Wow, what a difference a fortnight makes! Two weeks ago, I wrote a piece for Racialicious (and expanded on this blog) about the effects that hipster racism had on allowing David Remnick and his New Yorker staffers to put out that Obamas-as-terrorists cover and my relationship with my partner.
That post got some serious online legs, being reposted and linked to by some blogs I hold in high esteem, like culturekitchen (I loves ya, Liza!), Zuky (my adoration for Kai Chang is well known in these here parts–Lisa, stop smirking), and The Angry Black Woman. And then came along Daily Kos and Wiretap Magazine, who writers/editors/owners/publishers asked me if they could put the writing up on their blogs (big hugs to progressive independent woman and Jamilah King. Here are some other places I found that post:
Possumstew: Okay, NOW it’s sexism?: Ms. and the Obama New Yorker Cover
“I recommend that any readers who would like to join a REALLY interesting discussion about it read AJ Plaid’s cross-post and comments. (Also, she is fabulous – do yourself a favor and check out her blog. Yes, that was yet another plug.)” (No, y’all, I didn’t pay her.–AJP)
BlogHer: The Latest Dust-up on The View and Hipster Racism at [Its] Worst
“…there are other instances that serve as an indication that there is a certain segment of our population who Really. Do. Not. Get. It. Last week, I used the term ‘hipster racism’ but realized right after I used it that there was a way better example. First, here is a definition, courtesy of The Cruel Secretary…”
VivirLatino: Ay the Hipster Irony (and Racism)
“For more on hipster racism, read this Racialicious post.”
LA Eastside: Far East LA and Other Sh*t I Don’t Like
“I found a new phrase. Hipster Racism, I found it at Racialicious, the ladies over there are so smart.” (@ browne–I’m glad and flattered that you think that I’m part of the Racialicious Smart Set. But that phrase was pure Carmen Van Kerckhove. I simply expanded it her idea. All love though…–AJP)
Talk Islam: You’ve Gotta Be Kidding Me with This
Fatemeh: Here’s Racialicious‘ take on it. The contributor defines it as “hipster racism.”
Willow: Hipster racism. Brilliant. I’m going to start using that.
(Give credit to CVK, please.–AJP)
Incommunicado: Hot Time, Summer in the City
Not to totally beat a dead horse, but these are the two best posts I’ve seen out there regarding that ridiculous New Yorker “satire” cover. They say it better than I ever could. (And who gets quoted? Me and Zuky’s Kai Chang. In Keanu Reeves’ immortal words, “Whoa!” And Lisa, behave!–AJP)
The F-word: That New Yorker, a Round-up
Some homegurls from across the Atlantic got offended, too. “So, the New Yorker ran a blindingly offensive cover (see right). It’s meant to be a satire of the racist & sexist bullshit aimed at Barack and Michelle Obama, but as you can see, manages to indulge and replicate that same bullshit in the caricatures.” (And my leggy post was included in their blogosphere survey.–AJP)
Corrente: The New Yorker Cover
“The New Yorker and Hipster Racism, (what a great phrase, hipster racism, I will have to remember that). With friends like these…Truly, it is really an offensive cover. It only thinks it is satirical. It reinforces serious lies and does great damage to our public discourse.
American Prospect: Scoring the New Yorker Cover (oh, umm, this was a running contest?–AJP)
“A.J. Plaid at Racialicious takes issue with what she sees as The New Yorker’s “hipster racism,” which she describes as “the use of irony meant to denigrate another’s person race or ethnicity under the guise of being urbane, witty (meaning “ironic” nowadays), educated, liberal, and/or trendy,” arguing that “being on the right side” doesn’t give one the right to take that kind of license with racist images.”
Haute Femme Trash: Just Say No!
“There’s been a lot of response in the blogosphere, and most of it hasn’t been too pleasant. A great one is over at racialicious. As always. I’m intrigued by this “hipster racism” discussed in the piece. It strikes a chord with me, and I’m not sure why.”
Racialicious: The New Yorker and Hipster Racism: Hands up who’s ready for the Age of Earnest?
Wow. And that was just a lazy Google search.
I’m happy to report that my post brought about the official end of my relationship. Before the “oh gurl, I’m so sorry” responses come to the comment boards, I’m gonna pre-empt them. Really, truly, luvies, I’m thrilled to be out of this relationship because I’m free from the mess. I’m moving out of the ex’s place this weekend. So, please send me bouquets of well wishes, not hankerchiefs of sorrow.
More champagne-popping news: Latoya announces that the brilliant Thea Lim and I are the newest members of the Racialicious team. But I’m not just one of the newest correspondents. Oh no. In Latoya-tastic style….
Our second fabulous addition has a very special job. I will expand upon the reason for this in the Editrix Letter, but AJ Plaid has the distinction of being Racialicious’ first Sexual Correspondent.
The Editrix letter oughta be good.
Of course, my TCS commenter crew showed some lurve to Thea and me. And, of course, my bro Joseph had to bring up a PVC outfit. (Actually, it’s a riff on a private joke. That man….:-D) But I did bring up wanting Sendhil Ramamurthy as a job perk. And said he should wear the PVC.
July 29, 2008 at 5:34 am
Hello there!!
Congratulations!
I am so very excited about the news!
Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa
July 29, 2008 at 7:49 am
ooOh girl! ^___^
The Heartbreaker vibe seems SOOOOO appropriate right now! GET it!
Thank you for your wonderful contribution to our small but strong anti-racism dictionary,
and many many blessings to your independence! May we find truly strong men.
All my love.
July 29, 2008 at 11:18 am
kudos on needed endings and new beginnings! i found out about your blog through the Racialicious Hipster Racism piece. that term (hipster racism) just about sums up every eerie feeling i’ve had about things ranging from maddening conversations on Obama’s alleged transcendence of race to well-meaning white friends explaining why brooklyn is okay and the bronx is not. nice to know i’m not alone. keep keeping it real.
July 29, 2008 at 4:07 pm
@ Lisa–friend, a thousand thanks! To say the least, it was very, very necessary. And do I feel liberated! Woot!
@ hello im cat–welcome to my blog, luvie! Gosh, I feel like I didn’t contribute anything to the anti-racism lexicon so much that I simply expanded on what was there. As I say, you–and I–have to thank Carmen for the term and the initial definition and examples, i.e. American Apparel.
And here’s to finding great men and women who truly support us, be they friends and/or lovers. Love us and our vibrators.;-)
@ anonymous–thanks for the supportive and kind words, friend, and welcome to the blog (if I haven’t welcomed you before)!
And you hit upon another feature of hipster racism: that creeped-out feeling, because, when I get it, I feel like I stumbled into a suddenly hostile space with the air sucked out of it, even though everyone is smiling at me. (Now the new thing is to slag on the Bronx with “well-meaning”? I’m *too* through…)
–Abrazos,
AJ
July 30, 2008 at 10:33 pm
AJ PLAID, I’m not exactly sure how I came across your blog, but it’s awesome. I can’t promise I’ll comment all the time, but I’ll sure keep up with your blogging.
On a different note. I just started reading all these blogs and comments about the Obama front cover of The New Yorker. I know, late right? I can understand the magazine trying to make it into satire, but it didn’t come across effectively. What gets me most is this. Wherever I read blogs and comments on sites geared towards PoC, the comments tend to be on the outraged side, and when I look at blogs simply geared towards “liberals” (i.e. hispter), comments seem to be on the supportive side. Now there’s no way to know, but I’d wager it’s a lot more “white” people supporting this “satirical” drawing than it is people of color.
It’s my opinion, but does anyone else see this?
July 31, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Hey there Lauren–Thank you for the compliment and welcome to my blog, luvie!
::Hugs::
You’re not late at all re: commenting on the New Yorker hot mess. Let me see if I’m getting your breakdown, friend: what you’re saying is you’ve noticed a tendency of PoC blogs to be outraged by that hot mess of a cover and the liberal/hipster blogs tend to support it? By liberal/hipster, do you mean “white?”
I can’t really comment on the racial breakdown of the for/against the cover. For example, I know that Chris, an MoC, of Stuff Black People Hate thought the cover was hilarious and couldn’t understand the upset; Baratunde from Jack and Jill Politics had mixed feelings about it and still defended the cover. However, Tim Wise, a Jewish man, took umbrage with the cover. (Fiqah, stop smiling.)
I guess what I’m saying, friend, is the breakdown may not be as simple as it looks.
–Abrazos,
AJ
July 31, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ay, Ms. Plaid. I have oversimplified the issue.
I was actually trying to say that the most positive comments in regards to the cover tend to come from the more liberal blogs. And I was pointing my finger at white readership and saying they were most likely the ones who had the most positive things to say. But, that’s just a terrible, and a blatantly racist thing to say. I need to learn from my mistakes.
Thank You for your welcome guapa.
July 31, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Hey Lauren–
First of all, no Ms. Plaid necessary, friend. AJ, Andrea, or TCS is fine.
And, nooooo, friend, I didn’t mean my statement as a chatising finger-shake. I simply pointed out where the breakdown in the argument didn’t quite apply, that’s all.
Please feel free to comment whenever you get a moment, Lauren. I enjoy having you in my wee space.
–Abrazos,
AJ