Thursdays: Article review day

Stomping on a dead rat

I guess this is the second week in a row that I've discussed The Advocate's foray into our community's issues. If you haven't picked up the issue, I'd encourage you to, because it's good to actually see the magazine articles in front of your face as opposed to the online version. In any case, I know I might be a bit too harsh in my criticism of the article, but I guess I can't stand the subtle "whitening" of racism as it relates to our community. As Andy Marra's piece said, "The magazine [Details] abused it cultural power and neatly packed gay Asians in stereotypical take-out boxes." The key point is, of course, the cultural power of racism...which means that one group stands dominant and another is subservient. By pushing these rabid and gross steretoypes, it was an attempt to control our image in the public.

However, it's subtle and very few people (outside of our community) ever found it to be a problem. Why? It's because our society does not respond to racism unless it's blatantly obvious. That means we need to bring up how white people are being racist to black people...the age-old dichotomy in this country. Regardless, it is a power struggle that we're talking about here; it's a battle over who can say what and how far jokes and insinuations can go before someone fights (or bites) back. If you were a blatant racist, then you'd probably be muttering, "Well, you Asians don't stand up for yourself anyways...you got to fight the power!" Of course, we all know it's not so simple nor is there a cultural norm for our community in this country.

Stereotypes of us being passive or docile is only a smokescreen to the fact that some people would indulge if it meant they could stand to benefit from putting such falsehoods. Yeah, it goes back to power...if we're the passive ones, then there's got to be an aggressive one out there, right? After checking Marra's article again, I did find the word, "racism"...much to my relief. Unfortunately, it was in reference to her example about the Maury Povich show's blatant transphobia and racism.. I think some folks would tell us to get over it...that we just don't have a sense of humor when it came to the Details fiasco, but I can only retort with my utter displeasure with our sad state of affairs in racial politics. For my sanity's sake, I sometimes go to this press statement for some reassurance that someone has our backs...well, hopefully..