Did Paul Di Filippo just compare women and minorities to vegetables? I think he just did. (You’ll have to scroll.)
Category: Blog Against Racism
ABW on Intersectionality
Which I feel is particularly important given International Blog Against Racism Week (which inconveniently came on the heels of International Be Angry At Harlan Week). Anyway, post is here. I would particularly enjoy hearing from folks who’ve made intersectionality a ore part of their activism and how they accomplished that.
SF POC Short Fiction Form
To make my life easier, I created a form that people can fill out to alert me of short fiction by people of color. That form will then feed into a merge thingy which is supposed to auto-generate lists for me. We’ll see.
And just so this post consists of more than one line, check out how the 2008 list of fiction is growing. Yay! 2009 has a few extra entries, too. Read the fiction available to you then head over to the CBS awards nomination form and let them know which stories or books you thnk deserve some recogniton.
Ever wonder why I’m angry? This might be a reason…
I need not add anything else:
…many of the things that make me angry are topics that have a direct bearing on my ability to have a successful writing career, it’s hard to tune it all out. This is my livelihood we’re talking about, after all. I need to know if I’m going to have to turn my short story protagonists from female to male, or gay to straight, or whatever, in order to get published in ___ Magazine. … And I need to know which editors and agents and publishers and authors think it’s OK to throw racist and gendered slurs at people who look like me, simply because those people have opinions they disagree with. I might need to work with those editors, etc., later. It’s important to know who to watch out for.
[…]
But I don’t understand why anyone would think I want to do this. Why anyone would think I like watching my blood pressure numbers inch up week by week. Why anyone would think I happily, eagerly “play the race card”, whatever that means — or that doing so would actually benefit me in any way. Why anyone would think I’m glad to spend hours of each week reading up about the latest imbroglios, writing responses to them, posting clandestine reviews of problematic books (and worrying about how those reviews will come back to bite me on the ass), preparing for difficult panels at cons, and bracing myself for uncomfortable interactions at every single networking event I attend. Why anyone would think I gleefully await the next instance of a stranger feeling up my hair, or a favorite author showing his ass on race and gender issues, or an established pro shouting at me that this field is a meritocracy dammit, or an even more established pro using the n-word on a woman just like me. I’m boggled by the idea that some people think I find this work desirable, much less fun, when it hurts me every damn day.
Yes. What she said.
Blog, Organize, Co-Sign, BE Against Racism
From the Carl Brandon Society Blog, in case you haven’t seen it:
Open Letter to the SF Community re: Ellison/Bradford Incident
To the Speculative Fiction Community:
We at the Carl Brandon Society are writing this open letter to our community regarding the recent incident involving Harlan Ellison and K. Tempest Bradford. Mr. Ellison, mistakenly believing that Ms. Bradford had criticized him on her blog, wrote a post on his discussion board that included the following passage:
She is apparently a Woman of Color (which REALLY makes me want to bee-atch-slap her, being the guy who discovered and encouraged one of the finest writers and Women of Color who ever lived, my friend, the recently-deceased Octavia Estelle Butler). And she plays that card endlessly, which is supposed to exorcise anyone suggesting she is a badmouth ignoramus, or even a NWA. Ooooh, did I say that?
Mr. Ellison has subsequently apologized to Ms. Bradford and she has accepted his apology. We do not wish to address what has now become a private matter between the two. However, since the problematic post was made in public and thus was published in full view of the SF community, the Carl Brandon Society wishes to define some basic principles of discourse which were put into question as a result of this exchange. We hope community members will consider and respect these principles in future debates and disagreements.
These principles are as follows:
1) The use of racial slurs in public discourse is utterly unacceptable, whether as an insult, a provocation, or an attempt at humor. This includes both explicit use of slurs and referencing them via acronyms.
2) Any declaration of a marginalized identity in public is not a fit subject for mockery, contempt, or attack. Stating what, and who, you are is not “card playing.” It is a statement of pride. It is also a statement of fact that often must be made because it has bearing on discussions of race, gender, and social justice.
3) Expressing contempt for ongoing racial and gender discourse is unacceptable. Although particular discussions may become heated or unpleasant, discourse on racism and sexism is an essential part of antiracism and feminist activism and must be respected as such. There is no hard line between discourse and action in activism; contempt of the one too often leads to contempt of the whole.
The Carl Brandon Society assumes in this letter that everyone reading it shares the common goal of racial and gender equity, and general social justice, in all our communities. We hope for a quick end to arguments over whether or not unacceptable forms of debate should be allowable. These arguments obstruct the process of seeking justice for all.
Sincerely,
The Carl Brandon Society
STEERING COMMITTEE
Candra K. Gill
Claire Light
Victor Raymond
Nisi Shawl
Diantha Sprouse
To express your agreement and “sign” this letter yourself, click here.
(comments are off here on purpose.)
Guest Blogging, Wiki-ing, and the like
I feel like I must have mentioned this before, but looking back it seems maybe not. Anyway, this month I’ve been guest blogging at the Carl Brandon Society blog. I think this is going to become a regular thing as it seems like they’re very pleased with the lists of POC fiction I’ve been posting.
By the way, if you’re POC and have short fiction coming out in 2009, please let me know so I can include you in future lists. Instructions at this link. If you already had something come out in 2009 and missed my announcement before, you can add your story yourself to the Carl Brandon wiki. There’s also a 2008 short fiction entry.
At some point I’d like to start listing novels on the wiki. But it may take someone other than me starting that project. Though if I continue blogging at CBS, then another thing I want to start doing is mini author interviews whenever a writer of color has a book coming out. Something similar to the author spotlights I did at Fantasy Magazine. A 4 – 6 stock questions that hopefully elicit interesting answers. It’ll be a quick and easy way to start keeping a list of who’s publishing what and when. Plus, promotion!
And finally, if you will all please head over to this post about artists of color in SF/F — I’m trying to create a list. I hope it will also go up on the wiki someday. I only have two comments, sad! I know there are many artists of color out there. Please add your favorites or add yourself.
Creative Endeavors in Honor of FOC_U
So here’s my thing: RaceFail is… tiresome and anger-making and I’m just as much ready to be done with it as you are. Instead, let’s try for some RaceWin (yes, Sharyn, I’m looking at you). Today we’re going to celebrate the creative efforts of Fen of Color. Fen being the plural of fan (specifically fan of the SF/F/H variety), of Color indicating a broad spectrum of people who mainly do not identify as white. You can have any opinion you like on whether that term is useful, valid, or dumb. For today, hush up, because it’s not about that. It’s about celebrating fans and fandom, writers and writing, vidders and vidding, musicians and musicing.
My contributions are thus: three print stories that live online, each featuring main characters that are of color, and each in some way dealing with issues of race, class, and culture. Sorry not to post them in their entirety in this entry (you wouldn’t want that, anyway, it would be a lot of scrolling!), but, as I said, they all live online. You are free to comment on them, discuss, even tell me why they suck/I am wrong or whatever you like.
Also a special treat: my first full-length PodCastle story, Change of Life, is now up. Rachel Swirsky kindly posted it a day early to coincide with this event. Change of Life is a fun story that’s an homage to long-ago friendships and my love of animals.
Once you’re done here, check out FOC_U where there should be more links to more stories and poems and essays and creative efforts. If you’ve ever been inclined to think that just because you don’t see a lot of fans or writers of color at a convention that means they don’t exist, this is obviously the day you’re going to get schooled.
ETA: You might also want to spread the word on Twitter with #foc_u. I also just tagged this post foc_u in Delicious, another good way to keep track of links.
Élan Vital (@ Sybil’s Garage)
I helped her past the immaculately landscaped gardens and small orchards. The scent of flowers, herbs, and fresh-cut grass wafting at us in turn. I glanced at the garden entrances as we passed by, catching quick glimpses of other people in the middle of visits. A young couple who’d been in the waiting room with me knelt by a small, bald girl as she splashed in the koi pond. Two elderly women stood under a weeping willow, their heads close, lips barely moving. A large group of people speaking Mandarin milled around the waterfall in the rock garden. I could still hear faint traces of their melodic din all the way down by the lake.
I preferred this spot—the flora was less regimented and more natural. And no walls. Just an open space, water gently flicking the shoreline, a beautiful view down the hill, and the occasional cat wandering by.
“This hasn’t changed much,” my mom said as I helped her down on one of the small benches by the water. “I thought they were going to get ducks or geese or something.”
I chose a nearby rock for my own perch. “I think they’re having trouble with permits or whatever you need nowadays.”
The wind kicked up, sending freckles of reflected light across her face. Her skin was still perfect, beautiful and dark brown, though stretched across her cheekbones a little too tight. I hated that I never had enough to restore her round cheeks and full figure. I have to look at pictures just to remember her that way.
Until Forgiveness Comes (@ Strange Horizons)
In the twelve years since Red Seteshday, the clerics have perfected the haitai ritual to the point where participants know the script by heart and no longer need much direction on where to go and when. Still, Sadana manages a rotating roster of family members and survivors, reminding them of the correct verses to chant while invoking the highlights of that tragic day. Every year she stands on the memorial dais at the center of the Main Concourse, marking the time for prayers and the time for reading the names of the dead. Even if she weren’t an officiant, Sadana says she would find some way to participate.
“Having something to do gets me through the day every year. It’s my way of honoring Beke.”
She lost her partner of four years that morning. Both seminary students at the time, they were planning to spend their lives serving Iset together. Bekeshe was on her way back to Nubia to spend time with family before her acolyteship began. Every year Sadana watches a faint trace of her stride across the concourse with her bags, searching for the train to the airport, just as the bombing began.
Though the day is painful, Sadana feels that her dual role as mourner and officiant has helped her minister to the families over the years.
“I know exactly how everyone feels. We all lost someone we loved. Had them ripped away by hate. We share a bond.”
The Seventh Reflection (From Thou Shalt Not… — archived here)
Clia stood before the large, oval mirror in her room and stared at the reflection. Bone-straight hair–long, shiny and black–a heart-shaped face, perfect button nose, sensual mouth, and wide green eyes. The skin held no blemish and no imperfection–not too dark, but not too light. An elegant neck; firm, round breasts; smooth, flat stomach; curvy hips; long, muscular legs tapering toward the floor and ending at the bottom of the mirror.
“Yes, this is what I want,” Clia said. Her mouth moved. The reflection’s did not.
Are you ready to gather what I need?
“Yes. It’ll take a few days, though.”
I have nothing but time. The reflection shimmered away, replaced by an image of what Clia looked like in every other mirror.
She did not often look at mirrors.
Fen of Color United
Spreading the word about this, but apologies if you’ve seen it on your feedreader/f-list already. Repost as desired!
As RaceFail 09 continues, it has become clear that there are those who are hellbent on marginalizing and silencing people of color. In the past few months, minorities have been denigrated by bigoted authors and publishers who have also asserted that Fen of Color are rare and pratically non-existent. Despite numerous discussions and attempts to enlighten on the fact that POCs are fans, writers, artists and just as integral to this genre as our white counterparts, we are continuously dismissed.
On Monday May 18, 2009, we are asking anyone who identifies as a POC/non-white to post this banner, their speculative short stories, artwork, poetry or simply write a post on their favorite fandom on their blogs as an act of protest to show we will not be silent or invisible. The day of protest is entitled Fen Of Color United or more aptly, FOC_U.
White allies can also show solidarity for this event by posting this banner and expressing the need for diversity and speaking out against the bigotry in the genre, through posts and/or their creative work as well.
In addition, a new community entitled FOC_U has been created. It’s designed to be a safespace for POCs/non-whites and white allies to discuss the issues pertaining to RaceFail and a place to counteract its destructive effects. And it’s also a fun place for everyone to also discuss their favorite fandoms. While memberships and posts are under moderation for the time being (until the community gets more established and input is welcomed), everyone is encouraged to join and make this a home.
You can help out by spreading the word and reposting this banner on your personal blog or creating one of your own if you’d like.
The gauntlet’s been thrown and I for one think it’s past time for us to take a stand and let our voices be heard, whether some people want to hear them or not.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact me personally or stop by FOC_U.
POC SF Fans Represent
Let’s make it really clear, people. If you identify as a POC/nonwhite person and you read or watch scifi or fantasy, give yourself a name check in this thread. I am particularly wanting shoutouts from people who do not live in the US and who have still managed to read genre fiction.
I’m tired of people trying to render us invisible unless they have been given a memo about our existences.
The comments on this one are already 13 or more pages deep.
It’s been amazing to see the diversity of people on that thread, not to mention the sheer numbers. Also great to see–as Delux mentioned–how many people are saying their parents or other family got them into SF and are/were geeks/fans themselves.
Go and be counted. Oh, also, go join the Carl Brandon Society. That would be a community and organization for SF/F/H fans of color (and their allies).
Lists and Why We Make Them
Remember a couple of weeks ago when there was a lot of discussion and debate about Bridget McKennitt’s list of authors, etc. that she was boycotting due to RaceFail? Yeah, I’m a little late in posting my response to it. The subject has been marinating for a while and I finally have some time to sit and pound it out.
I can’t find it in myself to condemn Bridget for that list even though I don’t agree with everything about it — for instance, I don’t think all Tor books should be on the NO list, though I can certainly understand why she feels/felt that way. Still, I don’t think that what she did was so terrible because it’s what all of us do, we just don’t necessarily do it on the Internet.
By that I mean that we all make lists. Some of us keep our lists in our heads, some keep private notes, some make the items on their lists public individually. All of us have lists of writers, book series, TV series, directors, producers, actors, whatever and whoever that we refuse to deal with in the future for a variety of reasons. As a POC and as a woman I often have lists that specifically relate to sketchy crap around race or gender in the media I partake of. Though I may not have the list compiled in one post, anyone who reads my blog for a few months at a time will get a pretty good idea of who or what might be on that list. I have a pretty good idea of the lists of people I know well or read regularly.
My reasons for keeping certain authors on my list varies — sometimes it’s purely based on their fiction, sometimes on their actions in the world or words they utter or post on the Internet, and sometimes a combination of both.
Everyone does this. And there’s nothing wrong with it. At the basic level these lists help minimize the waste of money and time on things that are almost guaranteed to annoy, anger, or bore us. For POC, women, and other minorities there’s an extra layer — lists help us protect ourselves and each other. I may warn a black friend of mine off of a book series or author I know to be sketchy or problematic on race or even outright racist and offensive. Because why should another person waste their time or money just to be offended or deeply hurt?
This is probably at the center of my internal conflict — while I understand why some would see that list as a bad thing, as being similar to TNH’s assertion that she would be seeking out the real names behind the LJ handles for unknown reasons, as being kinda witchunty, I cannot separate the action of making such a list and posting it publicly from the cultural/social reasons for needing to make such lists. It’s not just about personally boycotting authors or companies you disagree with, it’s about warning other people that this author, this book, these people in power are not safe. When you’re a minority this is imperative, because there are so, so many unsafe places and we can’t avoid them all, but protecting ourselves even a little helps us get through life without ending up in the clocktower with a rifle.