Posted on 06/30/2021 12:56:22 PM PDT by Red Badger
No decent, thoughtful human being wants to be accused of racism. Most decent, thoughtful human beings are guilty of racism.
Of course, it’s usually unconscious, and it’s often hard to keep track of evolving language and social movements, of phrases in the vernacular that were perfectly acceptable ten years ago but are now taboo (and vice-versa).
As writers, albeit pros or fanfic writers, or everyone in between, we use our words as tools, as toys, and sometimes, as weapons. It’s our responsibility to listen to new conversations, to keep abreast of the ever-changing socio-political climate, and above all, to think before we ink.
RACISM IN WRITING FROM NANNA’S DAY In researching this blog, I looked up a few words that have been used in recent published works, works that have gone through a round of editors and still managed to contain words or phrases that may have been okay when your granny was around, but are now very much unacceptable. Words like exotic, ethnic, oriental, Eskimo, Gypsy. Some of these words can be used in certain contexts, many should be purged from your vocabulary entirely.
These words describe minority groups, terms given to them most often by colonialists, slave-owners, outsiders and persecutors.
TASTY FOR FOOD, NASTY FOR HUES One of the most common faux pas is to describe skin as food items. I’ve read so many lesbian romances where the tall, hot doctor/barista/art teacher/astronaut is described as having skin like smooth caramel/coffee/honey with creamer/chocolate icing. Not only is this a lazy description, it’s plain ’ole offensive.
The reason is that these words fetishize brown skin. Imagine if we compared white skin to after-dinner mints, yoghurt, or boiled rice. It’s ridiculous. In the same way, to imply that brown people are “edible” objectifies them, which is the last thing you want to do.
This is the same reason you don’t want to describe Asian (and, by the way, Asia consists of people from India, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan and 44 other countries) as having slanted eyes, or being exotic. All this does is imply that white is the norm, and anything that subverts whiteness is other.
‘BUT IT USED TO BE OKAY’ IS NOT A VALID ARGUMENT; IT’S AN EXCUSE FOR RACISM. Here’s the thing, language is changing. Thanks to social media, minority groups have voices and are able to talk about what feels comfortable, and how they want to be represented. No one is expected to know everything, or immediately be good at representation.
There are some wonderfully evocative ways to describe people of color without being unintentionally racist or having to sacrifice your creative integrity.
When writing about a character of colour (ESPECIALLY if you’re a white author), visit sites such as:
writingwithcolor.tumblr.com
weareallmixedup.tumblr.com
thisisnotafrica.tumblr.com
thisisnotlatinx.tumblr.com
There are a ton of other resources on the internet, so explore, educate yourselves and have fun writing diversity. Goodness knows we need it! Just remember to be sensitive and thoughtful.
Alex K. Thorne graduated from university in Cape Town, South Africa with a healthy love of the classics and a degree in English Literature. She spent the next few years, teaching across the globe, from Serbia to South Korea, also writing fanfiction, and developing a kimchi addiction. When she’s not picking away at her latest writing project, she’s immersing herself in geek culture, taking too many pictures of cats, and dreaming about where next to travel.
“No decent, thoughtful human being wants to be accused of racism....”
Which is probably the problem right there. Once we realise that “racism” is a huge spectrum of views, from the odious to the obvious, we should respond with “and what of it?”
Ignoring them is a good start. They only have the power that others give to them. Regardless of what this obscure scribbler says, I shall write as I please.
In an effort to put my racist white supremacy in check, I have vowed to Never Patronize any non white minority owned business of any kind, nor will I have any other interaction that can be avoided. I feel that if I don’t do this, those White Supremacy traits I have like, Working 60-80 hours a week, and running a very successful business for the last 40 years or so, raising my children, staying married, owning a home, educated, NOT COMMITTING CRIMES,... would more than likely rub off on to those non white minorities, and I don’t want to be held responsible for poisoning thier minds.
Today it doesn’t matter that some one doesn’t “want” to be called racis’. You were born and POOF! Racis’!.
:I’ve read so many lesbian romances ....”
She is using this type of dreck to critique writing? She needs to stop reading low end books.
These people are nuts. Using objects known to everyone as a color reference is common. Cream, almond, snow, and paste (among many others, I’m sure) have been used to describe white skin. What about hair? Can hair no longer be described as chestnut? I seem to be living in a world where satire has become reality.
Funny that. I Don’t describe my characters colors.
GET OVER YOURSELF
“No decent, thoughtful human being wants to be accused of racism. Most decent, thoughtful human beings are guilty of racism.”
Hmmm, almost like the entire concept was invented as a weapon with which to attack decent, thoughtful human beings. Invented by human beings who are certainly thoughtful but not at all decent.
Racism is Critical Race Theory. They just came up with a new name for it.
“Blacks describe each other all the time using descriptive words for various shades of color. Color seems to be a major factor in their culture.”
Yep. A black female co-worker, many years ago, was telling me about an especially dark friend of hers that she said everyone called “Crow”.
“When is this nonsense going to stop?”
I think faithful adherence to the Tenth Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary (once it finally comes out) will take care of all these problems.
“Coffee, Honey.”
Every morning.
Gee I feel like a cup of coffee...
and an English Muffin with honey...
only if you are pathologically hypersensitive
then it is your problem not mine
If any person wants to be certain of avoiding racism and harming the planet, suicide is the only solution.
Otherwise there is always the danger of sometime in some way offending someone or the planet.
Also, when using the word “White”, make sure that it is part of the phrase “evil White oppressors”.
Your kindness is an example to others.
So everyone is guilty of thoughtcrime?Posted that comment on there, but doubt it’ll get past the mods.
What honest, thoughtful people dislike is to be falsely accused of racism. Look in the mirror, with all due respect.
Not really cultural appropriation. Kimchi is a gift from God to all mankind.
LOL...LOL...
LOL. I’ll have to take your word for that... never tried it.
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