Yeah...I got it too...but the people who were initially responding in a harsher way were more critical of UF_pike's response than the mixer itself. HIS response had racial overtones in it.

Anyway, all one big miscommunication.

i hate to get in this
 

i really don't want to get in this but "ghetto-fab" is not just black people.....the high school that I came from had many "ghetto" white people and it was just who they were....it is just a style and a way of acting that does not necessarily have to embraced just by people that are black.....i listen to rap music, my friends were air force ones, and whatever else you might think is ghetto...this is just my opinion though

First off,

If anyone dresses like Garth Brooks, they should be drug out into the middle of the road and shot for bein a drugstore cowboy. I mean, crap, he's from Oklahoma after all :D

Secondly,

starang, i don't know if you know this, but i'm pretty sure SATX is in fact, Latina. Based on that, i think she can pretty much speak for Latina sentiments on such parties.

Thirdly,

To me, i think there is a big difference between having a "Ghetto Fab" party and having an "Old South Party" or "Black Music" party, or some of the other party ideas that have resulted in offensive actions. I see a Ghetto Fab party as a bunch of kids wanting to emulate what is currently popular in today's society. Hell, if i went to a Ghetto Fab party i'd throw on a sports jersey and a backwards hat, is that racist? I've seen Kid Rock and Fred Durst do it.

Now, openly calling it a "Black Music" party, or Boyz 'n the hood, or whatever is completely disgraceful and i believe blatently stereotypes African-Americans. However, i think this ghetto fab party was more intended to, like i said, celebrate what is currently the most popular music in this country.

Fourthly,

I'll agree that African-Americans have indeed suffered racial injustices for many years. But to me, a bigger injustice is the way some of MY ancestors, the Native Peoples of this land were treated, being forced off their lands and systematically slaughtered by the government of the US. Their plight hasn't recieved a hundredth of the attention as African-Americans has, and as result they still languish on reservations in atrocious situations that rival any inner city slum in this country. So, while i'm not saying the struggle for equality is completely over for the African-American peoples, it has come a long way as compared to other races in this country.

Kitso
KS 361 days i've visited my family on Pine Ridge in South Dakota and thanked God my mother made it off the Rez

I agreed with much of what you said -- but this? Just because she's Latina doesn't mean that she can speak for all Latinos. Just because I'm female doesn't mean I'm qualified to speak for every single woman in the country, or that the way I view issues relating to women will always be in line with the way the majority of women see them.

There are a lot of Hispanics out there who ARE or would be offended by the idea of a "fiesta"-themed mixer, and that's perfectly legitimate. There are also Hispanics who wouldn't be offended by it, and that's great too -- the ability to laugh at the stereotypes and the ability to educate the ignorant instead of humiliating and punishing them are both great skills, and ones that I think need to be exercised more than they are in cases like this.

Well sugar and spice,

When concerning a Latin-themed party and if it was offensive or not, i would take SATX's word over the word of someone who was not Latina.

I didn't say i appointed her ambassador of American Latinas, what i said was, in that circumstance, i value her point of view.

Kitso
KS 361

Kitso, I thought that you were of Greek heritage. Have I confused you with someone else?

As for the ghetto fabulous theme, it is a bad idea. It can potentially hurt many people's feelings. It's not worth it. What happened to themes like the 1970's or disco or 1980's? We had Fun in the Sun spring break theme. It was fun! :D

Hee. This sums up my thoughts exactly.

I wonder- when Eminem was growing up, was he emulating black people? Being himself? Or was Eminem, indeed- GHETTO FABULOUS?
Questions that no one has the answer to...

And actually I think that the Jewish population on this board should be more upset about this than the african american population.... seeing as how the ghettos are what they were put in before being herded to concentration camps in Nazi Germany- I don't think they put any blacks in there (unless they were Jewish, of course). Ghetto was never a term used for just the african american community... but it was for Jews.

Seriously, Librasoul brought up a valid point that was completely glossed over. How many of you have ever been to the ghetto? For those of you that I haven't lost yet, was it a "fab" experience? What you all are talking about is fashion, not class. Why not call it a Hip-Hop mixer? Oh yeah, because the catch phrase of the year is "ghetto fab". It just amazes me how black culture is so loved and so emulated that now surburban white girls/boys are calling each other ghetto. Man, you don't know a thing about the ghetto. Also, how many of you would call one of your black friends ghetto to their face?

*sitting back waiting for all the stories about how when you were 3, your grandfather's car broke down in a really bad neighborhood and you endured for two whole hours, so how dare I tell you that you don't know about the ghetto.....*

CTFU CTFU CTFU! You are wrong. :D :D :D

Okay, I was posting before I read this, so let me respond. I don't profess to be an Eminem scholar, but if he did in fact grow up in the ghetto, than at least he has a point of reference. Again, it isn't about a fashion statement or the way you talk, it's about class.

Your second point is ludicrous. Jews don't have a coin on the term. In this country, a ghetto is an area of economic depression, which just so happens to be unproportionately represented by minorities. It is a fact that when people use the word ghetto today, they are not referring to Nazi-Germany.

really? ok, so i'm going to throw a fiesta party and dress up a certain way, i'm pretty damn sure that there's going to be a gang of hispanic folks that are going to hot. lets say 10 people don't get offended, i'm pretty sure that more than 10 are going to be offended. so who can speak for who? you going to believe the minority or the majority? i personally will go with the predominant sentiment.

I know Latinos from all walks of life, from all corners of the earth. None of them would be offended by a fiesty-themed party. I know for a fact that Alpha Phi and Phi Mu incorporate "Phi-estas" into their calendars, both collegiate and alum groups. As far as the "gang of Hispanic folks," how does that figure? I don't think of gangs when I think of Latinos. And what majority and minority do you speak of? Are you speaking in terms of race? Stance on the issue?

I cannot believe we're all still talking about this.
Don't you guys see what's happening? What started out as a thread about a party theme and it's possible inappropriateness has turned into all of you picking each others' words apart.
SATX obviously cannot speak for all Latinos, but she has a different cultural perspective than most of us and obviously it is worth hearing her point of view. Why are we sitting here arguing over who can speak for who? She can't speak for every single Latino living in America but I would assume anyone with an education past the third grade could figure that out.

'Ghetto fab' unfortunately is popular slang in the U.S. today for our pop culture. We can sit here and pick apart the meaning of the word ghetto, but its not going to change the media's use of it to describe anything associated w/MTV, BET, or clothing trends. Attributing it to where Jews lived or only describing black people may have been the truth once upon a time, but isn't how it's used today.
Someone asked if any of us would consider calling a black person ghetto. I would call a PERSON ghetto, regardless of race, if they were acting low class.
There's a chance someone could show up black face but I think that you have that risk with any costume party. If someone wants to be racist they'll do it at a 70's party w/an afro, and they'll do it at a fiesta party dressing like an immigrant or something. (NOT trying to be offensive, just making a point.) These party themes are all based on what exists in society. Some of you are offended at Ghetto Fab- that's your prerogative. How could a fiesta mixer be offensive?? Fiestas exist, and there's nothing inappropriate about them. It's not making fun of a stereotype- fiestas are parties, margaritas COULD be served at them, and the decorations would probably be similar. Are we going to say that Biker Bashes are offensive because they make fun of people that ride Harleys? What about Golf Pros and Tennis Ho's? (ok I know that's kinda tacky as far as women's rights go, even I rolled my eyes and went "you're kidding" but stick with me). We could say that the party is making fun of upper class white people, and thus it should be stopped.

SO.... I think its unfair to jump all over Alpha O for something that is emulating pop culture. Wear a fitted hoodie outfit or something and get ready for a long night of rap music (which is what you'd probably experience at a non-themed party anyway.)

i know plenty of hispanic people who would get offended at a feista themed party. just becuase a certain segment of the population that YOU know wouldn't be offended, that doesn't mean that there wouldn't be anyone who would be. as far as gang...that means a whole lot.