White Southern Codespeak
Let me begin this post by setting the scene a bit. I live, along with my dear friend Matthew, in an all residential area on the outskirts of downtown Charleston in a predominantly African American community. It’s a really great place to live, and the neighborhood is just full of friendly people, many of whom are raising families here and some who have been for generations. Now, being European American in a mostly African American community does get me a few odd double takes every now and again when I’m out walking, but I don’t begrudge people that. It just speaks to how rare a light skinned face is in this part of town, and the inherent racism that is such a huge part of our culture. It’s unfortunately the reality that we all live every day of our lives. So, recently Matt and I have been conducting a desperate search for a third roommate to fill the other bedroom in the house that Charlie left vacant when he moved out in May. We posted an ad on the college website and have since been receiving emails and phone calls from absolute strangers about the house. All those to come and look at the house so far have been white (big surprise there College of Charleston) young women. Do you know what I have realized during this experience? White people, and specifically white Southerners... okay wait. Let me stop midsentence and explain something about my choice of words here first.
Word Usage with Laura - Lesson #1
Today's word(s) - WHITE PEOPLE!
Okay. Now most people probably hear me say "white people" and go, "Waitaminute Laura... you're white... why are you placing yourself outside of the group by using an outsider label to describe them?" Well readers, I'll tell you why. "Whiteness" ... that is... the "white" mentality that has been constructed in our society to marginalize and oppress ethnic groups of darker complexions, has no basis on nationality or genealogy whatsoever. So-called "white" people come from all areas located in and around the European continent. German Americans, Irish Americans, English Americans, Polish Americans... they all fall into the "white" category that has been constructed for them, but they have no ancestral relationship to one another. None close enough to speak of anyway. So… what’s the point? Well the point is this: The idea of a white race is in and of itself a racist and oppressive concept. I refuse to associate myself with that mentality, and so instead I consider myself to be just what I am; European and Native American. I’m part Irish, part German, and part Cherokee. There are probably other ethnicities in my bloodline that I don’t even know about, but those are the main three that I’m aware of. So! “White people” does not equal all people originating from European bloodlines, according to the terminology that I have chosen to adopt (and have borrowed from Matt, to give credit where credit is due.) When I use the phrase “white people” I am referring to people of European ancestry who buy into and support the historically oppressive mentality that is white privilege. When referring to others that fall into the category most people would call “white” I will use the term “person of European descent.” Got it? Great. Now let’s get back to the point of this post…
Where was I? Ah yes. White people, and specifically white Southerners, like to use codespeak like “Is this a ‘safe’ neighborhood?” which is really just a subtle way of saying “Omg do BROWN people live here?! Cuz I don’t much like those types!” Nearly all of the white girls that have come to look at our apartment over the past two weeks have asked the same question. Is it “safe?” I am beyond annoyed by this thinly disguised racist question. Yes, the little old lady walking her three grandchildren down the street as they totter on their trainer bikes… isn’t she SO threatening. And the men (who wave and greet me warmly every time I go out jogging... not the creepy jogger-watcher men that give out catcalls of “Hey baby how you doin’…” as I run by and who irritated the HELL out of me when I used to run on King Street… no not them, but the “Hello how you doing, alright, alright…” actually FRIENDLY type people) that congregate outside the barbershop might leap out and rape your poor virtuous white woman self at any given moment!!! Oh my! *acknowledges the fact that that wasn’t really even a coherent sentence* Sorry. My bad. But really. I am fed up with this bullshit. Why is it that white people are so threatened by the idea of living in a community in which most of the people there just so happen to have an increased level of melanin in their skin? Why? Because they’re fucking racist asshats, that’s why. And I don’t really want to live with them anyway.
In conclusion… people need to just grow the fuck up!
Peace and love! xD (Because that post was SO peaceful and loving… LOL)
Laura
Word Usage with Laura - Lesson #1
Today's word(s) - WHITE PEOPLE!
Okay. Now most people probably hear me say "white people" and go, "Waitaminute Laura... you're white... why are you placing yourself outside of the group by using an outsider label to describe them?" Well readers, I'll tell you why. "Whiteness" ... that is... the "white" mentality that has been constructed in our society to marginalize and oppress ethnic groups of darker complexions, has no basis on nationality or genealogy whatsoever. So-called "white" people come from all areas located in and around the European continent. German Americans, Irish Americans, English Americans, Polish Americans... they all fall into the "white" category that has been constructed for them, but they have no ancestral relationship to one another. None close enough to speak of anyway. So… what’s the point? Well the point is this: The idea of a white race is in and of itself a racist and oppressive concept. I refuse to associate myself with that mentality, and so instead I consider myself to be just what I am; European and Native American. I’m part Irish, part German, and part Cherokee. There are probably other ethnicities in my bloodline that I don’t even know about, but those are the main three that I’m aware of. So! “White people” does not equal all people originating from European bloodlines, according to the terminology that I have chosen to adopt (and have borrowed from Matt, to give credit where credit is due.) When I use the phrase “white people” I am referring to people of European ancestry who buy into and support the historically oppressive mentality that is white privilege. When referring to others that fall into the category most people would call “white” I will use the term “person of European descent.” Got it? Great. Now let’s get back to the point of this post…
Where was I? Ah yes. White people, and specifically white Southerners, like to use codespeak like “Is this a ‘safe’ neighborhood?” which is really just a subtle way of saying “Omg do BROWN people live here?! Cuz I don’t much like those types!” Nearly all of the white girls that have come to look at our apartment over the past two weeks have asked the same question. Is it “safe?” I am beyond annoyed by this thinly disguised racist question. Yes, the little old lady walking her three grandchildren down the street as they totter on their trainer bikes… isn’t she SO threatening. And the men (who wave and greet me warmly every time I go out jogging... not the creepy jogger-watcher men that give out catcalls of “Hey baby how you doin’…” as I run by and who irritated the HELL out of me when I used to run on King Street… no not them, but the “Hello how you doing, alright, alright…” actually FRIENDLY type people) that congregate outside the barbershop might leap out and rape your poor virtuous white woman self at any given moment!!! Oh my! *acknowledges the fact that that wasn’t really even a coherent sentence* Sorry. My bad. But really. I am fed up with this bullshit. Why is it that white people are so threatened by the idea of living in a community in which most of the people there just so happen to have an increased level of melanin in their skin? Why? Because they’re fucking racist asshats, that’s why. And I don’t really want to live with them anyway.
In conclusion… people need to just grow the fuck up!
Peace and love! xD (Because that post was SO peaceful and loving… LOL)
Laura
posted by Laura at 20.6.06
3 Comments:
I'm right there with you. When are people going to stop judging based on skin color? I'm sick of living in the racist South!
To be fair, it's perfectly legit to ask if a neighborhood is safe, if you are genuinely asking. Charleston has a lot of crime, as you know. I can name at least half a dozen of my friends who have had bikes stolen, their houses broken into, their cars broken into, etc. etc. While some of these peoples' concern may be due to the skin color of your fellow residents, the question itself isn't invalid on its own.
-Melissa
Yes, but where does most of this crime take place? ... Warren Street. I think people just have a very skewed understanding of crime and it's relations to skin color. I live in a neighborhood of families raising their children. This is not a seedy area, and it doesn't give the appearance of being one. For some reason white people just freak out when they see 5 or more people of color in a group walking down the sidewalk.
Meh, just been my experience.
Post a Comment
<< Home