Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion
Group Business
>
Beyond Paula Deen: Why Multiculturalism Has Failed Us and Why We Need a New Intercultural Dialogue
date
newest »
newest »
so, the Huffington Post wasn't being all that terribly Intercultural then. I like the importance of reading and increasing empathy part as well. I just didn't think it matters all that much what word you used to call it. As for Paula Deen, I suppose she has had a lesson in the power of words though, although what she has to do with multiculturalism is beyond me. maybe she has Yankee friends.
I'm an ESL teacher. I loved the statements about language evolving, and that words can change our thought process. Also, about reading for empathy: This is an idea that I stress with all students, from elementary to graduate school. Words have power! Reading is powerful! In Spanish, "Leer es poder!" As for Paula Deen, among onther things, she has some deep and extensive reading to do!
George: Thanks for your comments. The gist of the dialog was that in our changing world, we need to start becoming even more aware of each other interculturally, and I was making a point that I don't believe just lambasting Deen has any longterm benefits to different races/ethnicities getting along. I'd rather see the media get to the root of racism, rather than just sensationalize it. Sorry if that connection wasn't clear, our space was limited.Shari: Loved getting your comment! Teachers should be paid and respected more in this culture. You do so much to open young minds. Thanks for the note! "Leer es poder!"
I did like your article for what it's worth, although I found the placement of Deen and multiculturalism side by side amusing. But, I'm afraid I've largely given up on waiting for the mass media to get to the root of much of anything, but I'll keep reading anyway. I'd agree that merely lambasting Deen doesn't necessarily have any long term benefits, but it is a lot of fun and well deserved. Public derision has its place as well in the grand scheme of things. Carrots have their role, but so do sticks. I suspect Ms Deen at least has become more sensitive to the benefits of different races/ethnicities getting along and perhaps the power of the advertising dollar as well. I'm well aware that that is the way people talked and acted as she was growing up. But then she should have grown up.
Paula Deen and her brothers did more than just use a bad word. What they did was turn their business into a plantation, relegating the African-American workers to the kitchen, not allowing them to work the register simply because of their color. To add insult to injury a few employees were made to refer to them as Master. Absolutely appalling.
Ivy wrote: "Paula Deen and her brothers did more than just use a bad word. What they did was turn their business into a plantation, relegating the African-American workers to the kitchen, not allowing them to ..."Ivy, I guess because she did not admit to this, we can't talk about it as much as what she did admit to. But this is exactly what bothers me. This is more what we should be focusing on, this behavior, than the use of the past word. In any case, as George says, there is good in all this. It's bringing many discussions like this to the forefront, folks are speaking out, and it's a good thing! I appreciate all your smart comments, too, as opposed to those on the internet.
You should read up on the case. Read the court documents, everything you need to know is in there. For the record, the N word isn't just another word. It should be the topic of discussion as well as the so called roots of racism. Also, Paula used the N word repeatedly, yet the only she admitted to using it was twenty odd years ago. Furthermore, all those endorsers who pulled Paula's face of their products ought to be commended for not wanting to be associated with a racist and bigot.
Ivy wrote: "You should read up on the case. Read the court documents, everything you need to know is in there. For the record, the N word isn't just another word. It should be the topic of discussion as well a..."Well, you should read our blog. We mention all this in it. We have been called the N-word ourselves and know the devastation that word can bring. Read our blog, Ivy, then comment if you feel you need to say more.
Hi Tara,Thank you for sharing this piece, it would be great if you could provide a more concrete definition of intercultural, I guess my confusion is with the term "culture." From my studying of identity politics and race in African American studies, it became evident to me that there is some ambiguity on the place of "blackness" as a culture, and in trying to synthesize blackness to any fixed box or meaning. Is this is why you both chose the term intercultural, because I imagine that this rift exists among all races and ethnicities. If you have the time I would live to hear you clarify that for me.
In regards to Paula Deen and her link to multiculturalism and whether or not she got her just rewards, it is hard to say. She actually has garnered support from some members of the black community, and the companies who dropped her, Walmart in particular, are not known for their sudden interest it care in race or class relations. Did they do it just to claim later that they actually concerned with issues of racism? I don't know.
My favorite part of the interview was the point about allowing space for white voices. Not that there are not plenty of white academics who are not writing on topics similar to this, but to actual give space for all people to talk about the stereotypes and prejudices that they impose on others. I agree with your point Tara, that I don't care that she used that word, I wonder why was she comfortable with an obvious taboo thing, why are people still using these terms, the fact that black people use it us not a good enough reason. There has to be a dialogue and acceptance that depending on the circumstance that we all can be "others."
I think media plays an important role in that what we consume everyday and its implicit and at times explicit distancing from any thing not related to whiteness can create turmoil within communities of color. In particular I am thinking about the documentary Dark Girls and the more gender related one called Misrepresentation. I could go on but my comments have now become obnoxiously long, sorry about that, and I look forward to getting another definition of intercultural.
Take care!
Teona: Not obnoxious in any way. I really appreciate that you read, considered, replied, questioned. That's what Samuel and I want. And we aren't experts, just concerned citizens trying to open up a civil dialog.Having said that, I'm not a linguist nor an academic(though I have a background in sociology). I'm an editor and writer, so know the importance of words. I'm bicultural and mixed race, so am passionate about folks who need a voice being able to speak out. We were basically saying that we feel multicultural is an exclusive term. It shuts out Anglo Saxons. When we hear multicultural, as in a multicultural community, we think people of color. This labels people of color and sets them aside. As someone of color, it often bothered me that my publishers used charts to decide who they would include in a text and who they would not based on their ethnicity. Because we are rapidly moving away from a white dominated society, this biased awareness in our opinion does no good to folks of color. While we all deserve to hold on to our cultural traditions, we also deserve to be looked at just as we are, not as labels on a chart. Intercultural, to us, means cultures that intersect, collide, cross over, absorb, meld, respect. All of these things. All cultures.
You bring up a FABULOUS point about culture in the black community. Yes, I think some other cultures struggle with the same issues. First to come to mind are Native Americans. Whites took away both cultures, attempted to eradicate it and replace it with some of their own ideals. Now, it's up to both to gather up what they can from the past they want to keep, get rid of what doesn't work for them, and forge a new culture. But note again, that is all intercultural. We all are influencing each other in ways we are not aware of, or in ways we don't always want. Even internationally. What happens abroad is affecting our personal and economic lives.
I thought the same about Deen, that some of the companies may not be dropping her for political reasons but for monetary ones. However, change toward the positive, no matter the reasons behind it, are still good and have an influence on public opinion. So whatever the reasons, I'm glad Walmart did what they did. Maybe it's a beginning for them, too. (I know, wishful thinking.)
I hope that kinda sorta answers your questions. Again, we aren't experts. We just hope this starts people thinking. Your post in turn got me to think, too. Thanks!
I'm black and have lived in predominately black and latino communities for my entire life. I am saying this with all honesty....I've driven cross country many times. In all of my travels, I have been (and still am) called the n-word more at home, in my own community, BY MY OWN PEOPLE more than I have ever been anywhere else that I have gone. Even more than in places that are stereotypically thought of to be "racist" like the deep south. I am not referring to that bs "term of endearment" alternate spelling n-word that some black people like to condone. I am talking about the n-word in it's true hateful and negative conotation. The same goes for the b-word used for women. I've never been called that to my face by anyone on this planet ever except for by another black person. If we don't want others calling us those names, we need to stop doing it ourselves first.
Mochaspresso: Thanks for sharing that. I should probably point out I'm half East Indian and got called that word. Meaning, it's not just relegated to blacks but also others of color hear it too.I think the problem stems from what Teona was discussing and what I alluded to. Oppressed cultures taking on the culture of the oppressor as a way to cope and take away some of the power. If I use it, it takes away the power and the sting. But it doesn't, does it? Thanks again for the comment. Keep speaking out when folks call you this. Even if you change only one person's view on this, you are starting change...
Speaking of the use of discriminatory slurs and holding us all accountable, I just had to share the extra footage from the current Big Brother's series a popular reality tv show that plays either on ABC or NBC (someone please give me the right channel). I am wondering how we can connect this to the interview and discussion from above?http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=H3sIaY...
It's CBS, and here is what buzzfeed has to report in on it :)http://www.buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/b...
I go back to reading and education on this. Big Brother, ahem, does not cast our most well-read, traveled, worldly US citizens. One reason we are having a decent discussion on here is we are all readers and if not formally educated, at least self-educated in ways many of the TV contestants aren't. I also point to the media. Even my repressed mother curses now, and she says it's from watching HBO :-). I think etiquette should be taught in schools, but that's a whole other discussion.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-...