Prometheus 6

I'm not really trying to put anyone on the spot because those I would have been angry at turned out to be okay. Yet that very fact is part of the reason for this particular entry, though I've been considering it for a couple of days now.

It started with the responses to that African display in the German zoo. I was pretty direct in expressing my position on the damn thing, and conscious folks understood. Patriotboy wove a link to the post into one of his satirical pieces in a way that brought a whole lot of eyeballs to it. Kerim (whom I knew of from his blog Keywords) linked from Savage Minds, a rather impressive looking (and reading) blog by a collection of anthropology students and professors. It looks like anthropologists have been talking about this for about a week or so before I heard about it, mostly in German...following the discussion via Babelfish caused me to change the title of the sidebar block to "For entertainment only"...and I found a nice article that goes into the nature of the problem of which the exhibition is an example.

So I've gotten some international exposure out of this, and the international has been exposed to a Black guy who was pissed and capable of explaining why (this is not unique to my nature, by the way). And the author of one of the anthropological responses dropped by and made comments

But from the view of a cultural scientist the most interesting thing is the fact, that the show is organised together with an african who organised similar events on other places and he was very fond of this place. And many africans living in germany, which sell craftwork from africa asked to have a booth at this event. So they are far less concerned with the location.

So, first of all, we have to accept, that this is a discourse about a historical implication in a western society. It has only in a historical sense to do with africans. We should not think that in this case we have to protect africans against beeing displayed at the zoo, for that we are 100 years too late.

...that, in concert with his weak chastisement of the Zoo

It's remarkable, that scientists at our university are researching the historical dimension of the Völkerschauen in the 19th century while the zoo of augsburg in about 80km distance is carrying on this tradition in the 21th century. See also this paper from Kurt Jonassohn (thnx to anthropologi.info).

But what do you think? Is there any chance to invite african artist to a zoo without making the same misstakes as 100 years before? Is it positive racism that we fear that artists in a zoo get mistaken for animals? I wrote a letter to the zoo and asked them for their view of things.

...expose subtle issues that allow me to raise a couple of issues with my white Progressive brethren, hopefully in a way they can accept positively since I'm haven't raised it in connection with them, issues that explain why it is sometimes difficult to be a Black Progressive.

Black folks are very aware that not everyone who called themselves progressive is our friend. I tend to inflame that sort of person, and I'm quite glad about that. But I also draw reactions from people who, if they took a deep breath before responding, would come correct. These folks do, in fact, tend to take that deep breath if you don't yield to their irritation. This requires me to take a deep breath before I respond...which, while it's not a problem to do for the most part, I should not have to do.

That reflexiveness of the reactions are interesting because...and this is where I may disturb even the more conscious white folk...it indicates to me that white Progressives identify with (let's call it) the mainstream just as fully as white Conservatives. And in many cases it is actually their rejection of (their understanding of) racism that, in combination with that identification, makes them reject the "accusations" they perceive in my posts and positions.

That rejection often looks just like what a racist would say.

The difference comes when you make it clear your your perceptions are rational. You get stuff like this:

You know what? You're right, and I was wrong. This story threw so many levels of disbelief at me, that it took me longer to process it than it took me to score a few cheap, technical points. My apologies.

...which I feel is worth the wait (because it wasn't very long in coming).

White Progressives do not want to believe the group in which their identity is rooted is capable of such ill any more than white Conservatives do.

I find justification for several positions I hold in all this:

1. It is vital that Black folks simply speak our mind unapologetically.
2. It is vital that white Progressives take that breath, remember you are dealing with fellow progressives (when you are, anyway)
3. It is vital that Black folks let the initial wave of reaction pass before responding to what white folks say. You may find more agreement than you expected.
4. It is vital to understand the difference between "White people wouldn't do something like that," and "That's not evil so why are you complaining?"