Sorry to say, but you don't know racism.

[lady_mercury]

I engaged in a conversation about racism in Japan that downward spiraled down into an all out wank-war between myself and a fellow white poster living in the country. To make a long story short, the white person opened up his comment with, " I fucking love racism in Japan! I finally get to know what it feels like to be a minority and I love it. I

Comments

[witchsistah]

I wonder why white fans in fandom try so hard to spin the argument back at us? Are they afraid to accept the truth that the situation is still twisted? Do they think that "racism will disappear" as long as we don't "bring it up"?

No, it's because they're protecting their privilege.

I believe the vast majority of Whites, including fen, really know that they are skating by on a thick sheet of White privilege. Most of them fear that without it, they wouldn't have half of the shit they got now. They may mouth some words about equality, but they really like that automatic leg-up they get. White privilege is also like a bank account that they can tap into anytime they want with no penalties.

If they can get us darkies to stop complaining about White supremacist racism, then they can keep it AND the privilege resulting from it GUILT FREE and pretend like it's not wrong for them to have it.

[lady_mercury]

I mention to my "white expert on racism" that, after his English teacher gig in Japan is over -- when he comes back home to America, he will no longer be the "minority". When a woman of color, like me, returns back to America -- she will still be the minority.

He insisted that I was racist for inferring that because he was white he did not understand racism. Ironically enough, I am the one given the warning for "antagonizing board members".

When has the situation deteriorated to the point that when a person of color speaks up for their rights, they are automatically labeled as the irate, crazy, angry one that is only there to cause disorder? This has been driving me absolutely insane. To the point where I'm questioning if my ideology on race relations is behind and the world magically over came their differences and are now holding hands and singing kumbahyah.

And fandom has seriously became the worst platform for this discussion between whites and pocs. Probably because it is the last place you would expect such idiocy.

[doctoreon]

He insisted that I was racist for inferring that because he was white he did not understand racism.

He should read a paper by Thomas Nagel called "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" It has absolutely nothing to do with racism, but it has everything to do with experience. Nagel proposes that you can understand everything about, say, the mechanics of bat experiences, senses, flight, etc., but you will never understand what it's like to be a bat having those experiences.

I tend to think racism is an analogous sort of thing. A white person can understand all the mechanics of oppression, lack of privilege and other experiences that come with racism, but they'll never understand what's it's like to really experience them.

More succinctly, it's like Sidney Deane said, "Look man, you can listen to Jimi but you can't hear him. There's a difference man. Just because you're listening to him doesn't mean you're hearing him."

[tigerbright]

Most of them fear that without it, they wouldn't have half of the shit they got now.

*nodnodnod*

It's even more true for most white Jewish people and most white GLBT people, who quietly pass unless feeling defensive.

(I speak for myself, but I suspect most would guiltily agree.)

[lady_mercury]

lol, I wish it were possible. But I'd get a slap on the wrist for being "extreme". :P

[mmoneurere]

Ugh. I've been a white dude in Tokyo -- and even just going but what my white-goggles let through, it was a whole hell of a lot less of an issue than racism in the U.S.

[lady_mercury]

It's unfortunate that Japanese society is xenophobic, but I always feel as if despite that fact, white people will always have an advantage over a POC. A Japanese person will open up to a white man a lot quicker than a black man.

Japanese racism, as they claimed, wasn't "racism" but "discrimination" -- as the Japanese are, in some magical way, incapable of such thought. I guess WWII didn't happen.

[lady_mercury]

Japanese xenophobia is a bit more of a nationalistic "pride" akin to white supremacy in the United States. In the eyes of the xenophobics of their society, the Japanese race is the supreme race and every other race is less than. Also, the growing fear of a declining population and increasing immigration has really stirred the pot too.

I blame it partly on Western influence mixed with their own national pride.

[poeticalpanther]

Now, I am not saying that all white people are racist...Y'know you don't need to say that here, right? White members of this comm, like myself, are (hopefully) here to be good, relatively quiet, allies. If we don't know that last para, then we don't belong here

[lady_mercury]

Thank you! :D Sorry for getting back so late ~_~ It was my birthday yesterday so it was all ~distractions~

Y'know you don't need to say that here, right? White members of this comm, like myself, are (hopefully) here to be good, relatively quiet, allies. If we don't know that last para, then we don't belong here.

I always feel as if I need to cover my bases because, like the example I used, they'll quickly flip it and turn it into something ugly. Become a defensive and act like the victim of racism. It's so maddening.

Excellent post, and no, you're not being racist at all. Racism needs power, and the power still remains in the hands of people who look like me (well, -ish - I'm a woman, so naughty me for not being in the REAL power group).We, as minorities (women, people of color, homosexuals, disabled), need to use our voices and minds to stand up against these injustices. This ideal of turning a blind eye to these issues is only going to make the matter worst. It's like sweeping dirt under a rug, eventually the the dirt is going to

[poeticalpanther]

Well, Happy Birthday! May you have so many more as you desire, nor more nor less, and may each be happier and more prosperous than the last.

I always feel as if I need to cover my bases because, like the example I used, they'll quickly flip it and turn it into something ugly. Become a defensive and act like the victim of racism. It's so maddening.Oh, I do get it. White people can be a huge, huge pain in the ass about this stuff, always. I just hope that, at least in this one place, we can put the words and thoughts of POC first for a change, and not worry about the poor fee-fees of those who don't want to give up their racism and privilege. A sort of safer space, as it were - not safe, but safer, at least. But yeah, I get the impulse