Let’s face it; we all have biases and prejudices. Show me the person that does not & I will show you someone who is in denial.
After I was confronted this week by a racist, I started to think of how PC our world has become and how that is not necessarily a good thing.
I was confronted by someone who formed a bias, held it to be true and felt free expressing it. Was he wrong? Perhaps not. This is America and we have the freedom of speech.
Was he tacky & hurtful? Yes! Totally a case of wrong time, wrong place & wrong person…..
Putting politics and the implications of his actions aside, our PC world is troubling at times especially when you have to walk on egg shells out of fear of hurting someone’s feeling (See Juan Williams & Rick Sanchez).
In honesty, I would much rather deal with someone who is upfront with their prejudices so that I best know how to interact with them vs. facing a snake in the grass in any arena.
Using my hair as a platform since it seems to be a source of attention and most recently drama, I find myself having to constantly defend against prejudices from a diverse range of people. Sometimes when confronted, I education, others I ignore & at times, I am not as nice as I probably should be out of frustration.
Yeah, I have locked hair but that DOESN’T mean that:
- I am a gansta rapper (NEW)
- I smoke & carry weed
- I don’t wash my hair
- Have hair extensions
- You can touch my hair
- I don’t work as professional
- Wasn’t born and raised in America
- I am a Rastafarian
- I have Dreadlocks
- I won’t tell you to Google my name and do my resume
I’m so tired of these stereotypes, ignorance & stupidity. Let me stop here!
JVLIVS / November 6, 2010
That stinks, man!
But I gotta agree with your opening statements…
Denise CM / November 7, 2010
Tafari, I am moved!
Considering I still have a direct connection to an area and generation that is not so PC savvy(My mother and friends), I fear the extent of the disconnection our future generations will have with our history, because so many of them lack that sense in our gut to notice the sometimes subtle forms of injustices that happen everyday and it’s that same sense that made you immediately react to Mr. John Barr.
However, even with my concerns for this topic and our future generation, had it not been for this PC world I wouldn’t be having my Sunday morning cup of coffee and reading one of my favorite blogs and feeling moved!
Tafari thanks so much for sharing your experiences and creativity!
osori / November 7, 2010
I was surprised but not shocked to read of your appalling experience with that racist moron,Tafari.Whether its outright racism (gun at the head beaner rant)or the “we don’t talk no Mexican here” of the ignorant,it’s nonetheless dehumanizing.The ignorant at times can be laughed off, but then knowing our children have to deal with that same crap takes away the slight pleasure of ridiculing the ignorance.
Sorry you had to deal with that.
Joanna / November 8, 2010
I have to admit, I have my own stereotypical ideas about men with dreads. I have told several people, and they look at me like I am nuts, and proceed to tell me how wrong I am in the present day. See, I have always been attracted to men with dreads because I always think they are more “conscious” then other dudes. And that is not necessarily true these days (a friend of mine who has dreads to his calves pointed out the fallacy of my statement- he is a “conscious” dude himself but mentioned how now dreads are largely just a style thing)
Anyway, as a little side note: I was at a party one time, and told a guy I loved his dreads. He looked at me and asked me “Do you want to touch them?” I started laughing my ass off at that one, and had to inform him that, no, I was not trying to feel his hair, I was just paying him a complement, and that I am not unaware of what dreads “feel” like.
Constructive Feedback / November 8, 2010
[quote]Using my hair as a platform since it seems to be a source of attention and most recently drama, I find myself having to constantly defend against prejudices from a diverse range of people. [/quote]
Tafari:
Question – do you place any more considerable weight upon the “White person” who sees your hair and assigns you as a “Gangster Rapper” versus one Black female who sees another Black female’s “nappy hair” and renders a “School Daze” argument?
What about the popularity of human hair imported from India that lines the scalps of many sistas? Is the judgement of your hair equal to the cover up in which these sistas become something that their genes did not afford them?
chidy, negress / November 8, 2010
ooh! pretty red color!
do you read Pam (of “pam’s house blend”)? she just did a powerful post in a series she’s been running about relaxers and the poison chemicals they are made out of. check it out, it’s much the same vein.
Tweets that mention Tafari's Mind Spill » Archives » Stereotypes, Ignorance & Stupidity -- Topsy.com / November 8, 2010
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by RiPPa, Rob W. Rob W said: rt @bygbaby …. Stereotypes, Ignorance & Stupidity http://tinyurl.com/397s5gh <<==Gr8 points bro […]
Tafari / November 9, 2010
Thank you all for reaching out here!
JVLIVS- Thx for checking in with me bro!
Denise CM – 🙂 I appreciate that!
Osori – You know, this kind of stuff happens all the time & that is a shame. WIth that said, I am not sure why I was shocked but I just wasn’t ready & not in the head space at that time to deal with that kind of drama. YIKES!
Joanna – LOL!!!! I wonder if he was trying to come on to you with that, if he was how corny. LOL
Constructive Feedback – Great questions!!! I have to say that I have not thought any deeper than myself when it comes to the social dialogue that has surrounded black women’s hair.
I have my opinions but they don’t matter in the long term. But I will say that I am tired of the continued jigg-a-boo/wannabe argument in our community. I have a preference for natural hair but I don’t think anyone should be dogging anyone. We need to end the pettiness amongst us & stand united.
Not sure if that answers your question(s) but there you go.
Chidy, Negress – I have not read Pam’s House Blend in a while. I catch up & see what’s going on. All those skin burning chemicals are not good, nor do they promote health. How can on have health dead hair. Makes no sense but hey…
And thanks for the lock love….. Ill tell you a secret, the color in this photo is enhanced. Currently, my highlights are more of a light cognac color. Gonna get my red back this winter… I miss it….
Tafari