversation on… what does API mean to us (or something to that effect).

That’s when the real fun started. The space quickly became a vent session, with certain people dominating the conversation with their long stories (good for them, but highly unproductive for the space). And then from there, everyone became less and less sure of what “API” even means… so that became the discussion point. People offered up reasons for why we even use the label “API”. Some people even mentioned that they don’t actively identify with “API” or “Asian American”. Others mentioned how the “PI” is talked about so little; a marginalized group within a marginalized group. Others mentioned how in their experiences, many Filipin@’s and South Asians don’t really identify with “API”/”Asian American” either.

Towards the end of the allotted time for the caucus space, some more conscious people offered the explanation that “API” or “Asian American” is not so much a race identification but a political identity, one formed in order to unite the individually weak political power of the numerous ethnic groups that fall under the Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander categorization.

Fast forward to this year’s SOCC, the API caucus space was much better, though still rather unproductive in my opinion. Again, when my subgroup of 20 people was asked how many of us actually actively identify with the API label, I’d guess less than half the group raised their hands, and those who did I recognized who they were because they are fellow activists. This reaffirmed my understanding that API/Asian American is moreso a political identity that not many Asians actively identify with as their racial identity, preferring instead a more specific dis-aggregated ethnic identity.

I feel that, much like how race is a social construction that is made more evident when we are attacked or other’d on it, most Asians don’t identify with the API/Asian American label until/unless they are discriminated against on it.

Anonymous Asks:

I know that long-standing ideologies of racism/white supremacy have built the economic structure of the US. By changing the ideologies, we change the structure. But how do you change it? And will it cause chaos by this change? Is it possible to introduced other cultures into schools to instill a sense of equality in children to fight racism from the beginning?

baritonepats Said:

The Moving Walkway Analogy is an apt one for Racism in the US, where the society we are born into is already institutionally and socially based on racism.

When on a Moving Walkway you have three options:

1) Walking Forward, you move faster forward: You are actively participating in perpetuating Racism

2) Standing Still, you are moving forward: You are not actively participating in perpetuating Racism, but you are still participating in Racist structures and institutions

3) Walking Opposite, you are slowly moving in the opposite direction: You are actively participating in Anti-Racism, it is difficult, you make little progress, but you are moving away from Racism

Under the Moving Walkway Analogy, there is no such thing as a “Not Racist”, because by being “Not Racist”, one is actually being “Racist”. The two options become “Racist” and “Anti-Racist”.

I have no delusions that I am an “Anti-Racist”. I knowingly, sometimes consciously but usually unconsciously, participate in Racist institutions and structures because I have not found or do not have the courage to break away from these institutions.

In regards to schools, simply introducing other cultures is not enough to instill a true sense of equality and desire for social justice. Introducing non-dominant cultures and group histories into school must be followed up with and developed with discussions and dialogues about contemporary issues facing marginalized groups and moving away from neoliberal ideology of individualism. One particular model that is said to have great positive effects is connecting students to their community, to develop real engagement and participation and a desire to help one’s community.

If anything, the current model of multiculturalism in schools only serves to further obscure the roots of Racism and oppression, creating a facade of peace and harmony that isn’t carried into the outcomes of people’s behaviors and lives. Racism can’t be fought with demographic figures because Racism is about power and privilege.

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Just because you (or I) am “conscious” doesn’t give either of us the right to say problematic shit

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A Collection of Approaches to White Folks

Over the past year and half I’ve come across some common themes in regards to approaching White folks from a Marginalized/People of Color perspective. Many of these are just as applicable to anyone not in a marginalized group, when considering the issue of POC-to-POC horizontal oppression.

I just wanted to collect some of the things I’ve heard and give a brief explanation from my understanding of the theme. While I mainly agree with these ideas and their premises, I have varying degrees of agreement with how they are applied, which itself has many variations.

Disclaimer: Some folks may be thrown off immediately by the wording of the title. I want to stress that I am writing this moreso as a resource/reference guide to introduce ideas that I’ve encountered in from other peopl’s stories, from readings and the internet. None of these are meant to be absolutes. I do not speak for all POC, or all POC activists, or all advocates for racial justice. Nor am I saying all White folks do these things, or that White folks who do these things are necessarily “bad/evil” people who should feel guilty about it. These are my own interpretations based on what I’ve read and seen and observed to be patterns/themes.

Hit Read More:

Ironic Racism

sumney:

I am tired, tired, tired, of ironic racism. It has been bugging me in the back of my mind for a long time but I haven’t been able to put a finger on what this phenomenon is until… a few minutes ago.

Ironic racism is simply, executing racist actions (or saying racist things) under the guise that it is okay to do so because you know you’re being racist - i.e. it’s okay to be racist if you’re doing it ironically and not seriously. This is often done when people are joking or trying (desperately) to be funny.

Examples of ironically racist things that have been said to me: “I would never date an African… everyone from your continent has AIDS.” OR “I bet you disappear in the dark hehe” OR “Dayum that ho has a sexy weave!” Another example is people dressing up as pimps as ho’s, in blackface, and partying. Remember the compton cookout?

Supposedly, ironic racists can’t really be called out for their actions because their response is simple - of course they know what they said was racist, but they didn’t really mean it in a hateful way, so it’s absolutely okay. “What? I’m not racist. Dude I freakin’ love black people I volunteer for the NAACP I voted for Obama I would never kill a black person my sister’s cousin’s baby daddy is black and we let him come over once - so chill, it’s okay.” [Yay racial harmony means I can say WHATEVER THE ~~CUSS~~ I WANT!]

If none of the above sentiments have triggered anything for you, I’ll be more obvious. Ironic racism is problematic for several reasons:

1. People think it is okay to be ironically racist because America (and the rest of the Western World) is postracial. Many are under the impression that racism is a thing of the past and joking about it is finally acceptable. Oh sure, there are some people who don’t like blacks/other minorities, but those racists no longer have any power, so they don’t matter. Besides, America has a black president now [let’s pretend we don’t know that he is just as white as he is black - if not more white than he is black] so America is an equal place. Let the jokes begin!

2. People think ironic racism is equivalent to satire. By making racist jokes - especially sarcastic ones - people think they are pointing out why racism is wrong. But if you are saying racist things without challenging their racist foundations, you have failed at being satirical. Because once you do something racist, your intention/meaning will not always be distinguishable to others who do not live in your brain. Get it? Circulating racism is simply circulating racism.

3. Ironic racists are often still unaware of their white privilege, and usually have no idea what “whiteness” is. While I don’t think racist jokes should be banned (they are admittedly pretty funny sometimes), it is important to note that you have no right to joke about something that you do not completely understand. And if you are unaware of your white privilege or how you benefit from being white in America, you cannot joke insensitively about minorities because it is oppressive. You can’t joke about black features (dark skin, nappy hair, or even weaves) if you are unaware that for decades, the media has glorified European features (long beautiful hair, light skin, thin noses) and upheld them as the standard of beauty, thus causing a longlasting insecurity in those who don’t look white. You can’t joke about blacks not going to college if you are unaware that the systemic inequality in the public education system has made sure that schools populated mostly by white students receive a far better education than schools with predominantly black students.

4. Often, people tread the line between being ironically racist and just not realizing that they’re being racist or generalizing, and that ambiguity protects their speech: “You can’t play basketball? You’re so whitewashed!” or “You look like a cholo in this picture!” or “Ooooh girl, let’s get some KFC!” When the area gets this grey, how are we supposed to be able to tell the unsupposing racists from the sarcastic f**ks?

Here is my marker for who can make racist jokes and where to draw the line with them: are you completely aware of your privilege and prejudices? Are you capable of dispelling the racist ideals that society has covertly instilled in you? If you are completely free of racism (or actively trying to be), and if that has been previously established by our relationship, well then… go ahead. Joke with me. You’re probably not a comedian. But try your best.

But think of this… if a racist (but conscious) person heard your joke - would they stop and think “haha - wait, I’m a complete idiot for holding this racist belief that was just joked about.” Or would they laugh? Would they just laugh, take your joke, and circulate it amongst their circle of racist, privileged friends?

While I think about the answer to this question, I am going to post this blog on the facebook pages of my ironically racist friends.

*Note: You do NOT have to be white in order to be classified as an ironic racist!*

**Addendum: Someone mentioned this to me after reading this blog and I found it worth sharing - see also: Hipster Racism.

(via krisralphio)

Native Appropriations: But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress? →

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jacobyboyer:

austianity:

manuel733:

lets be real, she’s flawless.

Preach, Manny. Preach. <3 Ugh.

apparently this outfit won’t be aired during the fashion show, buncha of BS they should be able to do this without any problems

apparently a No Doubt video was also removed from youtube that was using native american culture, you know not everyone in that culture is offended by this sort of stuff, and this goes for any culture and their respective styles. just because one person is offended doesnt mean everyone is, seriously PC is killing this nation and causing everyone to walk on eggshells.

[going general now not specific to this picture] i for one will not walk on eggshells because you will be so easily offended,
CHILL OUT, ENJOY LIFE, IGNORE THE IDIOTS AND YOU WILL BE MUCH HAPPIER I PROMISE YOU THAT

on a side note: that is a wicked awesome headdress

No this is fucking cultural appropriation and it is disgusting. I’m not offended by this, because 1) I’m horrified and 2) I’m not Native American.

I’m not the one having my cultural history trampled on by rich white people thinking they can have fun and spit on thousands of years of culture that was ultimately wiped out to the point of near extinction by white imperialists who raped/murdered/infected/tortured/humiliated/humiliate the people, who furthermore TOOK THE LAND, and feel entitled to TAKE THE CULTURE TOO simply because they are “appreciating it”, who furthermore feel that it’s OK to continue this absurd stereotypical characterizations of Native Americans that obscures and suppresses any attention to the ongoing suffering of Native communities.

No, I’m Asian, so this is not my identity being oppressed, so I can’t speak on whether it’s right or wrong to me, I can only give the historical facts and contemporary effects. The only person who can even begin to say anything in support of this costume is a Native American.

I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Letter from a Birmingham Jail (via brashblacknonbeliever)

(via evolutia)

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Civil Rights in the Era of Neoliberalism: Part 1

What is Civil Rights? What is Neoliberalism?

The other day, I attended a lecture on this topic. Many of the core concepts were things I’ve already learned about, but it was very refreshing to hear it from a scholar in person, as well as learn much more about the real world outcomes of Neoliberalism.

If you asked a random person what “Neoliberalism” means, they probably won’t know. Heck, if you asked them what “Liberalism” means, they probably won’t give you the academic definition either. At its root, Neoliberalism is about the supposed primacy and perfection of the Free Market and associated values. Neoliberalism is the ideology that fuels the “Pull yourself up by the bootstraps” and “Just work hard” rhetoric we hear from all ends of the mainstream political spectrum.

Perhaps, in an ideal world, Neoliberalism has its place. In a world where everyone was equal and treated equally, the Neoliberal model of society and economics would be fitting. But that is not the world we live in, no matter what society and its institutions would like you to think.

The scholar kicked off the lecture with a great insight. Many of us know that Obama’s election didn’t mark the beginning of “post-race” or “post-civil rights”. But beyond that, the story of “post-civil rights” has actually been repeated many times in just the past century. In other words: We’ve had this story shoved down our throats before, and this time is no different.

Not only that, but our dominant narrative, the one that is taught to children and perpetuated by the media, is a false representation of the Civil Rights movement. The scholar talked about how the Civil Rights movement is framed as simply white people and black people being allowed to sit together in the same room, to “just get along” (and therefore logically, because we have been “post-civil rights”, any racial tensions today are the fault of Black people for not wanting to get along). The Civil Rights movement is framed as laws and rights handed out by kind-hearted lawmakers to people of color so they could live in harmony, integrated with white people. The Civil Rights movement is framed as largely sparked by the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, about Black people wanting to be able to sit on the same bus as white people.

That is a false representation of the Civil Rights movement (which is not to take away from the courage and inspiring story of the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and others). The scholar explained that the Civil Rights movement was, at its core, about Violence: Violence against people of color, but even more specifically, against the children of people of color. The last straw that sparked the Civil Rights movement was not being denied sitting with white people on a bus. It was the the brutal and nonsensical murder of Emmett Till, at that time just the latest in a horrifying history of violence and murder of people of color. The Civil Rights was not about integration with white people, it was about protecting the children, the next generation, from the violence of White Supremacy.

How is this relevant to Neoliberalism? Well, Neoliberalism is the ideology and the narrative of Free Market and Individualism. Neoliberalism in the school system teaches the story of how black people and white people just needed to just be nice and get along with each other and ever since then we’ve had sunshine and rainbows in race relations, with any racial tensions caused by stubborn black people and a few pockets of crazy white racists. By framing Civil Rights and racial injustice as a small issue of tolerance, Neoliberalism teaches us to not challenge this false representation, and tells us that racism is no longer an issue. Furthermore, Neoliberalism obscures the truth of the Civil Rights movement to disconnect the past from the present, to disconnect the violent white supremacist police state of the past from the violent white supremacist police militarized state of the present. Neoliberalism tells us that if any racism lingers, it’s an “Individual” problem between two people, that racism is not still systemic and residing comfortably in the many institutions of society. Thus, we see “racism” as simply a person being mean to a person of another race, and we fail to see that “racism” is also the mass incarceration of people of color, the continuing rollback of voting rights for people of color, etc.

Image taken from: http://www.txstate.edu/allies/lgbtq_community/cycle.html

This, my dear friends, is the Cycle of Oppression that I am familiar with. I want to stress that this is my own interpretation, and that the definitions can vary depending on who you ask.

The Cycle has four main components, and an optional fifth component. I will attempt to take the Trayvon Martin…. event, through the Cycle of Oppression.

1) Stereotype: A Stereotype is an Idea. A Stereotype is any generalization made about an entire group of people. Common stereotypes you may encounter include “Asians are good at math”, “Asians are bad drivers”, “Mexicans are [undocumented]”, “Black people are suspicious”, “White people are racists”. Stereotypes can be Functional or Dysfunctional, Functional when they are validated by an experience where it is fulfilled, or Dysfunctional when they are refuted by an experience where it is not fulfilled.

>In the case of Trayvon Martin, the Stereotype was likely: “Black people [in hoodies] are suspicious.”

2) Prejudice: A Prejudice is a negative idea. A Stereotype that has negative connotations or causes negative feelings about a group of people being stereotyped becomes a Prejudice. Prejudices are negative feelings and ideas about a group of people, functional or dysfunctional.

>In the case of Trayvon Martin, the Prejudice was likely: “Suspicious Black people are a threat, probably some criminal.”

3) Discrimination: Discrimination is an action. A Prejudice that manifests as an action is Discrimination. The act of Discrimination is towards an individual or to a group of people belonging to the group being stereotyped. Two important acts of Discrimination to note/compare/contrast: “Black people are suspicious, and thus untrustworthy, so I will not hire a person with a Black name” and “White people are racists, and thus I have negative feelings about them, so I will not hire a person who is white (or has an Anglo name)”

>In the case of Trayvon Martin, the act of Discrimination was likely: “Suspicious Black people [men] [in hoodies] are a threat or criminal; this person is a Black man in a hoodie, thus he is a threat or criminal, so I should pursue him and detain him to prevent criminal activity, I should also carry a weapon because he is a threat.”

4) Oppression: Oppression is systematic and widespread trends. Oppression is the systematic and institutional (government, education, law enforcement, healthcare, welfare, media, social norms, etc) perpetuation of acts of Discrimination. Specific forms of Oppression include Racism, Sexism, Heterosexism, Ableism, Ageism, and many more.

Because Oppression is about systematic and widespread perpetuation, this is why I define “Reverse Racism” to be a myth. Studies have confirmed what many people of color know already from their own individual experiences: having a non-Anglo name reduces your chances of getting a job on a macro level. Having an Anglo name, having a portion of White Privilege, shields one from the Act of Discrimination that are based on a Prejudice against Black names that are associated with the Negative Stereotype of suspicious/untrustworthy/lazy Black people.

>In the case of Trayvon Martin, the tragedy that occurred was nothing unusual to anyone who pays attention to systematic racial discrimination by law enforcement, and probably even less unusual to those people of color who live everyday with the fear of being racially profiled by a police officer.

The institutionalized criminalization of Black people is a subset of the Oppression called Racism. The media and discriminatory drug laws perpetuate negative stereotypes about Black people as suspicious and untrustworthy, and a normalized image of the criminal Black man enters the minds of everyday people. The idea of a criminal Black man. A Stereotype. That is how the Cycle of Oppression perpetuates itself.

5) Internalized Oppression: But there is a more sinister component to the Cycle of Oppression. Internalized Oppression is when individuals from the group being stereotyped actually begin to internalize the negative Stereotypes, the Prejudices, the acts of Discrimination, and the systematic Oppression that they feel they just cannot escape. A person may begin to believe that there is no future for them, that the education system will fail them, that law enforcement will racially profile them, that their peers will stereotype them, that they will be turned away from jobs they should have been qualified for. And from that Internalized Oppression, that self hate and despair, a person may turn to the negative Stereotypes that have been put in front of them. And then they too become part of the Cycle, becoming the negative Stereotype forced onto them, and perpetuating the Cycle.

Concert of my Life: Dear racists →

hanryufan:

evolutia:

hanryufan:

AKA “reverse racism doesn’t exist” people.

If a white person lives in an area where white people are a minority, and they experience discrimination based solely on their race, is that still considered not-racist?

Please, tell me. I’d love to know.

Racism is…

There is no such thing as reverse racism. It’s all racism.

Honestly, when I think of “reverse racism”, it sounds like somebody that loves somebody just for their race (like my ~~weird~~ love for Asian boys. Defies logic, dun even curr).

“People of color” are defended more and more by this society. Social justice is a pretty damn powerful thing. For example, white people will be shunned for telling a racist joke nowadays, but non-white people won’t usually be. “It’s okay, they’re a minority” -__-

There are instances of racial discrimination against all races in society, and they all need to stop. Historically (and in some circumstances today) non-white people have had more than their fair share of it… but vilifying all white people today will just make racial segregation worse @_@

Simply educating people about unfair things that happen should be enough to put a stop to it. Most white people these days think racism is a pretty shitty thing. People don’t have to compare apples to apples. It’s really unnecessary. If people simply band together and treat each other like equals, then fair and equal representation in the media and the government will follow.

People feel justified in hating white people; they feel vindicated. In this part of the world, white people have done some pretty shitty things in the past… but people need to stop letting that define them now. Making people feel like shit over something they didn’t even do won’t solve the problem D:

.

I feel like some people are insinuating that I’m saying that there is no discrimination against “people of color” in this country… but unfortunately, there is. Not as much as some would like to pretend there is, but it does exist. It can really make some people’s lives unnecessarily shitty.

What I’m trying to say is that all racism is racism, and somebody’s majority status or perceived power makes no difference. Somebody’s feeling that it’s somehow justified makes no difference either. “Justified” or not, it’s still wrong.

.

By the way, I wasn’t speaking of white people in non-white communities in the US. I was speaking of white people in non-white countries. Suppose I should’ve been more specific.

Here’s a bit of educating: While I can only speak for myself, I think I reflect* many anti-racists when I assert that deconstructing racism and showing how “reverse racism” is a myth, is not “vilifying all white people”. It is pointing out very real systematic disparities across almost all parts of societies and authoritative institutions (in the context of the United States, this system is called “White Supremacy”, the systematic advantaging of attributes associated with white folks/white culture/whiteness, especially in the dominant narrative (as a function of White Supremacy as a system, people of color are just as capable of internalizing racism and committing/perpetuating horizontal racism towards other people of color)). Have things gotten better compared to the past? Absolutely. Do we have a really really long way to go? Absolutely.

*I cannot claim the title of anti-racist, as there is much more I could be doing.

To this day, two job seekers with equal qualifications will still see the person with the traditionally “white” name be chosen over the traditionally “black” name candidate. This is what racism continues to look like today.

But Racism and “Minority” status is about so much more than the demographic slices of a group. As another reblogger noted, you only have to look at South Africa to see how a tiny minority of people-white people held absolute control over all authoritative institutions and seats of power in a country, and in doing so exerted a highly oppressive system on non-white people.

Here in the US, we see that it is Racists like Ann Coulter who have the power and privilege to have their voices heard without any significant consequences. When people of color try to speak up, if they even get a chance to be heard, about continuing racism of all forms in their communities, they are often written off as “stirring up trouble” or “playing the race card”.

Some people of color are not big fans of white people. Yes, this may be in large part due to historical oppression. But it’s important to understand how that historical oppression carries forward to the present in at least two ways. Historical oppression is one of the leading factors for why many communities of color are still struggling, because the people over generations didn’t have the access to centuries of privilege and advantages that white folks had and built up. In the present, it is clear that white people, whether it is the teacher who doesn’t think a black kid is good enough for the honors track, the cop who thinks any dark-skinned person with a hoodie is up to no good, or the lawmaker who is comfortable taking corporate money and passing laws to disenfranchise people of color, and the list goes on. Not feeling angry is a luxury, perhaps even due to other dimensions of privilege.

But even beyond that, this issue of the “white guilt” that “social justice bloggers” are out to make every white person feel. Again, I can only speak for myself, but I think that this view is reflected by many out there, but I know that “white guilt” won’t solve anything. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t confront people about acknowledging the existence of white privilege and how they can be more conscious of how it operates in their lives and why it is important to actively engage in anti-racism.

Yes, in our current society, in many places (not nearly all places), if a white person does or says something explicitly racist (such as saying the n-word), they will be called out for it and be reprimanded. But we have generally failed to even recognize, much less act upon on a national level, glaring continuing racial disparities in all parts of society. Many people, with varying reasons ranging from innocent ignorance to malicious racism, are happy to point to “milestones” such as the Civil Rights Act, MLK Jr., or Obama’s election as the precise moment in time when Racism disappeared in the US so we never have to talk about it again.

But not talking about Racism is the easiest way to let it run free and continue to destroy lives.

At the end of the day, from your two posts I’ve read, I would think that you are a fairly well educated person who has very good intentions. In fact, the view you hold is very similar to the noble yet ill-guided view of “colorblindness” that is presented to young folks these days. Perhaps you’ve looked into critical race theory and the mountain of literature on the persistence of racism in the past into the present, perhaps you haven’t. I suggest everyone to do so.

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