Yes, you’ve heard the code phrases.
People often disguise their prejudices by explaining that they’re not filled with fear or hatred toward a particular group; it’s just that they want that group to act, you know, more “normal.” In this context, “normal” means avoiding any behaviors that indicate different perspectives from the majority culture.
For example, we hear a lot about Hispanic immigrants assimilating. As I’ve written before, this can be an admirable goal…or it can imply that something is fundamentally wrong with Latino culture.
More than anything, Hispanics are not to flaunt their ethnic identity. There are, of course, a host of behaviors that draw attention to a Latino identity. Potential offensive behaviors include everything from speaking Spanish in public to bringing up the complexities of Latino healthcare.
Committing such sins can lead to serious disapproval.
June 20th, 2011 on 8:57 am
First of all, you need to quit with that picture. I almost died.
Second of all, I wonder if the discomfort stems from envy. When it comes to the Irish and Italians, “certain” people feel they can identify and fell like they have some sort of culture to connect to, even if only at the superficial level.
However, when you add a touch of color, some dark, oppressed history at the hands of “certain” people, as well as a splash of defiance (“Yeah, I’m brown. And Latino. And proud of it – so what?”)…well, it’s a whole other ball game. They can’t assimilate into that. They can’t pass themselves off or connect, except as an oppressor.
And we all know how “some” people don’t like to be reminded of all that.
Furthermore, I’m sick of this “flaunting” nonsense. You can flaunt a new car. You can flaunt a Rolex. You can’t, however, flaunt who/what you are. We are born with our skin; being brown or having kinky is “making a statement” – it’s called existing, and some folks need to just suck it up and deal.
June 20th, 2011 on 2:35 pm
Thanks, as always, for reading.
I must admit that I hadn’t thought of the envy angle. That’s a great point.
And I wonder how much of the hostility directed at ethnic minorities stems from people’s inability to relate. As you point out, that creates a situation where certain people are reminded of their ancestor’s status as oppressor, and we all know a whole lotta discomfort can result from that.
June 27th, 2011 on 1:00 pm
*being brown or having kinky hair isn’t “making a statement”