Duke Lacrosse players acquitted.

Well, here we have it folks, the Duke lacrosse players were acquitted of the remaining charges today. Let’s hear what one player had to say for himself:

Many people across this country, across this state, would not have the opportunity that we did, and this could simply have been brushed underneath the rug just as another case and some innocent person would end up in jail for their entire life,” Evans said. “It’s just not right.”

That’s right Evans, it’s not right! Golly, jee whiz that sure was unfair what you went through. I wonder if this Evans lad will end up a volunteer with this organization. Probably not, considering that Evans’ experience was one that would make anyone have faith in the so-called justice system. Not to mention the fact that I think Evans and his cronies are a bunch of selfish pricks.

Of course, Samhita over at Feministing got bawled out for assuming something very similar about the Duksters and their “friends.” Check out some of the racist commentary to her post, it pretty much sums up this case and demonstrates america’s problem with racism. I  thought white feminists had gotten the memo: there are people out there who are both of color and women, which means that they confront both racism and sexism. Apparently not! I was  shocked and infuriated to read the nasty comments on that archived post.

But, back to this case, is it even worth pointing out the irony that white men are suddenly thrust into the position of proving themselves innocent and people start showing their support by wearing “innocent” bracelets? I mean do these people understand that they have stooped to the lowest level of appropriating a black political fight for their own legal benefit. And, of course, it worked out for them in the end. The irony, of course, is that these people DID rape and assault that woman, while many black men and women remain in prison for crimes they did not commit. In an odd but typical twist the Duke lacrosse players end up reinforcing the idea that justice works, that people who are innocent are never wrongfully convicted. And the crazy machine moves forward.

To those readers who have a problem with me claiming that they are gulity: I have 0% faith in the justice system. I understand that white people generally get off for their crimes, while black and latino/a people are disproportionatly convicted and, often, wrongfully so. Does it seem likely that these Dukesters got out of control and raped a black woman? Absolutely. My question to the naysayers is: Where is the woman’s justice in all of this?

 

El Tigre! Multiculturalism or Minstrel Show?

El Tigre! is a new cartoon on Nick that the kids I b-sit for watch. Normally, I do not watch tv with them, but tonight I decided to check it out. The show uses vintage toon imagery, punctured with a day of the dead motif and showcases an all Latino ensemble cast of voices. The hero is the eight year old son of a retired superhero, who turns hero (El Tigre!) himself. In this episode I learned that El Tigre’s mother left his dad because she was too sensitive when it came to his heroing out on the corner all day.

I thought that the multiculturalism was a good thing. Especially when the characters all have, let’s see, “hood” type personalities. But, see, even writing that demonstrates the racism of the show. The show does not show any diversity with-in Mexican-American culture (although, the girl sidekick does have blue hair). It simply depicts a monolithic culture that is steeped with ghetto and working class stereotypes.  

Not to mention, that the mother’s character is a complete wus who is over sensitive and over reactive! After she leaves, she becomes an international mariachi (I kid you not) sensation and returns to praise her son’s super hero work.

While la madre was on tour el tigre has been fighting crime by busting characters who just got out of jail and who all–strangely–seem to be fat, lazy Latinos!

So it seems, that multiculturalism for kids may not always be sending the right message–that is it tends to reinforce racist attitudes. Surprise, surprise.

Check out the link at the top of this post for yourselves!

The Sopranos get personal

If I were going to do a phd in pop culture or American Studies I would write about the Sopranos.  On a personal level, no other show gets it so right about Italian working class culture in the suburban north east. It might as well not be about the mob at all, but then would we have all the secrecy and humiliation that comes with this specific familial culture? It (the mafioso) works, especially, to demonstate the ways that life choices are constricted by religion, ethnicity and class.

Many of you may say that this show is misogynist but I LOVE the women characters. The way that they bare the burdens of religion and culture, the way they get fed up with men is so perfect. I feel like I knew so many of these women and that I, myself, have this tendency toward recouping control when I feel powerless.

Plus, there are so many mis-ideas about the life of the upper classes produced within the family itself. College, movies, literature…every character is just filled with wrong ideas, but, yet, wants so desperatly to get it right. That is why we have Chris, the would be screen writer, with his 20,000 dollar lexus and Tony pretending that he is not interested in joining the local golf club.

I guess that is what I like about the show so much, it is critical of both working class and upper class culture. It leaves nothing to romance, except, maybe a few wacks and wise guys.

The TRC machine live and on tour!

Looks like Thabo Mbeki will  be making the rounds to the Sudan this week to advise the Sudanese gov’t on how to deal with the post-conflict resolution. 

 It is strange to me that SA has become the great stamp of approval, which rubber stamps post-conflict resolution. The whole point of the TRC was that it was a politically negotiated settlement that would insure that afrikaneers would not get booted out of the country, or lynched. In return the ANC could gain political control over the country. I wonder: are the black people currently displaced from the Sudan going to get this type of power if the freedom fighters do agree to amnesty?

My second question is, isn’t this a bit premature?

via AllAfrica

Blogging without Borders

It seems that the “without borders” suffix has become cache amongst liberal and international organizations. Blogging, by nature, is without borders (although coorporations seem to be  reclaiming and dividing up the Africa internet) provided that one has access to a computer, one can both publish and read to contentment. As can be found in my quip of “Blogging beyond the pass system” below borders and, I suppose, lines of difference form a critical part of my interests. And, although, part of this interest arises from transnational feminism and anti-colonialism, the majority of it comes from my opposition to apartheid.

Apartheid can serve as a valuable metaphor for thinking culture and can, especially, warn those of us who care about identity politics  run a muck. When we become so fastidious in our identitities that we can no longer think beyond our own little banal corner of being empathy becomes impossible, and, more critically, when empathy goes away the evil Other is formed. Also– the concept of universality beyond social differences becomes unthinkable. I know that my one reader will charge me with essentialism here, but I need to be brave and finally say what I have been thinking all along: there is such a thing as a universal. I might not know what it is or how to name it in language but, nevertheless, one exists and I hope to find it in graduate school.

But, I digress. The “Without Borders” thing seems to be a little different from the anti-apartheid movement. The anti-apartheid movement was more akin to an anti-colonial movement to empower the black majority of SA  within the political electorate. Not to mention to end the torture, policing and removal of black people within their own borders (here the sovereign SA as we know it today). Conversely, “Without Borders” seems to be part of the touchy feely liberal machine, which vilifies governments of color in order to provide services to the “masses” living under these regimes.

Now, don’t get me wrong,  governments like, for example, the Sudanese need to stop fucking around with black people who live in its borders and comprise the majority of its populations. But to go in as doctors, and lawyers as an after thought does not empower these people toward soverignty. The “Without Borders” franchise seems to have more in common with a world without borders=one Empire, than an anti-colonial movement.

But, back to blogging, I like it. It seems to be a real place of freedom…where differences can be outright made up, if not just performed in the Judith Butler sense. Probably, I am just a rookie and idealistic here.

So the question to my readers: is blogging more like “without borders” or an actual anti-essentialism that can oppose an apartheid-like id politics?

Without Experience

Hello, I am without experience. That is, this blog is dedicated to all non-experienced based observations of the world. Those of you familiar with my work and political dispositions may find this surprising. As a self-identified feminist and woman, I have often relied on experience to inform my scholarly and political pursuits. To be honest, I feel that this has led to some difficultly in my personal and psychological life. For example, where does empathy fit into one’s experience. My experience as a white woman often leads me to  be empathetic toward more disadvantaged people, but in the current fashion of identity politics empathy is seen at best useless and at worst a neo-colonial form of experience.

 Thus, a blog is born. One where you will find the category of experience constantly denied but emerging at the same time. On this blog you will find commentary about African politics, feminism, theory, books and popular culture. And, yes, these are the things I love in life. They are my true joys and part of my experience. They are not transparent glimpses into my life as would be written in a 19th century journal. They would constitute my only experiences if I could get rid of all the tripe, meanness and lonelyness that haunts my daily existance.

Who am i?

Without Experience is a non-expereince based blog commenting on politics, theory, feminism, pop culture, and Africa. The title may jar some of you familiar with my emotional and political orientation toward identity politics, emancipation and freedom.  Aren’t these all categories that, at the very core, deal directly with personal experience? Well, my answer is two fold: 1) this will not serve as a space for me to work out my personal issues or laundry lists (or grocery lists either) 2) I want to critically examine subjectivity rather than just assume its place in history since the switch was turned on in the 18th century and, I guess a fold for good luck, 3) I am interested in political strategies that create new codes for freedom outside of the liberal cutting machine–not that I know what these would be but that is the expedition for now. If you like to join along, pack your bags, off we go. Along the way expect to find some blogging beyond the pass system!