Lo Pellegrino

American, not African American?

So Boerd said
Korean here, I'll hold my "historically abused" credentials up against anyone else's, including a still existing Russian-installed state that is the most brutal in history. You imply that I am saying if I were doing it all over again in the 1500s, I would advocate slavery. Of course not. That is an absurd and baseless allegation. But it cannot be denied that as a consequence, writing, the wheel, and numerous other inventions were introduced. (Yes, I know paleolithic was not universal). Was it "worth it"? Hell no. But it happened.Therefore, Africans were not materially held back by Europeans and are entitled to no material compensation now, even if I accept this antiquated "corruption of blood" argument used to condone Jewish genocide.

So Boerd, antiquated it might be if the systems of oppression didn't remain active today. But they are... so, it's not exactly an out-dated thing.

Nobody is talking about material compensation. We're talking about redefining the values assigned to individuals based on their colour and background. They are currently skewed to the extreme and that is a problem. You say that this way of thinking is what condoned the Jewish genocide, but I'd say that more coloured individuals have been incarcerated and murdered unjustly largely due to an accident of birth. We live in a world where walking into a room while dark skinned can identify you as a threat. That's more likely to cause another racially driven genocide, in my opinion.

American, not African American?

So Boerd said
1. So, what, Europeans are guilty by "corruption of blood?" Unconstitutional. Why don't we have anti-Aztec affirmative action or pro-Scandinavian affirmative action in Southern Greenland or pro-Neanderthal affirmative action everywhere or pro-European affirmative action in Mongolia? History is history. I'm Asian, mind you, and we Koreans didn't have it easy.2. Colonization was not a zero-sum game. Can you honestly tell me that the African tribes, some of whom had not even invented the WHEEL, mind you, would be better off today if nobody brought technology to them?

So Boerd you're suggesting slavery had positive outcomes. Step and consider that thought for a moment, and ask yourself, is that really an argument you expect to catch favour with those of us whose grandparents and beyond suffered because of the ramifications of such? I mean, seriously mate.

BTW: I'm Puerto Rican. My mother and her parents before her were born on the island formerly known as Borikén and their roots go back centuries. Our history is blended. Our ancestors, the Taíno, a branch of the Arawakan people, were the original inhabitants of Borikén and one of the first populations Columbus came upon. He didn't bring the wheel though. He actually managed to wipe out about 80% of the Taíno in less than a century. Those who survived fled to the mountains or were enslaved and raped by the Spaniards or forced to reproduce with the African and other Native American slaves. Would we be better off today if no one brought us technology? I don't know about that, but I do know there'd probably be a whole lot more of us.

Also, again, read what I said above.

As a Puerto Rican I know that a majority of my ancestors were wiped out or enslaved, then raped and used for cattle. Simple fact. While I don't view every pale skinned person as Hitler as you mention, I do notice the huge differences in the way I am treated compared to my pale skinned counter parts, and I'm very anxious when having these types of conversations in a room full of white people. All too often is the response defensive, as if we're talking about you, when we're talking about a systematic problem. Ending racism means everyone needs to swallow the bitter reality that we've taught some fucked up things and even if it sucks to admit it, we need to change that behaviour. That simple.

American, not African American?

The Nexerus said
You are so horrifically ignorant and racist that I'm not even going to attempt to force rationality on you. You are too long gone, and too firm in your belief that everyone with a pale skin tone is basically Hitler.

Not sure you understand what that word means, mate. And they're pointing history, not calling all white people Hitler. Don't be offended by the repetitive, harmful decisions of the groups they're talking about, learn from those bad decisions and do better. That's it.

As a Puerto Rican I know that a majority of my ancestors were wiped out or enslaved, then raped and used for cattle. Simple fact. While I don't view every pale skinned person as Hitler as you mention, I do notice the huge differences in the way I am treated compared to my pale skinned counter parts, and I'm very anxious when having these types of conversations in a room full of white people. All too often is the response defensive, as if we're talking about you, when we're talking about a systematic problem. Ending racism means everyone needs to swallow the bitter reality that we've taught some fucked up things and even if it sucks to admit it, we need to change that behaviour. That simple.

Life Continues

Ink Blood said
Am I far behind at all? There are only two posts in the IC so far. Or have I missed plot discussion in the OOC?

I simply meant that the time it my take for a CS to be created, reviewed, and accepted can give some anxiety that they'll be 'too far behind'. I'd say you've arrived at a perfect time and look forward to seeing what you create.

Life Continues

Ink Blood said
Is this RP still open?

We are still open. Because of the nature of this roleplay we are beginning now, but I don't think being a little behind will be detrimental. We will be happy to give you the speedy version to get you up to date if need be.

Life Continues

Absolutely!

Life Continues

Join us then mate!

Life Continues

This city has no spirit. No life. If you come here you are alone, a pilgrim in an alien and desolate place. Don't be fooled by the others here. They look like you, sure, but they're little more than shades. Cars buzz by with one or two at a time all pretending to be real. Pretending to be alive. You can't call this living, though. Wake up, get in your car, listen to a blur of sound, go to the office, leave, sleep, and do it all over again. Forget what makes today unique from yesterday and how tomorrow will even be worthwhile. Sobriety is a commodity too. You keep the flask in your pocket and the pills locked up when something important comes up. Otherwise, nothing's wrong with having your head in the clouds. Doesn't make you any worse than the others here, right? They're just shades. You? You're passing the time until something worthy come up. Until you have a reason to be sober, to be on point and really give your all. Until that point you indulge. A sip here, a puff there, all to shorten the trip and muffle the noise.

Tonight feels different. Just a feeling, no proof really except your hand hesitating as it reaches for the bottle. You stand at your window a while and look over the street below. Everything is lit, cars are parked in front of store-fronts and apartment complexes, but something is missing. Something is different. After a while it hits you like and your stomach sinks. There is no life here. Not the way you describe after a drink, literally. The streets below are completely empty. Street lights blink, but nobody's waiting and nobody's going. You look across the way to other windows. Maybe a dozen floors, maybe hundreds of windows, maybe thousands of faces -- all of them looking out just like you. Suddenly you feel dread. What have you missed, and worse, what did everyone else miss too? A smaller feeling bites at your conscience too. The countless nights demeaning everyone else, your shades, and here you are in just the same place.

National Public Radio is your first choice. Once you realize Vice News was your second, you wonder about your politics. The voice is wrong for the time. Every word is more chaotic and confused than the last. You never quite catch what's wrong, but something is. Something is very wrong. You are used to wordy, calm conversations paired well with chamomile and a bit of pot. This exactly not that. Buzzwords like evacuation and ground zero have your heart beating like you'd ran a mile. With all this happening you wonder about your friends. First, and you are fully aware most selfishly, why didn't they call you? Second, perhaps to make things right, if they're well enough to even call. Your hand falls to your hip. Nothing. You reach into the pocket of your hoodie, also to no avail. When you retrace your steps you find the thin, black little thing flashing. With a tap the screen brightly displays You have 6 Missed Calls, 6 Unread Messages, and 6... The screen blacks out before you can finish. You're ready to slam the thing against the table, but lucky for the phone, the screen turns a deep green. White text appears across the screen with a simple instruction.

Staring at the glowing screen you feel a great pressure. A powerful throbbing begins behind your eyes, your thoughts simplifying as the pain leaves room for only a single thought. The realization that you face the greatest challenge one can -- a choice, a decision, the very essence of life. This city might have no spirit, but you do. You can choose. You must choose.

American, not African American?

Yog said
If someone asks for my ethnicity then I tell them that I am an American and if that's not enough then I'll say I'm black if calling myself a Louisiana Creole is not enough.

I completely agree with you on the matter of the term people of color lumping everyone together. The problem is that Americans have a very simplistic view of race where everything is either black, white, Asian and Hispanic. One of the biggest flaws with the term people of color is how can a pale skinned Asian be considered a person of color if their skin tone is the same as caucasians? People of color to me is just another ignorant term to turn the race and ethnic problems of society into an us verses them argument which doesn't solve problems.

Heard man, but it's tough too. People of Colour can be a term to highlight challenges unique to those who are viewed as non-white. The shit part is that this view isn't established by us, but by those who feel they can define white -- basically, people who feel they can identify as white. There's this big separation there and fear too. When we're talking about issues unique to being a POC I get it, but when someone is just using it as a general description I start to wonder if they're just afraid to ask or have an extremely limited knowledge of colour tones (I mean seriously, I can't be the only one who recognizes the difference between mahogany and tope).

It does peeve me when people lump everyone who's coloured together as black though. Just like when they assume if you're dark, you're also African (what country, you never hear assumed). I am Puerto Rican and Native, not too dark, but enough to where people will identify me as black in conversation. I get it, sure, but when people start thinking that the suffering African Americans endure(d) here reflects my family history, they're blatantly wrong. We have very different histories. Racism is a common thread, sure, and so is slavery and genocide against people like us, absolutely, but the stories I passed down in my family about the fall of Borikén are not the stories of those from Vietnam, Kenya, or even those from Mexico.

So no, I would never identify as American first. In professional and political encounters my race has been seen and noted. As long as that's a thing, it makes no sense for me to ignore that identity.

Life Continues

SilverRain, KingFisher, and Astar are all accepted. Expect more information the IC soon.