whitewashing part 2, redux

[vikki]

So I had a conversation with ryomoki, one of my best friends and a PoC, regarding the recent racefail and this is what came up. This is pretty much entirely directed towards writers that are afraid of writing characters of color (CoC) because of the recent racefail.

Comments

[half_vulcan]

Another very well thought out, well informed point Vikki. It is very true that PoC and CoC seem to be made to represent their race as a whole in RL and in Fiction. It is a mistake I made as a mindset when reading the story in question.

I wish I could put a mike in your hand and just let you inform and educate the whole community. I have learned so much from you and others would benefit greatly from your knowledge and methods of self education.

Thanks so much for continuing to speak out and educate. I am still listening.

Aaliyah

[vikki]

That's very kind of you to say. Thank you. :)

I think the subject is very complicated and I'm very interested to see what other people think, and also the opinions of anyone who might disagree with me on this point.

Also, I don't know if I have a lot more unique/important things to say about the subject, so, uh, yeah. If you want to read a lot of really great articles on this subject and a variety of others, you should check out everything here. I love this link. =D

[half_vulcan]

Thanks for the link. I will definitely go read it. I am learning so much. It still amazes me as a PoC that I was so ill informed about tone, derailment, White privilege etc. I really missed something along the way. Thank you for all your help in bringing me up to speed. The links and YES, your insights, have been a blessing.

Most of all your calm, levelheaded, patient approach to people like me. Because of you I have walked away from this unpleasant situation a more educated and better person. *hugs*

[lelek]

Oh, you linked Unpacking! It's so great and I'm glad you got so much out of it. I knew you would, because you're smart and you want to, but still. Yay! If you ever want someone else to talk to about this stuff, lemme know. I'm pretty sure this is glaringly obvious, but I get really excited when my friends join me in trying to get more clued in.

And I like this post. I really do. :D

Oh-oh! I'm linking more stuff because I'm obnoxious like that: this post on ontd_political is both funny and awesome. The video isn't long, nor is the essay.

[vikki]

Thank you very much! And I love reading/seeing your links so thank you for this. You're obviously very passionate about it, since you made a college career out of it!

OBVIOUSLY we should have exchanged phone numbers ages ago, esp. considering you are about to leave for Japan. :( and :D at the same time!

[vikki]

Dude, that link was awesome. I laughed all the way through the video: so relevant! Simply brilliant.

=DDDD ♥

[lelek]

Isn't it great? I laugh every time. I'll just go ahead and keep spamming you when I remember things on the OMGMUSTREAD list. :D

I'm sending you a PM with my number, btw. I kind of suck at phone theory, but I swear I do really exist, even if I don't always answer!

[water_soter]

It should also be taken into account the fear. PoC have at one point or another been victims of discrimination and they have suffered a complete loss of power, especially if the person grew up in either a community where people don't automatically see race, and/or grew up in a community with the same ethnic background. Because of this loss of power people tend to be leery of "white" people. This weariness can transform into fear then anger toward that one race.

[vikki]

I'm not sure where you're saying this should be taken into account? When creating a CoC, or when considering expectations of CoC?

[water_soter]

Oh sorry about that. When creating the character. :-P

[vikki]

:) Okay!

=/ I'm not really trying to bring up specific circumstances that are supposedly universal experiences for PoC, because blanket statements like 'don't forget the fear and anger' invites stereotyping, you know?

The post isn't really about CoC characteristics; it's about why CoC characteristics aren't going to be universally representative. But I hope someone is brave enough to open up a dialogue about writing PoC at some point!

[vikki]

SHE IS AWESOME. I can't link this article enough.

[vikki]

heeeee! Well, I'd be interested in more ranting from you. =DDD

[vikki]

ignorance is NOT a form of indifference. It is a form of knowing.

I agree with this so much.

Trying to create a CoC that is somehow 'universal' is just so completely begging for stereotyping I don't even know. Individuals are individuals, whether of color or not; their experiences will be wide-ranging. There are certain consistencies, I think, and therein is the importance of understanding the culture any person/character emerges from. Culture and color inform a person's experiences, very heavily, but each person is still a unique individual.