The objective of writing the blog post wasn't traffic - a better choice is to focus on the relationship obert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart. It was to address their actions that were troubling to this blogger. It's of no concern that a million people may disagree; wrong is wrong.
No one should suffer the indignity of reading an interview with a major star and feel placed on the "outside" of society because that star makes a statement that implies the "other", or "Negroes", are less than the mainstream in society. That is the perspective I took going into this issue. Moreover, it's the same one that prompted Dior Noir's blog post over at BET.
It doesn't matter if it's a group of white girls who participated in a black fraternity and sorority "step" competition and won, only to hear a rain of "boos" from a black audience, or Robert Pattinson and Jenny Lumet's use of the term Negro in the context in Details, the presentation of someone else as "the other" as if that were a bad thing is wrong. It must stop.
Robert Pattinson fans have presented evidence that he does have African American friends, and that's fantastic, but (as a person who's has many friends who occasionally blast a racial epithet) what Pattinson said is still wrong.
Reportedly Robert Pattinson's to appear on The View March 2nd. Considering Whoopi Goldberg's thoughtful candor, that episode will be one to watch.
Zenny-
ReplyDeleteFirst: Pattinson is a young, privileged, card-carrying member of the often (but not always) thoughtless "hollywood royalty" cool kids club for elitist assholes, just like John Mayor.
Now, most people would probably suggest forgiving him (in their own ignorance of how the term "racial" isn't only referring to skin tone, but also culture, religion, history, economic possibilities, etc.), but it's obvious to me that this shit doesn't stand with you, as you obviously feel that you deserve a respect based on equality and not respect that is qualitative- as Pattinson's remark was inadvertently suggesting.
Which, brings me to my second point...
I agree with you 100% when you wrote:
"No one should suffer the indignity of reading an interview with a major star and feel placed on the "outside" of society because that star makes a statement that implies the "other", or "Negroes", are less than the mainstream in society."
In fact, I fucking HATE it when I observe a fairly reasonable man, like yourself, have to pull out the WTF card on the basis of race in this day and age. I seriously do.
That said- you asked in your video as to why that kind of remark isn't challenged?
Man... I could write a book about why that kind of remark isn't challenged, and that book would be thick enough to stun an ox. But, ultimately, it's all because of ratings and money.
In the "royal hollywood" cool kids club- race, racial slurs and racism aren't the issues, because those issues don't sell new papers or magazines.
Racism is something that, for the most part, only academic guests of NPR can talk about fairly- in regards to bringing 15 minutes of awareness to the world of NPR listeners, of course.
Outside of that box, it's money. Find a good up and coming film maker, and maybe there can be something that covers the topic and wins awards- but the second the media machine can make a buck on the next white-boy-kicks-everyone's-ass-with-just-one-gun movie that's due in the box office next week, and that thought is dead until the next african american studies, or sociology professor speaks on NPR about it in a way that the "white elites" who listen to NPR can understand for 10-15minutes on the way home from work, to their perfect white family.
so... that's my $0.02...
...but, then again... I'm just a native american, masquerading as a white guy, walking around at laney.
The best damn comment I've ever read!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteThen again, it's just because I took the time at 12:30 in the morning to write it.... and, now, see the gross errors in grammar... but, I digress.
Racism is an issue that just isn't fully understood on so many levels, and that is totally sad-making to me.
Racism is not only a cancer, but it is also a tool in ways that I can't really go in to at the moment simply because I'm supposed to be walking to BART to get to class.
That said- I sincerely hope that you continue challenging the issue, bringing it up and openly invite people to talk and discuss the matter in a manner that makes the ground rule of respect the fundamental rule.
Further, that discussion should be lead in a manner that not only promotes the awareness of the negative affects of racism in the form of a healthy, open minded discussion (sounds contradictory doesn't it?), but it should also alleviate the isolation any race at all- black, white, asian, indian, whatver.
The reason for that is very simple:
As soon as one member of race one race begins to feel isolated, then they shut down or lash out- and then the whole stupid argument starts over again and we're all back at square one.
So- if you figure out the formula to do that ONE thing while in a discussion over race, then you'll have yourself a beginning means to an end.
The formula exists, with basic history, basic sociology and advanced psychological process being the main contributors to the cure- so, I know that it *can* be done. However, it is entirely up to the individual within the discussion to be aware of those three things (with a bare minimum of two of them- history and sociology) and THAT is where the problem begins all over again.
If the "royal we" all took on the problem and walked away with the conviction to change it, then it would be changed.
When individuals walk in to a room with a closed mind, and are pissed about the way that they've been treated (this applies to ALL races), then the cause is over before it even had a chance to begin.
In order to cure the racial problems in our immediate communities, the necessary tools required to make gains are: respectful language (based on race as an "entire culture" and not just a skin color), conviction for belief in striving to make the change of thought a reality, and being open to having your (as in the royal "your") world rocked in the process and accepting that it is going to be hard, but very necessary, work.
So, is that too much to ask of people?
sorry... I'm just typing away my thoughts when I should be getting my but out the door and in to class.
I'd like to know what your thoughts on what I've suggested are, if you care to further the conversation.
peace,
M
I found this subject while I was looking for clues to see in Robert Pattison was acting dumb or really dumb. I saw him on Jon Stewart during this week and he was the worst interviewee I had ever seen. But all these women in the audience were screaming as if he were something! In the matter of him using the word negro, I reckon he was led to this by the interviewer, Jenny Lumet, and he just stumbled to give some sort of answer. Nothing else I have seen him say make any sense. Too much to expect tha tin this case his words mean anything. I am from Australia; my children are mixed race, so I am alert to hints of racism. But remember the word 'negro' does not have the same history in Australia, or maybe London were Pattison is from, as it has in US.
ReplyDelete