anti-oppression's topics - tribe.net

reverse racism

2008-05-11T12:33:08Z

I'm doing a social work degree and in my indigenous issues class
i brought up reverse racism.

someone argued that racism exists across the board.
Such as Chinese being racist against Blacks,
or even racism within a nation, like in Mexico.
Furthermore, that at white person can experience racism.

I don't agree.

I think that racism is about skin colour, power and privilege, and it's systemic.

I thought I'd put that out there.

winterbamboo

posted in anti-oppression - 4 replies

Stand with Tibet and Support the Dalai Lama Petition

2008-03-21T19:07:17Z

Hey there my anti-oppression comrades,

If you have not already signed this petition to persuade China's President Hu Jintao to sit down with the Dalai Lama and discuss their freedom as a sovereign state, please do so.

Everyday that this goes on, peaceful protesters are dying, being brutally beaten and imprisoned. So the sooner the Chinese government knows that the rest of the world does not stand for these inhumane injustices, the sooner there is a possibility for change to occur.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/

Sign it, cut and paste it, email it, facebook it, do what you need to do to get the message out there please!

Thank you for your attention.

Sebastian

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

hi there..

2008-02-25T04:20:17Z

hello! doesn't seem like there's been much activity around here, but i thought i'd introduce myself anyway. also, i wanted to share my blog with you. i started it as part of a group i started working with a couple of months back. the group's goal is to unlearn white conditioning in order to become better allies in anti-oppression efforts.

www.untraining.blogspot.com

posted in anti-oppression - 1 reply

Performance Tonight! Saturday 9/8 Isak Immanuel

2007-09-08T19:06:15Z

Last night of this work:

ILLEGAL ECHO/untitled echo

"To dance a falling line of recall...between memory and no memory, spectator and spectre, citizenship and sanity... right, left, forward, backward a new question everyday"

A multimedia dance theatre work by Isak Immanuel(Floor of Sky Projects) with contributions from Robert L. Terrell(photography), Kanoko Nishi(piano), and Odessa Chen(voice)

This work is apart of
CounterPULSE’s Summer 2007 Artists in Residence and also featurees “To Mifune” by Christy Funsch/Funsch Dance Experience, September 6-8.

Two dance theatre works delving into the terrain of fantasy and forgotten identity, taking the stage to navigate the foreign and the everyday familiar in two cutting edge works.

Please help spread the word. See below for details:

WHEN: Thurs.- Sat. Sept 6-8, 8:00pm
Post-show discussion following Thursday performance

WHERE:
CounterPULSE, San Frasncisco
1310 Mission St (@9th)
PRICE: $12-$20, no one turned away for lack of funds

TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door (just come!)
INFO: (415)435-7552, www.counterpulse.org

````````

ILLEGAL ECHO /untitled echo

Direction and Performance: Isak Immanuel
Including contributions from Robert L. Terrell, Kanoko Nishi, and Odessa Chen

Illegal Echo / untitled echo finds its origin in an excavation of memory, personal and public, and how in this terrain we can find irrepressible connections in the present world of both movement and images. Integrating dance-theater with photojournalism, the work navigates the intersecting landscapes of peripheral identity, transience and the instability of both body and social standing. To dance a falling line of recall. The distances between myth, allusion, and concrete subject, the missing/searching, outsider/insider, and the internal markers to what is one’s said society or place of origin are dually explored through the medium of dance and visual theatre.

The work contains a diverse landscape of sound from the classical to the urban, from noise to silence, featuring vocalist/indy-musician Odessa Chen and classically trained pianist/new music advocate Kanoko Nishi combined with an assemblage of street/field recordings. It will also feature an image to image dialogue with veteran photojournalist Robert L. Terrell.

In part, this new work has been made from the research, distillation, and trace of a two month movement workshop and impromptu writing engaged with local homeless and formerly homeless individuals here in the SF Bay Area. An extension of this work will be exhibited in the lobby gallery space.

Floor of Sky Projects is supported in part by the Zellerbach family fund and is fiscally sponsored by 21 Grand.

``````

To MIFUNE

By Christy Funsch with K808 and Skorpio
Performed by Glenn Curtis, Leonore Deaton, Christy Funsch, Jennifer A. Minore, Phoenicia Pettyjohn, Noel Rokswel, Sarah Sass, and Skorpio

Inspired by the charismatic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune (1920-1997), To Mifune tells the story of a cowgirl’s (Christy Funsch) journey to meet her samurai idol (Skorpio). The characters for this work are drawn from Mifune’s roles, as well as from roles in acclaimed Japanese film-maker Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo, Stray Dog, and The Seven Samurai. Funsch’s work examines how one’s individuality shifts through interactions with others: movement is borrowed, shared, exchanged, and exaggerated among all of the characters. The protagonist’s idea of who she is changes as her context changes, and by the time she meets the person she thought was her idol, she has come to appreciate the perhaps less grand---though certainly not less admirable---heroics of those she has met on her journey.

Hip-hop DJ K808 mixes live original beats with samples from both Kurosawa’s film Yojimbo and country singer Patsy Montana into a living sound score for the work. The result combines multiple voices with a hip-hop sensibility, which Funsch defines as “an assertion of individuality”. Funsch’s idiosyncratic collection of performers for To Mifune exemplifies her fascination with style as a way of linking the personal with the collective. According to Funsch, “When we create a little truth for ourselves, a way we want to be seen, we are usually seeking empathy. The commonality of this impulse connects us, regardless of the diversity of our movement choices.”

To Mifune is supported in part by the Zellerbach family fund, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Funsch Dance Experience is a fiscally sponsored project of Dancers’ Group

`````

`````
counterpulse.org
floorofsky.org
funschdaance.org

````

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

Sex in the name of peace, this Friday!!

2006-12-19T06:25:45Z

Global Orgasm is taking place December 22nd!!!!

I'm not sure what this is about other than encouraging everyone to have an orgasm this Friday, but hey any excuse to bust a nut is a good one. This is apparently an effort to bring about world peace. And remember, if you don't have a partner: Masturbation is the safest form of sex, and you're doing it with the one you love the most.

The website wouldn't let me copy and paste any images or even text, so you just have to go read for yourself.
globalorgasm.org/

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

Abort black babies = crime reduction?

2006-11-30T05:07:31Z

This is the equation that was asserted on the air by former Secretary of Education, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and all-around asshole William Bennett. Gotta love those Republicans!!!
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509280006

posted in anti-oppression - 9 replies

interesting letter I got last week...

2006-10-30T18:30:30Z

OWC - Open World Conference in Defense of Trade Union
Independence & Democratic Rights, c/o S.F. Labor Council,
1188 Franklin St., #203, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Phone: (415) 641-8616 Fax: (415) 440-9297.
-------------------

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

This past Saturday, October 21, the Los Angeles Times and other
international media reported that the 70,000 teachers in Oaxaca had
voted to end their 5-month strike and to accept the settlement
proposed by Mexican Minister of the Interior Carlos Abascal Carranza.
This news report was based on a press release issued the previous
afternoon by Rueda Pacheco, the general secretary of Section 22 of
SNTE, the teachers' union of Oaxaca.

This news report was inaccurate.

On October 21, the day after Rueda Pacheco issued his statement
announcing that the teachers had okayed the pact with the federal
government, the Delegates Assembly of Section 22 -- the union's
highest body -- voted to repudiate their secretary general for
conducting an undemocratic membership consultation. The delegates
also agreed to call for a new membership vote on October 23 and 24 on
whether to end or continue the strike.

Why this confusion?

As you may know, on October 9 and 10, top leaders of Section 22 of
SNTE and of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) held
direct negotiations with Abascal Carranza and other officials of the
Ministry of the Interior (Secretaría de Gobernación).

The federal government proposed that a three-person Senate Commission
travel to Oaxaca to investigate the claims by Section 22 and APPO
that PRI Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz had violated the law and should
be impeached. The call for the impeachment of Ruiz Ortiz became the
main demand of the teachers' and popular movement in Oaxaca after
June 14, when the governor brought in state troops to break the
strike, killing three strikers and injuring dozens more. Since that
date, the battle cry of the teachers and their supporters has been,
"Ruiz Ortiz must go if there is to be any solution to the crisis!"

The Senate Commission included one senator from the PRI (the party
that held total power in Mexico for more than 70 years), one from the
PAN (the new ruling class party of Vicente Fox), and one from the
opposition PRD.

The federal government also committed to paying 185 million pesos
(about US$17 million) to the teachers to improve the parity of wages
-- or rezoning -- throughout the state of Oaxaca, with the remaining
815 million pesos demanded by the teachers paid over the next six
years.

The additional funding, however, was contingent on Felipe Calderon,
the "official" president-elect, being able to find this money in his
new budget. The money pledged concretely by the government for this
rezoning amounted, therefore, to less than one-fifth the sum demanded
by the teachers. The rest was a vague and possibly empty promise.

Rueda Pacheco and the top officers of Section 22 returned to Oaxaca
on October 11 and submitted the government's proposal to a vote of
the Delegates Assembly, with a recommendation that the union accept
the government's proposed settlement.

On October 14, the Delegates Assembly voted against Rueda Pacheco's
proposal. The delegates voted instead to wait until the Senate
Commission had issued its ruling before deciding how to respond to
the settlement offer by Abascal Carranza. The Senate Commission had
traveled to Oaxaca for four days, and its ruling was not expected
till October 17.

An Open Letter to the Delegates Assembly and to all Oaxaca teachers
signed by the 21 teachers on hunger strike in Mexico City warned that
it would be a "major betrayal of our struggle to vote to end the
strike" -- as Rueda Pacheco proposed -- "before the Senate Commission
had issued its ruling."

The actual ruling by the Senate Commission did not come till October
19. As expected, the Commission voted that there were no grounds to
remove Ulises Ruiz Ortiz from his office as governor of Oaxaca. The
vote was 2-1, with only the PRD senator voting against. The full vote
of the Senate came later that day. The Senate ratified the Commission
report, with a sop thrown to the protest movement: the Senate would
ask Ruiz Ortiz to take a "voluntary leave of absence" -- something
Ruiz Ortiz said he would refuse to do.

In the meantime, before even the final Senate Commission ruling had
been issued, the top leadership of Section 22 voted to conduct a
two-point "consultation" of the teachers on October 19 and 20. Local
teachers' assemblies were thus convened throughout the state of
Oaxaca over these two days to vote on the following two points
submitted by the leadership:

Point 1 asked the teachers if they agreed or disagreed with the
settlement proposed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Point 2 asked the teachers if they preferred returning to work on
October 23 or October 30.

The questions were confusing. The leadership told the media that no
matter how the teachers voted on Point 1, they would be returning to
work either the 23rd or 30th. If the teachers voted to reject the
settlement, the Section 22 officials explained, this would only mean
more work-site actions to protest the contract, but it would not mean
continuing the strike.

But while the main Section 22 leaders explained this to the media,
they told the teachers that a vote in opposition to the Abascal
Carranza settlement could mean continuing the strike. Teachers were
extremely confused. It was not clear what they were being asked to
vote on, and what their vote would mean.

One leader of Section 22, Augusto Reyes Medina, issued an Open Letter
to all the teachers in Oaxaca denouncing the way the questions were
formulated and demanding that a new Delegates Assembly should be held
on October 21 to reformulate a clear question to the members.

The Open Letter by Reyes Medina -- which was co-signed by all the
hunger strikers in Mexico City and most of the rank-and-file teachers
who had marched for 15 days to Mexico City from Oaxaca -- created an
enormous stir throughout the union. Many local assemblies of the
Section 22 membership refused to cast a vote on the two-point
consultation, to protest the leadership's maneuver.

The afternoon of Friday, October 20, Rueda Pacheco announced that the
membership vote had been tallied, and that the teachers had voted to
return to work on October 23.

Immediately, a majority of members of the Delegates Assembly -- a
body of around 780 teachers delegated from each school -- voted to
convene a new Assembly the next day (October 21) and to disavow
publicly the report presented to the press by Rueda Pacheco.

On October 21, a full Delegates Assembly was held, with the presence
of Rueda Pacheco and all the top officers. The overwhelming majority
of the delegates voted to reject the undemocratic methods used by
Rueda Pacheco to try force the workers to return to their jobs, and
they agreed to convene new local assemblies throughout the state on
October 23 and 24 where only one question would be on the ballot: "Do
you agree that the union should accept the government's last offer
and therefore return to work, thereby ending the strike?"

This is the status of the situation as of this writing on October 23.

It is difficult to know if the teachers, who have not received a
paycheck or any funding from the union for more than two months, will
agree to go back to work. Many are facing evictions from their homes,
repossession of their cars, and dire hunger at home. They also fear
the government may follow through on its pledge to send in the Army
and Marines to dislodge the strikers from the downtown district of
the city of Oaxaca if the strikers don't agree to return to work.

On the other hand, the teachers also know the government is not
offering them anything remotely acceptable: the wage-parity issue (or
rezoning) is not even close to what has been requested, and Ulises
Ruiz Ortiz will stay on as governor. They know that nine strikers
have been killed, scores injured, and countless families divided in
the course of this bitter strike. They don't want these deaths and
hardships to be in vain. They know they are standing up for all
working and oppressed people in Mexico, who are fighting for
democracy and justice.

Their situation is immensely difficult, as you can see. While protest
actions in support of the Oaxaca teachers have taken place across
Mexico, the Mexican trade union and political movements have not yet
stepped up to the plate to offer their sisters and brothers in Oaxaca
their full financial and logistical support to win this strike. This
remains to be done.

I will keep you updated on the situation in Oaxaca as I get new
information.

In the interim, it is more necessary than ever for unionists and
activists to show their full support for the teachers in Oaxaca by
urging a negotiated solution to this crisis and a halt to any and all
forms of state violence against the strikers and their supporters.

Please send your messages to:

Vicente Fox Quesada,
President of the Mexico:
<vicente.fox.quesada@presidencia.gob.mx>

and

Carlos Abascal,
Ministry of the Interior:
<segob@rtn.net.mx>

Please send a copy to Fernando Mendoza Perez,
Member of the Executive Committee
of Section 22 of the SNTE-CNTE:
<Alborotador_oax@hotmail.com>

Also, please send a copy of your letter to
Open World Conference:
<ilcinfo@earthlink.net>

In solidarity,

Alan Benjamin,
Executive Board member,
San Francisco Labor Council

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

advice on workers rights

2006-10-30T18:27:27Z

Hi all, I hope that this isn't too out of place. I've been a member of this tribe for a while, but haven't posted yet...

I had to call in sick for the third day in a row at a new job. I am still in the three-week training process. I didn't want to call in at all (I was already up and dressed, just too damn sick). I have lost jobs early on for dumb shit like this in the past. I was wondering if anyone knows what my rights are on this one. Do I have to prove I'm sick somehow? Can they fire me for being sick in CA? I'm scared because I need to keep the job. Any insight on how to cover my own ass would be greatly appreciated.

posted in anti-oppression - 1 reply

"hate-free zone" without zero tolerence?

2006-07-27T17:04:28Z

I have been coordinating a drop-in for homeless youth (mostly queer youth) for several years. We have established the space as "hate-free" (for lack of a better word), though we have not adopted a zero tolerance policy. Our thinking is that we would prefer to use moments of conflict as opportunities for engagement/education/discussion.

Another program that we work with also follows a "hate-free" model only they have worked under a guide of zero tolerance (you say one n-word you are out of there). This has been problematic for some youth, particularly some African American youth who may use the n-word as an expression of respect, or Queer youth who might use similar terms that appear to be offensive and, in their usage, are not.

Some of the people coordinating and working in the space would like to adopt our model and have more dialogue when certain terms are used. What is keeping them from moving forward is some staff who say if they take away the zero tolerance they won't be doing ant-oppression work.

It appears we have two different approaches to anti-oppression work that are in conflict:
One is attempting to educate people and start discourse by questioning the behavior.
While the other seeks to protect the space by immediately removing an punishing offenders.

Does anyone here have any thoughts that might help resolve this conflict and get everyone on the same page?

/|\

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

from your moderator - anybody want a job?

2006-07-27T10:49:57Z

i have been (perhaps not even noticably) absent for quite a long time, and am trying to catch up on the new style of tribe. the mushing together of all postings is making me ask , please, try very hard to keep ALL posts on topic. anything not pertaining DIRECTLY to anti-oppression in some not obscure way (restaurant reviews, politics, etc.) will be deleted in interests of keeping this tribe streamlined for your reading and discussing pleasure.

also i am in dire need of a co-moderator who is willing to pretty much take over in the not too distant future. hopefully some one who shares the vision laid out in the community guidelines, has a light hand, but isn't scared to jump in and remind people to use their manners if need be. mainly the job requires keeping off-topic posts from taking over! :)

who wants to be the next one (not) in charge around here?

posted in anti-oppression - 1 reply

"lame"- oppressive or acceptable?

2006-05-04T04:38:49Z

it drives me crazy, but people say it constantly. if something is not cool, it is deemed to be "lame".

when i mention that i'm not okay with it, they tell me that it's such an old-fashioned term for someone who doesn't have "normal" use of their body that it no longer counts... and they say i'm being ridiculous.

at this, i never know what to say, because these are folks who have awesome anti-racist analysis, and should be more aware. i just don't get it.

so what do you think: is using the word "lame" as a synonym for "uncool" oppressive able-ism, or is it a fine modern colloquialism (and i need to get used to it)?

posted in anti-oppression - 30 replies

vancouver police and racism

2006-01-23T06:41:11Z

i just saw some ads put out
by the people who are suppose to
be serving and protecting my community.

http://www.kwantlen.ca/vpd/images/vpd_posters_room.jpg

these ads promote racism and fear.
the vancouver police have a long history of
racism...like letting people freeze to death,
first nation people in particular.

welcome to fucking vancouver, canada.

boom,
winterbamboo

posted in anti-oppression - 3 replies

SUBMISSIONS WANTED - anti-racist feminist publication

2006-01-11T01:56:50Z

*** please forward widely ***

thirdspace - an anti-racist feminist zine - is looking for submissions for
our next issue (volume 24 number 2). The theme is "Growing Up" -
interpret how you wish - and submissions are due by FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3rd
2006.

some possible topics (just to float some ideas out there):
- what about your past has most influenced who you are today?
- how do you define growing up?
- how does growing up interact with your experiences of
sexuality/gender/class/race/ability?
- how has your politic changed with the passage of time?
- the list will grow according to your submissions...

we'd also love reviews of relevant books/films!
and howsabout some recipes for food that just takes you back to childhood?

anyone from anywhere may submit.

thirdspace accepts comics, poetry, short fiction, artwork, rants, creative
non-fiction, book/film/music reviews, drawings, photography, graphics,
essays: whatever you've got, we can probably use it... as long as it is
anti-racist, feminist, queer- and trans-friendly.

To submit:

email the file(s) to thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net

OR

mail to thirdspace, UVic, Coast Salish Territory, P.O. Box 3035 Stn CSC,
Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P3

article submissions should be no more than 1500 words. artwork should be
printable in black and white. please include contact info and a 3-4
sentence biography to be included with your piece.

we reserve the right to edit and submission does not guarantee
publication.

our next issue: GROWING UP
submissions due: FRIDAY FEBRUARY 3rd

please contact us if you have any questions :)

thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net

***************************************************

thirdspace

UVic's anti-racist feminist publication

SUB B107a, University of Victoria
P.O. Box 3035 Stn CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 3P3
Coast Salish Territory
Phone: 250-721-8353
Fax: 250-472-4379
Email: thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net
http://mail-man.ca/mailman/listinfo/thirdspace-l

***************************************************

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

An ethical question for you...

2005-12-09T00:07:38Z

...I'm interested in your reactions to this situation.

While volunteering at a hospital as a "friendly visitor" (doing active listening with patients who are in hospital long term) in the oncology ward, I'm listening to a patient who is on her death bed. She has a few months left to live.

In the course of her talking to me about life and death, her beliefs etc, she mentions that her daughter recently bought a house in a certain part of the city but very quickly moved out, because of the "problems there" which she says I must have heard of. It's "the blacks". The woman is white. I am white and anti-racist.

What would be an appropriate response for me to make here?

posted in anti-oppression - 4 replies

SUBMISSIONS WANTED - anti-racist feminist publication

2005-11-14T19:13:06Z

*** please forward widely ***

thirdspace - an anti-racist feminist zine - is looking for submissions for
our next issue. The theme is "Sex & Sexuality" - interpret how you wish -
and submissions are due by WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23rd @ 4pm.

some possible topics (just to float some ideas out there):
- what turns you on?
- what turns you off?
- defining sexuality
- interactions between sexuality and gender/class/race/abilities
- sexual learning
- changing sexuality
- sex, sexuality and activism
- the list will grow according to your submissions...

anyone from anywhere may submit!

thirdspace accepts comics, poetry, short fiction, artwork, rants, creative
non-fiction, book/film/music reviews, drawings, photography, graphics,
essays whatever you've got, we can probably use it... as long as it is
anti-racist, feminist, queer- and trans-friendly.

To submit:

email the file(s) to thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net

OR

mail to thirdspace, UVic, Coast Salish Territory, P.O. Box 3035 Stn CSC,
Victoria, BC, Canada, V8W 3P3

article submissions should be no more than 1500 words. artwork should be
printable in black and white. please include contact info. we reserve the
right to edit and submission does not guarantee publication.

our next issue: SEX & SEXUALITY
submissions due: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23rd

please contact us if you have any questions :)

thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net

***************************************************

thirdspace

UVic's anti-racist feminist publication

SUB B107a, University of Victoria
P.O. Box 3035 Stn CSC
Victoria, BC V8W 3P3
Coast Salish Territory
Phone: 250-721-8353
Fax: 250-472-4379
Email: thirdspaceuvic@riseup.net
mail-man.ca/mailman/list.../thirdspace-l

***************************************************

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

san fran, green festival

2005-11-06T07:19:00Z

is happening tomorrow. i had a very exciting schmoozing experience there today. there's a cool east bay contingent already there but i'd love to see more. holler at me and maybe i can get you in for free....

i'm new here, too, and wanted to say hello. thanks for having me

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

about "safety" a new article by Tim Wise

2005-11-04T23:29:39Z

i am reposting this with permission from the rainbow racism group. this article perfectly articulates some stuff that has been rattling around for me but i have been troubled about coming out and saying. as usual, someone more articulate says it in a great and encapsulated way and so i thought i would share it over here. the lead in isn't from me either, but from Q, who posted it over there.

(I'll keep my snarky, pointed comments to myself and just copy and paste the damn thing. This is LONG, but important. If you want to or need to riff off anything said, please quote it so we all know what you are talking about. I-statements only and please remember your experience is valued, but if challenged, please reflect instead of defend, ok?)

No Such Place as Safe

By Tim Wise

I think I've figured out what it is I hate about those "racial dialogue" groups that seem to be springing up across the country nowadays.

No, it's not the standard radical critique that they tend to amount to all talk and little action: after all, our ability to act forcefully to eradicate racial inequity requires that we understand the issues at hand, and dialogue--even divorced from direct action at first--can be a helpful starting point for that kind of thing.

And no, it's not the fact that oftentimes such dialogues become watered down "diversity-fests," where participants are encouraged to more or less hold hands, sing kumbaya and feel each other's existential pain. After all, as problematic as that kind of dialogue can be, there is always the possibility that dedicated activists can push the discussion in a more thought-provoking and uncomfortable (but necessary) direction, if and when we participate in these dialogue groups; so even that isn't too big a deal.

Rather, I think the problem, for me at least--and it's one shared by a lot of people of color with whom I've discussed the subject--is something that is typically said at the outset of these dialogue sessions, even before people are introduced, and which sets a tone for the rest of the process; a tone that is antithetical to tackling the important subject matter at hand.

It's something that many readers will be instantly familiar with, provided they have participated in one of these things before: namely, it's the part where the dialogue facilitator says something to the effect of: "We want this to be a safe space, where everyone feels free to express their views without fear of being shouted down or ridiculed for their beliefs."

Although it isn't usually made explicit, this admonition about the importance of safety is almost always really about making white people feel safe. After all, people of color rarely feel safe discussing race amongst members of the dominant group, and it's pretty unlikely that a simple sentence calling for civility would change that.

Black and brown folks know that race is a touchy subject, and yet they engage in race dialogue (whether formal or informal) as a matter of survival: they have to do it, safe or not, because the alternative is to continue neglecting an issue that is far too important to their everyday lives.

The whites in these dialogue groups, on the other hand, are often tentative to a point that is almost farcical. Nervous, afraid of saying the wrong thing, and convinced that people of color will yell at them for a slip of the tongue, whites often remain in a shell when racial dialogues begin.

This is one of the reasons that facilitators often go out of their way to create "safety." They are hoping that whites will participate more honestly if only they can be guaranteed that black people won't attack them for their ignorance.

Such a concern is, of course, preposterous, coming as it does from members of the most powerful group on the planet. I mean really now, do we, as whites believe there is any group on Earth that is safer than we are? Do we honestly think that people of color are in a position to jump our asses in a controlled workshop setting? What do we think they're going to do? Knife us for God's sakes?

If you want to see this kind of white paranoia in action, sit in a room full of white folks watching the anti-bias documentary, The Color of Fear, and you'll see what I mean.

As they watch one scene in particular, where one of the black participants in a dialogue group goes off on one of the white participants (after putting up with copious amounts of conservative, "anyone can make it if they try" silliness on the part of the latter), whites recoil from the clearly agitated black man, Victor Lewis, as if they honestly expect him to jump out of the screen and strangle them where they sit.

The funny thing being that throughout the scene, the only person really at risk was Victor Lewis himself, who knew that his indignation would mark him as the "angry Negro" in the minds of most viewers.

And that's the point: even in these racial dialogue settings, whites are always the safest persons in the room. It is black and brown folks who run the risk of being seen as "too sensitive," "too emotional," or some such thing, while whites can almost always content ourselves with the belief that we are calm, level-headed and rational, no matter how absurd the things we say may be.

In other words, the white obsession with safety is the ultimate irony given the way that our racial position and privilege tends to shelter us from the harsh judgments regularly meted out against people of color. Yet we cling to it in ways that are both silly and more than a little unbecoming; indeed our search for safety, before we are even willing to discuss racism, let alone challenge it, is the ultimate expression of white privilege in many ways.

A few months ago, while attending the fifth annual White Privilege Conference, in Pella, Iowa (the perfect place for such a conference, and a wonderful event each year), this lesson was driven home with disturbing clarity.

On the final day of the conference, attendees were to be treated, depending upon one's perspective, to a luncheon keynote by Morris Dees, co-founder of (and still lead counsel for) the Southern Poverty Law Center, in Montgomery, Alabama.

The SPLC, as those at the conference knew, and as most readers will be aware, is the organization that has, for several years, engaged in pitched legal battles with assorted neo-Nazis and Klansmen, often succeeding in shutting down their operations altogether or otherwise financially crippling them. So far, so good.

And yet, for many at the conference, Dees's appearance seemed problematic.

On the one hand, there is the issue of whether or not such a person should speak at a conference on white privilege, since addressing that issue has almost nothing to do with his work or the work of his group. After all, fighting overt racists, while worthwhile, is not the same as confronting the institutional racism and structural forms of white supremacy that make a mockery of equity and justice every day, with or without burning crosses or skinheads in the picture.

Then of course there is the issue of the SPLC's own occasional duplicity: like how they send out fundraising letters to their mailing list, implying that their operations will suffer without continued financial support, even while they sit atop an endowment of over $100 million: more than enough to finance their operations forever, without another dime being raised from often cash-strapped families.

Then there's that business about "tolerance," which appears to be the Center's favorite word, as in their "teaching tolerance" materials for primary and secondary school teachers and classrooms. As many critics have noted, tolerance is a pretty weak formulation, seeing as how it means little more than putting up with someone else, allowing them to perhaps live another day, or refraining from burning down their house or church, but not much else.

But as real as these concerns were, and are, none of them were what nagged at many conference attendees this time out.

Instead, what concerned many of us was the rumor that had begun to circulate on the first day of the four day event, to the effect that Dees had required heavy security as a precondition of his appearance, including armed police officers. What's more, there would be searches of bags and backpacks coming into the venue.

Actually, I knew this was no mere rumor. Having spoken at fifty or more colleges where Dees has also made presentations, I have been told repeatedly that every time he speaks, bags are searched and he makes the same demand: No cops, no show, end of story. It is a requirement that appears as a rider of sorts in every lecture contract written for Dees, inserted either at his own insistence or that of the SPLC.

And while it is true that Dees (like many who fight racism) has had his life threatened, it is also true that people of color struggle against racism every day, having no expectation of security and feeling anything but entitled to bodyguards.

As such, many of us at the conference felt as though Dees should be confronted on his apparent sense of entitlement; his feeling that he somehow has a right to be safe as he does the work that others have to do as a matter of survival.

This challenge was not made necessary because Morris is uniquely flawed, or especially craven in his manifestations of white privilege. Indeed every white person who came to Pella for the conference had been able to take for granted that we would blend in, be accepted and welcomed, and ultimately safe, unlike people of color.

Rather, the challenge was necessary because it was, after all, a white privilege conference, and one of the principles of antiracism is to hold white allies accountable, especially when we inadvertently screw up, or fall back into old patterns that can reinforce racial hierarchy and power inequities.

Not to mention, there was something especially problematic about the fact that Dees would turn to the kinds of forces for security that often present the greatest threat to people of color: namely, cops with guns. Though most whites might feel comfortable with such folks around, it should be obvious that to people of color, the presence of police is a mixed bag, at best.

And so I asked the question.

Yet because he had been tipped off ahead of time to the question that was coming, Dees immediately became defensive upon my standing in front of the microphone, and refused to allow the proper setup for the query: the part where I was going to place his sense of entitlement within the orbit of what I and other white activists also take for granted.

Due to his pre-emption, and clear agitation, I was forced to cut to the chase. Unfortunately, this made the exchange seem more like a pissing contest between two white guys trying to "out-ally" each other, than a legitimate challenge to someone who is viewed by many as some kind of hero.

The point had been to challenge not Dees, but whites in the audience, to ask themselves what it meant that a white man doing this work would a) be able to demand protection and receive it; b) feel entitled to have that level of protection as a precondition for his doing the work, and c) think nothing of using forces which, to many people of color, are the problem, and not the solution to danger.

The point being, that this country is never safe for people of color. Its schools are not safe; its streets are not safe; its places of employment are not safe; its health care system is not safe. So why in the hell should white people feel that we have a right to something--in this case, safety--that people of color have never had?

And what does it say about us that we feel so obsessed about security that we honestly seem incapable of doing the work unless we are assured of our safety? Whether it's Morris Dees, or white folks in a workshop seeking safety to bare our souls, or cry, or some such shit.

How Dees answered the challenge, though not the point was instructive. It was as if he had never been asked the question before at all; which is frightening not for what it says about him but what it suggests about his audiences and the people with whom he has surrounded himself.

After all, how can one not see the contradictions inherent in a white man doing antiracism work being more protected than any persons of color doing the same?

Although other high profile civil rights folks, like Jesse Jackson or Julian Bond, might have occasional security around them, it is never as tight as that for Dees. Never are there eights armed officers, a personal bodyguard, and bag searches at the door. Even Louis Farrakhan surrounds himself with his own members from the Fruit of Islam, not hired guns and off-duty cops.

What white liberals must come to understand is that fighting for justice is never fully safe. Nor can it be made so; nor should safety be particularly sought.

At the same time, as whites, we are more protected in this work than any other persons on the planet. We are far less at risk, from police, from employers, from teachers, and even from crazies like the kind Dees fears, than people of color are. We should neither cower in fear that fighting racism will automatically place our lives in danger (which is another horrible message Dees's security squad implicitly sends), nor attempt to be especially protected in doing the work that needs to be done.

Checking ourselves, avoiding the replication of privilege when possible, and remaining accountable to the persons who are the targets of racism are key tenets of white antiracist ally behavior; and those of us involved in this struggle too often overlook them. Morris Dees is merely one high-profile example of the problem, though he is hardly alone.

So long as we respond defensively when challenged on this point, as long as we refuse to admit our mistakes, or to acknowledge that our actions mean more than our words, we will not deserve to be thought of as allies, we will not deserve to be keynote speakers at conferences on racism, and we most assuredly won't deserve to continue having money showered upon us and our organizations.

Tim Wise is an antiracist essayist, educator and father. He can be reached at timjwise@msn.com. His blog can be found at blog.zmag.org/wordwise. Hate mail, while neither appreciated nor desired, will be graded on the basis of form, content, grammar and originality.

posted in anti-oppression - 6 replies

community guidelines

2005-08-24T22:47:59Z

this is the message everyone in this tribe should have received upon joining. some old timers (*grin*) may not have, but nevertheless here is a refresher. in future we can just link to this thread if need be :

ps. if any one has anything to add, or wants to deconstruct/reconstruct anything on this list comments are welcome. please use your 'i-statements'. thanks.

welcome to the anti-oppression discussion group. below are the community guidelines. by joining you are agreeing to abide by them. if you have any questions or concerns please msg me or email me directly at angel@riseup.net. thanks!

*1* speak for yourself and your own experience. let others speak for themselves. that does not mean not to be an ally, but to really openly listen and learn.

*2* own your privilege. if you don't feel that you are privileged in any way this may not be an appropriate community for you. educate yourself and share resources that you find useful. we all participate, willingly or not, in systematic oppression.

*3* be respectful. no personal attacks will be tolerated. the great thing about this type of interaction is the ability to step back and take a breath before answering.

*4* explicit oppressive speech of any kind (racism, homophobia, sexism, transphobia, ablism, etc.) will not be tolerated and the post will be deleted. after a second offense the poster will be banned. e-mail the moderator at angel@riseup.net if you disagree. oppressive speech that is less explicit should and will be questioned.

*5* (from earlier language guidelines) please, when using words that may be considered 'slurs' abbreviate in some form (ie: use asterisks, etc.). in addition, use quote marks to delineate when you are quoting. also, please consider whether the use of such words are integral to your post. if not, don't use them. if someone is offended, apologize. try not to get defensive. think about why it may be inappropriate for you to use such language. if you are not a member of the group being denigrated by the word, listen to experiences that are offered up without challenge.

*6* this is intended as a learning environment. please try be patient. this is not to say you should not challenge people, but try a gentle approach *before* clubbing someone over the head. :)

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

an excellent site

2005-08-11T04:55:35Z

http://www.oneangrygirl.net/

posted in anti-oppression - 2 replies

a forum is born

2005-07-11T00:07:00Z

hi. im birthing this forum that focuses mostly on art and left politics.

its all fresh and new and waiting for instigator types to help shape the place. hardly anyone in there right now but it has a lot of potential. who ever gets involved at this point would be key in developing the character of the place.

you can put pictures and stuff in each post.

im still adding a forum or two more and working on the design of the place.

i would be honored by your presence. come check it out: http://p207.ezboard.com/btheemptyroom

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

Military Advertisement

2005-07-07T21:52:18Z

Today, I noticed a military advertisement on my profile. It really pissed me off. I have to deal with the military recruiting around here and targeting poor kids of color. They fucking TARGET them. God damn. You'll flippin steal money from our school system, short-change families of color in every human-needs possible, then come in and tell them their best shot for an education is to go off killing other brown people the US gov are trying to colonize. Lovely.

The thing that made me most sick is that the people in the Tribe Ideas tribe are actually defending the advertisement here. You know what? I was trying to figure out what word in my profile could possibly link that advertisement to my profile, and the only thing I can think of is the word "youth". I swear. (Okay, in fairness, maybe the adverts aren't linked, but considering other Tribe adverts are linked, I wouldn't be surprised.)

The other thing is the discussion on SF The Citadel about cars getting broken into in the SOMA. I provided a bunch of suggestions about what people could do inSTEAD of sicking the police on people, but they could only come back at me with drivel about "rape and theft" (who the flip said anything about rape??) "never being okay". And how, if businesses can't make it in the SOMA, how is the area ever going to prosper? Let me get this straight? Businesses that cater to your white suburb ass visiting once a week in your car are going to somehow benefit the people living in severe poverty there?

My horoscope today: "You are sensitive, and that comes in handy. You know exactly what's going on."

Great. It comes in handy. Right.

posted in anti-oppression - 2 replies

Hands off Assata!

2005-06-21T21:10:42Z

Brothers and Sisters,
This is the corrected version of the petition in
support of Assata Shakur. Please circulate widely.
HANDS OFF, Assata!

www.PetitionOnline.com/aramin...etition.html
_______________________________________________
www.blackradicalcongress.org

BRC Membership information:
Jamala Rogers, National Organizer
BRC National Office
P.O. Box 24795
St. Louis, MO 63115
Telephone: 314-307-3441
Email: brcnatl@blackradicalcongress.org

Technical support:
webadmin@blackradicalcongress.org

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

Unlearning Racism resources

2005-05-31T23:41:58Z

Hey all!

I'm trying to put together some resources and possibly a community seminar to teach about unlearning racism specifically in the gay communities.

I'm looking for resources (do not have to be queer-specific) that anyone might find useful in learning about the roots of racism, hate, etc as well as resources for unlearning racism.

Ideally they would be web-based but all help appreciated!

posted in anti-oppression - 6 replies

Creating Change in Oakland CA Nov 9-13, 2005

2005-05-31T19:54:52Z

FYI

=-=-=-

Creating Change in Oakland CA Nov 9-13, 2005

Request for Proposed Presentations/Workshops
Deadline for Submissions: July 15, 2005
Notification Process Begins On/About August 9, 2005

Building An Anti-Racist Movement:
A Primary Goal of the Creating Change Conference

Now in its 32nd year, The Task Force remains firmly committed to addressing the impact of racism in this country, in our movement and in our organization. A primary educational goal of Creating Change is to build an anti-racist LGBT movement that includes and reflects the perspectives, needs and priorities of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists of all ages, races, ethnic and language origins, spiritualities and incomes.

While we know that building an anti-racist movement will take much time and many resources, we believe that we can take important steps towards the more immediate fulfillment of that commitment. To this end, The Task Force seeks programmatic proposals that will present participants with opportunities that educate, challenge, support, and help to build an anti-racist movement that is more fully representative. Not all presentations at the conference primarily address this goal, but we will give priority to presentation proposals that thoughtfully consider how racism and the failure to build a LGBT multi-racial social and economic justice movement impacts particular issues and communities and organizing projects. Activists of color are strongly encouraged to submit proposals.

Other Creating Change Priorities:
∑ Educate on issues such as the recognition and protection of our relationships and families, bias violence, domestic violence, repression of sexuality and gender identity and expression, equality of opportunity in employment, housing, public accommodation and education, the freedom to marry, and military and immigration discrimination;
∑ Give special attention to strategies, projects, and methods of organizing that link race, class, gender and age oppression with homophobia and heterosexism;
∑ Strengthen the skills of activists and organizers who work at all levels of our movement;
∑ Improve our abilities to create change in legislative bodies, media, workplaces, faith communities, community and social institutions, and on campuses and at schools;
∑ Increase our confidence to work collaboratively with allies to effect durable change;
∑ Provide opportunities to discuss and explore difficult and challenging issues and topics in a supportive environment;
∑ Give special attention to emerging issues in our movement and communities, as well as those people most affected by them;
∑ Build an anti-racist movement for social and economic justice that is vigorous in each state and territory of the US and that includes and reflects the perspectives, needs and priorities of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists of all ages, races, ethnic and language origins, spiritualities, and incomes.

Presentations must fit within one of the following formats

∑ Workshops (90 minutes): Prepared presentations with stated and specific learning goals and some time dedicated to Q & A and group discussion. Workshops are political education sessions in which attendees will gain useful information, advice, and technical assistance about a specific topic. Please specify if your session is intended for participants whose work is entry level; or intermediate level; or advanced level.
∑ Caucus/Networking (60 minutes): A time for affinity groups or groups working on similar projects to gather for networking, discussion, and community building; or, an opportunity to convene a group of somewhat discordant participants to discuss a specific topic, i.e. a multi-generational group invited to discuss our movement’s commitment to persons of disparate ages.

Presenter Policies

In order to keep conference registration fees at the lowest possible rate, we ask presenters to volunteer time, expertise and services at Creating Change. In consideration of your service as a presenter, you will be able to register for the entire conference at a rate of $150. This registration rate is inclusive of all pre-conference institutes, plenary sessions, workshops, roundtables, trainings, screenings and caucuses, beginning Wednesday morning November 9 and concluding Sunday November 13, 2005. This registration rate does not include special events, dances/parties, and travel or hotel expenses. The presenter registration rate is limited to four presenters per session.

After a proposal is accepted, presenters will be mailed a presenter registration packet which includes a conference registration form. Should your proposal not be accepted, you are invited to register for the conference at the presenter rate of $150, inclusive of pre-conference institutes. If you submit a proposal, please do not register for the conference at any rate higher than $150.

Presenter Responsibilities

As a presenter, you are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. The conference hotel, the Oakland Marriott City Center, located in downtown Oakland, offers a conference rate of $119.00/night. Please be sure to mention the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference when making reservations. Reservations must be made by October 7, 2005 to receive the guaranteed conference rate. You may reserve a room by calling 800/991-7249. The 2005 Host Committee will organize a community housing program to provide a limited number of no-cost housing options for conference presenters and attendees. In order to participate, submit a completed housing request to the local Host Committee, available on our web site www.creatingchange.org.

If you submit a proposal, you are the “session contact.” Session contacts are expected to serve as the communication link between the conference organizing staff and the other presenters on your session. Session contacts must provide complete contact information for each presenter and advise conference staff of any changes in the presenter line-up. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force expects that all scheduled sessions will be presented as described in your proposal and listed in the program book.

Each meeting room will be equipped with a flip chart and markers. Presenters will be asked to fill out a request form for additional AV equipment. Presenters may be asked to cover the cost of AV requests. The Task Force will not provide LCD projectors. Presenters are encouraged to provide attendees with relevant supporting materials, such as fact sheets, articles, and guides. Presenters are responsible for any copying cost incurred.

Proposal Review

All proposals will be reviewed by the Creating Change Conference director and any other Task Force staff deemed appropriate by the director. Considerations for selection include relevance of the proposed session to the conference goal of building an anti-racist movement and other priorities; depth of content; presenter qualifications/experience with the topic; overall strength of the submission; and presenter panels that reflect the conference commitment to race/gender/class/age representation. The Task Force reserves the right to reject proposals. The Task Force will not review proposals for sessions that primarily promote or sell commercial products or to promote or sell the work product of an individual presenter. The Task Force will prioritize proposed sessions that include and reflect the perspectives, needs and priorities of our multi-racial, multi-gender, and multi-aged communities and movement. The Task Force reserves the right to decline to review proposals received after the posted deadline date. You will be notified of the status of your proposal beginning on or about August 9, 2005. To have your presentation considered for inclusion in the conference, please complete the forms on the following pages. The proposal should be submitted with a 150-200 word abstract, a 50-75 word description suitable for publication, complete contact information for all presenters, brief biographical information for all presenters, not for publication, and sample handouts (if available).

Workshop Proposal Form

Session Contact Person ______________________________________________
Title ______________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________
Day Phone _______________________ Evening Phone _______________________
Email Address ____________________________ Fax _______________________
Are you a member of The Task Force? _______________________________________
At which past Creating Change conferences have you presented and on what topics? ----------------

Demographic Information
The Task Force strives to have as broadly representative a conference as possible. By providing the following information, you greatly assist us in our assessment of our work.
Race/Ethnicity
_ African Descent _ Asian/Pacific Islander _ Caribbean _ Caribbean-African Descent _ Central American _ European Descent _ Latino/a _ Middle Eastern _ Native American/American Indian _ South American _ South Asian
_ Spanish _ Bi/Multi-Racial
Sex/Gender Identity _ Female _ Male _ Intersex _ Transgender _ Transsexual
Sexual Orientation _ Lesbian _ Gay _ Bisexual _ Two Spirit _ Heterosexual
Geography _ Urban _ Suburban _ Small Town _ Rural
Household Income _____________ Age ________

2005 Workshop/Presentation Information
Proposed Session Title ___________________________________________
Sessions will be scheduled on Friday Nov. 11 or Saturday Nov. 12.
Would you be willing to join another session on your topic? _ Yes _ No
Format requested _ Workshop _ Caucus/Networking/
For Workshop select _ Entry _ Intermediate _ Advanced

The session contact person is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the workshop and will receive information concerning the status of the proposal. The session contact person then has the responsibility for contacting other presenters. Discounted registration fees of $150 are offered to four presenters, maximum, per session. If you are presenting alone, you are the session contact.

Necessary Attachments
Attach a 150-200 word abstract stating the objectives and rationale for this session. The abstract will not be published and is used to better inform the reviewer. Please describe how your session will help realize the overarching conference goal of building a movement by, for, and about lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people that is anti-racist, multi-racial, and seeking social and economic justice for all.

Attach a 50 to 75-word description of your workshop/presentation. The description you provide will be published in the conference program book, if your session is accepted.

Provide the names and complete contact information for each presenter in your session. Brief biographical information is useful, but will not be published since its purpose is to better inform the reviewer.

Presenter ______________________________________________
Title ______________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________
Day Phone _______________________ Evening Phone _______________________
Email Address ____________________________ Fax _______________________

Presenter ______________________________________________
Title ______________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________
Day Phone _______________________ Evening Phone _______________________
Email Address ____________________________ Fax _______________________

Presenter ______________________________________________
Title ______________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________
Day Phone _______________________ Evening Phone _______________________
Email Address ____________________________ Fax _______________________

Presenter ______________________________________________
Title ______________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip _____________________________________________________
Day Phone _______________________ Evening Phone _______________________
Email Address ____________________________ Fax _______________________

Please send the completed proposal form, a 150-200-word abstract, a 50-75-word description suitable for publication, complete contact information for all presenters, brief biographical information for all presenters, not for publication, and sample handouts (if available).

Return this material to: Sue Hyde, Conference Director
The Task Force
1151 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge MA 02138-5201
617-492-6393 voice, 617-492-0175 fax, or shyde@thetaskforce.org

Submission Deadline is July 14, 2005
Notification Process Begins On/About August 9, 2005

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

roll call

2005-05-30T15:08:13Z

i am angel. my pronoun preference is 'he'. i am : queer, working class, transgendered, bi-racial, multi-cultural, (radical) jewish, of indigenous descent, white skin privileged, dis/abled (perhaps temporarily), 30 years old, in oakland ca. and a committed anti-oppression activist. the reason i started this tribe was to bring together folks who can see how various oppressions are linked to one another, to get support in my activism and to spark conversation around solutions to oppression in everyday life as well as complete paradigm shifts. being the aforementioned mix of qualities/identities gives me a chance to see first hand how some sorts of oppression feed into others. oh yeah, and i want to change the world. :)

and you?

posted in anti-oppression - 59 replies

Radical men and their thoughts on women

2005-05-26T02:20:39Z

There's this thread on the Anarchism tribe that started as a cross-post from the Gender Reconciliation tribe. I was frustrated to see what I thought were radical, thinking males discuss issues that effect women with such venom. Is this how guys talk behind other gendered backs? Or is this an isolated event?

I was curious this tribe's perspective. :)

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/thread/f3c8740d-7639-4e27-83f3-2f8e0ef04a67?tribeid=f64c8339-8553-4aca-98a8-47bfddbf4cb9&r=10535

posted in anti-oppression - 15 replies

My rant against "Crash"

2005-05-16T16:45:39Z

"Crash" is a new film coming out (this weekend, I believe) about a random group of strangers in L.A. who get caught up with each other one night. It's played by a long list of big-name stars. I haven't seen it yet, but have read a few reviews. The story is about racism and how all the characters are both victims as well as perpetrators of it. That's a fine, solid premise cuz most race-related films seem too one-dimensional to me.

Now for my rant. The filmmakers seemed to have gone to great lengths to cover the general population of white, black, brown, etc characters. But considering how large of an Asian population there is in L.A. they didn't seem to try very hard to include yellow. Apparently, there are two Korean characters. From what I've read, they don't seem to have very significant roles in the film. Nor are they on the list of starring actors, so they probably have supporting roles at best. The absence of Asian faces is a widespread problem in U.S. cinema, unless you count the tired old portrayals of us as martial arts masters or illegal immigrants with fake-ass accents. I plan on seeing "Crash" and will post a more informed critique of it afterward. But I have my doubts at this point.

posted in anti-oppression - 3 replies

Rant

2005-05-10T17:30:42Z

I ate at the much-talked-about Spuds Pizza in Berkeley a couple weeks back. I had an experience that just floored me...you can read the whole story here...

(If the cut and paste thing doesn't work it's on the Berekely Tribe)

http://sanfrancisco.tribe.net/thread/23629be7-f88a-4018-8732-9e1788984692?tribeid=376ab122-6dde-4cfe-bfba-4216a0ad4ef6&threads=true&r=10535#7eb6294c-b72f-4a10-99e9-5c204c8a08d5

But the key anti-oppression piece:

After getting our order wrong a few times, as the waiter handed me food, he said he could tell I was Jewish because I made him feel guilty for getting the order wrong. After that comment, you can bet that I wasn't about to go up and ask him for the missing breadsticks.

What shocked me was that this guy had no idea he was perpetuating negative anti-Jewish stereotypes. "Yeah, I thought you must be Jewish. You really got the guilt thing going there." I was floored. Then he proceeded to tell me how he worked at a Jewish resort one summer as a teenager and so he knows Jewish people.

I don't care whether one calls it racism, anti-seminitism, or anti-Jewish oppression. Whatever you want to call it, his comments were completely offensive. (Let's tell the Jewish customer that we're perceiving her just like in the sterotypes! The negative stereotypes! Let's tokenize her! Let's take no responsibility for the fact that we got her order wrong 3, no 4 times now, and blame her for our feelings of guilt about that!)

Hey, do I sound upset? Yeah, well I am. I really didn't like his comment one bit.

I'd very much like to support my neighborhood restaurant, but after that experience, I really don't think I'll be likely to walk in there again.

Does this surprise you guys? How would others handle this? What similar experiences have others here had?

posted in anti-oppression - 12 replies

fucking humanism

2005-05-06T04:13:15Z

i'm in the middle of a discussion on another tribe (gender reconciliation) with a couple of men about patriarchy and it's driving me nuts. a friend of mine posted about how to deal with men who get defensive when the issue of patriarchy is brought up. well, these two guys answered, and their responses were about man bashing and "gender feminism" (whatever the fuck that is) and basically blaming women for male defensiveness. so, i posted something about their reaction and got the same kind of response. they actually called me sexist and "anti-male".

how do we, as anti-oppression activists, deal with this shit in this forum? in the workshops that i've facilitated, there's a face to face and immediate convo going on and it's easier to deal with. i'm just really frustrated right now because it's always the same bullshit - "progressives" who call themselves "equalist" or humanist who act in oppressive ways and get riled up when you call them on it. i would rather deal with someone who is blatantly sexist than someone who claims to be on my side but is just a huge asshole.

i need some help here.

posted in anti-oppression - 3 replies

online gallery: Eyes Wide Open - and exhibition of the human cost of the Iraq war.

2005-04-04T07:30:37Z

i finally whipped this onto the internet. im kind of excited. wanted to share...

a field of empty boots and shoes representing those killed.
this is my personal gallery with pictures, a cool amateur video, and footage of testimony by family of the dead.

very moving.

check it out.
imageevent.com/arize

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

anti-oppression work in 'fun' spaces

2005-04-04T01:07:46Z

hey everyone, i am going to a campout with some friends, and we do info-sharing there as well. i am planning to do a mini workshop and i want it to be an exercise and dialogue about oppressions and how they are woven into our supposedly 'open' community. however, this is a very fun oriented event and i want to be able to keep things if not light, then accessible enough that people actually show up and participate.

most of the workshops i have facilitated have been longer, and have had a serious bent. anyone have ideas as to how to make something like this work? last year i did a gender workshop in this same group and it went pretty well, but i plan to delve deeper this year and to talk about race and class and other major oppression issues.

feedback?

posted in anti-oppression - 0 replies

barf barf barf

2005-04-01T22:09:37Z

http://allafrica.com/stories/200504010696.html

Wolfowitz News World Bank President

Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)

April 1, 2005
Posted to the web April 1, 2005

Lukong Pius Nyuylime

The United States Deputy Defence Secretary was confirmed yesterday after a crucial European support.

A new page has been opened in the World Bank. The American-born Paul Wolfowitz was yesterday elected to the post of president of the World Bank by the banks' directors, representing 184 countries. He replaces James Wolfensohn who served the institution for ten good years.
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The election of Wolfowitz as the tenth president defies all the controversy ignited by his nomination. He was proposed for the post by the American president, George W. Bush. But the proposal was seen in some quarters as an attempt to bend a multilateral body to US demands. "I understand that I'm to put it mildly a controversial figure," he said. "But I hope as people get to know me they will understand that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the Bank." He has promised to seek a "truly multinational" management team - but would not give Europe an unequivocal promise on the deputy's post.

As he take up his post, the major question asked by many is whether the new president will bring his new brand of conservatism to the World Bank?

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