Race and Pirates
I ended up buying Beverly Tatum's "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?", despite already having borrowed it from the library because a) I wanted something to read in line while I waited to get a seat for Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and b) I want to financially support books like these and authors who tackle the subject of
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Ok. You know... great post, nice points, and all very articulate. Until you're going on and on and on about how uncomfortable you are about this, about why you're making this post... are you trying to convince yourself that you SHOULD be bothered? Becuase that's how it's sounding.
Being concerned about racism and not wanting to partake in it or be a part of it is good. Being aware of it in your surroundings? Also good. But this post? Is beyond just... awareness. Its to the point where you really just sound whiny and OMG this movie is a TERRIBLE THING because in the grand world scheme of things it might make white people want to enslave black people again!!!
And seriously?
No. 1. It's a MOVIE.
No. 2. It is set in a time of pirates, of 18th/19th century England. We're not even talking United States here. We're talking England. The Islands they were referring to where the cannibals were localed, if I'm remembering correctly, are a place where people of colour live. People in islands and sunny locales tanned because of the sun, and it's called evolution. So my apologies if you think that portraying Island persons who happen to be cannibals as black (which would be geographically correct) is racist. I don't see it that way.
No. 3. You are so up at arms about this, that you're picking at straws. There is such a thing as being too gung-ho... I mean... it's like some of the Jewish people thinking that all white people are neo nazi supremecists because EVERYTHING in some way comes back to anti-semitism. It doesn't. If you look at things enough, you can twist everything into how you want it to be seen. Congratulations, that's what you're doing here. The world is not all about you. The world is not out to kill you. The world is not out to hurt you or make other peoeple hate you. Hollywood is not out to make people prejudiced against you. Please stop being paranoid.
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Yes, because that's what all conversations about race and racism boil down to. Thanks for pointing that out!
Anyway. About those pesky tanned black cannibals, I would strongly suggest you read this: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096410746, if you want to be just a wee bit more informed.
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Yes, funny how anti-Semitic remarks like yours make Jews see anti-Semitism.
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Y'know, that's *exactly* what the problem is with racism. It's not *personal*, it's about this category that one can't change.
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