BtVS: Microaggressions

[itsnotmymind]

So once again I am responding to something I read online that I do not have a link for. I needed to sit on this for awhile before posting, and I didn't save the link

Comments

[honeymink]

I actually just re-watched "Help" today and I kind of think it's maybe a two-level issue - if we are honest then BtVS for all that was innovative about it at the time, it is a really white show. Apart from Kendra, Principle Wood and maybe Trick, I have a hard time coming up with any memorable black characters or really any people of colour. When I say it's a two-level issue, I mean - the way I read it as text from Buffy's point of view is when made fun of Kendra's accent it was really how she would often mock Giles's accent but with the added insecurity she felt towards Kendra who appeared to this model slayer. As for the interchange in "Help" I felt that Wood was setting her up for it (I mean we know later that he knows who she is and she is uncomfortable from the start worried that he may know more the leads on so it's this dance they have around each other, gauging each other's knowledge) - that being said, he has obviously seen the demographics and even in these first few episodes of season 7 with the high school reopening and

[itsnotmymind]

You know, I decided not to get into it in this post, but even if Buffy had never committed a microaggression onscreen prior to Help, I would not have been OK with the attitude I encountered of "Buffy's so likeable and then she committed a microaggression, how OOC!" Frankly, I think it's a safe bet that most people have committed microaggressions in their lives.

I have to admit I didn't pick up that moment in Restless as a microaggression when I watched it. I got that from the internet. But then, I'm not black. Making fun of Kendra's accent really bothered me, though. I don't remember any scene about Giles' accent that was comparable.

[honeymink]

I didn't say Buffy is so likeable she would never. I said the character is a construct that came from the pen of different writers and there were situations where you can choose to read it a certain way or not. Also that this reflects the experience and biases of these writers.

Frankly, I think it's a safe bet that most people have committed microaggressions in their lives.We will have to disagree on that. I think this goes and hand in hand with this not so new idea that everyone is racist on a spectrum which is really en vogue to think like among certain people. I respect your opinion if you follow this school of thinking but I don't subscribe to it

[itsnotmymind]

I didn't say Buffy is so likeable she would never. I said the character is a construct that came from the pen of different writers and there were situations where you can choose to read it a certain way or not. Also that this reflects the experience and biases of these writers.

Sorry, I was referring to the people I was initially responding to, not you.

We will have to agree to disagree on microaggressions.

I'm sorry you have had that experience with your accent.