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thatcrazycajunI have been sort of semi-following posts here in the continuing discussion amongst fen and pros in various fora on the prevalence, or lack thereof, of persons of color in science fiction/fantasy fandom and writing, popularly known as RaceFail. (For those not familiar, this WordPress posting with links may help bring you up to speed.) Apropos of this, I came across this opinion column by local conservative fembot Stephanie Ramage in a recent edition of one of Atlanta's two alterna-weeklies, The Sunday Paper:
Academia's Politically Correct Bigotry
Ramage argues that grouping writers' work on library and bookstore shelves by ethnic, sexuality, gender or other "grievance group," each in their own literary "ghetto" rather than all together under the rubric of Literature, and segregated study of the same works in college curricula appears to defeat the long-sought cause of integration. I myself am of two minds on her position (comes with being a Gemini, donchaknow): On one hand, I can see how not being up there with the Caucasian-male-hetero-Christian writers at the local Barnes & Ignoble might make the others seem of lesser value; on the other, I can also see the merit of spotlighting writers from those groups that have historically gotten short shrift.
I have observed a distinct shortage of non-Caucasians in the fannish population, at least in the clubs and conventions I have attended over three decades and counting. I can count on the fingers of one hand the African-American fans I have forged actual friendships with and still have fingers left to hold a drink; there seem to be more Asian fans I have made friends with, but this may be at least partly a function of higher academic achievement in that ethnic group. And I cannot at once call to mind any close fannish friends of other ethnic/racial groups. These paucities, however, may be as much due to reticence on my part to approach someone visibly "other" (or other people in general, due to shyness and rejection phobia) as to failure on the part of the institution to attract more diverse people.
As a person who grew up in the deep South of the USA, in a culture steeped in racism as no other region of the country is, and as a member of the privileged group in most respects (though not, to my knowledge, descended directly from any slaveholders), I am aware that I bear a special responsibility to help stamp out racism wherever it may rear its ugly head...including within the depths of my own private thoughts and feelings. And I am only too aware of how often I have failed in this responsibility, in omission if not in commission. But I do sincerely want to be part of the solution, rather than of the problem; and I welcome suggestions and constructive criticism toward that end.
Academia's Politically Correct Bigotry
Ramage argues that grouping writers' work on library and bookstore shelves by ethnic, sexuality, gender or other "grievance group," each in their own literary "ghetto" rather than all together under the rubric of Literature, and segregated study of the same works in college curricula appears to defeat the long-sought cause of integration. I myself am of two minds on her position (comes with being a Gemini, donchaknow): On one hand, I can see how not being up there with the Caucasian-male-hetero-Christian writers at the local Barnes & Ignoble might make the others seem of lesser value; on the other, I can also see the merit of spotlighting writers from those groups that have historically gotten short shrift.
I have observed a distinct shortage of non-Caucasians in the fannish population, at least in the clubs and conventions I have attended over three decades and counting. I can count on the fingers of one hand the African-American fans I have forged actual friendships with and still have fingers left to hold a drink; there seem to be more Asian fans I have made friends with, but this may be at least partly a function of higher academic achievement in that ethnic group. And I cannot at once call to mind any close fannish friends of other ethnic/racial groups. These paucities, however, may be as much due to reticence on my part to approach someone visibly "other" (or other people in general, due to shyness and rejection phobia) as to failure on the part of the institution to attract more diverse people.
As a person who grew up in the deep South of the USA, in a culture steeped in racism as no other region of the country is, and as a member of the privileged group in most respects (though not, to my knowledge, descended directly from any slaveholders), I am aware that I bear a special responsibility to help stamp out racism wherever it may rear its ugly head...including within the depths of my own private thoughts and feelings. And I am only too aware of how often I have failed in this responsibility, in omission if not in commission. But I do sincerely want to be part of the solution, rather than of the problem; and I welcome suggestions and constructive criticism toward that end.
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no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 12:50 am (UTC)We need to get over the idea that we solve a problem once and then move on. We live in a complicated and messy world, where the problem of "how do you simultaneously recognize and acknowledge the past, including its continuing effects, while building a better future" is not something we solve with a single action or in a single generation. We go on, because there is no alternative but to go on. "The labor is not for us to finish, but we are not free to set it aside" says the Ethics of the Fathers. It is a principle that applies here.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-23 01:23 am (UTC)Be forewarned that the comments are very much worth reading and it is a timesuck, so plan accordingly. I learned a lot from reading the essays and comments that I know I will be processing for a long time. I hope I learned enough to make my writing improve in some areas.
The entire RaceFail '09 is a tangled, thorny mess, but hopefully in the long run it will provide sweeter fruit to the readers of speculative fiction.