I Am Not a Costume!

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

Interesting how white privilege is brought up. But what about those who make costumes that are negative stereotypes of their own culture? Jersey Shore comes to mind here.

The notion of privilege is why you are more likely to find whites who wear these costumes than nonwhites.

Intraracial and intracultural dynamics are a different topic than interracial and intercultural dynamics. They are rooted in something different. For instance, if Italian Americans want to dress a certain way to mimic what they consider aspects of Italian American culture, that is up to them. That does not give nonItalian Americans (including nonItalian whites) the liberty to do the same thing.

What is embedded in this/

I feel the same way about racial slurs. If people use words and phrases intraracially and intraculturally, that's on them even if they use the words around nonmembers. Don't ask "but why can't I say it?!" Again, whites (in general) are much more likely than nonwhites to try the "but why can't I" routine. That need and desire (in general) to say and do things just for shits and giggles is embedded in white privilege. All of my life, whites have used slurs aimed at other whites around me. Most recently it happened at a professional gathering--a white man called himself a "h----." It made me uncomfortable because, a few times throughout the years, it was obvious that some of these whites were doing that based on the notion of "I'm going to beat my own ass so that you don't have to do it...I know that all Black people hate white people." That is also rooted in white privilege because you are saying that you have the liberty to pick and choose when you figuratively get your ass beaten whereas power minorities tend not have such input on their figurative ass whoopings. While it made me uncomfortable and I didn't even smile in response, I never said "oh yay! I'm going to use that word, too! Why can't I?"

/What is embedded in this

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Most recently it happened at a professional gathering--a white man called himself a "h----."

Was he talking about a Jeffersons episode? Seriously, I didn't think that anyone used that one anymore.

My mom had a fit the first time she heard me calling a guy a "hunk." She thought it was a slur like "hunky." I assume that's where honky comes from but we have a lot of Eastern Europeans in this area so things are a little bit different than, say, Georgia or California.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Was he talking about a Jeffersons episode? Seriously, I didn't think that anyone used that one anymore.

My mom had a fit the first time she heard me calling a guy a "hunk." She thought it was a slur like "hunky." I assume that's where honky comes from but we have a lot of Eastern Europeans in this area so things are a little bit different than, say, Georgia or California.

No, he was describing himself and said something to the effect of "I'm highly educated and wearing this suit but at the root of it, I'm just a Deep South h---- who believes in keeping life simple and stress-free...."

[*winter*]

I think Halloween in general has just become one big excuse for adults to be tacky and inappropriate in public. It's just bursting with opportunities, from the ever-infamous Pimps N Hoes partner ensemble, to Indians, Muslims, and apparently even blackface has made its way back into the action.

I honestly didn't know that there were so many people running around in blackface in this day and age. A black party? WTH.

I'm all for adults dressing up, but don't use it as an excuse to "let it all hang out." It's Halloween, not the local strip club. No one wants to see your buttcheeks hanging out of a bad costume...honestly.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No, he was describing himself and said something to the effect of "I'm highly educated and wearing this suit but at the root of it, I'm just a Deep South h---- who believes in keeping life simple and stress-free...."

1. If that's what your hair looks like IRL, gorgeous. I covet your curls.

2. I thought the appropriate term for a Deep South white dude is Cracker.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

1. If that's what your hair looks like IRL, gorgeous. I covet your curls.

Thanks.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

12. I thought the appropriate term for a Deep South white dude is Cracker.

It is. I think (to paraphrase Peter Griffin) honkies turn into crackers at the same point in the country where you stop seeing Denny's and start seeing Shoney's.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It is. I think (to paraphrase Peter Griffin) honkies turn into crackers at the same point in the country where you stop seeing Denny's and start seeing Shoney's.

We have both in Louisiana.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

1. If that's what your hair looks like IRL, gorgeous. I covet your curls.

Ditto.

I get asked what kind of straight iron I use after getting out of the shower and letting my hair air dry.