Re: Henna racism - just a rant

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Posted by Kenzi on June 9, 2003 at 14:38:45:

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

Sigh...if I had a dollar for everytime that happened to me...well, I
wouldn't be rich but I could buy you all a cup of coffee.

We have had it drummed into us that no one is allowed to judge
us by our race; nor can one can deny us a job, a loan, a spot in
school etc. And yet it happens, and to groups that have been
facing racism for centuries. What these people are doing is
making a decision based on race not on skill or quality of your
work, and that really stinks.

I don't know if put a banner on your site will do much. Giving
money to the ACLU will help a lot a things, but probably won't
change your situation. Make sure you have photos of your work
that really show how talented you are and let that do the talking
for you.

I would also suggest, that if you want to get gigs like this, you sell
your soul just a little. Give a different name, a stage name, on
your website/advertising. If you want to get the South Asian
crowd, use a South Asian name. Then they won't ask if you are
indian, usually! Then they can deal with their racism when you
show up and look very un-South Asian.

I know this is a stupid solution but it is possibly the only way to
fight the problem directly and still get the gig.

My real name is not Kenzi; I didn't change it to get gigs. I have
used this as my screen name for ages and age because as a
woman I didn't like the idea of having my real name floating out
there on the internet. Now I stick with it as my henna stage
name and it comes in handy when I talk to clients; I practice my
own racism such that when I get a call from a South Asian client I
always refer to myself as Kenzi and always call it "mehndi" and
not "henna". I don't know if this is fair or right, but it seems to be
working okay. The client looks at the work on my site and judges
me by that, hopefully, and then decides whether to hire me.

Another thing about racism, and this is said by a white girl, let it
roll off your back. We shouldn't ignore all racism in the world;
there is so much out there that is truly heinous and making
peoples' lives miserable and even fatal. Not getting a henna gig
ranks kind of low on the racism totem pole.

You have the right to be an amazing artist in a field started by
another culture; Algerians have the right to be amazing hip hop
artists, Botswanans have the right to be amazing filmmakers,
Germans have the right to be amazing southwest style jewelry
crafters, Japanese have the right to be amazing french cooks
and so on.

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: Sigh...if I had a dollar for everytime that happened to me...well, I : wouldn't be rich but I could buy you all a cup of coffee. : : We have had it drummed into us that no one is allowed to judge : us by our race; nor can one can deny us a job, a loan, a spot in : school etc. And yet it happens, and to groups that have been : facing racism for centuries. What these people are doing is : making a decision based on race not on skill or quality of your : work, and that really stinks. : : I don't know if put a banner on your site will do much. Giving : money to the ACLU will help a lot a things, but probably won't : change your situation. Make sure you have photos of your work : that really show how talented you are and let that do the talking : for you. : : I would also suggest, that if you want to get gigs like this, you sell : your soul just a little. Give a different name, a stage name, on : your website/advertising. If you want to get the South Asian : crowd, use a South Asian name. Then they won't ask if you are : indian, usually! Then they can deal with their racism when you : show up and look very un-South Asian. : : I know this is a stupid solution but it is possibly the only way to : fight the problem directly and still get the gig. : : My real name is not Kenzi; I didn't change it to get gigs. I have : used this as my screen name for ages and age because as a : woman I didn't like the idea of having my real name floating out : there on the internet. Now I stick with it as my henna stage : name and it comes in handy when I talk to clients; I practice my : own racism such that when I get a call from a South Asian client I : always refer to myself as Kenzi and always call it "mehndi" and : not "henna". I don't know if this is fair or right, but it seems to be : working okay. The client looks at the work on my site and judges : me by that, hopefully, and then decides whether to hire me. : : Another thing about racism, and this is said by a white girl, let it : roll off your back. We shouldn't ignore all racism in the world; : there is so much out there that is truly heinous and making : peoples' lives miserable and even fatal. Not getting a henna gig : ranks kind of low on the racism totem pole. : : You have the right to be an amazing artist in a field started by : another culture; Algerians have the right to be amazing hip hop : artists, Botswanans have the right to be amazing filmmakers, : Germans have the right to be amazing southwest style jewelry : crafters, Japanese have the right to be amazing french cooks : and so on.
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