I find I'm looked to to talk about/work on racism/racial diversity stuff, as if this is only and/or (which really is shit) more the responsbility of those who are affected by it, and not a collective issue. Or people assume I have knowledge/contacts that I don't have on eg BME* LGBT* issues. And when I don't, don't themselves go off and google stuff (which is only what I'd be doing anyway)
*splutter* but but but... dont you get some sort of encyclopedia at birth with specialist knowledge exclusive to non-pink non-breeders ? ;P
Ahh the covert racism and homophobia, its a very different flavour to the good ole fashioned openly prejudice-wielding moron. I still cannot get Leeds City Council to understand that the term 'Paki' being used by someone in their employ to describe my Iranian neighbour offends ME*, not just my neighbour. Why cant i use the relevant discrimination legeslation, why does it have to be my neighbour or no-one at all?
*and not just my inner geographical pedant, neither!
Thanks for writing this - I have joined in (in a small way) where otherwise I might not have felt up to it.
Question. Or comment, or something: skibbley has posted as part of IBARW (don't know if his post was provoked by yours) and one of the comments on his post says "I don't know what it would be appropriate for me as a white person to do about racism as an issue. It's not my fight and dipping my oar in without being asked would be patronising (IMO) - as if people who are impacted by racism aren't able to stand up for themselves."
I both understand this and feel that it's not the response I want to have. I agree with you that racism is everyone's issue, just as sexism is (and I definitely think men should post about sexism, so...). But there is this definite discomfort with being white and discussing racism. Do you have any thoughts about this?
I mostly work in animal rights, and it's pretty obvious there that if only the people who are being persecuted are allowed to speak up about it, not much is going to get said!
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*splutter* but but but... dont you get some sort of encyclopedia at birth with specialist knowledge exclusive to non-pink non-breeders ? ;P
Ahh the covert racism and homophobia, its a very different flavour to the good ole fashioned openly prejudice-wielding moron. I still cannot get Leeds City Council to understand that the term 'Paki' being used by someone in their employ to describe my Iranian neighbour offends ME*, not just my neighbour. Why cant i use the relevant discrimination legeslation, why does it have to be my neighbour or no-one at all?
*and not just my inner geographical pedant, neither!
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Question. Or comment, or something: skibbley has posted as part of IBARW (don't know if his post was provoked by yours) and one of the comments on his post says "I don't know what it would be appropriate for me as a white person to do about racism as an issue. It's not my fight and dipping my oar in without being asked would be patronising (IMO) - as if people who are impacted by racism aren't able to stand up for themselves."
I both understand this and feel that it's not the response I want to have. I agree with you that racism is everyone's issue, just as sexism is (and I definitely think men should post about sexism, so...). But there is this definite discomfort with being white and discussing racism. Do you have any thoughts about this?
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I mostly work in animal rights, and it's pretty obvious there that if only the people who are being persecuted are allowed to speak up about it, not much is going to get said!
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