African American Literature

So upon reading a post linked by blogspot Mixed Race America, I starting thinking. HMMMMM!



The article posted on website Matador Change (link should be attached in this article), the writer has an epiphany about white privilege when walking into a bookstore and noticing an 'African American Literature' section. From this point on she asks question about the implications behind having one's own section and what it says about white privilege. While I commend her for finally realizing her privilege and challenging others to do so. I am not impressed.

I mean after years of probably going to a bookstore you now notice a section titled 'African American Literature'. The question she should have posted is, "what took me so long to notice?"

Now the question she post can be easily answered by any person of color. For instance, to the question--"Does it mean that the experience of African American is not relevant to the typical, white fiction reader?"
Of course its not, Writing is often about one's own personal expierneces and readership comes when people can relate to that expiernece. PoC have different experiences which are based on, in some cases, how close they appear in whiteness. A light skin black person, Hispanic person or less ethnic Asian that can pass as white will not come across the same kind of discrimination as their racial counterpart of a darker complexion or more ethnic look, however the essence of discrimination is understandable. There is no one "African American experience" nor one singular experience for any person, for that matter, but there is a solidarity in similar experiences. So for the white reader in either cases the experiences are not relative, and furthermore is not relevant and therefore is often ignored.

This writer also puts to question if having this type of display a luxury?
I do not believe that being singled out of the mainstream is a luxury, however it has evolved into a well-known genre of its own. When African American writers first began publishing, they were probably denied the "luxury" of having their books sit beside Hemingway and Plath. So they had to do what PoC often have to do, create their own space. Out of this space sprung a genre that is very popular, and often easy to find if your looking for it.

So just look! There is so much out there.
I realize that this blog is directed at those WP's that are oblivious to white privilege who are willing to have their eyes open. But I think the final message of the article is that they have the choice to shut their eyes. They have a choice which many of us do not have.

Thought of the Day!

Treat Others As You Qould Like To Be Treated

This saying can be seen as so elementary, however it is the hardest for people to follow. Support your family and friends they same way you would like to be supported in a new endeavor. Respect family and friends in the same manner you would like to be respected. Care for people the same way you would want to be cared for. Its always easy to forget that the show could easily be on the other foot. One day you might want to hear from a friend, but that friend might be too busy to pick up the phone. That wouldn't make you feel good, so do the same for that friend. Support your brother or sister the same way you would like to be supported. Good or bad it would all come back to you. It just depends on which one you would like to receive.

Don't Get Angry

I meant to post this Monday, but I've been a bit busy:

To recent reaction’s of Kanye West and Serena William’s outburst, no two events could have coincided better. Kanye West vocal rampage seems to support venus’ outburst. Why you say? Well West is simply implying that many times African American aren’t given the recognition that they should be given. And even if you’re the best of the best( like Beyonce), you still cant win it all. And this is a similar message behind Serena Williams. You can be the best of the best but baby, you cant have it all. You cant have the freedom to express your frustrations. No honey, not at all! I mean even after years of being called, “ a ghetto-man-hood-rat- too voluptuous for tennis-product of the Ghetto Compton-your daddy isn’t a gentlemen” you are not allowed to show your frustration.

Let’s seriously be real. African American actors, entertainers and athletes are under large amounts of pressure. They are under pressure to be the exception in white eyes, they are suppose to set the example in black eyes. Please don’t let their foot falter while they balance on one leg the expectations of society. Don’t get mad! Please cuz America doesn’t like an angry black man or woman!

Dont believe the Hype!

The IAAF which ordered the testing of Caster Semenya to determine sexuality, will not confirm or deny the "hermaphodite" accusations made by the Sydney Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald. However, a final decision will not be made until November.

Summary: That accusation was heresay, and it is horrific how this situation is being handled. Check out thegrio.com for full story

South African track star is a hermaphrodite, report says

I am outraged at this report! Not because of results of the report, but that it was publicized in the first place. Like who do these people think they are? For centuries now African/ African American women have been put on display. They have been examined, cut up, cut open, turned this way and that--not by the doctor but by society in general. I urge you to youtube- sara bartmann (Im still trying to figure out the technicalities of blogging thats why i didnt just post the video..anyhoo). For centuries Black women have been treated like some phenomenon. Im not a phenomenon, just a human. And yes, while we all uniquely beautiful and different- we shouldnt be that damn different that we have to be put on display for the world to see.
The other aspect that upsets me is that there is no concern for her privacy or her emotional wellbeing. This is a more common condition than people may realize. And some people might think, "Well she decided to be an athlete, she knew that everything she did could one day be publicized good or bad". However which ever way people try to qualify that, it seems that the same personal humiliation of one confessing that they are taking performance enhancing drugs does not equate to being "outted" as a hermaphodite, by force. It simply points back to the "othering" of African/African American women. I guess, we dont look normal, so why be treated as such, right? Hell no!
I guess being the born the way she is doesnt make her "really" human, so why treat her as such?We really have to think about what type of dialouge that we are setting up for ourselves. It just seems that instead of making sure that everyone is competing on a equal playing field, which would be the purpose behind drug testing, we are creating a space where people cannot be different.

Even though the IAAF allows her to keep the gold medal, did the IAAF leave her with her pride?

The Pearl

Well as of late I've been reading tons of blogs and I really find them to be great. They are not only informative but it allows you to connect with people that would otherwise be outside of your reach. Now I've decided to talk about issues/ articles/ and other blogs that strike a chord with me. Those usually being about race, gender, sexuality because in sum it affects me. Well, I take that back it doesn't just affect me, it affects all of us. I would like to be apart of a group of people that recognize that. I want to reach out to those individuals that could care less about these issues, I want to reach out to the "old me". If i could reach out to one more person, in the same way that others have reached out to me then that would be great. I've decided to name this blog "The Pearl" because these issues are delicate and sacred and the people that they affect are delicate, sacred, and despite how they are being treated, should be treasured. This includes men and woman of all walks of life.