further to the previous:

[raven]

Hello, flist. So, I got drunk and gave my sorrows a proper good dunking. But, I got home safely, and I had a really good time, and for once, for once, I feel like I have friends here in Ithaca, friends who got drunk with me and sobered up with me and then tossed a coin to see who had to get me home, because it was a responsibility they had to discharge, because they are my friends. The South African Siren brought me home, kindly, with much amusement, and understanding of why I chose tonight of all nights to get rather drunk (I wailed on her and told her actually I am GAY, this is all a misunderstanding; she laughed at me and took me home). But, you know, the people on my course, though I am not bestest friends with many of them, have this in common: they are kind and welcoming and friendly, and there is a wee gang of cool kids and they are kind, welcoming and friendly too. I think it is an artefact of how we are all international students and a long way from home, but I like it, very much.

And I wore a corset and it looked awesome, so there. I mean, I really did. A corset, a wee skirt, tights and my favourite heels, and I wasn't dressed as anything in particular but I am a great believer in the influence of clothes on mood. I felt good in it, which makes me think I should go gothing more often - there are no goth clubs in Ithaca, apparently; at least I have not found anyone who dresses up on a regular basis - and also, also. There was a guy who I knew who dressed up tonight as a Red Indian, ohgod, why would you, why. And I said to someone, hey, I think that's kind of problematic. And they said, why. And I said, it's like, you wouldn't dress up in a sari and be an Indian for Hallowe'en, would you. And they said, er. Oh, that's kind of bad, isn't it. And everyone I said this to, even through my various glasses of wine, seemed to agree with me on this. And it made me happy. It really did. I mean I am just a stroppy brown girl most of the time. (Oh, I am so tired of being a stroppy brown girl. But.)

I am doing a lot better than I expected, really. Shim will be home soon. So will I.

Tomorrow, pumpkin pie! And work. But pie also.

Comments

[via_ostiense]

The Halloween party sounds fun! And good on you for pointing out the problemacy of dressing up as a Native American--I'm glad people were responsive.

[macadamanaity.livejournal.com]

There was a guy who I knew who dressed up tonight as a Red Indian, ohgod, why would you

Oh my god, Iona, people brought other people to my Halloween party who decided to come as "Mexicans" and put on fake-tan to do so, and when I pointed out that this was not even a little bit different from blackface I got 'oh, it's the PC police' looks from some people. OH MY GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN. SRSLY. Someone I saw was doing that whole Mexican thing last night, but I didn't know them, thank goodness. Just, WHY.

[littlered2.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your pumpkin pie!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Pie! It lived up to advance billing. :P

[the-acrobat.livejournal.com]

Yay friends and yay corsetry and yay pumpkin pie and yay alcohol!

There was a guy who I knew who dressed up tonight as a Red Indian

Ohgod. Although that's in a country that has "Red Indians" as sports mascots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Illiniwek) as well. And then, when it was decided to cut that shit out, there was a whole bunch of missing the point (http://www.dailyillini.com/news/campus/2010/10/27/ui-music-education-faculty-sends-e-mail-regarding-the-next-dance) (see comments). I can't even.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Oh.... my god. That is just so ridiculously awful and horrible and, urgh.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Oyyyy the Red Indian thing. I had a lengthy conversation with a friend on the subway the other day about cross-ethnicity Halloween costumes, with the general resolution being that dressing as a specific person/character is generally cool, regardless of racial/ethnic/whatever background, but going as "lol an Indian!" or "lol a black dude!" or "lol a white chick!" is the opposite of okay. Obviously.

But the fuzzy territory occurs when we started talking about kids' costumes instead of adults' costumes. Like, when an eight-year-old has spent the last month in school learning about the native Americans and the Pilgrims and real-Thanksgiving and/or fake-Thanksgiving, and she decides she wants to put on a feather headdress and be an Indian Girl? Is that racism? Is it racism on the parents' part for letting her do it? Does she get a pass because of her age? O, thinky thoughts.

[vikingwriter.livejournal.com]

Of course, she could always do another 10 minutes of research and chose a specific person, or even tribe. Of course, grown-ups will just ask her 'Oh, so are you an Indian, sweetie? That's nice,' and pat her on the head. So when she says, hands on her hips, 'No, I'm Sacagawea*, thank you very much,' they can walk away completely oblivious to their own ignorance.



* Yes, I realize I've spelled her name wrong, and I apologize. Sadly unsure if I have enough working brain cells to spell my own name at this point. Hopefully the point still stands...

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Touché -- I think that's a valid point. But of course, then the question becomes this: if they pick a specific person, does the same rule apply to adults? (I'm thinking my answer is no, since the idea makes me a little skin-crawly, but hmm.)

[vikingwriter.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I didn't mean for it to come out requiring a 'touche.' I keep forgetting that me + sarcasm + writing =/= sarcastic writing, but rather = pain-in-the-ass-ery.

And by the same rule, you mean dressing up as a historic person of a different ethnicity? I don't really see why that wouldn't be acceptable. I mean, I see people of different skin tones dressed at Ren Fests all the time, and not as based on their heritage's history. I mean, can only old white men dress up as George Washington or olive-toned Mediterranean women as Greek goddesses? It seems that if we're talking about costumery and dressing up and being someone else for a short while, I'm not sure why skin tone matters if there is respect for the individual's historical persona.

But that's just me and I'm just a white girl who loves to be other people.

[vikingwriter.livejournal.com]

*IF* by 'the same rule,' you mean . . .

*must remember to proofread*

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Oh no no, no need for "ouch"! I am just the sort of person who overuses "touché" and probably means the wrong thing by it. Mostly I meant "yeah, good point." Sorry!!

And yeah, more good points here. I guess it all depends on intention and context. Or something.

[dr-biscuit.livejournal.com]

Yay for you and for drunk and for friends and for tiny little rootlets of belonging.

I really wish you didn't have to be stroppy brown girl, except for when you feel like it.
<3