‘Not a safe space’: Black cast members boycott Dickens Christmas Fair over failure to prevent racist, sexist behavior

SF Chronicle Datebook ^ | December 6, 2021 | Erin Feher

[windsorknot]

Life sucks for the perpetually offended.

[Mr. Jeeves]

My brother and I used to be performers at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in its old Black Point location in Novato back in the 80's, so I remember Kevin Patterson well from those ancient days. My brother also performed at the Dickens Fair back then - though I didn't - it was held then at Pier 45 near Fisherman's Wharf.

Were there black performers at both events back then? Yes. I knew some of them well. Were they dealing with constant racist comments from customers? I didn't hear any. I suspect this cabal of plus-sized Jussies are just trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame out of an organization that has always been liberal in its views and mission. I don't support extortion but - like many liberal organizations - the Fair's promoters are in a lot of ways getting exactly what they voted for.

[SES1066]

What constitutes racists, sexist behavior?

Totally subjective as perceived according to pre-judgment standards as derived from 'great expectations'! Also known as received micro-aggression. Remember, the most 'victimized' is the cultural winner!

[bagster]

For Ari Yovel, who is autistic and transgender

Maybe the he-she shoulda stuck to painting.

For years, Yovel advocated as a representative of the Order of the Golden Needle

Formerly known as 'The Tucking of the Inconvenient Needle'.

[Kartographer]

Make them watch a few episodes of Downtown Abby they blow their MINDS!!

[Jewbacca]

It’s a peculiar form of Western suicide.

We Jewish people certainly have self-loathing Jews — Soros comes to mind right away.

But it’s an old Western tendency. The Greeks effectively destroyed their own civilization. The Romans came “invaded” and called the cities “cities populated by statutes and not men.” They met no resistance and camped in empty buildings.

[GOPJ]

Gee...I remember when parades were safe spaces.

Especially Christmas parades... Brandon's thugs bring such sadness to our world...

[GOPJ]

Anything done by a conservative...

[GOPJ]

It basically seems they are upset that Victorian England was full of mainly English people, who were largely white gentiles. How stupidly liberal.

Thanks for standing with us... it's comforting Jewbacca.

[Political Junkie Too]

What constitutes racists, sexist behavior?

According to the article, showing credentials at all the security checkpoints.

-PJ

[17th Miss Regt]

LaToya Tooles fashioned a gown out of dollar-store hula hoops and a tablecloth.

Kinda like our First Lady, huh?

[Jhadur]

The author clearly needs a glass of Dickens Cider.

[kelly4c]

That is surely what it looks like but I don’t understand because it goes against all natural human instinct. Do they really not see that eradicating ones own ethnic group will leave one vulnerable to the same fate once it is achieved?

[Boogieman]

“Can we not have blacks doing Shakespeare or Dickens or anything else worth reading?”

Well, there’s Othello...

[Dave Wright]

As Dickens journaled in Oliver Twist, the Victorian period was one of severe classism, anti-semitism, mysogeny, and child abuse. The “Currier and Ives Christmas Card” version is a myth that was promoted by American anglophiles who secretly prefer monarchy and probably binged on “Upstairs, Downstairs” and “Downton Abbey”.

There were a few very prominent and successful blacks in London during this time that may have partied with the “waltzing gentry” but not many. My favorite example was the black circus entrepreneur Pablo Fanque whom the Beatles made famous in their song “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite”.

[Jewbacca]

How could a reasonable person not stand with you?

This is just so stupid, it makes me shake.

It has nothing to do with racism or security or anything legitimate.

They just hate white people.

They want the memory of European culture (the good bits) forgotten or destroyed or appropriated.

It’s why Brigerton (the Netflix show with black English royalty) is fine.

It’s why they pretend we Jews are not Jews and they are Jews.

Or how the Egyptians are now suddenly black.

Or how blacks discovered America.

Or whatever black-centric nonsense they push.

They are from a culture and people that has done almost nothing of value in human history.

They lived in mud huts for 10,000 years while the rest of the world smelted metal, created modern governance, science, engineering, music, culture, and the rest of the modern world. They are a pre-Bronze age people.

All this is just an attempt at stealing, and laying claim, to the work of the rest of the world.

[Trillian]

Anything they do and then blame everyone else for it.

[Mark17]

My brother and I used to be performers at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in its old Black Point location in Novato back in the 80's,

I went to the Renaissance Faire in the 90s. As I recall, it was right off Highway 37, between Vallejo and Highway 101. Is that the place you are referring to?

[Mr. Jeeves]

That’s the one. Too high-rent an area to host public events after the mid 90’s. It’s a golf course with expensive homes today. :)

[Albion Wilde]

Trying to rewrite history. All the white participants should demand population percentage representation at the next Africa festival, basketball tournament, jazz club, A.M.E. hymn sing, etc. Notice that it’s all women making this fuss.

I can certainly agree with an end to sexual harassment and racist remarks, but characterizing one of the most beloved pieces of popular English literature as racist because it has English people in it is really wack.