In the USA, racial injustice (esp. in terms of black/white) does NOT
simply stem from an awareness of superficial differences in skin color. It
stems from our history of slavery and institutionalized racism that have
conditioned people over many years (and even outside the USA, the history of
colonization of the OTHER must be considered as a historical reality).
People's mental attitudes reflect a historical reality that has conditioned
them (in Mad Mike's words "programmed") them to respond to race in certain
ways. More generally, the "WHITE MALE" actually has historically been (and
continues to be) in control economically and politically; therefore, when
people internalize an attitude that the white male is superior, they are
simply building a mental image that conforms to what already exists as
historical/material reality. Those who command and control are respected,
their ideas are accepted as being true and naturally by virtue of their real
position of power in a system of hierarchies; that is what allows the
programmers to so easily instill their set of values within the masses. So
dealing with racism means confronting history and really existing power
structures, not simply confronting "irrational" prejudices and attempting to
be color blind. This would mean you would need to approach the question of
race in techno from a completely different perspective than the one you are
bringing. /cyborg k
----Original Message Follows----
From: "Rusty Blasco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 313@hyperreal.org
Subject: [313] can't we all just get along?
Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 12:01:15 -0500
Racial injustice stems from an awareness of the differences in superficial
physical characteristics (i.e. skin color) and the subsequent exploitation
and oppression of persons exhibiting such differences.
In order to address racial matters as they relate to music, one must raise
an awareness of the same physical traits which precede the problem in the
first place.
Now I know that racism stems from the mind, and prejudice isn't necessarily
an inborn quality. Yet it seems to perpetuate, even among the open minded
in our world, through sheer repetition of the issue at stake. In other
words, I may not see a black person as any lesser a man than a white person,
but I'll damn well be forced to ponder the thought the more incessantly I'm
faced with the question. Suggestion is a very valuable tool (as proven by
numerous examples in history and especially by the work of many modern
psychologists). When reinforced over time, it solidifies into an implicit
belief until it eventually establishes itself as a hardline value.
Paul Virilio:
"Resistance is always possible! But we must engage in resistance first of
all by developing the idea of a technological culture. However, at the
present time, this idea is grossly underdeveloped. For example, we have
developed an artistic and a literary culture. Nevertheless, the ideals of
technological culture remain underdeveloped and therefore outside of popular
culture and the practical ideals of democracy. This is also why society as a
whole has no control over technological developments. And this is one of the
gravest threats to democracy in the near future. "
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