The core beliefs that guide Racialicious
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
I really enjoy reading and participating in the many vibrant discussions here on Racialicious. But lately I’ve noticed an increasing amount of hostility, tension and personal attacks.
I thought it would be timely to post the core beliefs that guide New Demographic’s (and this blog’s) work. Some of you may already be familiar with these beliefs, but I’m sure there are many newer readers who haven’t read them before.
Let’s keep these great conversations going, but let’s also keep Racialicious a pleasant place to visit. Thanks, everyone.
Here are New Demographic’s core beliefs:
- We go beyond uncritical celebrations of diversity and multiculturalism and confront head-on the complex issues surrounding race and racism today.
- In challenging racism, we go beyond individual acts of prejudice and recognize that racist ideals are disseminated by the very structures and systems upon which this country is built.
- We go beyond the concerns of the specific community to which we belong and recognize that when one group is discriminated against, it is an affront to us all.
- When discussing racism, we go beyond simply blaming “The Man” and recognize that racism persists through an intricate web of intergroup and intragroup oppression and privilege.
- We go beyond “diversity speak” and academic jargon and recognize that using direct, down-to-earth language is the best way to engage people in anti-racism work.
- We go beyond acceptance of finite racial categories and recognize that race has no biological basis, but that the social construct of race impacts us all.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Kaywil wrote:
Thank you for this post. Perhaps when you see these violations occur, you can gently steer the conversation in the right direction. That, perhaps, would help us all to understand what direction you would like us to go in and the things that you would like us to focus on.
Posted 08 Jan 2007 at 8:27 pm ¶
Vandia wrote:
Thank you Carmen,
As morally frail beings we all need, from time to time, to be reminded of these core beliefs-beliefs which should have been at the core of every human interaction not only discussions on this site.
Posted 08 Jan 2007 at 9:01 pm ¶
fgs_sfdg wrote:
“In challenging racism, we go beyond individual acts of prejudice and recognize that racist ideals are disseminated by the very structures and systems upon which this country is built.”
Duly noted, Carmen. I’ll stop being an asshole. Happy?
Posted 09 Jan 2007 at 1:37 am ¶
Rob Schmidt wrote:
Who’s doing all the attacking? Let’s call a spade a spade.
Oh, er, never mind.
Posted 09 Jan 2007 at 5:39 am ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
fgs_sfdg, I’m not singling anyone out. But as I said in my final comment on the Berkeley thread, I’ve been disappointed by the discussions on Racialicious lately.
In the nearly three years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve never closed comments on a thread before.
I hope that going forward, we’ll all focus less on one-upmanship and having the last word. Instead, let’s keep the conversations productive.
Posted 09 Jan 2007 at 8:24 am ¶
Just Wondering wrote:
Carmen:
You have a fascinating blog, one that I learn from every time I visit. Thank you for that.
It seems to me that the biggest flaps here occur when people attempt to assign values to or imply beliefs in others, based upon individual comments.
This only serves to inflame, not illuminate.
Issues of race in society are often complex and multi-faceted, as with the UC Berkeley story. There is often no “one right answer” and it’s impossible to cover all the angles in a comment or two.
Taking something out of context and using that to put people in a particular box or category may enable us to more easily dismiss their viewpoints, but it doesn’t do anything for dialog.
I’m sure I’ve been guilty of that myself a time or two, and I apologize.
Posted 09 Jan 2007 at 10:59 am ¶
ren wrote:
You won’t single anyone out, but I will Carmen. Sorry to anyone I might have offended, I can certainly be strident at times but understand that it’s not out of hostility. The problem with internet forums is that you can’t see the lighthearted approach I have when it comes to answering.
I can’t say that I won’t offend anyone again but sadly ideas and opinions do not exist within a vacuum, they’re deeply rooted within individuals who may not take light to being questioned on them. Realize my intent is not to mock you and if I push it’s only to get an answer. I write long, not because I’m yelling at you or proselytizing… blame it on my philosophy teachers, I tend to overthink when I write. And when I’m wrong certainly criticize, I’d be bored to tears if I were always right… I’m only human and I look foreword to being wrong many more times in the future.
Posted 09 Jan 2007 at 6:55 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>The problem with internet forums is that you can’t see the lighthearted approach I have when it comes to answering.
Ren: what you’re talking about IS the basic problem of Net-discussions. (Note: the “you” that follows here is generic, not at Ren) But I think it’s the poster’s responsibility to be as clear as possible, unless you’re a poster who deliberately muddies the waters. In which case, you risk becoming a bit trollish, even if not a real Troll.
It’s also why there are some basic rules over which I will put on my NetNazi cap.
1. Using > or ” to quote someone is one of them. Using the person’s NAME is another, as the time a poster writes may not be the time the comment is posted.
2. Using emoticons if you’re being facetious or j/k if you’re making a joke, so that we don’t get endless “what did you mean by that, I know you’re not talking to me!” outrage
3. Changing to more formal language/editing down curses or slang insults, not out of censorship, but because people are NOT hearing a poster’s tone and will likely take it in the most belligerent way possible.
4. Breathe and Read before posting. I can’t count how many times I’ve started writing, and then realized I’ve not only addressed the wrong poster, but I’m going off on a tangent that noone really needs to read.
5. Realizing that if someone doesn’t IMMEDIATELY respond to your comment, that doesn’t mean they dont’ care or are dismissing you. They could be, I dunno, eating, working, sleeping, traveling, etc., and it’s not their job to tell everyone on a site where they are. They also could feel that either they’ve already made their point, or that they’d be drawn into a fight (with you or someone else) if they replied.
6. If you choose to step away from a thread, do it and mean it. It’s so tempting to come back, but it comes across as taking your ball and going home, only to come back a second later asking, want to play ball? Or if you come back, say something new, don’t go back to the same patterns that made you want to leave the thread in the first place.
7. If you volunteer to be NetNazi, be aware that you’re as guilty of all of this as anyone else, and vow to reform, reform, reform
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 10:47 am ¶
daddyinastrangeland wrote:
Amen to that, Lyonside!
In my other life, I’m the online community manager for the blogs on my local newspaper’s website. I just wrote a long “rules” post yesterday after another rash of inappropriate behavior by a few users. Luckily, the comments so far have been supportive. Of course, now that I’ve said that, I gotta go look to see if I need to delete anything.
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 1:10 pm ¶
Meg wrote:
>Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
I’ve been disappointed by the discussions on Racialicious lately.
In the nearly three years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve never closed comments on a thread before.
I know this is a serious thing for you to shut a thread down and u don’t want your hardwork and intent for the blog hijacked, but – were you channelling my high school principal/teachers? Lectures often started with a “i’m very disappointed, in my 10 yrs of teaching…”
and just for lyonside that was a j/k
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 7:39 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
Meg,
LOL! Now that I go back and read that comment, it does sound very principal-esque. I certainly didn’t mean it that way – hopefully I didn’t bring back any painful memories for anyone!
Posted 10 Jan 2007 at 9:50 pm ¶
Donna Darko wrote:
uh oh, Mrs. Carmen yelled at me. Better play hooky for while and stop by the school nurse for some Xanax. ;P
Posted 12 Jan 2007 at 3:55 am ¶
Lint wrote:
Ok I just have to say this one thing. Blacks and Latinos who live in poverty…who says Asians dont? Maybe not much so compared to these two groups but i think its like 14% compared to the white percentage of 10%. Got it? And I dont know about some people here, but Asian families are pretty big, so even if some big bucks are coming in, its because of the large family size and the fact that we kinda have to live together in order to pool together our income and stuff. So yes, that argument is null.
Posted 19 Jan 2007 at 9:26 pm ¶
kim wrote:
Kim:
Rob Schmidt wrote: Who’s doing all the attacking? Let’s call a spade a spade.
Oh, er, never mind.
Kim: “Oooh! Oooh! Principal Carmen!”
Posted 20 Jan 2007 at 3:35 am ¶
Crystal wrote:
Carmen:
You wonder why certain post have not been “productive” as you call it. What is your definition of progress? In order to understand and discuss the world as it relates to race you are bound to talk about issue that exude hostility, tension and personal attacks. You are not a referee at a soccer game. This is real life- people’s lives. Black people everyday have to live with tension, hostility, and personal attacks and we are expected to be quiet. White people hear the word racist/racism and now the world must stop turning because of their sensitive egos. I do not mean to hurt your feelings but I call it like I see it and to me you have an unrealistic approach to the world’s problem of racism. The mental illness of racism, racists, white supremacy, bigotry, and hatred will only be fought with the truth. And if the truth hurts you can be sure that there will be hostility, tension and personal attacks. Meditate on this.
What you are doing is attempting to place a bandaid over cancer that requires surgery. Whenever you talk about racism, all cards must be on the table: stereotypes, upbringing, flaw misconceptions, scientific theory, education (as it relates to other peoples, not just the West), miseducation of colored people and Anglo-Saxons, and the list goes on and on.
If you want to tackle racism, allow free dialogue, without your restriction because YOU believe it to be unproductive. It is well known among therapist that the only lack of progress is that of noncommunication. And that is what you do when you interrupt a conversation- YOU stand in the way of progress. Sometimes things appear to be unproductive but really may be a learning experience for someone else, or for individuals involved, but may come at a later time.
Fighting racism will be one of the most difficult job any of us will ever have because it is so old, so painful, so time consuming, so tiresome, and because we may never live to see it fruition. It requires what I like to call self-surgery, which by the sound of it is excruiating. One must open themselves up to remove the necrotizing cancer that stands in the way of harmony with one’s self, his brother, and this earth. Remove your emotions from what I have said and be not insulted but think on it as a positive connection so that you might be enlightened and maybe change the impact that this site has.
Posted 21 Jan 2007 at 5:12 pm ¶
Crystal wrote:
carmen:
please read http://thefreeslave.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/sambo-the-commodification-of-racial-justice/
Posted 21 Jan 2007 at 5:19 pm ¶