#TW casual racism

[acoldsovereign]

"I could eat every human in this park," she muttered under her breath. "--And they would simply breed more."

[catinasink]

i fucking hate thepeople in my grade holy shit

[jankwritten]

yall wanna know how fucked up my anxiety is about some shit

i scroll past a post that's about a topic i don't like. whatever, it's fine. i scroll past a video that's a topic i don't care about. that's normal.

i scroll past a video that's a topic i don't like or care about but the person presenting it is a person of color? i IMMEDIATELY feel immensely guilty and need to "compensate" by "proving" it wasn't because of race by also skipping other random posts, JUST IN CASE someone thinks I'm racist because I didn't want to watch a video on a topic I didn't like or care about, that happened to be presented by a person of color.

this just in on: the police in my brain are loud and i'm scared of them

[ijustwantedtoresetmypassword]

I need help explaining to an older Sturkopp of a relative why calling Schokoküsse "Negerküsse" is not *fine* actually

Cause I have brought every argument i can think of and they still won't stop and it's making me not even mad anymore, I'm at just sad

[ennaih]

Every Film I Watch In 2023:

188. It Lives Inside (2023)

[milomaxxy]

Gotta love how the FIRST fucking thing I see on Tumblr today is some racist fucking cunt inmy inbox telling me *I'm* actually the racist one for calling them racist. And IMMEDIATELY following it up by QUESTIONING MY FUCKING INDIGENOUS BLOOD and fucking citing blood quantum at me with asking what fucking percent I am. Fucking hate these stupid ass fucking racists and their idiotic fucking beliefs.

Blood quantum is fucking eugenics used to erase native blood over time. Blood quantum is eugenics used to determine who is "acceptable" and who isn't. And if you're gonna fucking cite that shit at me, just fucking poor hot fucking tar down your throat and do the rest of us a favor

[soleminisanction]

The OG Saga of the Super-Sons represents an interesting period of comic book history. The Bronze Age of Comics is generally agreed to have started somewhere between 1970 (when Green Lantern/Green Arrow started up and Jack Kirby left Marvel to start the New Gods at DC) and 1973 (when the death of Gwen Stacy happened over in Spider-man).

The first issue of the Super-Sons saga hits right in the middle of that -- cover date of Jan 1973, which means it would've been on the stands towards the end of '72, with most of the other stories coming out sporadically in World's Finest until 76. It means their adventures wind up having this interesting mix between Silver Age goofiness and the Bronze Age return to darker storylines and social issues.

So in Issue 1 you've got Clark snapping the San Andreas fault like a bedsheet so the boys can test their stuff against a dying crime boss without actually risking anyone living in the city they're playing in thanks to the time paradox (it makes... just as much sense in context.)

In Issue 2 they effectively stumble into a Twilight Zone episode, visiting a small town with a mysterious secret that turns out to involve a murdered alien family, a misunderstanding involving their spacecraft, and cryogenic freezing.

And then issue 3 is this almost down-to-earth drama about a third boy who discovers he's adopted, so he abandons the noble but poor man who raised him to instead live the high life with his rich birth father, only to get a rude awakening when he learns that the South American emerald mine those riches come from is essentially a colonialist slave camp, which the Super Sons naturally help bust.

And the fourth issue?

...oh.

Oh dear. This won't end well.

[nogitsunbae]

Just had to walk out of the vet with my cat before her appointment started because the workers there thought it was okay to talk about how “woke” culture and teachers are indoctrinating kids and about how they love that stupid try that in a small town song and how they’re mad at CERTAIN people for not liking the song.

Called them and told them as a poc I felt highly uncomfortable and they will never touch my cat again. They shrugged me off. Posted it publicly. Got some traction. They messaged me.

Anyway

[xenoblademisadventures]

I’m not too familiar with outdated Native American stereotypes, but I’m, like, 99% sure that the Tirkin dialogue in Ghondor’s ascension quest was an outdated Native American stereotype. The way the Tirkin in general have been handled has always been a bit questionable but borders on the “I simply don’t know enough about what I think is happening to say anything.” But I was wondering if anyone knows more about the topic? I’m only really able to flag the dialect as a stereotype because it was brought up in a LA class, otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed. But I’ve been wondering vaguely about the Tirkin enemies for a while. 

Even in the first game, it’s like, the Tirkin and Ignas are just weird enemy types that really shouldn’t have been in the game all things considered. Like, their role in the game was to be an enemy type that could chain attack the player, which is a cute gimmick, but it’s weird that the Monado can damage the Tirkin and Ignas. Also, I’m unsure whether the similar aesthetic to native american artwork in the Tirkin designs counts as inspiration or appropriation, but I also just don’t have a very solid grip on the concept of cultural appropriation, just the understanding that a lot of Native American shit is off-limits due to common bastardizations of it and its usage being not appreciated (in other words, just “don’t go out of my way to add this stuff into my works because it will be seen as disrespectful”). Which also makes me curious about the Saltat enemies in Xenoblade X, which feel like a less copy+paste take of the Tirkin’s as a visual concept. Like, where do they fall in this discussion? Also, I have to bring up the actual totem poles that appear in Future Redeemed. I’m, like, 90% sure that counts as disrespectful. So, actual irl totem poles are really fucking cool. I, again, have very limited understanding of them, but they’re basically stories that are also really detailed and really cool looking carvings. They are a piece of art, not a fucking war-flag. Treating them as such would be like having the Mona Lisa summon Italians for battle. Doesn’t seem right to give it a health bar.

There’s also the story presence of Tirkins in each game that I’m like “hmmm..” Just, with the context that they’re aesthetically derived directly from Native American art. They’ve always existed in a weird half-spot between being a generic enemy for the player to kill without sparing a second thought and as a fantasy race. In the first game, this status is accompanied by the Hodes and Ignas. Again, I’m guessing the purpose was to have the novelty of an enemy capable of chain attacking the player? But unlike the Hodes and Ignas, they’re given speaking roles in 2 and 3. In 2, this dichotomy is addressed by making them a bit of a joke whenever they get speaking roles. Like, in the main story the party kills a bunch of Tirkin chefs on the basis of “they must be up to no good because they’re Tirkin” then upon learning that they actually were innocent, the game’s like “lmao” and moves on. Like, bruh. ???? I assumed that moment has racist roots around it because that’s the only way that series of story beats makes sense to me, but I never really focused on it because 2 is just a giant fucking mess that is also racist in other ways (and in ways I’m simply not qualified to talk about). 

But yeah, figured I should bring that up because it’s annoying that the racism against Native Americans in the series seems to just be getting worse per entry. And it’s just odd for that to even be in the games in the first place considering their larger themes. It’s by no means the first or only case of a work about acceptance, unlearning prejudice, etc. also containing a blatant stereotype in it, but I don’t think I’ve seen anyone bring this up despite being in the fandom since the first game. 

[crabussy]

@weirdbeard61 I can't respond directly because your blog is marked as mature (if this ping doesn't work someone please ping them) but that's not the reason. it's named new zealand because european colonisers, our ancestors, could not bring themselves to respect the māori name. it is hundreds of times easier to spend THREE MINUTES learning how to pronounce aotearoa (which is not even a mouthful. its just ow-te-a-roa. you don't even have to roll the r if its too hard for you.) than it is to officially make that the name of the entire country, and attempt to erase OVER 300 YEARS of māori language use.

it's not called new zealand because aotearoa is a "bit of a mouthful" or for "ease of pronunciation". it's called new zealand because of colonisation. this is embarrassing and sad.

(for clarification, aotearoa is the original māori name for new zealand and is used widely across the country. nz is also often referred to as "aotearoa new zealand" instead of one or the other!!!)

please reblog because I'm kiwi and I need this to get to people who don't follow me directly for less biased results!!!

here's a pronunciation guide for all of you asking [:

EDIT: someone has brought it to my attention that the FULL māori name for new zealand is aotearoa me te waipounamu, which encompasses both north and south island. Some iwi (māori communities/tribes) would rather that aotearoa me te waipounamu become the official name for the country. thank you everyone who is providing opportunities for learning in this post!!

[cuntwrap--supreme]

Boss this morning tells me I need to always double check the truck guy. Which, like, yeah, you always do that. But it doesn't stop there. He said it's because you "can't trust them." And I assume he's talking about the food distro company, so I ask if they're notoriously bad or something. And he goes, "No. You can't trust them," and I realize what he means is our food guy is black.

Fast forward to a couple minutes ago and a woman (names Mershawn) calls and says her food was cold last night. He hangs up on her. Says he won't deal with scammers and what do you expect from "them." And just kept going on. He didn't take the phone call. He wasn't here for her order last night. All he saw was the name on the account and started ranting about how dealing with "those people" is the worst.

I swear, there's some new horror here every day...

[echidnana]

sickening to be reminded that people use "on the spectrum" as an insult

[hobiebrownismygod]

Analyzation of Hobie Brown's sexualization on Tumblr (Also a little bit of ranting cuz it pisses me off like crazy)

Summary:

I'll be going over different stereotypes but I'll focus on the sexualization of black characters in the media specifically. Then I'm gonna relate it back to Hobie Brown and give a little lecture/stern-talking to at the end.

TW: Mentions of sex and sexuality, stereotypes, some mentions of pedophilia

Hobie Brown is not the only hyper-sexualized black man in the media. Almost every attractive black man from a TV show has been turned into a toy for fan fiction writers, including Prowler Miles/Earth-42 Miles (That's a whole other post). The same thing happens with POC characters like Miguel O'hara.

The hyper-sexualization of black characters has been around since the beginning of the integration of POC characters into the media. However, racist perceptions/stereotypes of African-Americans and other POC people in general have been around for even longer, results of white supremacy and "white man's burden"-based imperialism.

African-Americans specifically have been subject to stereotypes such as "being unable to control themselves" since the 1500s, during which black men in particular were being characterized as almost "animalistic." This translated into stereotypes which are still common today, like the stereotype that black men have more sexual prowess than other races.

Bell & Harris (linked below) find that many of these modern hyper-stereotypical images of Black folks have historically depicted them as violent, involved in criminal activity, deadbeat drunks or drug-addicts, or unable to control themselves sexually, financially, or physically. These images render the Black middle class invisible and reduce Blackness merely to pejorative categories. Such descriptions of Black masculinity are problematic for media consumers and emasculating for Black folks. For media viewers, such images relegate Blacks and/or Blackness to the role of being “the problem” and Whiteness as what is normal, typical, and ideal in comparison. Further, portrayals of Blackness juxtaposed against the backdrop of “Whiteness as the ideal” are problematic. They enable the media to influence how audience members construct and/or “view” members of various cultural communities and impact how traditionally marginalized community members may view themselves.

So in summary:

Black characters are sexualized because of stereotypes that have been around for centuries, results of extreme prejudice and blatant racism, which people continue to spew today. By sexualizing black characters in the media so freely, writers are emasculating their black readers and being casually offensive without even realizing it.

By writing about black characters like they're objects, especially black men, you are disrespecting the image of African-Americans in the media, and harming the media's interpretation of them, which eventually leads to worse stereotypes and worse situations for them to have to deal with.

Now let's specifically talk about Hobie Brown.

Why exactly is he so sexualized on Tumblr? The same reasons listed above. He's an attractive black man, so many fan fiction writers find him fair game to create their stereotypical smut-ridden stories, and completely disregard his entire character.

Despite him having zero romantic interests and not even being displayed as a sexual character, people are automatically assuming that he would have a high sexual prowess and would be very sex-motivated.

Do you see the similarities? Blatant racism.

The stereotype that black men have a higher sexual prowess is translating into Hobie Brown's character, which is why there's so much smut written about him. This is also the reason why there's not as much fluff written about him. Because according to these stereotypes, African-American men don't have emotions. They're so masculine that they would never talk about their feelings. They're sexual toys and nothing else.

Do you see the problem with this?

Now this is all without even addressing the fact that his age isn't confirmed. He could be anywhere from 16-25 years old. I personally think he's a teenager, because of the fact that he hangs out with Gwen and Pav who are canonically 13 and 16, and because he looks like a teenager and acts like a teenager.

Overall, the message of this post is-

The hyper-sexualization of black men in the media has to be addressed. Hobie Brown is only the latest victim of sexual stereotypes and this isn't okay. No character should have their entire storyline, plot and characterization stripped down to their sexuality. It's disgusting.

The writers spent a lot of time and put a lot of effort into Hobie's character. By stripping him down to his looks and his sexuality, you are disrespecting the writers and you are feeding into stereotypes. Don't be a supporter of casual racism. Don't be a supporter of stereotypes. Don't be a supporter of sensualizing characters. Don't be a supporter of casual pedophilia.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. Here's a pretty picture of Hobie.

He looks so done 💀. Me after seeing people continue to write smut about him.

Note: I'm not African-American, so if anything I said needs editing or if any of the stereotypes I mentioned are inaccurate in any way, please reach out to me! I'm trying to be a better writer and any type of feedback would be very helpful <3

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10057104

Bell & Harris:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17513057.2016.1142598

https://fabulizemag.com/adults-thirsting-over-underage-characters-is-weird/

@ignocubo

[alice-after-dark]

Mer!Vox AU

I have wanted to do a Mer!Vox AU for a while now, but I hadn't quite found the vibe I wanted until @hiemaldesirae posted this adorable art and my brain ran away with me.

That being said, this AU is uh...not nearly as adorable. My brain does weird things with the most random of inspirations.

Takes place during the Golden Years of New Orleans (1810-1840).

Alastor is a wealthy oddities collector living in Victorian Era New Orleans. One day while out and about, he is approached by a man who claims he has something remarkable to sell him.

TW for implied racism, blood, gore, cannibalism, and other canon-typical triggers.

It wasn't uncommon for people to approach him, trying to sell their snake oil. Anyone who knew Alastor Bourreau's bizarre tastes tried their hand at it at least once. So when this weasel of a man approached him, claiming to have a real live mermaid to sell him, Alastor nearly dismissed him. It was only when the man showed him a scale, a glittering iridescent shade of blue he'd never seen before, did he decide to entertain the sleazy man's offer. He'd go, see what hoax they'd put together, and be on his way. Some entertainment for the evening.

The full moon is high among the stars when he arrives at the warehouse with Husk by his side. Confident does not equal stupid and he is not nearly foolish enough to come to the docks alone at night. The man from before greets him with a bow and hurriedly ushers him into a back room while Husk makes his revolver known to their host with a casual brushing back of his coat. A show mostly. Alastor is perfectly capable of defending himself should the need arise, but he would rather not if he can help it. Giving away his secrets is not something he does lightly.

A long glass box filled with water sits in the center of the room. Heavy chains are wrapped around it. Alastor hardly acknowledges either of these things. No, his eyes are fixated on the beautiful creature inside the box.

The creature appears to be a young man, skin pale as moonlight and eyes a brilliant blue. Those same shimmering scales twist and ripple under the warehouse lights. He is gagged, more chains wrapping his body and biting into the flesh.

He is real. Alastor is certain of it.

The weasel sees his interest and starts to haggle, an unpleasant wrenching forming in Alastor's gut as the fool discusses the price of another person. The thought sickens him, knowing that had things gone differently for him he could have very well been on the opposite end of this endeavor.

But Alastor does not collect these things simply to marvel at them behind glass.

He collects them to learn.

"While your generous offer is greatly appreciated, I think I'll just take him."

"What?"

The shadows descend.

When it is done, the scent of blood hangs thick in the air. Alastor takes a deep inhale and basks in it. Beside him, Husk rolls his eyes, muttering "freak" under his breath. Alastor steps over a severed arm and kneels before the box. The creature inside looks up at him with curiosity. Alastor snaps his fingers and the chains unravel themselves, falling away from the box with a clatter. He opens the lid slowly, holding a hand over the creature and mimicking the same spell on the gag and chains binding it. The mer rises, grasping the edge of the box and lifting himself up so he is meeting Alastor's gaze. One hand comes up to touch the man's face, tracing his features and prodding curiously at his glasses. Alastor lets him explore, content with indulging the creature.

A low groan interrupts them.

The weasel man is still alive. Limbless, but alive. Husk pulls out his revolver, but the creature moves first, dragging himself across the floor with alarming speed and descending on the man. Pupils and irises give way to brilliant red and razor teeth and claws take turns rending flesh apart. Blood soaks the mer's front and Alastor remains silent as the disgusting little man is devoured. Eventually the screams fade and the creature pulls back, blood and viscera dripping from its jaw. His eyes turn to Husk.

"No, no," Alastor interjects. "He's with me."

The mer pulls back. The red glow fades from his eyes. He wipes the gore from his face, licks his hand clean. His tail begins to twist and warp, scales recede and pale flesh emerges. Alastor watches in fascination as the tail becomes legs and the mer takes on full human shape.

"Holy shit," Husk breathes.

Alastor stands, regards him with interest. He crosses the room and offers a hand to the creature. Thin fingers grasp his and the young man stands, stumbling almost immediately and collapsing against Alastor who braces him.

"Thank you."

"Ah so you can speak." There is a sheet draped over some crates nearby and Alastor has his shadow bring it to him. He wraps it around the young mer's exposed body and brushes wet locks away from his face. "Could we have your name then? I am Alastor and that man you almost ate is Husker."

"Husk is fine," the older man chimes in.

The mer pouts at up at Alastor and Alastor decides that a bloodthirsty creature who just devoured a man in front of him has no right to look so cute.

"I wasn't going to eat him. I thought he was going to shoot me." He pulls the sheet a little tighter around himself. "My name is Vox."

"A pleasure." Alastor scoops him up into his arms. "Shall we depart then? It wouldn't do us much good to get caught here."

Husk offers him a two-fingered salute and the three make their way out to the waiting carriage. Alastor's smile reaches his eyes as the mer gazes around the docks in wonder and he gazes out the window their entire ride back home.

What an interesting creature indeed.

---

Not sure if it actually counts as cannibalism since Vox isn't actually human, but tagged just in case lol

[nerdyenby]

I’m really loving Will Trent

Is it believable? Hell nah, but I can guess the plot twists accurately enough to make me feel smart without it feeling predictable

The characters’ chemistry is off the charts and I love all their interactions. They’re all in a platonic love/hate relationship with each other and it’s my favorite thing ever

But most importantly: the disability rep is really good??? I’m not dyslexic or diabetic but the writers are very specific and very intentional when it comes to portraying these conditions. The discussion around the characters’ disabilities and how that factors into their sense of self and their social identity really hits for me. We also got substance abuse disorder, ptsd, and hints of ocd, autism, and ied

It’s not perfect by any means (kinda feels like they forgot about Faith’s diabetes after a handful of episodes, but I believe she’s just girlbossing (she’s on top of it and it doesn’t impact her work much anymore)) but I really like it. I’m focusing on the disabled rep because that’s my area of expertise but it also handles racism, SA, child abuse, and sexism with a lot of care while still keeping it somewhat casual (aka it doesn’t feel forced and they don’t waste time explaining what it is or why it’s bad, just addressing how it impacts our main cast). This shit affects these people, but it’s not all they are. I think it strikes that balance fairly well, but thats just my opinion and others may disagree

Regardless: I feel really seen in this show (from the leads bonding over being infantilized for their disabilities to me getting inordinately excited to see a character carrying a medication I’m on) but if that’s not enough, we got a puppy named Betty and her badass nonbinary dogsitter who steal the show every time they’re on screen, so maybe check it out (be sure to research TWs beforehand tho, it gets dark)

[rebelwheelsnycpoetry]

And The Papers Said

TW: ABLEISM & EUGENICS by Michele Sommerstein

Part One And the papers said Michael Hickson, a black disabled man. And the papers said Hospital. Texas. COVID. Infection And the papers said Killed. For his doctor did not feel And the papers said that a… quadriplegic could possibly have a quality, of life. And the papers said and thus was not worth saving And the papers said (was not saved) disabled people are not of worth message repeating and… sent.

And the papers said the doctor had the audacity to say And the papers said it's not personal, to Hickson's wife, And the papers said There are set criteria from the state And the papers said As to who will live and who they let die And the papers said Michael Hickson. a black disabled body, that did not comply

Once again, reunited Eugenics & Capitalism America's not so secret friends fucking each other furiously for the sake of mindless fucking, like machines wallowing in their own stains, covered in their own blood and filth, crimes. unclean Disgusted? You should be.

Part Two Shortages! Hospitals! Ventilators! Low! This, that was avoidable & created by the vulture capitalists who see death… elated - pandemic as an opportunity! Cha-ching! Soulless! Shortages! Created by, the powers that be Like when, Cuomo – the hero praised at times for merely being, better than Trump! (Raise the bar! This drinks on me) cut funding, healthcare. home care. hospitals (before and during the pandemic) Shortages! So the billionaires would be spared from paying their fair, share, of… taxes Shortages! While marginalized people are blamed for, “costing too much” the audacity of austerity…

Shortages created when patients, infected knowingly sent to nursing homes, locked up. death traps, unleashing COVID on the people in places where social distancing was never, even, an option.

Part Three There are those, who will hear these words, shrug and nonchalant they will say things like Well, these things happen, what can you do? Those who are complacent, able bodied, complicit, still living but numb. They will repeat, their response so casually even to the face of those visibly disabled, as if it's nothing in a tone used to discuss sweaters and their… plans for lunch as if we as a society can't do better? (We can. We must.)

Who taught you about disability? Who lied to you saying disabled people are less than, undeserving? That we are better off dead?

Part Four And the papers said… His wife implored, insisting, knowing he lived a full life. And the papers said for in her eyes, in her heart, her love's life was worth saving. And the papers said, doctors withheld treatment including hydration… nutrition read: starving him for six. days Michael Hickson. a black disabled body that did not comply. “Michael Hickson, [a black disabled man] died leaving, his wife and five children, behind.“

About the poem: I originally wrote this poem because, so often as a disabled person, you read these headlines and it’s absorbed into you, but there's not always an outlet to really express the emotional toll.

So often, I'd read the headlines and somewhat shut down because I can’t feel every time I read something like this, but it’s still in you. Michael Hickson was the first time I read an article that actually included a name when they were discussing “state criterias' and the pandemic. The conversation between the doctor and Hickson’s wife was recorded and when I heard it, it just hit me on a deeper level and I had to write something.

That said, to learn more about the intersections of ableism & racism, I suggest checking out the following peoples: @Imani_Barbarin , @VilissaThompson , @BlackDisability & @powernotpity on Twitter.

You can read more about Michael Hickson’s story here: https://notdeadyet.org/2020/06/adapt-of-texas-protests-hospital-killing-of-michael-hickson-a- black-disabled-man.html