My tale is different, My racial make up is Hessian (this will become important), with English, Penn's Deuche, and Scottish, with a touch of Lenni Lenape for flavor. I self identify as 'white' for simply knowing what box to check on demographics, and well, if you look up WASP you used to find my pic. (Now you'll need to look at a subdefinition starting with "T"). I was raised for part of my childhood in a lily white upper class neighborhood, then experienced a boarding school that was much more diverse racially. I was taught by my parents about race in what was then a unique way; I learned about people of color by learning about those who achieved greatness in spite of society at the time. I even carried a clipping about Dr Chas. Drew (a personal Hero) in my wallet and consider his death a warning to my actions.(The clipping was eventually destroyed due to my getting soaked on an EMS call.) I then entered the military and met folks of all backgrounds, many who I came to consider friends. I remember getting the instruction that there was only one color in the USAF; Blue. I noted that I was unusual in that I never noticed color as important, I had learned to note people by their actions and how they presented themselves. Later, I worked in Emergency Services and learned the simple fact that I was the one different because of my color. I even worked with POC as partners and came to understand some of the feelings that were present in their community. I also was able to explain that my direct ancestor had been uprooted from his home and brought to this country without wanting to. (Hessians drafted by riding into a village and gathering up all able bodied folks and then you are in the Army, this is circa 1700's) I was welcomed into a black church for Christmas Eve services by a work partner and also into his Family home for Holiday dinners. I returned the favor and I think we both grew from the experience. My approach towards race is to follow the instructions of Dr. King, that its character not color.
What saddens me is there are those who wish to keep their own power by preventing a resolution between the disparate groups in this country. There are those who 'hustle' race in each race community, and use this to keep thier own power. This has caused the various groups to not be willing to come and learn from one another and led to a division of cultures and values.
I too, do not wish to be a part of the discussion of Multiculturalism in fandom, mainly because I feel it is a continuation of what I see happening in society, and do not want to be judged by the color of MY skin as anyone who does that, truly has discounted who I am and what I have experienced. From the joy I had with a black woman as a lover, to having a 15 year old die in my arms after a firebombing, to wading into swift water in a storm looking for a hispanic child, as I was the only one who understood what the people were saying in Spanish. To the men and women that I stood perimeter duty with in harsh German winters, to shocking my work partner's family by digging in to a plate of chitlin's and greens without blinking, and then watching him deal with the concept of haggis.
It is truly the 'content of the character', not the color of the skin. If I have expierenced any 'White Priveledge', it is the privelidge of knowing so many disparate people.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-05-29 05:18 am (UTC)I was raised for part of my childhood in a lily white upper class neighborhood, then experienced a boarding school that was much more diverse racially. I was taught by my parents about race in what was then a unique way; I learned about people of color by learning about those who achieved greatness in spite of society at the time. I even carried a clipping about Dr Chas. Drew (a personal Hero) in my wallet and consider his death a warning to my actions.(The clipping was eventually destroyed due to my getting soaked on an EMS call.)
I then entered the military and met folks of all backgrounds, many who I came to consider friends. I remember getting the instruction that there was only one color in the USAF; Blue.
I noted that I was unusual in that I never noticed color as important, I had learned to note people by their actions and how they presented themselves.
Later, I worked in Emergency Services and learned the simple fact that I was the one different because of my color. I even worked with POC as partners and came to understand some of the feelings that were present in their community.
I also was able to explain that my direct ancestor had been uprooted from his home and brought to this country without wanting to. (Hessians drafted by riding into a village and gathering up all able bodied folks and then you are in the Army, this is circa 1700's)
I was welcomed into a black church for Christmas Eve services by a work partner and also into his Family home for Holiday dinners. I returned the favor and I think we both grew from the experience.
My approach towards race is to follow the instructions of Dr. King, that its character not color.
What saddens me is there are those who wish to keep their own power by preventing a resolution between the disparate groups in this country. There are those who 'hustle' race in each race community, and use this to keep thier own power. This has caused the various groups to not be willing to come and learn from one another and led to a division of cultures and values.
I too, do not wish to be a part of the discussion of Multiculturalism in fandom, mainly because I feel it is a continuation of what I see happening in society, and do not want to be judged by the color of MY skin as anyone who does that, truly has discounted who I am and what I have experienced.
From the joy I had with a black woman as a lover, to having a 15 year old die in my arms after a firebombing, to wading into swift water in a storm looking for a hispanic child, as I was the only one who understood what the people were saying in Spanish.
To the men and women that I stood perimeter duty with in harsh German winters, to shocking my work partner's family by digging in to a plate of chitlin's and greens without blinking, and then watching him deal with the concept of haggis.
It is truly the 'content of the character', not the color of the skin. If I have expierenced any 'White Priveledge', it is the privelidge of knowing so many disparate people.
YIS,
WRI