GLBT and Race

[bcholmes]

The fact of the matter is, that just like any other social grouping in the GLBT community, whiteness seeks to lead and make its issues primarily the focus for organizing. In the most comprehensive study done of the the black GLBT population in 2002, 50% of the black GLBT respondents reported racism, or racist experiences when interacting within the GLBT community. Clearly if 50% of the population is reporting a negative experience, this is not just something a few black activists are critiquing from a position of homophobia.

— GLBT Black And Invisible

The whole article is fascinating. Again, I wish I could remember where I found the link.

Comments

[rosefox]

Organizations with a clue on this topic include Harlem United and Queers for Economic Justice. I'm sure either one would welcome a donation, or just a thank-you letter.

[lovecraftienne.livejournal.com]

I've seen this is in so many ways...we always hope that people who've been the victim of discrimination would know better than to do it themselves. And some do. But many more reject their victimization, and begin to victimize other people instead, as a way to make themselves feel superior.

It's all rather tawdry. I first recognized the phenomenon when it was introduced to me in the CF as:

Me (whiny 18-year-old): "Waah, waah, it's unfair!"

Corporal who's just told me to dig a slit trench in the rain: "Shit rolls down hill. Sergeant York got crapped on; he crapped on me. Now you get to be the crap-ee. So dig, private, while I stand under this umbrella and tell you what a piece of crap you are."

Anal-obssessed bunch, those military folk.