Dabbling my toe into Racefail09

[waywardcats]

I have been planning a post for a while because I HAVE been following the conversation pretty much from the beginning.  If you don't know what I am talking about, you can start here at Seeking Avalon and then you can go here to the comprehensive links post from rydra_wong .

I am in the position of having no real power in this debate, I don't know most of the individuals who are involved.  I live my life mostly on the edges of fandom. I have never been involved in writing or publishing.  But I care very much about SF & F as a reader and occasionally con-goer.  I have been mostly a silent participant so far, but I just can't hide behind my privilege anymore.  I want to be among the many who have spoken out against the failures at the heart of this massive conversation.

After reading La La La, I can't hear you I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that I am as rosefox says "taking the first step of admitting this is a problem" for me and others around me and I want to continue "to learn about ways to make things better. "

As my friend and mentor wild_irises  has suggested, I will continue to read, and to listen and to learn.  I will keep an open mind and an open heart.  I will not let myself get defensive.  If I show my ass, please, please tell me it's showing.

I know that is not enough.  sugargroupie is right to say "Your words mean fuck-all to me if your mouth has written a check that your ass can't cash. Simply put, actions are louder than words. It's not just about working on your own privilege, but following through on that work."

I can only write words here, and I know it is not enough.  A promise to keep learning and to keep listening  and to try to be better is not enough.  But it's all I have for now.

Comments

[maryread.livejournal.com]

I spent a couple months following this, and the topic drifted something awful, to say the least. When I first got into fandom, I made trouble by saying, we so liberal, why all white? where are the other color folks? and the answer was always, Samuel Delaney! Octavia Butler! Embarrassing, what. Finally the last few years, answers.

Read any of those Carl Brandon books?

[waywardcats.livejournal.com]

Not recently I am embarrassed to say. I will have to get back to them. But then I have not been reading a lot of speculative fiction at all recently, I should get back to that also.

[maryread.livejournal.com]

It's not required. Only if you want extra credit I suppose!