tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733547565614327236.post2761775309956464310..comments2023-10-16T06:40:43.382-07:00Comments on CHOP-TENSILS: You're Not the Only OneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733547565614327236.post-77347572097480896082009-03-23T23:10:00.000-07:002009-03-23T23:10:00.000-07:00Another late follow-up to comments here.@ Joseph -...Another late follow-up to comments here.<BR/><BR/>@ Joseph - you're more than welcome here and I'm glad you checked it out. Although since I didn't respond til now, you probably already gave up on it - sorry about the late reply. <BR/><BR/>@ Lisa J - wasn't trying to bash Racialicious - I read it daily. Just pointing out that - even there - this can happen a lot. As for the problem with taking responsibility - I think a lot of it is the selfish individualism that we Americans push so hard. We're all these special little snowflakes - which means it's harder for us to acknowledge all the ways we're THE SAME as other folks, no matter how different they may seem at first glance. Other people have flaws - but we special little individuals don't have the same problem . . .<BR/><BR/>@ Jennifer - being an Asian WOMAN must make it doubly-difficult. Not only will people dismiss your experiences of race, but they are probably more likely to dismiss your experiences due to gender, as well. That's one form of privilege I carry with me all the time, and I really do respect those that are able to push through without it.CVThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04097386572053924474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733547565614327236.post-31519425613302812722009-03-09T19:26:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:26:00.000-07:00CVT,Thanks for this post--it really resonated with...CVT,<BR/>Thanks for this post--it really resonated with me in many ways, esp. because I find myself in situations where I am talking about race/racism and white supremacy/white privilege and people are always SURPRISED that it's all coming from an Asian American woman (which in the South means that I generally scan as white). <BR/><BR/>I agree, to a certain extent, with what Lisa J. states about people of color absorbing white supremacy and the sense that there is a limited amount of resources--that somehow racial awareness is a zero-sum game.<BR/><BR/>But I think I'm a hopeful gal--and I think that there are folks who are trying to have conversations across racial divides--to find moments of collaboration and clarity and a sense of being allies not just in terms of anti-racism but, as you suggested in your post, in terms of other forms of oppression and a recognition that privilege oftentimes comes at a cost to others.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733547565614327236.post-53148895818798157982009-03-09T14:36:00.000-07:002009-03-09T14:36:00.000-07:00Hmm, interesting take. I agree for the most part ...Hmm, interesting take. I agree for the most part with what you say. It is hard to see other people's perspectives and though I at least try to know a little about the oppression other minorities and groups have faced throughout history up to today, I know I don't always learn, think or do enough about it. I don't know if I agree entirely with your assessment of Racialicious. At times I see, and to my chagrin perhaps occasionally participate myself in, oppression Olympics at Racialicious I think that many folks there are thoughtful and try to be respectful to the struggles of others beyond their own group. Of course you see the opposite and some people who try to pooh-pooh others struggle, I think that the Editrix does a fairly good job with keeping an open and respectful debate. Though maybe I am biased b/c it is one of my favorite blogs. <BR/><BR/>Back to your main topic, I think there may be something in our culture today that makes everyone feel a little bit like they are being singled out and to have a difficult time accepting their own role in their situation. I've had a wise counselor point it out to me as, "why is it always me" "why am I always the victim and in a kindly way discuss it as having a bit of a pity party.<BR/><BR/>My 60-something mother also pointed out that she has noticed that many people from about their early to mid-50's and below have a hard time admitting when they are at fault or tend to push the blame on to others or to not take responsibility for their actions. I don't think she meant that everyone did it and it is something you see from your "average" person up to the politicians, pundits etc. Maybe it is just the generational judgment (she is just before the baby boom, not sure what generation they call that for sure, but I've heard the silent generation thrown around), but I think there is something to it beyond that and it sounds like it applies to your students and their parents. I know it often applies to me, though I am trying to be better about being aware of it. <BR/><BR/>I think it is hard often for disparate minority groups to take a look away from their own problems towards others, and I think to some degree that white supremacy has infected us all so much that we have been trained to distrust each other, have bigoted opinions about each other and not work together for our common good. Much like the ways in which Southern land and slave owning gentry in the antebellum convinced poor whites that they should ID with them, that they could own slaves too if they worked hard enough and that no matter what, they were better than blacks. This kept them from siding with slaves and realizing the ways that slavery did more to hurt them than to help them. Unfortunately that continues up until today and many opportunities for poor whites, blacks, indigenous people, Asians, Latino's (though that group includes all of the above groups to some degree)to work together are lost. And it is sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3733547565614327236.post-45626215711963734952009-03-08T20:15:00.000-07:002009-03-08T20:15:00.000-07:00CVTJust saying hi and accepting your invite to che...CVT<BR/>Just saying hi and accepting your invite to check out your blog. Please feel free to do the same. Thanks again for reaching out--it was a turning point in a difficult conversation. <BR/><BR/>Best,<BR/>JoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com