This is an excellent primer on how white writer should tread when writing about race, particularly about races that are not their own. Spawned by a since-deleted Huffington Post piece, filmmaker Mike Barber has a few tips for reporters that might find themselves on the receiving end of criticism. And it could be well applied to reporters (bloggers?) writing about the homosexuals!
“If you write an article that results in a mass of people denouncing your article and possibly yourself as racist, it’s not going to be for some arbitrary reason,” opines Barber. “Though it won’t be comfortable, you need to accept the idea that you may have done what it is you are being accused. Calling the large group of people whom you offended irrational is not going to help. They’re angry for a reason, you have to acknowledge that.”
So true! Like when the Washington Post opens up the welcome mat to bigots, or the Bilerico Project (a site by for and LGBTs) publishes one of the most transphobic pieces we’ve seen come out of the non-lunatic segments of the interwebs.
And if you do get called out on saying offensive, inaccurate, and altogether hateful things about a certain class of people? Don’t pull a Sarah Palin. ”
If you find yourself in this kind of situation and decide to respond, a piece of advice: don’t ever try to back up what you said by citing the number of people of colour [or gays] that are your friends/colleagues/acquaintances.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Miss Understood
Omigod! The unclosable video ad over the blog! If you want us to stop reading this blog just ask us!
ksu499
No web page should start playing audio unless you request it to. To do otherwise is just bad design.
Charles Merrill
Bilerico is naive and arrogant. The blog tries to apply Indiana state values onto the LGBT community, old Christian middle class values. They spend alot of time slamming gay marriage. I used to go there and tease them because they took themselves seriously. My bad, but I could resist the laughs.
Queeny
I don’t agree w/a lot that’s written on the net, but I’d rather let someone write what they feel, than to create fear – so that they don’t write.
Of course, any time I, or others, write anything in the public domain, we should be open to criticism & opposing views. When a criticism is written w/ respect, it can create a dialogue. When someone resorts to name-calling (idiot, delusional, etc.) then nothing is gained.
I write openly about race relations, from my view as a Caucasian from New England, USA. Most of the time, people agree with me. I’ve had a few occasions where someone challenged my ideas, & it was good. I’m willing to change if presented with a rational, respectful “other side”. I also have the right to keep my original position.
A problem in this Twitter Age is that everyone thinks their opinion matters, when it’s often just one person, one idea.
Mike Barber
Greetings! I’m happy you enjoyed my article. I could not agree with you more. The ultimate point behind this article and the one which preceded it (http://www.race-talk.org/?p=1504) is for writers as well as allies to try confront their own aversive attitudes and privilege, as well as to maintain a mindfulness about their (or I should say “our” to include myself) privilege. It applies to white privilege as well as heterosexual privilege, male privilege, class privilege, etc.
blackjack44
ksu499 you are so right. Queerty those ads are annoying as hell and when i silence them my browser crashes. I was searching all over my tabs and desktop trying to figure out where that sound was coming from. Thought i had one of those invisible ad virus’s again. FIX IT QUEERTY!!