fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2008-08-10 07:45 am
fullygoldy) wrote2008-08-10 07:45 am
IBARW - My first post!
Thanks to sasha_featherfor posting these questions. I don't typically feel qualified to post on this topic, but I have wanted to participate in this annual event. Answering these questions seemed like a good compromise:
This week's questions were written by Guest Questionersparkymonster in honour of International Blog Against Racism Week. She provides this link to helpful reading: http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/em
1. List 5 things which are basic common knowledge in your culture, which people outside are unfamiliar with. This is not about obscurity, but something everyday to you, that others go "bzuh?" at.
2. What was the last book you read that was written by a person who is a different race than you? Do you seek out books written by people of other races? Why? Why not?
3. What did you eat at dinner last night? Would you call it ethnic food? Why?
4. Has your gender presentation changed over the last 5 years? Has this change/lack of change been a deliberate choice on your part?
5. Do you discuss race and racism in your livejournal/blog or in person? Why have you made that choice?
6. Bonus question. Were you aware of International Blog Against Racism Week? Did you choose to participate in it? Why or why not?
----
Follow up in your LJ, or this one, and post links to discussions at http://community.livejournal.com/altfri
I am happy to be engaged in the conversation on this topic, but I'll definitely be on the learning end of the conversation.
sasha_featherfor posting these questions. I don't typically feel qualified to post on this topic, but I have wanted to participate in this annual event. Answering these questions seemed like a good compromise:This week's questions were written by Guest Questioner
sparkymonster in honour of International Blog Against Racism Week. She provides this link to helpful reading: http://seamonkey.ed.asu.edu/~mcisaac/em1. List 5 things which are basic common knowledge in your culture, which people outside are unfamiliar with. This is not about obscurity, but something everyday to you, that others go "bzuh?" at.
2. What was the last book you read that was written by a person who is a different race than you? Do you seek out books written by people of other races? Why? Why not?
3. What did you eat at dinner last night? Would you call it ethnic food? Why?
4. Has your gender presentation changed over the last 5 years? Has this change/lack of change been a deliberate choice on your part?
5. Do you discuss race and racism in your livejournal/blog or in person? Why have you made that choice?
6. Bonus question. Were you aware of International Blog Against Racism Week? Did you choose to participate in it? Why or why not?
----
Follow up in your LJ, or this one, and post links to discussions at http://community.livejournal.com/altfri
My answers:
1) Ha! This is great, because it shows just how unaware someone can be about the intersections of cultures. I'm embarassed to admit I can't think of something typically "white" american except maybe the debutante ball, but that's more southern now. I can think of a lot of things that were commonplace in the south while I lived there, but I never claimed that as my culture. (like serving sausage balls at weddings). But maybe the american love affair with big, fast, gas-guzzling cars, and the family road-trip vacation?
2) The last thing I read that I know for sure was by someone from a different race was Between Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey which I reviewed last summer.
3) Well, last night's dinner was technically mostly beer. Friday night, for the 2nd Fri in a row, I ate grocery store sushi, which I consider to be ethnic because it is not something anyone in my family would have taught me to make when I was learning to cook. So my definition of ethnic is a traditional food that isn't traditional to your RL family. Also last week, I made a veggie stir-fry, and a spicy marinara sauce served on penne. I frequently prepare or choose mexican, italian and asian cuisines, and also enjoy a wide array of european and middle eastern foods, so it's actually more likely that I'll be eating "ethnic" than not.
4) Nope. In fact, other than length of hair and weight, I've pretty much looked the same for 30-something years.
5) Not really. See above. I read about it quite a bit more now than even 2 years ago. I was pretty aware of the issues while living in SC, but trying to have an intelligent, thoughtful conversation about race down there was an exercise in futility to say the very least. So mostly, I just shut up, and tried not to act like a jerk (as opposed to the average white guy on the street).
6) I became aware of it last year, from all the thoughtful posts that appeared in my flist.
1) Ha! This is great, because it shows just how unaware someone can be about the intersections of cultures. I'm embarassed to admit I can't think of something typically "white" american except maybe the debutante ball, but that's more southern now. I can think of a lot of things that were commonplace in the south while I lived there, but I never claimed that as my culture. (like serving sausage balls at weddings). But maybe the american love affair with big, fast, gas-guzzling cars, and the family road-trip vacation?
2) The last thing I read that I know for sure was by someone from a different race was Between Lovers by Eric Jerome Dickey which I reviewed last summer.
3) Well, last night's dinner was technically mostly beer. Friday night, for the 2nd Fri in a row, I ate grocery store sushi, which I consider to be ethnic because it is not something anyone in my family would have taught me to make when I was learning to cook. So my definition of ethnic is a traditional food that isn't traditional to your RL family. Also last week, I made a veggie stir-fry, and a spicy marinara sauce served on penne. I frequently prepare or choose mexican, italian and asian cuisines, and also enjoy a wide array of european and middle eastern foods, so it's actually more likely that I'll be eating "ethnic" than not.
4) Nope. In fact, other than length of hair and weight, I've pretty much looked the same for 30-something years.
5) Not really. See above. I read about it quite a bit more now than even 2 years ago. I was pretty aware of the issues while living in SC, but trying to have an intelligent, thoughtful conversation about race down there was an exercise in futility to say the very least. So mostly, I just shut up, and tried not to act like a jerk (as opposed to the average white guy on the street).
6) I became aware of it last year, from all the thoughtful posts that appeared in my flist.
I am happy to be engaged in the conversation on this topic, but I'll definitely be on the learning end of the conversation.