Wednesday, September 29, 2010
"Passing"
While I was working on my paper, my roommate Zabia and I got into a long discussion about identity. I was using my perspective based on the works we've read, including the Social Construction of Gender, La Conciencia de la Mestiza and Intersectionality to the Rescue. She discussed works from her class, and the one that drew my attention was the novel, Passing. It discussed, specifically, two black females where, based on their phenotypes, could pass as white and could get where they wanted in society because could pass as being white. This was back in the days where there was still segregation. It was funny that this concept directly applied to me and is something I would like to discuss in my paper. My mother is Chilean and my father is Italian (or white), but I am seen as a Caucasian girl, and am treated differently than if i looked more like the latter. It was nice to discuss this with my roommate which helped get my brainstorming going!
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The notion of passing is quite a significant one, as is the movie of the same name Passing. You should include a link to the movie in your post.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting about passing is thta it shows up in multiple ways, especially in the context of the Oppression Olympics.
One point that black people like to throw at gay people is "You could pass for straight and nobody would know but I can't change the color of my skin." Michael Jackson notwithstanding, the point should not be that SOME gay people can perform their gender identity in a way which does not get them "clocked" as Gay in public. The question is why should they, why can't they be free to express their gender (and their sexual orientation) in whatever outwardly public way that they want?
By saying that Black people are always visible while gay people can act in ways which make them invisible, Black people are saying that "We have it worse than you!' and perpetuating the oppression olympics.
(NOTE: this is an example of a substantive comment which could replace a blogpost in your semester tally)
Professor Buckmire brings up a valid point that is very true amongst the African-American community. It is definitely true that black people will perpetuate the oppression olympics amongst gay people.
ReplyDeleteThis also rings true amongst between African Americans with darker and lighter skin. Some darker skinned black people will say "you can pass as white but I'm too dark so I'll remain black." As a result there is sometimes a contemptuous yet envious perception of lighter skinned blacks. Light skinned blacks are seen as "soft", unathletic, and yet beautiful at the same time. It is like a self-hatred of some of their own darker skin while at the same time blaming lighter skinned blacks for their "passing." Some darker blacks have tried to solve this dilemma of apparent light skinned superiority with the phrase "Black is beautiful." While the phrase is empowering on some level, it has been used by some to marginalize the lighter skinned blacks.
In addition to the sexuality differences Professor Buckmire mentioned there are the phenotypical divisions within the African American community.
I have elder members of my family, who "passed" for white in while living in the south, so I find this topic interesting
ReplyDeleteI also completely agree with what David brought up about light and dark skin in the black community. There is definately a binary instilled between the two "types of black," yet I, personally find it hard to place who is on top.
As a light-skinned African American, I feel the positive AND negaetive affects of this relationship.
For black women espeacially, this topic is extremely present in our ideas of beauty regarding hair. In modern times, Black women put staightners and unhealthy chemical perms in thier hair to make it resemble white hair. Some people even consider it a present-day form of "passing."