Reposting with my own bit at the end.
Please spread the word about this.
As RaceFail 09 continues, it has become clear that there are those who are hellbent on marginalizing and silencing people of color. In the past few months, minorities have been denigrated by bigoted authors and publishers who have also asserted that Fen of Color are rare and pratically non-existent. Despite numerous discussions and attempts to enlighten on the fact that POCs are fans, writers, artists and just as integral to this genre as our white counterparts, we are continuously dismissed.
On Monday May 18, 2009, we are asking anyone who identifies as a POC/non-white to post this banner, their speculative short stories, artwork, poetry or simply write a post on their favorite fandom on their blogs as an act of protest to show we will not be silent or invisible. The day of protest is entitled Fen Of Color United or more aptly, FOC_U.
White allies can also show solidarity for this event by posting this banner and expressing the need for diversity and speaking out against the bigotry in the genre, through posts and/or their creative work as well.
In addition, a new community entitled
foc_u has been created. It's designed to be a safespace for POCs/non-whites and white allies to discuss the issues pertaining to RaceFail and a place to counteract its destructive effects. And it's also a fun place for everyone to also discuss their favorite fandoms. While memberships and posts are under moderation for the time being (until the community gets more established and input is welcomed), everyone is encouraged to join and make this a home.
You can help out by spreading the word and reposting this banner on your personal blog or creating one of your own if you'd like.
The gauntlet's been thrown and I for one think it's past time for us to take a stand and let our voices be heard, whether some people want to hear them or not.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to stop by foc_u.
********************************************************************************************************************************
Anyone who knows me knows I'm a fangirl. I've loved sci-fi and fantasy since I was a kid and had free reign of the local branch library. I read Heinlein's Time Enough For Love and Stranger in a Strange Land, Asimov's I Robot and The Robots of Dawn as well as everything I could find with Susan Calvin in, I read Clarke and Bradbury and Verne and Herbert and Ellison- all before I was 10.
I watched the original series of Star Treck in re-runs, watched STNG after school, found all the authors I'd loved as a kid and re-read everything as well as finding their other works. I found fantasy as well, falling in love with Pratchett and Asprin and Anthony- and then in college I started reading comic books- Gaiman first- but Moore and Miller and the Hernandez brothers followed close after. I wrote a thesis on images of Women in comic books, which I presented at a conference. I'm a geek, and proud of it.
So I'd have to say that Sci-fi had a big hand in my development. I'll say that I'm a reader and a fan- I'm not a writer or a contributor, and I don't think I ever will be. The fact that there are people- publishers and writers who say I don't exist- this pains me.- not so much for me now, but for little me with her nose in a book- believing that I would be a part of the future these books taught me- like Uhura working on a starship- like Susan Calvin with her robots- like all of the heroes in all of space.