More on Racism in Fandom

[beatrice_otter]

For those of you not in fandom, there have been a lot of "meta" posts about racism, anti-semitism, and various other "isms" lately, particularly as regards fandom and fanfic.

So I was reading a Buffy fanfic today, (not terribly impressed with it, but willing to spend the time to read it). Post-Chosen, Slayer school funded by the money left from the old Council, Buffy and Xander as teachers/den mothers, yadda yadda. They get out of the airport, and the BMW Willow sent for them is waiting, complete with a Black driver. Whose first line is: “Good to see you again, Mizz Summers.” Morris said with a smile so wide it showed off a perfect set of white teeth that shone against his dark chocolate skin. “And you Mister Xander.” He opened the car door for them. “Mizz Willow said you’d be needing a ride so here I be.”

WTF? Did we just enter a time warp to the 1930's without me noticing it? I left a review noting the issue; hope I'm not the only one with the courage to do that.

If you want a story that deals with racial/cultural issues well, go read Macedon & Peg's "braided" Star Trek: Voyager novel Talking Stick/Circle. I've loved Macedon's work since I stumbled across it a few years ago, but I never got around to reading this story until recently because Voyager's not my thing. I mean, the characters are plastic, the stories were cliche, and the writing depended on overworked platitudes rather than actual thought.

Talking Stick/Circle is what Voyager could have been, if the writers had had the courage. Alternating between Chakotay and Janeway's POVs, it deals with some tough issues: what about racism/culturism in the egalitarian Federation (particularly the fact that Chakotay's homeworld, abandoned to the Cardassians' tender mercies, was an Indian colony)? What about the relations between Maquis and Starfleet crewmembers? When there is no "right" answer, only varying degrees of wrong, how do you choose? The issues flow naturally from the characters and plot, the characters are engaging and far more "rounded" than what we saw on the show, the plot is more than regurgitated space-time anomalies. It's an awesome story/series. You may not agree with everything in it, but if it doesn't make you think (and enjoy the story while you're at it!), you have no brain. It's an incredible piece/collection of writing. Go now and check it out!

Comments

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

I am experiencing extreme bogglement about that fanfic. What? Buzzzzuh what?

[beatrice_otter]

The author has responded to my reply; the Uncle Tomness was, apparently, completely subconscious. She describes herself as being white with a racist family/background which she is trying to overcome. She wants to write a black character, from a poor background, and that's what comes out without even thinking about it. To her credit, she's trying to overcome it. It's just so much a part of her way of thinking that she apparently doesn't notice it.

[synecdochic]

Lord, that series is stunning. I'm six hours past my bedtime in reading it, and I just have to keep flapping my hands and saying yes. Thank you so much for the pointer; it's hitting me in my thinky places.

[beatrice_otter]

I so totally understand. I broke down and started it the first week of class (pure stupidity!), which has a lot to do with why I am now behind in every single class. It broke my brain. And now I sit here, flailing, and wondering why the actual canon writers couldn't manage even 1/10 of this "amateur"'s storytelling abilities on their best day.

When you're done? Go read Wisdom and Beauty. And the Jeu-Parti series. They are so worth it.

[synecdochic]

Got 'em all, yeah. I read fast. :)

And now, it is time for me to limp off to bed! Up way past my bedtime. :)