Comments on: Jay Smooth Talks About Talking About Racism

By: denise

denise — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:56:35 +0000

It can be really hard to explain to people about racism, internalization and hegemony. (Yeah, I have a Chicana/o Studies degree.) But those difficult conversations are necessary. You have to call people out, even if they are your boss.

By: Barriga Verde

Barriga Verde — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:19:48 +0000

@lola - I like that you said “don’t laugh” when talking about Jezebel - cuz that site is just a joke. Well, the writers have some talent, but the commenters…… ayayay.

By: piruli

piruli — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:53:52 +0000

Huh? How do you get that impression from what I wrote? I was saying that if a person espouses a lot of hate, after a while you start to wonder how much of it is just a slip-up and how much is a result of being a person who is downright hateful.

By: lola del rio

lola del rio — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:45:49 +0000

@ piruli: I KNOW you’re not saying 2 wrongs make a right.

By: piruli

piruli — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:55:31 +0000

@ lola: Well, to be fair, several Jezebel editors also “act like” misogynists and less-than-intelligent people to the point that one has to wonder how much of what one says and does is a reflection of what kind of person one is / is becoming.

By: lola del rio

lola del rio — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:52:09 +0000

Another Case: the other day on Jezebel (don’t laugh… that’s how I found this site). One of the editors referenced the story about the salmonella jalapeño scare.

Now… what did she call that pepper? Oh yeah… a Wetback.

When called on it, she gave an explanation about how she was making fun of the xenophobia and didn’t think it was a big deal ’cause she had heard the word on an episode of I Love Lucy.

Now is she a racist? Don’t think so.
Is she hella lame she is for using a word she heard on a show from the 50s and never bothering to look it up? Fuck Yeah.

By: lola del rio

lola del rio — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:47:10 +0000

Honesty is a convenient excuse used by a lot of under-cover racist.

People claim to be “honest” when they KNOW they said something totally lame but want to insist they’re right and make you feel like you’re making a mountain out of a mole-hill.

Case in point: ex-boyfriend (yeah, a white guy) who kept insisting that black people looked like our primate cousins. I just stood there with my jaw hitting the ground & all he could say was, “hey, i’m just being honest. Some of them do.”

By: Marco

Marco — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:29:57 +0000

What’s the difference between “saying something racist” and “being honest”?? Anyone?