Comments on: Just a bunch of normals http://loveallbeings.org/blog/just-a-bunch-of-normals/ Living Opposed to Violence and Exploitation Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:58:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-04-10 http://loveallbeings.org/blog/just-a-bunch-of-normals/comment-page-1/#comment-179 easyVegan.info » Blog Archive » easyVegan Link Sanctuary, 2009-04-10 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 22:36:05 +0000 http://loveallbeings.org/?p=247#comment-179 [...] Victor @ LOVE: Just a bunch of normals [...] [...] Victor @ LOVE: Just a bunch of normals [...]

]]> By: stephernst http://loveallbeings.org/blog/just-a-bunch-of-normals/comment-page-1/#comment-178 stephernst Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:46:39 +0000 http://loveallbeings.org/?p=247#comment-178 Regarding whether or not there's a growing awareness, I suppose I can't really speak for the movement at large. I know there's awareness of and sensitivity to the issue among many of the (white) activists, vegans, and bloggers with whom I have contact, but I can't really say how far that awareness extends. Spreading that awareness or translating it into change, though, is another matter, I know. Regarding whether or not there’s a growing awareness, I suppose I can’t really speak for the movement at large. I know there’s awareness of and sensitivity to the issue among many of the (white) activists, vegans, and bloggers with whom I have contact, but I can’t really say how far that awareness extends. Spreading that awareness or translating it into change, though, is another matter, I know.

]]> By: victor http://loveallbeings.org/blog/just-a-bunch-of-normals/comment-page-1/#comment-177 victor Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:50:11 +0000 http://loveallbeings.org/?p=247#comment-177 Thank you for your comments, Stephanie. I'm surprised to read that you think there is a growing awareness of whiteness among mainstream animal activism. I'm not very hooked into that group, but I remember only one conversation about race with an activist with white privilege, and that was on an intellectual, impersonal level. If anything, I have experienced consistently how mention of issues of race is met with disinterest. I didn't mention the source of the quote because the quote is simply symptomatic of the greater problem being highlighted. This post is intended to grow our collective understanding of the issues rather than to spark recognition in people of their own unearned privilege. I'd be thrilled if conversations about whiteness were taking place in mainstream animal activism. As the long-standing wisdom goes, it's not up to POC like myself (and an outsider to the community) to educate people with white privilege about their white privilege; the task falls on those with white privilege. Thank you for your comments, Stephanie. I’m surprised to read that you think there is a growing awareness of whiteness among mainstream animal activism. I’m not very hooked into that group, but I remember only one conversation about race with an activist with white privilege, and that was on an intellectual, impersonal level. If anything, I have experienced consistently how mention of issues of race is met with disinterest.

I didn’t mention the source of the quote because the quote is simply symptomatic of the greater problem being highlighted. This post is intended to grow our collective understanding of the issues rather than to spark recognition in people of their own unearned privilege.

I’d be thrilled if conversations about whiteness were taking place in mainstream animal activism. As the long-standing wisdom goes, it’s not up to POC like myself (and an outsider to the community) to educate people with white privilege about their white privilege; the task falls on those with white privilege.

]]> By: stephernst http://loveallbeings.org/blog/just-a-bunch-of-normals/comment-page-1/#comment-174 stephernst Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:43:08 +0000 http://loveallbeings.org/?p=247#comment-174 Thank you for this thoughtful post. The whiteness of the movement is a problem. I agree with that. But I don't necessarily--or fully, perhaps--agree that "there is no awareness of that whiteness." Many activists remain unaware of or unconcerned with the issue, certainly, but I do think awareness, concern, and the desire to to change all this are growing. I wish I had an ideal answer to this question you posed ("How do all our communities become places where being in a sea of white faces is considered abnormal and uncomfortable for everybody involved?"), but I don't. However, conversations such as these are a good and vital start. I'm glad also that someone has now publicly commented on the "no freaks anywhere," "just a bunch of normals" remark. I noticed it too and was immediately put off. Is there a reason you've chosen not to acknowledge where these remarks and video appeared? If we *are* going to have these conversations and change the way people think, talk, and interact within the movement, I think it's important to point out when and where we see these problems, especially when they appear in highly visible, much-visited spaces, so that people *can* reflect on their language, perceptions, and so on. Thank you for this thoughtful post. The whiteness of the movement is a problem. I agree with that. But I don’t necessarily–or fully, perhaps–agree that “there is no awareness of that whiteness.” Many activists remain unaware of or unconcerned with the issue, certainly, but I do think awareness, concern, and the desire to to change all this are growing. I wish I had an ideal answer to this question you posed (“How do all our communities become places where being in a sea of white faces is considered abnormal and uncomfortable for everybody involved?”), but I don’t. However, conversations such as these are a good and vital start.

I’m glad also that someone has now publicly commented on the “no freaks anywhere,” “just a bunch of normals” remark. I noticed it too and was immediately put off.

Is there a reason you’ve chosen not to acknowledge where these remarks and video appeared? If we *are* going to have these conversations and change the way people think, talk, and interact within the movement, I think it’s important to point out when and where we see these problems, especially when they appear in highly visible, much-visited spaces, so that people *can* reflect on their language, perceptions, and so on.

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