Dear White Gays: Stop Stealing Black Female Culture

[ElmosToe]

Fuck this, I'm stealing Minnie Mouse's mannerisms. I'm so emulating her.
Would Minnie Mouse be considered black?


Sometimes I like to stand on my head and lick my nose.

 

[Native Son]

Girl, boo.

 

[blackbeltninja]

Ahh. The original essay was not about gay people appropriating condescending stereotypes of black women. It was about appropriating the culture of black women.

And we have a winner!

-d-

 

[suckpoppet]

The existence of the caricature is absolutely based in reality, but the exploitation of it for comedy may or may not be maliciously racist. The fact that it exists doesn't make it statistically significant, nor does citing a few flamers who adopt it.

So, does that nullify Ms Mannie's claim to a certain *culture*?
Sometimes a different wording can give a fresh view on the subject.
Because right now I feel there are so many different things going on here.
Maybe it's easier if we can establish first what is what.
A discussion based on an opinion will only lead to more opinions.
Not saying there's anything wrong with that, it's just so unsatisfactory. At some point I like to have some closure

 

[xbuzzerx]

Unfortunately, when Paul is posting on race in Hot Topics, it is always about who you are. If you're a member of the majority white population, you are literally guilty by default. Ancillary arguments include that the minority is never in any way responsible for any behaviors or victimization cycles that involve volition or self-determination, because the social forces that make the alleged oppression work are overwhelming and inexorable, like some black hole (no pun intended.) The posited argument doesn't have to accuse white men of exploiting a racist stereotype -- that's just a given for the faithful. To cap it off, disagreeing with his points always comes down to the other debater being "willfully" blind or intentionally ignorant. Gee, religion much?

This kind of a rant is never far from the fingers of someone who otherwise has chosen to not directly respond to me. In or out of the pool, Deja.

By the way-- you don't get to accuse people of making the argument about the person they're responding to when you've done precisely the same thing.

And yes, I have had enough experience with both yourself and Bankside in these topics to virtually predict what you're going to say before you do so, only the details and the careful way you choose to veil your message varies. It's not surprising that someone who defended Trayvon Martin's shooter has trouble recognizing either white privilege or racially unequal animosity in America. All that's even vaguely surprising is that he seems so sincerely convinced that it's all actually the other way around, against white males, and reads that into what I and others post.

 

[xbuzzerx]

Ahh. The original essay was not about gay people appropriating condescending stereotypes of black women. It was about appropriating the culture of black women.

Yes, and though this discussion has hinged entirely on the stereotypes, the essay (as well as interviews she's given since it became news) both mentioned experiences with gay men actually referring to themselves as "strong black women" or similar identifiers. People can miss the message all they like by pretending what this author did was take stereotypical portrayals of black women and mark them as quintessential to being a black woman. But what she was actually saying was that she sees gay white men identifying with, or as, sassy or strong or unfetterable black women as they walk around engaging in stereotypical mimickry of black female stereotypes (largely as would be perceived by the white mainstream), making references to Beyonce and weaves and similar, and that this is not a claim to either blackness or womanhood. No moreso than a straight person prancing around calling everything fabulous or watching every season of Project Runway and teasingly calling himself a proud gay-boy to everyone knows, reflects, represents, understands or has the right to claim that experience or identity.

But by all means-- let's miss the point. Particularly when it's one we don't particularly want to acknowledge.

 

[Vitamin]

I used to have white privilege.

Thanks Obama.