Reply #46: There are no secret worlds [View All]

[Blasphemer]

Racism and the disparity of experiences based on race is completely out in the open. After reading the first article about this incident, it did sound to me as though Professor Gates overreacted some and I was not immediately prepared to label it a racial incident. It was not until hearing Sgt. Crowley's statement about Gates's tone of voice that I concluded that race played a part in what happened - not the only part but I can't take race out of the mix in this incident. I do think it very unlikely that Crowley would have responded in the same way to a white professor's "tone" in the same situation. That does not mean that I think life for white america is a bed of roses. The intersection of race, class and gender makes very few truly privileged. However, I do know that if I changed nothing about myself aside from my race, my experiences would be significantly different. Being scrutinized for dawdling in a store is not the same as being followed by employees the entire time you shop from the moment you step in the door (even if those employees are also ethnic minorities). There are very real differences and acknowledging that and being angry about that doesn't mean that one is making unrealistic assumptions about what life is like for those who don't walk in their shoes. I've never had negative dealings with the police but my brother has to deal with it all the time when not doing anything wrong or being remotely belligerent. It's not wrong for him to assume that life is easier (not easy, easier) for me in some respects. It doesn't mean that he can't acknowledge that being a woman brings all sorts of other problems for me but it's understandable if he sees a disparity of treatment, under certain circumstances, based on gender. Just as I can see a disparity of treatment based on race and gender in my every day life.