This semester I am taking the Fashion Photo class, which also includes students from other majors as fashion design and fashion merchandising. The class is divided into groups, compromising 2 photographers, one designer, and one merchandiser, to simulate a "real world" situation. So far my group dynamic is okay - I think I might have some difficulties with my other fellow photographer because she is very opinionated and not very open to other ideas. But besides that, I've noticed an interesting dynamic between her and our merchandiser. The fashion merchandiser in my group is African American, and when the other photographer addresses her, she completely changes her tone of voice - she gets a little twangy, a bit southerner-ish, maybe even slurish? In all honesty, she tries to talk "black". She speaks to the merchandiser like she thinks black people talk to one another, saying things like, "yea, gurl, dats right, dats right," or " I know what you sayin'" OR even going as far to call her "homegirl." Who the fuck says that? "Homegirl looks tired," or "see you next week, homegirl."
It kills me - it makes me uncomfortable and embarrassed for this photographer, yet I don't know if it's obvious to anyone other than me. The thing is - the merchandiser doesn't even talk like that! This photographer is completely stereotyping her, making assumptions about the merchandiser because she is black.
Now, I cannot say that I am not guilty of doing similar things, not to the extent like the photographer in my group, but I know I have made stupid assumptions of my own - I think we are all guilty of that. I just find it very sad and difficult to understand how two races can be so unfamilar to one another. How there really isn't very much interaction between white and black people, or more specifically, white people to black people. In Peggy McIntosh's Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, she lists the daily effects of white privledge, her number one answer being, "1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time."
I have also noticed that almost always when there is a group of white and black people together, there is an immediate awkwardness, a tension fueled by the unknown. My study abroad trip this summer to Barbados was very evident of that. It was like two different breeds exploring one another, trying to find what makes them alike, what makes them different. And every single personal question directed towards someone of a different skin-tone was prefaced with, "I'm not trying to be racist or anything, but..."
Things like, " Do you ALL tan? Do you ALL get sunburned? Do all black people have curly hair? Do white people eat cornbread? Do you ALL get ashy?" Not only were these questions a bit sad and ignorant, but most of them were directed towards the race as a whole, not the individual person being asked. As if that one person can speak for their whole race, as if every single black person has the same skin type, the same hair texture - It is incredible to me how different white people think they are from black people, and vice versa. But even as the trip continued, and some of the original hesitancies disappeared, there were still assumptions made. Some white students would ask the black students, "Do you like Kanye West, or Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Nas, etc. etc." Assuming that black people only knew or were interested in other black artists. And upon finding out that my Mother is Jewish, technically making me Jewish, one student asked me CONTINUOUSLY, "Do you know that comedian David Cross? He's Jewish." Uhh - Oh, okay. AND? It was like the only way he thought he could relate to me was by informing me he knew of another fellow Jew. I'm sure, and know, that African American people get that ALL THE TIME.
I don't know how long it will take for people to understand that they are not that different from one another - that just because someone's skin is lighter/darker then their own, they are not ALIENS. Obviously society has made it an issue to be something other than white and it's difficult to get out of that mind-set. But I feel it should be a priority for people to take it upon themselves to get to know someone of a different race to disband any stereotypes and assumptions they have. I think it would really make a difference.