We have a lot of work to do in terms of addressing the issues of hetronormativity, white supremacy, patriarchy, racism, environmental racism, domestic abuse, police brutality, capitalism, mental colonization, imperialism.. you know all these things that oppress us and we continue to rebel against..

That doesn’t mean that we don’t perpetuate some of these oppresive tendencies within some of our behaviors, comments, thoughts or even ideologies. So, Brown Black and Queer has created a slice of webspace in which we can openly discuss/argue some points where we may disagree and hopefully extinguish issues that potentially could impede upon our united forward movement.

In the Backyard BBQ tab (at the top of the webpage), we invite you to question things you may notice in rallies, conferences, marches, speeches or just in life that may seem problematic within our black brown & queer community.. just like you would at a family backyard barbeque.

We’s family, let’s talk..!

The first topic we’ll be discussing is cigarette smoking and its role in revolution..

Old ads for the Bronx Lesbian and Gay Health Resource Center

There’s a lot of whiteness running around the blogosphere right now that’s being commented on. Here’s my input on “Stuff White People Like” and “Dear White Feminists, quit goddamn fucking up.”

WordPress.com so nicely shows me the top blogs they host even when I didn’t ask them to. Guess what’s been at the top? Stuff White People Like Now I must admit that I didn’t quite know what to think at first. This blog is straight-forward. The blogger, Clander, writes posts about common interests of white people, like New Balance Shoes, Having Gay Friends, Bottles of Water, Standing at Concerts, Vegan/Vegetarianism and Non-Profit Organizations, among many others (right now there are 96 on the list). I think that many people are talking about this blog because it seems that these ring so true for so many people. Fans seems to be white people who agree and identify with these things, but also people of color who attribute these things, maybe critically, to white people. 

Here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter if you like SWPL or not; it is a very interesting way of analyzing whiteness. I had a class last semester with Lisa Duggan at NYU (Intersections: Race, Gender and Sexuality in U.S. History) where were talked about Brandon Teena (aka Teena Brandon by those who don’t accept his gender self-expression). We had talked about the murders of Brandon, Lisa Lambert and Philip DeVine, and how sexuality, sex and gender played a role in all this. Professor Duggan asked the class, “Where do you see race here?” Everyone pointed out that one of the people that were killed in the incident was a black man (DeVine) who was visiting the house where Brandon had been living. “Where else?” The class was essentially speechless. We couldn’t find any other instance of race being played out or made an issue or even existing as a mere description of a person. Finally, she explained to us that race was all over, that race was more than “blackness,” but “whiteness” just as much. We had neglected to mark the unmarked, and so whiteness was invisible, normalized to us. Think: you never have to come out as straight, only gay/queer/bi/trans/Other.

Anna Barsan posted Pondersome on this blog about the list made by the Christian Examiners on controversial classes. One that makes the list: “Whiteness: The Other Side of Racism” is Mount Holyoke College’s attempt to analyze race. The class seeks to spark thought on: “What is whiteness?” “How is it related to racism?” “What are the legal frameworks of whiteness?” “How is whiteness enacted in everyday practice?” And how does whiteness impact the “lives of whites and people of color?” This class actually causes huss and fuss, because it’s focusing on this other “side” that usually goes under the radar.

To go back to Stuff White People Like, if the site were Stuff Black People Like there would be a whole different buzz about it.. actually there probably wouldn’t be a buzz, because it’d be seen as separate from the “mainstream” blogosphere (sound like BET?) and definitely not equal, or it would be completely produced by white people as a commodification and appropriation of “blackness,” whatever that means.

——

Now, somebody’s going to get angry about this, but I need to say it. Recently, there has been a whole lot of drama in the blogosphere about Seal Press, women of color bloggers, safety, white Feminism and racism. (Links are at the bottom if you want to know more. It’s really interesting and there are many people blogging about it.) I want to make just one point. A new blogger came out recently and started a site called “Dear White Feminists, Quit Goddamn Fucking Up.” She, herself, is a self-proclaimed white feminist, and as this she had written an open letter to white feminists who are racist. I actually really appreciate the post, and it needed to happen. What I did notice is that I must have been one of the very first people to come across her blog. I believe it was even the first day she put the site up. I commented on it first, thanking her for the letter, but I hesitated in saying what I really wanted to say. Why is it that her blog came up as the top listing under a WordPress search for feminism?  Many people had been blogging about feminism and used feminism in their tags, but also addressed issues of race (among others) and their sites get less hits, or only hits within the same group of bloggers. What I’m trying to point out is that white feminism IS Feminism, and women of color are written out time and again, even if the way that people click on links. Why read a blog about sexism AND racism, when you’re only trying to solve problems for women. Racism is that whole OTHER issue (You know that capital-”O” Othering we always talk about in these circles? Well race is the Other when we’re talking about sex/gender, the “them” to our “us” and instead of of analyzing the intersectionality of it all, we choose and divide them.)

Just the fact that feminism automatically means white feminism, and if feminism is to mention race, it’s suddenly black feminism, or women of color feminism, or third world feminism, meaning it’s a whole new game of feminism that’s not quite Feminism, because it’s outside the scope of mainstream feminism. But this is a problem. Aren’t we capable women (and people)? Can’t we expand naturally our limited ideas? We should never settle for “beyond the scope.” It’s difficult to keep asking for more and more, but it’s difficult to live oppressed too.

So no, it’s not straight up racist to choose one blog that’s at the top of the Google list, but it is important to be conscious of how these systems are not unbiased and do favor those sites that match people’s own internalized, normalized ideas of relevancy and authoritativeness. Whiteness is not clear or transparent. It, too, is based in certain ideologies that exclude and we must analyze how it functions.

Other points of interest, maybe for future posts: democratization (or not) of the internet, digital divide, and internet accessibility.

Links: Dear White Feminists, Angry Black Woman, brownfemipower.com (there’s nothing there) 

My roommate and I had a quick conversation. She asked me how my work was coming along and I explained to her that my priorities are messing me up. Basically, “my school priorities are not my life priorities, and right now I choose life,” said. “I choose life!” she repeated mockingly and melodramatically. Her response, “Well, my life is school for the next week” until graduation, is an example of how race and social responsibility are tied together. As a white upper class woman, she can afford for her priorities and her only focus to be school. On the other hand, as a woman of color and, yes, middle class, I feel the obligation to my community ALWAYS and while I’d love to have the time to only focus on my schoolwork (studying for my Conversations of the West class on the literary and philosophy canon, aka old white men who we still acknowledge for ALL our modern, civilized thoughts and ideologies, neglecting and bad-mouthing any people of color, especially from the “Third World”/”Global South”) and make straight A’s (so hopefully Affirmative Action will consider me with the always equally qualified white student), I can’t. I must also work towards getting my voice out there for my liberation and for those like me, which in this instance is this very blog. I choose to write this post right now, instead of doing my reading assignment, except that later I will have to do that reading assignment. The social responsibility I feel weighs down on me in a way that does not burden her. So racialization becomes quick sand for me and a firm ground for her; the more I want to move, the more difficult it becomes for me to get out alive.

Angela Davis, Edith Gonzalez, Ana Aguero Jahannes (me!), DeShaun Davis

That’s all. You’re jealous. I know. It’s okay. You’ll have your turn. =)

Brief summary of Friday April 25th

• Peoples Justice Rally for Justice for Sean Bell & All Victims of Police Brutality
• 2 arrests following formal march

Following yesterday morning’s announcement of Judge Cooperman’s “not guilty on all counts” acquittal verdict of 3 of the 5 NYPD officers involved in the murder of Sean Bell, hundreds gathered in Queens to express their outrage. Disgusted by the trial process (determined by 1 judge rather than a jury), and the unjust outcome, the Peoples Justice rally began at 5:30pm by the Queens DA’s office, with family members speaking of having lost loved ones to police brutality, and others speaking of personal experiences being victimized by law enforcement violence, including: Nicholas Heyward, Sr. spoke of his son - Nicholas Heyward, Jr. - murdered by the NYPD; members of Jayson Tirado’s family; Juanita Young, mother of Malcolm Ferguson and founder of Parents Against Police Brutality; representatives of the Bushwick 32 case; Desis Rising Up & Moving, linking the struggle against police brutality to the struggle against the criminalization of immigrants.  In addition to justice for Sean Bell and other specific cases, Peoples Justice is calling for an end to racist & militarized policing of our communities; the creation of a permanent independent prosecutor for all cases of police brutality in NYC; and increased efforts for community control of our safety through creation of community Cop Watch patrols and Know Your Rights work.

Peoples Justice moved the rally from the Queens DA’s office with a march to Liverpool, the site of the 50-shot murder of Sean Bell and injuries to his friends Trent Benefield & Joseph Guzman.  The unpermitted march, growing to 1,500 on Queens Boulevard, stopped traffic and was greeted by enormous support from community members along the way — many joined the march; others honked their support from their cars, not seeming bothered to be stopped in traffic; others cheered from rooftops, apartments, stores, and buses.

At the closing rally on Liverpool (site of the shooting), about 500 vowed to continue the struggle for justice for Sean Bell & all victims of police brutality. Co-MC’s Jessica Sanclemente (from the Justice Committee) and Thenjiwe McHarris (Malcolm X Grassroots Movement) reminded community members of the need to demand accountability of the police while also taking steps towards community control through Know Your Rights education and Cop Watch patrols. Those interested in developing their own Cop Watch patrols can contact the Justice Committee or Malcolm X Grassroots Movement for more information, and Peoples Justice can be contacted for more information about Know Your Rights training.

Following the close of the formal Peoples Justice march & rally, some continued with an impromptu march through parts of Jamaica, Queens. According to updates Peoples Justice received, at about 11:30pm, following the dispersal of one group at the 103rd Precinct, a protester was arrested as he was leaving, and a legal observer who tried to get badge information of the arresting officers was also arrested. After getting the news last night, Peoples Justice organizers secured an attorney to work with the 2 who were arrested, and also had several Peoples Justice organizers go to the 107th precinct where they were being held before being transported to Central Booking. The attorney attempted to have them released with DAT’s (desk appearance tickets), which is often protocol in such cases. The NYPD refused. We expect that the 2 will be released today, and will post additional updates if community mobilization is required.

Source: peoplesjustice.org

The three detectives in the Sean Bell murder were just acquitted. Here’s the NYT Article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/nyregion/26BELL.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Friday, June 06

by Kenyon Farrow (source: kenyonfarrow.com)

Is Gay Marriage Anti-Black?
By Kenyon Farrow
March 5, 2004

I was in Atlanta on business when I saw the Sunday, Feb. 29th 2004 edition of the Atlanta Journal Constitution that featured as its cover story the issue of gay marriage. Georgia is one of the states prepared to add some additional language to its state constitution that bans same sex marriages (though the state already defines marriage between a man and a woman, so the legislation is primarily symbolic). What struck me about the front page story was the fact that all of the average Atlanta citizens whom were pictured that opposed gay marriages were Black people. This is not to single out the Atlanta Journal Constitution, as I have noticed in all of the recent coverage and hubbub over gay marriage that the media has been real crucial in playing up the racial politics of the debate. For example, the people who are in San Francisco getting married are almost exclusively white whereas many of the people who are shown opposing it are Black. And it is more Black people than typically shown in the evening news (not in handcuffs). This leaves me with several questions: Is gay marriage a Black/white issue? Are the Gay Community and the Black Community natural allies or sworn enemies? And where does that leave me, a Black gay man, who does not want to get married?

Same-sex Marriage and Race Politics

My sister really believes that this push for gay marriage is actually not being controlled by gays & lesbians. She believes it is actually being tested in various states by the Far Right in disguise, in an effort to cause major fractures in the Democratic Party to distract from all the possible roadblocks to re-election for George W. in November such as an unpopular war and occupation, the continued loss of jobs, and growing revelations of the Bush administration’s ties to corporate scandals.

Whatever the case, it is important to remember that gay marriage rights are fraught with racial politics, and that there is no question that the public opposition to same-sex marriages is in large part being financially backed by various right-wing Christian groups like the Christian Coalition and Family Research Council. Both groups have histories and overlapping staff ties to white supremacist groups and solidly oppose affirmative action but play up some sort of Christian allegiance to the Black Community when the gay marriage issue is involved. For example, in 1990’s the Traditional Values Coalition produced a short documentary called “Gay Rights, Special Rights, which was targeted at Black churches to paint non-heterosexual people as only white and upper class, and as sexual pariahs, while painting Black people as pure, chaste, and morally superior. The video juxtaposed images of white gay men from the leather/S&M community with the voice of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, leaving conservative Black viewers with the fear that the Civil Rights Movement was being taken over by morally debased human beings. And since Black people continue to be represented as hyper sexual beings and sexual predators in both pop culture and the mass media (pimps & players, hoochies & hos, rapists of white women & tempters of white men), conservative Black people often cling to the other image white America hoists onto Black people as well – asexual and morally superior (as seen in the role of the Black talk show host and the role of the Black sage/savior-of-white people used in so many Hollywood movies, like In America and The Green Mile, which are all traceable to Mammy and Uncle Remus-type caricatures). Continue Reading »