Hang in there, it's her loss this time

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Posted by Jessica on June 8, 2003 at 20:16:24:

In reply to: Henna racism - just a rant posted by PPC on June 8, 2003 at 19:51:02:

Hey Jennifer-
I 've had this happen. Not so much lately but when I first started it was a
dilemma. I'm an Irish one so I just made sure my first and last name were
somewhere visible on my emails or business card. I don't know if it helped or
not but at least I knew I was upfront and if someone was looking for an Indian
woman it wasn't me.
At this point, I'm truthfully better (and so are most American artists on the
forum) than traditional ethnic practitioners or auntie doing the families henna.
Mayber 'better' isn't the right word, we are just different, more contemporary
and geared toward customizing designs for each person rather than the same
or similar paisley over and over.
Don't take that woman's sniff too seriously. Henna has always been a family /
social / cultural practice and it can take a while for people to understand that
though we may not be of their culture we can do a good job also, and be
sensitive to their cultural or ceremonial needs, hang in there.
People will eventually hire you because you do a good job instead of being
from the same region. We've all bumped up against this and it's hard for both
sides to navigate this new situation.
Jessica
I'm just going to vent a little bit here.
:
: I got a call from an Indian lady who sounded very nice. She said that
: she was going to be having a bridal shower with around 50 attendees
: and she was looking for a few henna artists to work the gig. I told
: her that I was very experienced in many, many styles, including
: detailed traditional Indian bridal henna. I told her that I've been
: doing henna for over eight years and I'm quite comfortable doing
: parties and events in just about any setting.
:
: She proceeded to tell me that when she first saw my name (Jennifer
: Setter) she didn't know what to think. She asked me if I was Indian.
: No, I said, I'm actually half Korean, but I've been doing this for years.
:
: I got a less than enthousiastic "oh."
:
: I haven't heard back from her.
:
: I'm just....... a little disappointed. That's all. I've got half a
: mind to put a small anti-racism graphic on my website.... What do you
: think? Maybe there should be a campaign on professional mehndi
: artists' websites against racism? I'm prepared to donate a portion of
: my profits to the ACLU or something like that.
:
: Am I overreacting?

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: Hey Jennifer- : I 've had this happen. Not so much lately but when I first started it was a : dilemma. I'm an Irish one so I just made sure my first and last name were : somewhere visible on my emails or business card. I don't know if it helped or : not but at least I knew I was upfront and if someone was looking for an Indian : woman it wasn't me. : At this point, I'm truthfully better (and so are most American artists on the : forum) than traditional ethnic practitioners or auntie doing the families henna. : Mayber 'better' isn't the right word, we are just different, more contemporary : and geared toward customizing designs for each person rather than the same : or similar paisley over and over. : Don't take that woman's sniff too seriously. Henna has always been a family / : social / cultural practice and it can take a while for people to understand that : though we may not be of their culture we can do a good job also, and be : sensitive to their cultural or ceremonial needs, hang in there. : People will eventually hire you because you do a good job instead of being : from the same region. We've all bumped up against this and it's hard for both : sides to navigate this new situation. : Jessica : I'm just going to vent a little bit here. : : : : I got a call from an Indian lady who sounded very nice. She said that : : she was going to be having a bridal shower with around 50 attendees : : and she was looking for a few henna artists to work the gig. I told : : her that I was very experienced in many, many styles, including : : detailed traditional Indian bridal henna. I told her that I've been : : doing henna for over eight years and I'm quite comfortable doing : : parties and events in just about any setting. : : : : She proceeded to tell me that when she first saw my name (Jennifer : : Setter) she didn't know what to think. She asked me if I was Indian. : : No, I said, I'm actually half Korean, but I've been doing this for years. : : : : I got a less than enthousiastic "oh." : : : : I haven't heard back from her. : : : : I'm just....... a little disappointed. That's all. I've got half a : : mind to put a small anti-racism graphic on my website.... What do you : : think? Maybe there should be a campaign on professional mehndi : : artists' websites against racism? I'm prepared to donate a portion of : : my profits to the ACLU or something like that. : : : : Am I overreacting?
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