New Jersey legislators are currently considering a resolution that apologizes for the state's role in perpetuating slavery. Four other states (Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia) have already issued similar statements, and several other states have considered such resolutions. On the federal level, Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen (D) introduced a statement of apology for slavery and Jim Crow-era discrimination (Also of interest, during his first term campaign, Cohen stated that he would seek to join the Congressional Black Caucus. Only upon learning of CBC members' intentions to block his efforts, did he rethink this goal).
But getting back to New Jersey, there were some amazingly idiotic, and unfortunately standard, statements issued in response to the measure by members of the NJ legislature. Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R) said, "But, on a current note, if slavery was the price that a modern American's ancestors had to pay in order to make one an American, one should get down on one's knees every single day and thank the Lord that such price was paid" ("New Jersey Weighs..."). Is he really telling descendents of slaves to be grateful for slavery, as they wouldn't otherwise be Americans? That's perhaps the most patriotic idiocy I've read yet despite our rabid descent into patriotism. Or is he telling white America (who are the only real "Americans" in his interpretation?) to be consider slavery and African American lives a commodity well spent and the economic benefits that issued from their bodies worth whatever moral and human price? In looking back over other attempts to pass like apologies, the denial of any contemporary culpability for slavery was the most common response. There are no longer any slaveholders or former slaves, so nobody's guilty. Or another gem from NJ Assemblyman Carroll: "that debt was more than repaid through the blood and suffering of 650,000 federal soldiers who died or were wounded during the war provoked by slavery."
The continued effects of slavery and racism are, thankfully, a part of the justification for NJ's apology. It states, "the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pretextual traffic stops and other indignities." But opponents of the measure focus only on their inability to repay dead former slaves, the tacit assumption being that race no longer impacts Americans' experiences. Carroll even manages to put an exact price on the lives claimed by slavery--650,000 federal soldiers. That makes white life worth exactly how much more than every black life?
To acknowledge any guilt would require white Americans and government to acknowledge responsibility after all, and that could lead to all kinds of nationally invalidating conversations. Our national mythology is Horatio Alger, the American Dream, a country founded on democratic ideals. To acknowledge the peoples crushed in the construction of that dream: Native Americans, slaves, Chinese Americans building railroads, Japanese Americans interned during WW II, contemporary migrant workers, to name but a few, would require us to relinquish the cherished conception of the U.S. as a meritocracy. Individually, it requires me as a white person to acknowledge the ways white privilege has benefited me--that all my successes are not solely because of my brilliance. And for those of us in less privileged positions, it can make life seem less within our control if hard work will not necessarily lead to successes.
Despite the acknowledgment of the continuing effects of racism upon black Americans, NJ is careful to note, that the "resolution cannot be used in litigation." The measure forecloses any possibility of demands for reparations, and ultimately is a denial of any fiscal or social responsibility. Carefully veiled under official apology is the refusal to entertain any real conversation about the ever-growing debt our nation owes to African Americans or any of its disenfranchised folks. I have no idea where that conversation might lead us. I don't know what shape reparations take or how one values the impact of dehumanizing acts, but it seems important to seriously continue and begin and rebegin the conversation.
Source:
"New Jersey weighs becoming first northern U.S. state to apologize for slavery." International Herald Tribune Press. .
January 06, 2008
May 24, 2007
Change
by Alkemyst
It was the turn of the 21st century
By that time, he was supposed to know who to be
But every month he'd stare at the full moon
Depending on God to determine the rest of his tune
Back up a minute and reminisce, his life
An invisible prison cell, locked in a set path, despite
His dreams to become an entertainer
Suffocating himself, left in a' empty container
Blindly living and ignoring the chains on his wrists,
He said to himself, it's all I can do about this
As the sun crossed east to west, his soul diluted
From rising currents of doubt, left undisputed
Lost and confused, he had gripped the fear
And fabricated a future full of pouring tears
So he stopped,
Imagined the easy route, to just give up life, sink and drop,
Facing the blackness, your future's at stake
There ain't just one shell that you gotta break
It's a continuous cracking at your comfort zone
Sometimes you have to accept the discomfort to break the mold
Everyone needs change in their lives
Without it, we lose our way, morph into parasites
Screw growing up, try growing young
Our minds hunger for knowledge, we'll never be done
Few years later, after taking the easy route
His face in his hands, mind in the clouds
Until one day, he heard an emerging voice
Arguing with his will to be glued to a safe choice
From his secluded cube he looked straight up
The glass ceiling was never there, was all made up
He pushed himself off the rails,
Realized that life's too short to even think to fail
He rose from the grave that stopped his blood
With new energy, broke away, and planted a bud
Soon it sprouted, fed his soul, grew in his veins
Replenished his mind, forever changing the game
Never regretting the past, living day by day,
He made his own story without losing his way
He left the hustle, popped his bubble
And finally accepted that life was a beautiful struggle
Your future's not meant to be a blackhole
Even realists need idealism to reach their goals
Rise above the fear of the unknown
Cut the chains, let freedom reign, and release the soul
Everyone needs change in their lives
Without it, we lose our way, morph into parasites
Screw growing up, try growing young
Our minds hunger for knowledge, we'll never be done
So get up, forget about whatever anybody tells you, and make a choice.
It was the turn of the 21st century
By that time, he was supposed to know who to be
But every month he'd stare at the full moon
Depending on God to determine the rest of his tune
Back up a minute and reminisce, his life
An invisible prison cell, locked in a set path, despite
His dreams to become an entertainer
Suffocating himself, left in a' empty container
Blindly living and ignoring the chains on his wrists,
He said to himself, it's all I can do about this
As the sun crossed east to west, his soul diluted
From rising currents of doubt, left undisputed
Lost and confused, he had gripped the fear
And fabricated a future full of pouring tears
So he stopped,
Imagined the easy route, to just give up life, sink and drop,
Facing the blackness, your future's at stake
There ain't just one shell that you gotta break
It's a continuous cracking at your comfort zone
Sometimes you have to accept the discomfort to break the mold
Everyone needs change in their lives
Without it, we lose our way, morph into parasites
Screw growing up, try growing young
Our minds hunger for knowledge, we'll never be done
Few years later, after taking the easy route
His face in his hands, mind in the clouds
Until one day, he heard an emerging voice
Arguing with his will to be glued to a safe choice
From his secluded cube he looked straight up
The glass ceiling was never there, was all made up
He pushed himself off the rails,
Realized that life's too short to even think to fail
He rose from the grave that stopped his blood
With new energy, broke away, and planted a bud
Soon it sprouted, fed his soul, grew in his veins
Replenished his mind, forever changing the game
Never regretting the past, living day by day,
He made his own story without losing his way
He left the hustle, popped his bubble
And finally accepted that life was a beautiful struggle
Your future's not meant to be a blackhole
Even realists need idealism to reach their goals
Rise above the fear of the unknown
Cut the chains, let freedom reign, and release the soul
Everyone needs change in their lives
Without it, we lose our way, morph into parasites
Screw growing up, try growing young
Our minds hunger for knowledge, we'll never be done
So get up, forget about whatever anybody tells you, and make a choice.
May 02, 2007
The Parking Lot
Friday and breezy. A perfect end to an okay week.
I'm driving through the high school parking lot, windows down.
I pass by a car with its windows down too.
I haven't cut him off; I haven't slowed him down in any way.
No provoking.
He turns to me.
Yells ching chong noises and laughs.
I'm so shocked I can't even react.
For about 30 seconds I want to put my car in park...get out...and beat up this random high school bully.
Then, "Student Teacher Assaults Local Boy" details at 9, flashes through my thoughts.
Obviously an assault would be less than ideal.
And so I just keep driving. Keep driving along.
Then it really hits me. This raw, raw anger and hurt.
It's been at least four or five years since someone has yelled fucked up shit to my face.
Four or five years since I've had to deal with unprovokedignorantbelligeranthatespeech.
Four or five years since I shed my thick skin and left bullshit high school for more discreet forms of hate.
Four or five years since someone could make me feel like I'm back in 1st grade again, trying to defend myself unarmed, my words failing me completely.
And then I cried.
I'm driving through the high school parking lot, windows down.
I pass by a car with its windows down too.
I haven't cut him off; I haven't slowed him down in any way.
No provoking.
He turns to me.
Yells ching chong noises and laughs.
I'm so shocked I can't even react.
For about 30 seconds I want to put my car in park...get out...and beat up this random high school bully.
Then, "Student Teacher Assaults Local Boy" details at 9, flashes through my thoughts.
Obviously an assault would be less than ideal.
And so I just keep driving. Keep driving along.
Then it really hits me. This raw, raw anger and hurt.
It's been at least four or five years since someone has yelled fucked up shit to my face.
Four or five years since I've had to deal with unprovokedignorantbelligeranthatespeech.
Four or five years since I shed my thick skin and left bullshit high school for more discreet forms of hate.
Four or five years since someone could make me feel like I'm back in 1st grade again, trying to defend myself unarmed, my words failing me completely.
And then I cried.
April 23, 2007
Prom in 2007
I thought we lived in the 21st century, well more than halfway into its first decade at that.
Proms are still segregated?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/turner.prom/index.html
It's my night to be naive. Sorry.
-jp
Proms are still segregated?
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/turner.prom/index.html
It's my night to be naive. Sorry.
-jp
On "Being Colorblind"
I haven't made a post in a while, but I feel that it's time again.
As the semester drives to a close, my Diversity/Identity class is putting the finishing touches on our exhibit, which we hope to soon have up in front of the Co-Op. My specific part of the exhibit deals with "Diversity on Campus." Let me share a few quotes from opposite ends of the spectrum:
“There’s diversity—but I don’t know, I just feel like everyone is—there’s people of every ethnicity here, but it’s not like we’re intermingling with one another. It’s like we’re all in our little cliques. So it’s’ kind of like some people say like a melting pot or a salad. It’s like somebody just threw a big chunk of lettuce in there, and then somebody threw a whole tomato in there, instead of chopping it up and mixing up the whole salad.”
“And so I guess with UT, I don’t see it as diverse because I see really—for me, I see the population being really Asian and White. I don’t really see anything else, and so I don’t really see it as diverse…to define diversity, I guess you have to look at the—not only just the different species or types that are in one little area, you also have to look at the numbers. I mean, I don’t think you want to say that just because you have one of each one, that’s diverse; because you can have one of one species, and fifty of another species, and I don’t think that’s diverse at all, and that’s kind of what I see at UT.”
“…I think that UT could use more diversity not for my sake but for everyone else’s sake—because I think that it is really sad when people have to rely on stereotypes to know a race because they don’t know a lot of Black people and have misconceptions and ideas that are most of the time just wrong. And if there were more Blacks or if there were just more of anything I think it could open people’s minds.”
(I'm keeping all quotes anonymous although all narrators have signed appropriate release forms)
While extracting quotes from a series of about 24 interviews, I came across many that had to do with the concept of "being colorblind." And I present:
“I’ve just been brought up in a way that’s colorblind and I don’t understand how people can be like that [so conscious of race]. When I was younger, I used to think that people were Black if they had Black hair, so I thought that my grandpa was Black because he had Black hair. But he was White. And I thought I was White because I had blonde hair, so I just don’t understand how people—how they can be like that and why it means so much.”
“It doesn’t matter what race I am. To me, it’s wherever you grew up at, wherever you were raised is how you’re going to act.”
“And so that’s always been sort of my stance as far as that, that you know, race and color doesn’t really matter. And I try to prove that performing well academically, and showing people that everything is based on skill, and that’s what’s important, not color.”
All interviews were conducted with people of color.
I've run into a huge problem while putting together my exhibit. Obviously, my narrators care about diversity, no question about it. But if all we should strive to be is colorblind, WHY IN THE HELL WOULD DIVERSITY BE IMPORTANT?!
Explain that one away and I'll give you...hell, I'll let you have the A on my project.
--jp
As the semester drives to a close, my Diversity/Identity class is putting the finishing touches on our exhibit, which we hope to soon have up in front of the Co-Op. My specific part of the exhibit deals with "Diversity on Campus." Let me share a few quotes from opposite ends of the spectrum:
“There’s diversity—but I don’t know, I just feel like everyone is—there’s people of every ethnicity here, but it’s not like we’re intermingling with one another. It’s like we’re all in our little cliques. So it’s’ kind of like some people say like a melting pot or a salad. It’s like somebody just threw a big chunk of lettuce in there, and then somebody threw a whole tomato in there, instead of chopping it up and mixing up the whole salad.”
“And so I guess with UT, I don’t see it as diverse because I see really—for me, I see the population being really Asian and White. I don’t really see anything else, and so I don’t really see it as diverse…to define diversity, I guess you have to look at the—not only just the different species or types that are in one little area, you also have to look at the numbers. I mean, I don’t think you want to say that just because you have one of each one, that’s diverse; because you can have one of one species, and fifty of another species, and I don’t think that’s diverse at all, and that’s kind of what I see at UT.”
“…I think that UT could use more diversity not for my sake but for everyone else’s sake—because I think that it is really sad when people have to rely on stereotypes to know a race because they don’t know a lot of Black people and have misconceptions and ideas that are most of the time just wrong. And if there were more Blacks or if there were just more of anything I think it could open people’s minds.”
(I'm keeping all quotes anonymous although all narrators have signed appropriate release forms)
While extracting quotes from a series of about 24 interviews, I came across many that had to do with the concept of "being colorblind." And I present:
“I’ve just been brought up in a way that’s colorblind and I don’t understand how people can be like that [so conscious of race]. When I was younger, I used to think that people were Black if they had Black hair, so I thought that my grandpa was Black because he had Black hair. But he was White. And I thought I was White because I had blonde hair, so I just don’t understand how people—how they can be like that and why it means so much.”
“It doesn’t matter what race I am. To me, it’s wherever you grew up at, wherever you were raised is how you’re going to act.”
“And so that’s always been sort of my stance as far as that, that you know, race and color doesn’t really matter. And I try to prove that performing well academically, and showing people that everything is based on skill, and that’s what’s important, not color.”
All interviews were conducted with people of color.
I've run into a huge problem while putting together my exhibit. Obviously, my narrators care about diversity, no question about it. But if all we should strive to be is colorblind, WHY IN THE HELL WOULD DIVERSITY BE IMPORTANT?!
Explain that one away and I'll give you...hell, I'll let you have the A on my project.
--jp
April 12, 2007
Faulty Scanners
My brother recently got hired to work in San Francisco, threw away his furniture and car, and headed up there last week. This is the first time the "baby" of the family is really showing some independence and it is a proud moment for our family.
As he was checking in his ticket in one of those self-serve kiosks at the airport, 2 guards came up and asked that he be scanned. Supposedly, he was consistently setting the alarm off, even after several articles of clothing were removed. Then, he was taken to another room - to take off all of his clothing for a full body search.
After he put his clothes back on, he was held and questioned repeatedly: they wanted to know why his ticket to San Francisco was one-way and what his real plans for the city are.
Oh, I'm sure the search was completely random.
As he was checking in his ticket in one of those self-serve kiosks at the airport, 2 guards came up and asked that he be scanned. Supposedly, he was consistently setting the alarm off, even after several articles of clothing were removed. Then, he was taken to another room - to take off all of his clothing for a full body search.
After he put his clothes back on, he was held and questioned repeatedly: they wanted to know why his ticket to San Francisco was one-way and what his real plans for the city are.
Oh, I'm sure the search was completely random.
April 10, 2007
My Cousin, Part II
Brought to you by the Jean family tree.
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Chinese Food Buffet, a rant about that which really isn't.
FRIED CHICKEN, MEATBALLS, TERIYAKI CHICKEN, CORNED BEEF, FRENCH FRIES, PUDDING; since when did these become part of Chinese cuisine? I guess one could call them Chinese fries and 90-degree angle beef and Pu-Ding, yet we must realize that they are still truly NOT Chinese. How misleading and deceptive it is to call a buffet restaurant “Chinese” when it actually has few authentic dishes; even these few “genuine” Chinese dishes are not genuine. It is true that they serve General Tso’s Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Sesame Chicken found in China. Yet why give these three dishes the different names here when THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME??? Admit it “Chinese” buffet restaurants, you use the same sauce and you use the same chicken. The only difference is that difference in the name. No need to ask the waiter what's in each dish, it's all in the name. Orange flavor is added to Orange chicken and sesame is added to Sesame Chicken. However, General Tso presents some astounding change with the brilliant idea of adding peppers and pineapple to the mono-tasting “chicken sauce”, thus giving his name to the exhausted dish today. Thank you General Tso for some nominal diversity, otherwise we’d have Pepper and Pineapple Chicken, and can’t have that, for we are the nation of diversity. Oh wait, it’s supposed to be Chinese food, not American.
But it’s not. It’s what we Chinese call “Americanized-Chinese food”. It’s the Sweet and Sour Chicken. It’s the Sesame Beef. It’s the Broccoli and Beef. It’s everything that isn’t. It’s the great culinary paradox that is diluting the Chinese cultural cuisine in this country. I go to a Chinese buffet and expect to eat Chinese food, yet what I find is the same everywhere: dishes as repetitive and bland as a bad English essay. The blooming entrepreneur restaurant owner and chef of today can splash some “Chinese Sauce” over everything, give out fortune cookies (which I must say have not yet once been correct), and BAM you got yourself a 100%, true dat, authentic, bona fide, genuine Americanized Not-So-Much Chinese Buffet. Way to go, now all you have to do is compete with the twenty other identical buffet’s and you’re set.
The American customers love it, and even some Chinese have become accustomed to eating at these spurious buffets. I admit to having eating my share of General Tso’s Chicken and generic Lo Mien, but honestly, it’s not real. It's so superficial. It satisfies the stomach but not my soul, not my desire to absorb and eat the scrumptious dim sum of my true heritage. But what can I do, for it IS America, and everything here is American to some extent. Maybe I might be too cynical (nah), to critical (no), and to demanding (nope). Oh well, it’s hopeless. At least there are a few good actual Chinese (sit-down) Restaurants; our last resort. Perhaps the massive buffet’s will take a hint, and realize quality might be better than quantity, and authenticity better than conformity.
Or perhaps not. Either way, finish your Chinese Sauce smothered chicken, eat your fortune cookie, and leave with a full stomach, happy that there are no dishes to wash tonight.
Don’t forget to jack some Skittles on the way out.
-peta pong
---------
Chinese Food Buffet, a rant about that which really isn't.
FRIED CHICKEN, MEATBALLS, TERIYAKI CHICKEN, CORNED BEEF, FRENCH FRIES, PUDDING; since when did these become part of Chinese cuisine? I guess one could call them Chinese fries and 90-degree angle beef and Pu-Ding, yet we must realize that they are still truly NOT Chinese. How misleading and deceptive it is to call a buffet restaurant “Chinese” when it actually has few authentic dishes; even these few “genuine” Chinese dishes are not genuine. It is true that they serve General Tso’s Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Sesame Chicken found in China. Yet why give these three dishes the different names here when THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME??? Admit it “Chinese” buffet restaurants, you use the same sauce and you use the same chicken. The only difference is that difference in the name. No need to ask the waiter what's in each dish, it's all in the name. Orange flavor is added to Orange chicken and sesame is added to Sesame Chicken. However, General Tso presents some astounding change with the brilliant idea of adding peppers and pineapple to the mono-tasting “chicken sauce”, thus giving his name to the exhausted dish today. Thank you General Tso for some nominal diversity, otherwise we’d have Pepper and Pineapple Chicken, and can’t have that, for we are the nation of diversity. Oh wait, it’s supposed to be Chinese food, not American.
But it’s not. It’s what we Chinese call “Americanized-Chinese food”. It’s the Sweet and Sour Chicken. It’s the Sesame Beef. It’s the Broccoli and Beef. It’s everything that isn’t. It’s the great culinary paradox that is diluting the Chinese cultural cuisine in this country. I go to a Chinese buffet and expect to eat Chinese food, yet what I find is the same everywhere: dishes as repetitive and bland as a bad English essay. The blooming entrepreneur restaurant owner and chef of today can splash some “Chinese Sauce” over everything, give out fortune cookies (which I must say have not yet once been correct), and BAM you got yourself a 100%, true dat, authentic, bona fide, genuine Americanized Not-So-Much Chinese Buffet. Way to go, now all you have to do is compete with the twenty other identical buffet’s and you’re set.
The American customers love it, and even some Chinese have become accustomed to eating at these spurious buffets. I admit to having eating my share of General Tso’s Chicken and generic Lo Mien, but honestly, it’s not real. It's so superficial. It satisfies the stomach but not my soul, not my desire to absorb and eat the scrumptious dim sum of my true heritage. But what can I do, for it IS America, and everything here is American to some extent. Maybe I might be too cynical (nah), to critical (no), and to demanding (nope). Oh well, it’s hopeless. At least there are a few good actual Chinese (sit-down) Restaurants; our last resort. Perhaps the massive buffet’s will take a hint, and realize quality might be better than quantity, and authenticity better than conformity.
Or perhaps not. Either way, finish your Chinese Sauce smothered chicken, eat your fortune cookie, and leave with a full stomach, happy that there are no dishes to wash tonight.
Don’t forget to jack some Skittles on the way out.
-peta pong
My Cousin, Part I
So I discovered my little cousin on Facebook and I read some of his notes, and they are amazing. I wanted to post them (with his permission, of course) since when I was his age, I was no where near this level of awareness. I'm proud. =)
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Yellow Label, a reflection on individualism.
BRUCE LEE; CONFUCIUS; IRON CHEF; YO-YO MA are the persona that I embody to become that shade of yellow that we all know. Or think we know. Or rather assume to be true. "Asian" is what society labels me, how most people label me, and what I sometimes consider myself to be. Whatever that is...
A stereotype? a culture? an ethnicity?
the terms "asian" or "black" or "white" or "mexican" by themselves are meaningless, but with society, people have added meaning and implication and assumption. and history. However, whatever it comes out to be, it is always a biased view. A view that may not always be right, yet may not always be wrong - because that's the thing with opinion: one's never wrong. (Isn't that what our educators keep emphasizing?) Then what I also ask is this: is one's opinion therefore also never right? Opinion is the result of a subjective topic, and what's more subjective then attempting to place one image on millions of different frames. So we arrive at the solution that so many civil rights activists and stereotype fighters have advocated for so long: end labeling.
So what am I if I am not an implication or an assumption? if I do not study every hour of the day? if I don't eat dumplings and fried rice everyday? if I don't know martial arts? if I do not play piano of violin? if I do not play ping pong continuously? if I'm not frugal with money? what am I if I do not fit like a jig-saw into the stereotype puzzle?
I become an individual.
-peta pong
----------
Yellow Label, a reflection on individualism.
BRUCE LEE; CONFUCIUS; IRON CHEF; YO-YO MA are the persona that I embody to become that shade of yellow that we all know. Or think we know. Or rather assume to be true. "Asian" is what society labels me, how most people label me, and what I sometimes consider myself to be. Whatever that is...
A stereotype? a culture? an ethnicity?
the terms "asian" or "black" or "white" or "mexican" by themselves are meaningless, but with society, people have added meaning and implication and assumption. and history. However, whatever it comes out to be, it is always a biased view. A view that may not always be right, yet may not always be wrong - because that's the thing with opinion: one's never wrong. (Isn't that what our educators keep emphasizing?) Then what I also ask is this: is one's opinion therefore also never right? Opinion is the result of a subjective topic, and what's more subjective then attempting to place one image on millions of different frames. So we arrive at the solution that so many civil rights activists and stereotype fighters have advocated for so long: end labeling.
So what am I if I am not an implication or an assumption? if I do not study every hour of the day? if I don't eat dumplings and fried rice everyday? if I don't know martial arts? if I do not play piano of violin? if I do not play ping pong continuously? if I'm not frugal with money? what am I if I do not fit like a jig-saw into the stereotype puzzle?
I become an individual.
-peta pong
April 07, 2007
Smile, it's not that bad.
Be forewarned. This isn't about a social justice issue or an -ism.
I was walking to campus yesterday on beautiful Guadalupe Street. It had been a long night of drinking and dancing, and I was already late for my first meeting of the day. I just got finished cleaning my glasses off as I was walking. As I'm passing some person on the sidewalk, she looks like at me with disgust, and says, "Smile, it's not that bad."
When I'm walking alone on the street in the morning, it's not very likely I'll be smiling. Especially when you take into account all the factors listed above. Cleaning my glasses isn't a very smile-worthy activity. And I'm not sure why I should smile constantly, or why someone else feels the need to tell me I should.
What really gets me is that the person who told me to smile wasn't smiling.
I was walking to campus yesterday on beautiful Guadalupe Street. It had been a long night of drinking and dancing, and I was already late for my first meeting of the day. I just got finished cleaning my glasses off as I was walking. As I'm passing some person on the sidewalk, she looks like at me with disgust, and says, "Smile, it's not that bad."
When I'm walking alone on the street in the morning, it's not very likely I'll be smiling. Especially when you take into account all the factors listed above. Cleaning my glasses isn't a very smile-worthy activity. And I'm not sure why I should smile constantly, or why someone else feels the need to tell me I should.
What really gets me is that the person who told me to smile wasn't smiling.
Killing American Idol
This weekend at VASCON3, I was in awe at the amount of TALENT and PASSION all the entertainers had for what they do. Amongst them, there were several singers and bands such as Thomas' Apartment and Vudoo Soul. So it got me thinking, why do I have to come to a Vietnamese American conference to hear Asian Americans perform? And why is it that I hear "this is why I'm hot" three times before I get to work? Let's rewind.
A few weeks ago, I read this article: Trying To Crack the Hot 100
For those who don't feel like clicking the link, the article baisically analyzes Asian Americans in the music industry and how we seem to be unable to break that "glass ceiling" into stardom and make it to the radio. Harlem Lee won the NBC's version of American Idol but nobody remembers that. Maybe because it got swept under the rug faster than a stain you're trying to cover up before your in-laws come over. The NY Times seems to feel that the reason being is not that we lack talent or the desire, but rather we have this "Asian thing" going against us. ASIAN THING? Hmm.
Then, I thought WAIT. Every now and then, I watch American Idol. Right now, there's all this controversy about Sanjaya Malakar, the Indian born no-talent laughing-stock who is single-handedly "killing american idol." I know he can't sing, and by no means am I advocating that he should win. However, there is not a lack of talent amongst APIDAs when it comes to musical talent, including singing. Yet the ones who make it past the tens of thousands of eager auditionees and the rigorous and critical eyes of the judges are William Hung and Sanjaya Malakar. Seriously?
Either the process isn't working, or somebody thinks its funny to put William Hung and Sanjaya on national television so that they can help reinfoce the fact that Asian Americans can't sing. Which (per the NY Time's article) is just not true.
So: Is Sanjaya really killing American Idol? Or is American Idol killing the chances that Asian Americans have of breaking that invisible barrier into being taken seriously as performers and artists?
Jean
A few weeks ago, I read this article: Trying To Crack the Hot 100
For those who don't feel like clicking the link, the article baisically analyzes Asian Americans in the music industry and how we seem to be unable to break that "glass ceiling" into stardom and make it to the radio. Harlem Lee won the NBC's version of American Idol but nobody remembers that. Maybe because it got swept under the rug faster than a stain you're trying to cover up before your in-laws come over. The NY Times seems to feel that the reason being is not that we lack talent or the desire, but rather we have this "Asian thing" going against us. ASIAN THING? Hmm.
Then, I thought WAIT. Every now and then, I watch American Idol. Right now, there's all this controversy about Sanjaya Malakar, the Indian born no-talent laughing-stock who is single-handedly "killing american idol." I know he can't sing, and by no means am I advocating that he should win. However, there is not a lack of talent amongst APIDAs when it comes to musical talent, including singing. Yet the ones who make it past the tens of thousands of eager auditionees and the rigorous and critical eyes of the judges are William Hung and Sanjaya Malakar. Seriously?
Either the process isn't working, or somebody thinks its funny to put William Hung and Sanjaya on national television so that they can help reinfoce the fact that Asian Americans can't sing. Which (per the NY Time's article) is just not true.
So: Is Sanjaya really killing American Idol? Or is American Idol killing the chances that Asian Americans have of breaking that invisible barrier into being taken seriously as performers and artists?
Jean
March 24, 2007
PAWS Meetings
PAWS stands for Professional Advocates With Students...or something like that. Either way, it's a more structured form of homeroom. Teachers at my school hate it.
The other day, my supervising teacher gets an IEP (individualized education plan) for a student in her PAWS. An IEP is designed for students with special needs. My teacher is livid. "WHY!? Why do I need to modify my instruction for a student that's in my HOMEROOM?! We don't do anything in there anyway?"
Silently, I considered that she was overreacting. After all, if nothing truly happens in advisory, then modification won't be necessary. Done.
But then it was time for our mandatory PAWS meeting to discuss the plans for the next month. My teacher seeks out the special ed teacher, Phyllis, for advice about this new IEP. Now, I knew Phyllis was a little shady when she casually commented during the meeting, "My juniors are more stupid than my special ed kids!"
And what did Phyllis say to my teacher about having to modify instruction for a student with special needs in her homeroom?
"That's SOOO RETARDED!!!"
The other day, my supervising teacher gets an IEP (individualized education plan) for a student in her PAWS. An IEP is designed for students with special needs. My teacher is livid. "WHY!? Why do I need to modify my instruction for a student that's in my HOMEROOM?! We don't do anything in there anyway?"
Silently, I considered that she was overreacting. After all, if nothing truly happens in advisory, then modification won't be necessary. Done.
But then it was time for our mandatory PAWS meeting to discuss the plans for the next month. My teacher seeks out the special ed teacher, Phyllis, for advice about this new IEP. Now, I knew Phyllis was a little shady when she casually commented during the meeting, "My juniors are more stupid than my special ed kids!"
And what did Phyllis say to my teacher about having to modify instruction for a student with special needs in her homeroom?
"That's SOOO RETARDED!!!"
March 20, 2007
Blondes, Brunettes, and...?
Check out THIS latest advertisement series for the Sunsilk hair product line. I suppose the hair possibilities are divided into blondes, brunettes, and other? I'm not surprised that the hair care industry doesn't cater to black hair, but its never been this obvious. And yes, there is the argument that brunette includes black hair, but seriously, as Ani points out, brunettes is what white people with brown hair call themselves. Alright, media, woot.
This entry is brought to you by Sunsilk.
Jean
This entry is brought to you by Sunsilk.
Jean
March 09, 2007
Food Crisis
I suggested we order in Thai food today at work (cause when we work late, we always order in... and its ALWAYS burgers or sandwiches).
Everybody looked at me like I was psycho.
And then a blonde girl said that they try to order American food so that everybody can find something they like.
This is food deprivation, yo.
Can I just take this moment and rant a little about "sandwiches". Why would you pay somebody 6 bucks to make you a sandwich? That's not even cooking, you don't even add heat. You're baisically taking about 5 individual items and stacking it on top of each other. Not too hard or complicated. I don't get what all the buzz is about sandwiches.
Moral of the story? No heat = not cooking = boring food = food crisis.
Jean
Everybody looked at me like I was psycho.
And then a blonde girl said that they try to order American food so that everybody can find something they like.
This is food deprivation, yo.
Can I just take this moment and rant a little about "sandwiches". Why would you pay somebody 6 bucks to make you a sandwich? That's not even cooking, you don't even add heat. You're baisically taking about 5 individual items and stacking it on top of each other. Not too hard or complicated. I don't get what all the buzz is about sandwiches.
Moral of the story? No heat = not cooking = boring food = food crisis.
Jean
Im in my foreign policy class and we are talking about groups who tend to vote democratic or republican and we are looking at a statistic that states that African Americans tend to vote more Democratic.
An African American gentleman raises his hand and says:
"That's cause Black people don't know what the hell they are talking about. I'm from Southside San Antonio, and they are pretty ghetto, you know, they are as black as they come...
Professor stops at this point with the WTF look on her face and says "maybe you need to stop right there..."
and he says, "No no, I'm serious, they are really ghetto, they live in project housing and they don't know what they are doing, they vote democratic cause they think it will get them more money. I can say this cause I'm black, it's ok."
I found it interesting that he chose to say "they" and also that when he wanted to talk about the whole entire African American population, he referenced section 8 project housing. Nice. Seeing as he is the only African American student that showed up in class today and the professor doesn't know jack squat about race relations in America, the rest of the class slowly absorbed this and concluded that it had to be true.
sigh
An African American gentleman raises his hand and says:
"That's cause Black people don't know what the hell they are talking about. I'm from Southside San Antonio, and they are pretty ghetto, you know, they are as black as they come...
Professor stops at this point with the WTF look on her face and says "maybe you need to stop right there..."
and he says, "No no, I'm serious, they are really ghetto, they live in project housing and they don't know what they are doing, they vote democratic cause they think it will get them more money. I can say this cause I'm black, it's ok."
I found it interesting that he chose to say "they" and also that when he wanted to talk about the whole entire African American population, he referenced section 8 project housing. Nice. Seeing as he is the only African American student that showed up in class today and the professor doesn't know jack squat about race relations in America, the rest of the class slowly absorbed this and concluded that it had to be true.
sigh
March 04, 2007
Black Heritage Celebration
Wednesday was the high school's Black Heritage Celebration aka Celebration of Religious Privilege.
Featuring: Church hymns! Praising the Lord! Lead singers of local church choirs singing about Jesus saving people's souls!
Weird Moment: when the 85% white jazz choir sang "Thank You" by Boyz II Men.
WTF Moment: when I noticed that the posters entitled "From Slavery to Freedom" on the walls featured great African Americans like Denzel Washington playing Malcolm X, Tyra Banks, and Mrs. Brisco...the school's speech teacher. I know we're aiming towards moving past the token Black Americans that have impacted history, but REALLY!!?!? Mrs. Brisco can be replaced by Josephine Baker or Marcus Garvey.
AND WHY is the theme from slavery to freedom? Is this a national theme?
I'm sorry this wasn't a very cohesive post.
Featuring: Church hymns! Praising the Lord! Lead singers of local church choirs singing about Jesus saving people's souls!
Weird Moment: when the 85% white jazz choir sang "Thank You" by Boyz II Men.
WTF Moment: when I noticed that the posters entitled "From Slavery to Freedom" on the walls featured great African Americans like Denzel Washington playing Malcolm X, Tyra Banks, and Mrs. Brisco...the school's speech teacher. I know we're aiming towards moving past the token Black Americans that have impacted history, but REALLY!!?!? Mrs. Brisco can be replaced by Josephine Baker or Marcus Garvey.
AND WHY is the theme from slavery to freedom? Is this a national theme?
I'm sorry this wasn't a very cohesive post.
March 02, 2007
February 28, 2007
Degrading in all cultures?
I don’t know how we got there, but somehow in a conversation with a student we ended up talking about her ex-boyfriend’s father, who lived in Thailand.
Her: He lives in Thailand.
Me: Oh, is he Thai?
Her: No, he married a Thai woman
Me: Oh (thinking about exotification and sexualization of Asian women already)
Her: Yeah, and I used to talk to him all the time, and they do everything for you, they’ll even wipe your ass.
Me: Huh? You mean the wife?
Her: Yup. He calls his wife into the bathroom to wipe his ass.
Me: Wow. Seriously? That sounds kind of degrading…
Her: It’s not degrading if its in your culture to do it. She’s happy to do it.
Me: Interesting…
(conversation continues with me trying to convince her that ass-wiping is degrading across all cultures…I am unsuccessful.)
How is it not degrading to have to wipe the shit off of your husband’s ignorant white ass? How does that not create dynamics of power, and privilege, when a white person is asking a brown person to kneel down and service you? How does it not create sexism? Clearly the husband is not wiping his wife’s ass…
Damn WPs.
Her: He lives in Thailand.
Me: Oh, is he Thai?
Her: No, he married a Thai woman
Me: Oh (thinking about exotification and sexualization of Asian women already)
Her: Yeah, and I used to talk to him all the time, and they do everything for you, they’ll even wipe your ass.
Me: Huh? You mean the wife?
Her: Yup. He calls his wife into the bathroom to wipe his ass.
Me: Wow. Seriously? That sounds kind of degrading…
Her: It’s not degrading if its in your culture to do it. She’s happy to do it.
Me: Interesting…
(conversation continues with me trying to convince her that ass-wiping is degrading across all cultures…I am unsuccessful.)
How is it not degrading to have to wipe the shit off of your husband’s ignorant white ass? How does that not create dynamics of power, and privilege, when a white person is asking a brown person to kneel down and service you? How does it not create sexism? Clearly the husband is not wiping his wife’s ass…
Damn WPs.
February 24, 2007
Nono, your REAL name.
At work, I have to sign off on papers when I hand them to my manager. Typically, you have to first print your name and then sign next to it. So, I figure that I should probably print my given/legal name, since Jean is a nickname. My given name looks pretty "foreign" and "unspellable"... but I figure.. yeah.
So I print my given name and hand it off. My manager comes back and tells me, "Its okay, you can put your real nem when you sign off." I look at her like.. what? I seriously didn't get what she meant. And seeing my look of utter confusion, she clarifies, "Oh, you can just sign Jean."
So I print my given name and hand it off. My manager comes back and tells me, "Its okay, you can put your real nem when you sign off." I look at her like.. what? I seriously didn't get what she meant. And seeing my look of utter confusion, she clarifies, "Oh, you can just sign Jean."
February 23, 2007
Communication Breakdown
I was tabling for a charity I'm involved with (that shall not be named), and I showed up at my allotted time and stood with another member to wait for the prime organizer of the event. She showed up in a huff, just a little bit late:
"Hey guys, I'm sorry I'm late. These construction workers were trying to tow my friends car, and we had such a hard time getting them to realize that they couldn't do that, but they couldn't speak ANY ENGLISH!"
"..."
"Yeah, and it's so difficult to talk to them because you can't communicate... it makes your life so hard."
...
And that makes YOUR life difficult? I'm pretty sure that you make THEIR life difficult. When people are living in a world made to obstruct non-English speakers, in a place where they are ostracized and stigmatized, when they are busting their ass to build YOUR buildings...whose life do you think is difficult?
BLARGH. It didn't help that she constantly bossed around the APIDA who was from our co-sponsor organization.
"Hey guys, I'm sorry I'm late. These construction workers were trying to tow my friends car, and we had such a hard time getting them to realize that they couldn't do that, but they couldn't speak ANY ENGLISH!"
"..."
"Yeah, and it's so difficult to talk to them because you can't communicate... it makes your life so hard."
...
And that makes YOUR life difficult? I'm pretty sure that you make THEIR life difficult. When people are living in a world made to obstruct non-English speakers, in a place where they are ostracized and stigmatized, when they are busting their ass to build YOUR buildings...whose life do you think is difficult?
BLARGH. It didn't help that she constantly bossed around the APIDA who was from our co-sponsor organization.
February 16, 2007
Another Primate to Consider
This post is one of the happier ones...
We're learning about the Great Apes, or the Old World Monkeys in my Human Biology class. Most of the primates live in male-dominated, male-centered communities with females as secondary individuals in each society. Most of the primates only have heterosexual sex.
The Chimpanzee is generally regarded to be the most closely related primate to humans. In chimp communities, food is passed on in this order: the alpha male, the close friends of the alpha male, other males, and finally, females are able to eat the scraps. Now, a species of primate that is just as genetically related to us challenges assumptions about male supremacy and norms of sexuality in human evolution.
Enter the Bonobo. I won't give all of the juicy nerdy super-science-ie details, but the bonobo lives in female-dominated, female-centered groups. Status of males depends on status of their mothers (a stark contrast to human societies), and females are given priority access to food. Additionally, casual sex occurs in every possible partner combination. The Bonobo has separated sex from reproduction, and uses sex as a way to diffuse tension and prevent aggression. Aggression is virtually non-existent in bonobo communities because sex is used so effectively to calm anxiety.
The last paragraph of an article:
"Just imagine that we had never heard of chimpanzees or baboons and had known bonobos first. We would at present most likely believe that early hominids lived in female-centered societies in which sex served important social functions and which warfare was rare or absent."
And bonobos are so cute! Just look at them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo
And if you're super-interested, an article: http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/kalthoff/bio346/PDF/Readings/02de_Waal(1995)BonoboSoc.pdf
-Darlenica
We're learning about the Great Apes, or the Old World Monkeys in my Human Biology class. Most of the primates live in male-dominated, male-centered communities with females as secondary individuals in each society. Most of the primates only have heterosexual sex.
The Chimpanzee is generally regarded to be the most closely related primate to humans. In chimp communities, food is passed on in this order: the alpha male, the close friends of the alpha male, other males, and finally, females are able to eat the scraps. Now, a species of primate that is just as genetically related to us challenges assumptions about male supremacy and norms of sexuality in human evolution.
Enter the Bonobo. I won't give all of the juicy nerdy super-science-ie details, but the bonobo lives in female-dominated, female-centered groups. Status of males depends on status of their mothers (a stark contrast to human societies), and females are given priority access to food. Additionally, casual sex occurs in every possible partner combination. The Bonobo has separated sex from reproduction, and uses sex as a way to diffuse tension and prevent aggression. Aggression is virtually non-existent in bonobo communities because sex is used so effectively to calm anxiety.
The last paragraph of an article:
"Just imagine that we had never heard of chimpanzees or baboons and had known bonobos first. We would at present most likely believe that early hominids lived in female-centered societies in which sex served important social functions and which warfare was rare or absent."
And bonobos are so cute! Just look at them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonobo
And if you're super-interested, an article: http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/kalthoff/bio346/PDF/Readings/02de_Waal(1995)BonoboSoc.pdf
-Darlenica
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