I see the term 'racist' or 'racism' thrown around a little too freely in a lot of progressive circles. I've actually talked to people who claim that objecting to Obama's economic policies is racism and, at best, that's really watering down the term. It makes me think we need a new term entirely for what Martin Luther King Jr. had to put up with. And it bothers me that now, I can't even respond to legitimate racism without being dismissed because assholes have over used the term.
Do I have issues with race? I dunno. I have issues with culture, I'll admit that. I don't speak Spanish, which has become a bit of an issue since moving to Houston. But even with other English speakers, there can be a cultural divide. I worked at a job where I was only one of about 3 white people, while another 20+ people were black. And I don't have anything against them for being black, but it was sometimes difficult to relate with them. I mean, I have no idea what a weave is, I only have a vague idea what a grille is (not certain if they're talking about teeth or those fake gold teeth coverings) and I despise rap music (and don't even get me started on those damn Madea videos, but I think I have other, non-racial reasons for objecting to those). So, where does that put me when so many of my racial minority co-workers were into a culture I knew so little about?
Do I have issues with race? I dunno. I have issues with culture, I'll admit that. I don't speak Spanish, which has become a bit of an issue since moving to Houston. But even with other English speakers, there can be a cultural divide. I worked at a job where I was only one of about 3 white people, while another 20+ people were black. And I don't have anything against them for being black, but it was sometimes difficult to relate with them. I mean, I have no idea what a weave is, I only have a vague idea what a grille is (not certain if they're talking about teeth or those fake gold teeth coverings) and I despise rap music (and don't even get me started on those damn Madea videos, but I think I have other, non-racial reasons for objecting to those). So, where does that put me when so many of my racial minority co-workers were into a culture I knew so little about?
I live on facebook. Come see me there. http://www.facebook.com/tara.rizzatto
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
