The people I'm backing away from aren't even folks I would ever have said were racists, but they are seriously bugging the fuck out over what seems to me a pretty measured (mildly impatient and eyerolling, but all told still measured) response.

One person got nigh hysterical about how "I dressed up as a geisha for Halloween a couple of years ago, so I guess I'm racist now, huh, huh, is that what you're saying?" and it is taking all I've got not to just screencap her post (or possibly the entire thread) and send it to Yo, Is This Racist?

They're good people, generally, but holy fuck are they flipping out like mammals.

Yes, yes I am. I am saying you're a racist now. Fuck you.

Man, I had a really tough, nuanced conversation this summer with a young camper who had appropriated Native American costuming for Halloween in the past. I asked her for details (she'd dressed as a specific person and had tried to include tribal specific design) and explained what she did right and why some people would still find what she did problematic. She was thoughtful, inquisitive, and ultimately apologized. Why can't you be like this bright young woman, all other white people?

Is it hard to be called out on your past mistakes? Of course. Would you have made the mistake if you knew better? Probably not. But learning about it after the fact doesn't make it not your fault or not a problem. It just makes it a problem you now know not to repeat! Handle it with grace.

Sheesh.

(Also? That was not a fucking kimono. Just saying.)

it is taking all I've got not to just screencap her post (or possibly the entire thread) and send it to Yo, Is This Racist?

Yes. Do EEEt.

Man, I had a really tough, nuanced conversation this summer with a young camper who had appropriated Native American costuming for Halloween in the past. I asked her for details (she'd dressed as a specific person and had tried to include tribal specific design) and explained what she did right and why some people would still find what she did problematic. She was thoughtful, inquisitive, and ultimately apologized. Why can't you be like this bright young woman, all other white people?

There was an article in a local newspaper (local to my parents) about how local schools are celebrating Thanksgiving. Nearly all of them had things like kids dressing up in headdresses with colorful feathers, or choosing Native American names, or stuff like that. Just one of the schools mentioned taking the kids to a exhibit on the Native Americans local to the area, which was run by someone who is part of that tribe.

Is it hard to be called out on your past mistakes? Of course. Would you have made the mistake if you knew better? Probably not. But learning about it after the fact doesn't make it not your fault or not a problem. It just makes it a problem you now know not to repeat! Handle it with grace.

seriously.

I am amazed how much white people suck at this, in general. It's insane.

First batch of Latke-Crusted Turkey Stuffing Fritters With Liquid Cranberry Core has been fried. One didn't get golden brown around the equator, so I made that my sample. Yum. Not sure how they will reheat tomorrow, but hot from the oil = yum.

Looks right to me

Thank you for making the hard call for my benefit, Hec. I can trust you for that where my skull is concerned.

That's as short as the place can go without straight razor. I guess that's extra money, and definitely extra weight.

I read a conflicting article about appropriation yesterday. I don't know what to make of many of his points, especially the bit where he's mad at straight people appropriating AIDS. If I can see that he's mad that if an AIDS movie has to be made after this long, why does it have to pointedly be about a bigot, isn't it likely that if it was about a gay man by this writer or director it would be appropriating even worse, and whoever did it, some complaint that if you're going to make a big budget movie with gay leads, why does it have to be about AIDS? There are a lot of no win situations in it, and mostly I come away feeling the biggest message is "write what you are AND NOTHING ELSE."

Also there are no allies.

In 180° news, I really really want some oatmeal right now. But it's for breakfast. I can't break the rules and have it now. That way lies chaos.

Is it hard to be called out on your past mistakes? Of course. Would you have made the mistake if you knew better? Probably not. But learning about it after the fact doesn't make it not your fault or not a problem. It just makes it a problem you now know not to repeat! Handle it with grace.

It's brutal. I mean, honestly, who easily says they flat-out fucked up before they knew different and they're sorry?

Because they might do it differently knowing what they know in this moment but, honestly, they lived in a different snapshot of time.

People make bad choices and we give them a way to move on and be better or we don't.

Or you could be like Colton Haynes who tacked up his costume more than one Halloween--you can be called out a fucking lot, and then flip the finger at your public and plan someting trivial to you for next year.