Traveling with Revel

Hello readers! I was doing a little bit of thinking today about some of my favorite things to do--doing anti-oppression work and learning all about other cultures. That got me thinking about some of my favorite places to visit, ethnic enclaves in major metropolitan areas. I realized, then, that as a white anti-racist ally, I always try to be respectful and not obnoxious when I visit these places. Don't you hate seeing the person who is gawking at everything and acting like the community is a museum and not a place where real, living people actually live and work? I can't stand it either!

So I figured that I could create a how-to guide for visiting these wonderful places in a respectful and informed manner. Is this guide complete? Absolutely not, as I'm sure that others will have something to offer based on their own living experiences. Besides, at the end of the day, I do not live in such a community and would love to hear about the experiences of those who do. But for now, this is an ally's guide to visiting an ethnic enclave. The examples I'm using are in Chicago, but the guide can be transferred to other areas.

1. Do your homework. This is a big one. It would behoove you to learn about the population of the neighborhood you're visiting, what their history is and how they made their mark on their area. This will inform you as to why it looks the way it does and how its population has changed over time. For example, Pilsen on the west side of Chicago has a huge Latino/a population now. However, it was originally a haven for Eastern Europeans when it was first settled. Take a little time and learn before you go.

2. Don't stare. Or make judgmental comments. Show some respect. You are not visiting a theme park. People live and work in these areas, and they are just trying to live their lives just like you are. They don't need to hear the clueless visitor asking why everything is "so weird" in earshot of them or staring at them in a way that makes them uncomfortable. They are not there to cater to you. How would you feel if someone came into your area and started criticizing everything?

3. Get your learnin' on! Take advantage of the museums or libraries there. You never know what you might learn about the community. Ask the docents questions: that's what they're there for, and they'll probably be happy to talk. (The Chinese-American Museum of Chicago in Armour Square has some super-cool docents, and they're always around.)

4. Think before you speak. Consider how what you're saying might come across. Being along Argyle Street in Chicago and calling it "New Chinatown" is not only offensive, but it's totally incorrect. (Argyle has a large Vietnamese-American population.) And another thing, if the area is not home to a population who spoke English in their home country, do not talk slowly and loudly to those you meet these. I am sure that most of them understand what you are saying and do not need to be talked down to. The folks at the Puerto Rican Day parade understand what you're saying. No need to treat them like they don't.

5. Ask questions. If you don't know what a sign says, just ask. Chances are, someone will tell you and not be snotty about it. I may be 3/8 Greek, but I speak English and Spanish. I do not speak Greek and cannot read the words. So I'm always grateful for the nice folks in Greektown who can tell me what the signs and displays at stores say. Ask nicely and you shall hear. And feel free to ask what's in a dish at a restaurant if you don't know. The servers will be happy to tell you.

6. Watch your language. Make sure your language reflects how that community identifies. Saying the word "Oriental" in a predominantly Asian area is not going to endear you to the locals. I mean it. That term is so outdated. Or if you are in a primarily Latino area, do not start talking about "illegal aliens." You will sound so rude and racist, and no one needs that.

7. I'm going to shout out to Donna Haraway here. Situate your knowledge. Going back to #1, learn the context of what you're seeing and apply that to your actions in the ethnic enclave. I get that you might not have seen anything like the ornate architecture along Chinatown's Wentworth Avenue anywhere else in Chicago. However, you might want to recall the context of it and remember that those dragons and tilework were a huge assertion by the Chinese American community's right to belong when they first settled the area. Internalize that understanding.

8. Be adventurous. Feel free to pick up something fun in one of the shops. (I am seriously craving a trip to Devon Avenue soon.) Try to avoid chains, though, and make your shopping local. Your purchase will go to those who live and work in that community, not some soulless corporation.

This is only a partial list, coming from an ally. However, this should help make your cultural travels more respectful and will help you get the most out of your experience. And now it has made me want to visit all of those places I mentioned! Who's coming with me?

It's still not okay

I've really come to notice a fairly common trend in some of the arguments/disagreements I've been having with some of my progressively-minded acquaintances. So I think I am going to settle this once and for all by putting my view online where everybody can see it and so there is no confusion.

I love my fellow progressives. Really and truly, I do. I really appreciate the work and effort they take to make this world a nicer and better place. THAT SAID, this does not mean I am going to be fine if they make a comment or statement that is somehow intolerant or perpetuating prejudice. I'm talking about the liberal-minded person who makes a racial remark and defends it by saying, "I can't be racist! I voted for Obama, didn't I?" I'm talking about the so-called ally who makes some sort of sexist or heterosexist joke and then defends him or herself by bringing up the litany of things s/he does to empower the community that was just dissed.

Let me make this clear, once and for all, I do not care who you are when you make intolerant statements.

IT'S STILL NOT OKAY.

If something sounds bigoted or intolerant, it does not matter who is saying that. It is STILL wrong and it STILL perpetuates the inequality. You do not get a pass because you are somehow liberal or progressive. A true progressive or egalitarian does not participate in behavior that makes this world a meaner place. And you do not get a pass because you voted for a certain candidate or may have done certain activities in the past. It is "everyday" words and actions that perpetuate and promote inequality because they create an atmosphere where that is considered "normal." A person doesn't have to be a card carrying member of a hate group to contribute to this toxic atmosphere, but we all have a part to play in dismantling it. The first step is watching our language and our actions.

So I will continue calling out that behavior and words. No matter who's saying that, it's still not right. And I expect that if I engage in it, I would like to be told about it so I know not to anymore.

Forty years

As I stood out on the quad today, freezing my butt off to sell baked goods for the V-Day bake sale (proceeds go to the Vagina Monologues! woo for us!), I watched a very exciting and very powerful demonstration on the anniversary plaza of the Quad. The demonstration consisted of a march, speeches, and open mic to commemorate the 40th anniversary of African American Cultural Programming. The speakers were really good and talked about how it is everyone's responsibility to incorporate commitment to fairness into one's daily life. They talked about the cultural centers and the university's programs--and how far we've come since those early days.

One of the speakers brought up a story I had heard at a party and at my cluster, but it came back to me after hearing it. Apparantly, during the early 20th century, most of the dorms were all white. No minority student could live in them. This was a big surprise to me. I mean, I know racism exists and has a long and hideous history. But it was surprising to hear that many of the incoming students did not get a place to live when they came to the university. So where did they live? Many chose to stay with community members who let them board with them during the school year. So in areas like the downtown Urbana and Champaign neighborhoods, the students lived with the respective families who took them in. Some of the other students (who didn't like the rule but really couldn't do much to change it) would come over or bring food or something like that. After all, they probably would have still wanted to see their friends, even if they couldn't live in the same building.

While I would never ever want to return to an age like that, I often wonder about all the untold stories that happened in those neighborhoods. I don't really care so much about the white dorms (because that's pretty shameful) but it's the stories about the students living with the community members that sound cool. I know that if I were living during that time and had friends boarding with families, I'd probably go over and visit them or we could study/hang out together. And I would probably invite them over to see me. But I don't think I could stand a white dorm. I know that all three schools I've attended were predominantly white. However, I do hail from an area that has a large black and Latino population (whites make up about 30-40% of the population there, if that), so it's not like that is an issue for me.

Makes me glad this isn't forty years ago. I wonder if there are any written accounts of the students or their host families. I would love to read about them.