Countdown to “Can Social Media End Racism” at SXSW
by Latoya Peterson
Coming soon to a SXSW near you – attack of the POCs!
Okay, well, it isn’t quite that dramatic.
(Yet.)
But if you’re in town for the festival, feel free to come by and check out our panel, “Can Social Media End Racism“:
Can Social Media End Racism?
Room 8
Sunday, March 15th
11:30 am – 12:30 pmThe tangled issues of race and privilege in our society come to a boiling point on the internet. Exploring the complicated place of race in society, this presentation examines the ideas of race in the digital environment with a specific focus on social media.
Kety Esquivel - NCLR & Cross Left
Jay Smooth – illdoctrine.com
Phil Yu – Angry Asian Man
Latoya Peterson Editrix, Racialicious.com
We’re also on Facebook and I am going to see if we can get someone to liveblog this for those of y’all who can’t make it.
For those of you interested in some of the concepts discussed in this panel, check out this article in the Austin Chronicle, where three panelists (myself, Samhita of Feministing, and Steve of SimpleSeating.com) talk race, digital space, media, and organizing:
Austin Chronicle: Much is said about how the Internet is egalitarian – how it humanizes instead of segregates, how it’s “colorblind” and “gender neutral.” True?
Steve Swedler: I think that one of the big problems we have with the Internet are expectations. We talk about the Internet as shrinking the world and creating a global economy and community, but this is simply a dream. The number of people not on the Internet still outnumber those that are. And the number of people using the Internet for purposes of connecting with the global community is far less than people would have us believe. My supposition is that the majority of online “friendships” fall into three categories: “familiar,” “validating,” and “false.” We seek out those types of relationships because they are safe and comfortable.
Samhita Mukhopadhyay: In my experience, I have felt that most of my online experiences are very genuine, but I think part of that is that in order to write personally about sex, gender, and class, you assume a certain level of transparency. What I write about is who I am … so the relationships may not ever be validating and they are rarely familiar, but they are pretty real.
Latoya Peterson: I agree with Steve’s original idea. The concepts he has broken down are often seen in both racial and gender analysis. People seek out conversations that are both familiar and validating to them, and tend to reject things that fall outside of those lines as false. The key to progressive activism is finding a way to reach across these boundaries and encourage people to engage with ideas outside of their comfort zones.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
March3209 wrote:
“Editrix”?
Maybe this is a joke, but women have been fighting for decades to eliminate sexist language, including special terms for women, because such terms imply that there’s something weird or “special” about that a woman is performing a “male” function, e.g., “aviatrix.”
Language usage today is sufficiently confusing without needlessly adding to the problem.
Mod Note – You must be new here. I self titled myself the editrix, and it is for the sole reason that I like the letter “X” and think it’s under used. But if it bothers you that much, there are many other blogs to read without you needing to stop and lecture someone on their title. – LDP
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 3:21 pm ¶
Fiqah wrote:
Hey, lady! The link didn’t load!
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 4:20 pm ¶
gogojojo wrote:
Is this one of the sessions that you have to have a pass to get into? I’ve never been to SXSW and was excited to be in Texas this year so I could go. Little did I know about the expensive passes to get into stuff. Anyway, I if it is then I will try to catch the live blog, it sounds like it will be a great session.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 4:20 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Fiqah –
which one? There are a bunch and they all worked for me!
@Gogojojo –
Yes, alas.
But thanks for reminding me – if you’re in town we are having a meet up open to all. Let me put that in up top.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 4:44 pm ¶
Fiqah wrote:
@The Editrix: Sorry, fixed it, extra character, so looking forward to hearing from this great panel via the live blog.
Paranthetically… I dig your handle! It sounds like you’re some kinda blog superhero(ine) and that is MAD empowered. God, is it, like, “Asshat Sound-Off Week on Racialicious” or something? ::: shakes head :::
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 4:48 pm ¶
cat m wrote:
Please do a live video feed! Please please please.
-begging face-
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 4:59 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@Cat – that’s Jay’s business. I’ll tell him you put in a request. Though it would be fun to have a live from SXSW Ill Doctrine…hmmm…
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 5:02 pm ¶
Ricky Roo wrote:
Hey Latoya–I live in ATX, getting my MA in Media Studies at UT and primarily focusing my research on social media use in rural queer communities within a media justice framework–and am RIDICULOUSLY sad that I won’t be able to get in to this panel because I can’t afford a pass. Public meet up? Yes, yes?
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 5:30 pm ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
@RickyRoo – Yes, public meet up, if you have suggestions of places in Texas, email me.
team@racialicious.com
BTW, are you going to the UTX symposium on Race and New Media? I think it’s that last weekend in April.
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 5:33 pm ¶
Lisa J wrote:
For the uninitiated, what exactly is SXSW?
Posted 06 Mar 2009 at 6:50 pm ¶
CVT wrote:
Damn. I have to say I’m crazy jealous of any folks that get to make it out to that. I admit I don’t know Kety Esquivel (but I imagine that – being included in that panel – probably dope, as well).
But Jay Smooth, the Angry Asian Man, and THE Editrix all talking about race TOGETHER?!!!
I’m not so down with swooning, in general, but it could happen here. Please convince Jay to throw up a video at illdoctrine.
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 12:46 pm ¶
CVT wrote:
Maybe I should have said “put up” a video. I don’t want Jay to “throw up.” Although, his vomited videos would likely be much better than most carefully-crafted ones.
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 12:48 pm ¶
Joseph wrote:
So proud of you. Represent.
PS
re: Editrix
BWAH!
Posted 07 Mar 2009 at 1:47 pm ¶
octogalore wrote:
That sounds awesome. Sorry to miss the festival and meet-up, but hopeful to catch the Editrix et al at a later event. Do it up!
I enjoyed the Austin chronicle article. The different “relationship” characterizations could make for a pretty interesting Venn diagram of online interaction.
Also, cute pic!
Posted 08 Mar 2009 at 3:19 pm ¶
Skye wrote:
I am SO looking forward to this panel!
Posted 10 Mar 2009 at 3:24 pm ¶
SinnerBlack wrote:
I get called the “N Word” all the time while playing Madden 09. I have complained to EA as well as XBOX Live tech, but it keeps happening.
I have a friend that stopped playing Call of Duty 4 because of the racist comments.
I hope you tackle this issue on the panel.
Posted 11 Mar 2009 at 7:28 pm ¶
norah wrote:
Seconding the excitement about the panel and the hope that Jay will manage a video feed somehow. If not, will follow the liveblogging for sure.
Posted 12 Mar 2009 at 1:46 pm ¶