|
I posted earlier about the wider issues that this has to do with, not with the freedom of speech issue.
As an African American male I do think there is somewhat of a racial divide here. Not simple because of the putative cultural refernce impicit in a "pimps and hos" party but because of power differentials growing out of white supremecist ideology which is formly in place in our society. Please listen to what I say and try to understand!
From the time African Americans grow up and esp. when come of agye to enter the public sphere and professional life, they clearly understand that they have to be careful about their comportment, language and actions. If one dreeses in matter that bespeaks of "too ethnic" ot wears hair styles like braids that may not be a part of the norm of the corporation, there may be consequenses. Similarly, if one does not use standard English in the "white world", implicit judgments are made about your intelligence. We tend to "switch" to adopt the cultural norms of the wider society in public life to further our careers.
For many whites, they don't face the same pressures. They are raised to see the world as their oyster, with the often impicit subtext that they can be oblivious to other cultural norms or groups. Their are typically less consequences for misbehaving, socially speaking. It is typical of my experice that when I'm shopping, go about my business and happen to be walking behind a white female, it is commonplace for her to stop and pretend that she is windowshopping,etc. It's an inherent fear of the black man as the mythical Other, the feared,violent stranger. And the scapegoating that Susan Smith, Charles Smith in Boston and the recent runaway bride in GA did could only happen in context in which minorites are stereotyped and they actually play on peoples emotions. The associations with blackface, pimps and hos,etc. are done in this context. They do have meaning! And this should factor in the decision-making process of Greeks.
|
Hybrid Mode
