And a Happy (belated) Father's Day!

Don't worry! I didn't forget my dad! He happens to like his Netflix subscription, thankyouverymuch! ;-p

Happy Juneteenth!

"Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19TH that a band of union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston Island, Texas with the news that the Civil War had ended, and was won by the Union North forces, and that all the slaves in the states in rebellion against the union were henceforth, and forever free from a lifetime of inhumane servitude."

Today, many towns celebrate Juneteenth with festivals, parties, and cook-outs. The best Juneteenth celebration I've ever been to was in the Philadelphia. They had all kinds of food, music, gifts, books, clothes, jewelry (I'm wearing the cowry shell necklace I bought that day!), and things to do! Share your own Juneteenth festival stories!

Link Dump: "Because I Don't Feel Like Waiting For Lunch" edition

You Say Clamato, I Say Oh-Hell-No: It's an energy drink, people! AN ENERGY DRINK!

News You Can Eat>> Blue Bell Cake Batter Ice Cream: This seems almost blasphemous to me. Where's the gooey stickiness of the batter on your fingers? Where's the adrenaline rush as you're being swatted away from the bowl by your mom with a wooden spoon? Where's the tummy rot from the raw eggs?

Haiku Candy Reviews: Candy nirvana.

Bad Commercials & Bad Liberals

Y'know that MasterCard commercial where the woman gets a pedicure and then buys new red shoes and a new red dress? Am I the only one who thinks she should've gone to the salon to get a better hairstyle "to match the dress, to the match the shoes, to go with the peek-toe pumps, to go with her new pedicure"?

* * * * *

The Field Negro writes about the indignation White "kossacks" feel at the very suggestion of reading blogs written by Black people. Quelle horreur!

Link Dump: "Half-Assed Apologies" edition

"Every order is deliverd via rickshaw by first generation Chinese immigrants... We really should charge more for delivery, old Chinamen are getting expensive these days." That was just a sample of the offensive advertizing for a restaturant in Tuscon, Arizona called Eggrolls, etc. As reported by angry asian man, the owner of the restaurant, Mike Reynolds, has recently removed the offensive language, but has yet to issue a formal apology. States Reynolds:

"I have reached out, but not in the manner they wanted. I didn't show up for a firing squad. I'm not going to do it in a way that brands me as a racist or a bigot."

Truth hurts, don't it?

* * * * *

Yet another campus blackface party. But, wait! This one, unlike the others, was endorsed by the school! Also, this school is a private Christian academy!

The photos, which were posted on the Internet shortly after the June 1 event, show staff and faculty of the small private Christian school dressed as slaves with captions describing activities at the party in Hanford.

"The slaves served lemonade -- it was a riot," read one caption beneath a photo of five women and a man at a lemonade stand. Each had dark face makeup and wore 19th century clothing.

"Someday we gonna be leavin' when a workin' day is done," read another caption posted with a photo of three women holding gardening tools.

W...T...F.

Spencer, who said he was sorry for the controversy, said his school, with a student body of 150, has "three or four" black students. One of those students attended the party. Spencer said that while he is willing to apologize to anyone offended by the skits, he has not apologized to the unnamed student.

"It was not offensive," Spencer said. "And she hasn't asked for an apology."

What a racist dumbass! See pics of the "graduation" at Urban Knowledge.

* * * * *

Another church, another blackface skit. I'll just pass this along to Resist Racism; that article is perfect! In his apology, however, the pastor does realize that "there are those who have been offended."Hmm...How does this put in line with the others? Thoughts?

Goodnight, Mr. Wizard.

TV's "Mr. Wizard" Don Herbert dies at 89

"Don Herbert, who as television's "Mr. Wizard" introduced generations of young viewers to the joys of science, died Tuesday. He was 89."

Mr. Wizard Studios

First Paris gets sent back to jail, now this!

Georgia Judge Voids Sentence in Teen Sex Case

"A judge on Monday voided a 10-year sentence for a man accused of having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17. He instead gave Genarlow Wilson a 12-month misdemeanor sentence with credit for time already served, and ordered him released."

Update (1:32 PM):

Now, Hold on There!

"A judge on Monday threw out the 10-year sentence against a 21-year-old for a consensual sex encounter he had as a teenager. But the state attorney general quickly filed a notice of appeal, keeping Genarlow Wilson in prison for the time being.
The prosecutor's move brought an abrupt halt to the jubilation Wilson's mother, Juannessa Bennett, and his attorney, B.J. Bernstein, were feeling, and the plans they were making for Bennett to be reunited with her son.
'It is extremely, extremely disturbing that the attorney general would take this action now,' Bernstein said, adding that she did not know what message 'he's trying to send' or 'who he's representing.'"

I'm a Freakin' M&M!

Link Dump: "Damn ignint people!" edition

I guess she isn't a fan of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "It's fairly common knowledge that many black (and Hispanic) men prefer their women larger than do other groups, a reality that launched [Buffie the Body] on her path to glory. It is perhaps less well known that that preference has contributed to extremely high levels of obesity among black women."

brownfemipower writes in response to hate mail from men of color: "Not one woman of color denies that women in her particular community have been brutalized. But to use one part of our history as proof of the inherent evil of the white race does little more than position us as a tool to use in YOUR (i.e. MALE) battle against white structures of power. We are only good for the movement as long as we are submissively down cast, our fierce angry hearts silenced and cold in the name of liberation." Speak on!

From Resist Racism: "This is another example of how privilege blinds (primarily white) adoptive parents to issues that deeply affect their children. My child is an American, they say. My child was legally adopted. My child came to this country legally. Not like those people."

From The Black Factor: "...far too many Black workers have to spend too many portions of the day fighting wild accusations and fighting for the basic respect White workers expect and demand."

Lessons Learned

One night, I was browsing Feministing and came upon a post by Samhita called Gentrification, Hipsters and "Ghetto Chic" where she expanded a bit on a post by Wendi Muse at Racialicious. In the post, Samhita says (emphasis hers):

A few months ago I was sitting in a coffee shop in my neighborhood, a coffee shop I can no longer go to as I may fight somebody, and this white "hipster" boy sat down across from me wearing a red bandana tied on the front of his head, Tupac style. That's right, he was "GANGSTA." I am not laughing. I shot him the nastiest look and freaked him out so he didn't want to share the table with me, but I was raging inside.

...To move into a community, uninformed, taking from it, not giving back and flaunting your expensive Ipod and "ghetto chic" accessories, is a form of violence.

I may be sounding like a hater, and maybe I am just too old to get it, but I AM FED UP WITH THESE KIDS. I hate Vice Magazine and I hate this attitude that pretty much says, "I am so passed racist, I can act like this." Wake up asshole, look around you, you are part of the problem.

She made a lot of good points in her post. Unfortunately, many people identified too well with the hipsters:

I was walking around Brooklyn the other day with a red bandanna popping out of my back pocket that I always keep on me to tie my hair up in case it gets hot. A guy straight up had to tell me to take it out because I was apparently signaling that I was a Blood. Am I ignorant? Yes. Is it my fault that I didn't know what a red bandanna out of a pocket meant? Not really - I grew up in the whitest suburb known to man. How the fuck was I supposed to know that? It's not like there's a nation of hipsters out to get you, dude. Sometimes, we just don't know. Can someone please send me a list of shit that middle class white people aren't allowed to wear so I don't inadvertently piss someone off?

It's just clothes. Don't be so petty. They're are more important things to worry about if your pullin out the gentrification card...

well, if I see anyone wearing a pair punk pins and they are not punk, I guess I should get offended when they come into my punk neighborhood. I guess they are taking a form of violence against my culture... oh wait, i'm white, apparently I dont have a culture.

If it's not okay for a white person to wear 'ghetto chic" fashion, is it okay for a non-chinese person to eat in a chinese restaurant? the food isn't much like that served in china.

American racial and ethnic subcultures have borrowed from each other from the beginning of our history. Black culture has always been fascinating to white hipsters, artists, music-lovers etc. And black culture is still here!

I'm with you this time, Samhita. Nothing pisses me off more than seeing a black guy walk through my white neighborhood wearing a suit and tie. Leave my culture alone!

Lovely, eh? The comments just get worse from there.

I offered my support to Samhita and spoke up about how all the negative comments reeked of white privilege. That's when everything went to hell...

Within 2 hours of my commenting (keep in mind, this is "blog time"), I was called a troll. After 8 minutes, I was accused of verbally attacking someone and being disrespectful. And, less than 3 hours after my inital post, some racist bitch told me, because of my own European ancestors,

you yourself may need to examine your own contribution to "white privilege." ;)

And yes, bitch added the smiley.

But that was not the end of folks. Ooooh noooo. It didn't stop there.

Jen posted a much-needed editorial on the racist things that were being said over at Samhita's post. She even reposted some of these comments. Of course the ones who made the comments claimed they were being misunderstood, their words were taken out of context, blah, blah, blah, fart.

But then the white posters come in (How do I know they're white? It's the first thing they usually say) to pat the little racists on the head and tell them, "Now, now. You mustn't say those things or you might get into trouble, or hurt someone's feelings." Then the racists are grateful for being treated with so much understanding because they didn't appreciate being yelled by "that crazy person" from the last board.

The hell?

So because I called you out on your own white privilege - that you still refuse to acknowledge - you call me crazy?

The fight went on and I was called harsh, hostile, combative, snippy, sarcastic, belittling, and my feelings were called unjustified.

Swell.

Oh, did I mention that all of this went down on a feminist webiste? Y'know, sisterly love, togetherness, and all that bullshit. Riiight...

But you know what? I've learned something:

1. Seemingly progressive whites do not like to be confronted with their own racism and white privilege.
   
• I had seen this before, but naively hoped it may only be a troll issue. But learning about the experiences of nubian, brownfemipower, Blackamazon, and others, along with my recent incident, have made me see the ugly truth. Earl Ofari Hutchinson actually posted a great article on AlterNet, stating:

  Too many liberals bash Bush policies, cheer Michael Moore, and swoon over Obama, yet see absolutely no harm in racial stereotypes, especially anti-black stereotypes.

• The people I came across during the Feministing debacle were so staunchly against the very notion of white privilege, they began to refer to it as "the P word". They felt it was an insult, when it was actually just a statement of fact. Some people have privilege over others, whether it's rich over poor, able-bodied over disabled, male over female, white over black and other people of color. Being privileged doesn't make one a bad person. Refusing to acknowledge the privilege and internalize it by realize that there are others who are less fortunate than you, however, does.

2. These same white people prefer to be handled with kid glves and will only listen to those of their own race.
• To hell with listening to me, a black woman! I mean, what I possibly know about racism and prejudice? I've only lived with all of my damn life. Oh no! You should listen to the nice, friendly white people who are telling you the same things I've been trying to beat into your heads for hours. [/sarcasm] What-the-fuck-ever.

3. Everyone likes candy!
• One commenter was upset because he felt that even though more opportunities should be made for people of color, that shouldn't mean restricting or taking away opportunities from whites. (I know, what you're thinking. Trust me, I do.) Anyway, I offered this analogy that I saw on another blog (if you spot your work, let me know):

  Let's say that there are 2 pieces of candy in one house with 2 children. One child has both pieces; the other child has none. The mother takes one of the pieces of candy from the child with both and gives it to the child with none. The child who had the candy taken away now begins to cry, even though he still has his one piece of candy. All the mother did was make things fair and equal. And that's all POCs want.
  
  Whites don't seem to understand privilege until it's taken, or about to be taken, away from them. And even then, all that's being done is evenly distributing the candy.

• And it was a hit! Who knew? After this analogy, the commenters almost seemed to come to sort of consensus. The consensus: That they were completely and utterly clueless and felt as helpless as newborn pups:
  

  I don't want to be a kid holding two pieces of candy. I don't want to be a kid with one piece of candy crying because I used to have two. So what do I do? Clearly, this is a big problem and there are steps we can take to be a part of the solution but they're not easy. I don't want to be a racist. So now what?

  So how do you convince people to give up their candy?
  

  About giving up the candy: Let me watch you give yours up first, and then we can talk, right?

  ...and that sometimes the "candy" is bouillion cubes ("it's wrapped in gold foil, it must be candy!!!")?

• Sigh...

So, there you have it. I'll be the first to admit I'm still very green in all of this. In fact, I grew up in quite a sheltered life. When I leave the house, I know that things are not all rosy, but it wasn't until I started reading the blogs that I saw how ugly the world can be. And it wasn't just because of the news alerts or the trolls, it was because of the blind ignorance and willfull stupidity of those who are supposed to be fighting alongside of you for equal rights. So, the first thing progressives need to do in order to fight oppression and injustice in the world is clean out your own closet.

Okay...here we go.

Before I start, just take a moment to browse around my blog.

Go ahead. I'll wait...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

Oh! Back already?

So, whaddya think? Kinda out there, isn't it? I've got some sort of Star Wars thing, something about Disney princesses, and here and there are a few links about racism, sexism, and other "dumbass-ery". I don't update regularly. I don't even have a blogroll. Even the title, Don't Read This Blog, is a half-hearted attempt to warn people not to get their hopes up. So, what was the point?

The reason I started this blog was because I wanted a rant page. Sometimes, when I logged onto feminist sites or other progressive sites, I would leave my computer frustrated because even though - apparently - we all had the same ideals, I felt that my voice was not being heard and I was banging my head into a brick wall. So I started this blog as a way to vent my rage and anger and put my opinions out there for all to see...

...Although, hardly anybody actually views this blog...

...and I really haven't had time to "vent my rage" due to work and school...

This blog is as scatterbrained, as cluttered, and as messy as the inside of my mind. I began to think of this space as a way to gather my thoughts and attempt to learn more about myself in the process.

During this process, I've been thinking about what it means to me to be a Woman of Color. I love reading The Angry Black Woman, Women of Color Blog, and Racialicious, and I've wondered if I can do that. Do I have the eloquence, the strength, and the experience to stand with these sisters and speak up against racism, sexism, and the other ills of our society?

I don't know.

But, I do know that as a Woman of Color I have been, and continue to be, subject to racist and sexist discrimination, prejudices, oppression, and downright ugliness all of my life. And, as People of Color, so has every member of family, and some have shared their stories with me. So, when I hear people denying the existence of such despicable acts against other people simply because of the color of their skin or because of what is - or isn't - between their legs it makes me physically ill. And worse...

It pisses me off.

So here I am, pissed-the-fuck-off, here to offer a few lessons to those who need it. (You know who you are. Don't make me call you out!) Lord knows I'm not the greatest teacher in the world, but I'm sick and tired of the voices of Women of Color being ignored!

Withing the week, there will be a post - or two, or three (I haven't decided, yet) - on the lessons I've learned in my short time in the progressive "blogosphere", and lessons I feel need to be repeated ad nauseum until some of those hardheaded people out there get it through their skulls!

See ya in a couple of days!

Feministing

Thanks to everyone who has shown they're support over the debacle at Feministing. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to respond, but I needed time to clear my head. (And to get rid of that migraine that's been bugging me for about a week!)

I plan on posting further thoughts on the incident for the next Erase Racism Carnival. I'm making notes, 'cuz I want this one to be good.

I'll catch you later! ^_~