It's got to be a team effort.

[hackthis]

Today I learned a new phrase Hipster Racism. It exists. I've seen it. Experienced it. Just never knew it had a proper term. I mention this to say race relations are an on-going struggle. Racism is different for every person of color. What offends one Person of Color may not even ping for some other Person of Color, because we don't all come from the same background, but that doesn't make it any less racist to the offended party. We are not all the same. Just because you're not offended doesn't make someone else's hurt any less valid. And fandom is a large, strange, sometimes polarizing and lonely place. Sometimes attention is brought when offense is given; sometimes people are just like, "No, not today, because I deal with this every other goddamn day and I am not your racism police," which -- well, that's just how shit is. People get tired. But what's just as hard as saying something is how the conversation is had, how people interact and how people react. For every person who flips out and screams, "I'm not racist!" it's nice to know that there are people who are able to say, "You know what? I messed up. I'm sorry; I apologize -- I didn't realize how this came off. Please forgive me; I'll try to do better in the future." It's hard to admit when you fuck up, but it takes a very strong person to admit it, and it takes another strong person to say, "I accept your apology. I hope you see why I feel the way I do."

So, people, keep talking. Keep trying. Keep being adults about it, because this shit is hard and the only way we're going to get through it is to make an effort together.