One other thing that might make me very nervous about writing a person of color is the fact that so many of my friends of color tell all of the white people they know that they could not possibly have any idea what it is like to lead their lives, and that if they don't know, they couldn't possibly understand, so one should not even dare to ask questions.
They say WHAT?!
I--- just--- argh! I completely, completely disagree with them here! Every single thing I write or say about my race to someone who isn't of it is in part a way to show them what it's like to be me so they can see our common humanity across our differences.
Plus, well, that's just.... ok, maybe they've said this because they got tired of explaining, one does. Or of people making mistakes, or thinking they understand when they don't, which can be really annoying. But I really, profoundly disagree with them when they say that to you. I completely disagree with the concept. I think we can come to understand each other across any divide. I think we *must* if we're going to keep from killing each other.
God, and with that echoing in your memory you must have really been full of trepidation about writing this reply. Thank you for trusting me!
And, yeah, I said, "I think that leaving certain groups of characters out when they should be present leaves scars on the fictional landscape" the way I did because one of the major criticisms of this concept is, "you want token characters of color just for them to be there!" I'm not going to write a Black hobbit. (Although now I have an idea for a fascinating AU...) But in SG-1 fandom, I think it'll be *awesome* that you write Teal'c, just as it's awesome that princessofg does, not as any particular feature but as himself in everything the show has shown us of him, and everything you can extrapolate from that.
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Date: 2006-09-23 06:55 pm (UTC)They say WHAT?!
I--- just--- argh! I completely, completely disagree with them here! Every single thing I write or say about my race to someone who isn't of it is in part a way to show them what it's like to be me so they can see our common humanity across our differences.
Plus, well, that's just.... ok, maybe they've said this because they got tired of explaining, one does. Or of people making mistakes, or thinking they understand when they don't, which can be really annoying. But I really, profoundly disagree with them when they say that to you. I completely disagree with the concept. I think we can come to understand each other across any divide. I think we *must* if we're going to keep from killing each other.
God, and with that echoing in your memory you must have really been full of trepidation about writing this reply. Thank you for trusting me!
And, yeah, I said, "I think that leaving certain groups of characters out when they should be present leaves scars on the fictional landscape" the way I did because one of the major criticisms of this concept is, "you want token characters of color just for them to be there!" I'm not going to write a Black hobbit. (Although now I have an idea for a fascinating AU...) But in SG-1 fandom, I think it'll be *awesome* that you write Teal'c, just as it's awesome that