Comments on: (re)thinking walking: walking defined for

By: susurro

susurro — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:10:06 +0000

thanks. really.

and yes, that slave analogy is a very astute one.

by the way, I found the can while doing the recycling and the other thing that pushed my buttons about it was a little heart that said “certified vegan” above it that made me think of the conversations going on about vegan ethics and where exploitation of human beings fits in.

I really wish I could talk to Eric and Steve . . .

By: bfp

bfp — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:02:40 +0000

sigh. susurro–first–I am so sorry that you had to deal with racism in connection to your pet–animals are like my children–it hits me harder when racism is somehow connected to my kids or to my animals–kids and animals make you vulnerable–so–i’m just so sorry that you had to deal with that at the vet.

And re: the friend…ugh. and people “helping”? you *know* it…I read that passage–and I was almost in tears–I was like–so “health” for poor people of color (migrant workers/farm workers in this country) is “a good place to work”–and “health” for *people who are not poor and of color* is….good quality food, relaxation, sense of well being, mental assuredness that nobody “suffered” at your expense…

It reminds me SO forcefully of the slave narrative in the U.S. that basically said our “negros are HAPPY” because they aren’t mistreated and work better hours than other slaves.

because slaves don’t need their OWN slaves to ensure the level of happiness that white folks at that time were privy to. if you *treat them better* than you treat others–they are HAPPY.

And healthy.

and that makes us ALL smile.

By: susurro

susurro — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:09:52 +0000

while I sat crying about the racist encounter at my vet, a friend brought me one of these things. *Beaming* at me, they said “Here, I thought this would cheer you up. It’s fair trade.” I looked at the smiling brown face on the can and then emulated it for my friend, both of us (the woman of color on the can and me) hiding the sting of racism from beneath a mask of happiness that helps keep us alive in a world where the people “helping” are almost as bad as the people admitting they like to hurt.

By: avowedvirago

avowedvirago — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:18:13 +0000

whoa. ew. that tastes really awful.

By: I'Nasah

I'Nasah — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:11:25 +0000

in summary: a perfect illustration of the problem that is white liberals/white liberalism.

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:40:32 +0000

Wow.