One of my signs of the apocalypse.

[raybear]

Last night after discussions of the possiblity of being a house boy and on my way to pick up Damon so we could hang out before he leaves town for two weeks, I passed a greasy diner quasi-Sonic's/Checkers type restaurant that had a sign out front with the following announcement:

TRY OUR NEW GHETTO FRIES

I nearly had an aneurysm and crashed the car. The use of that word will be the death of me, I swear. What the fck does that sign even mean? And why, oh why, do people use that word in such flippant privileged stupid white ways?

P.S. I was not even driving through a "ghetto".

Comments

you're sitting in my living room right now, but I don't want to interrupt the movie with this...

[raybear.livejournal.com]

Re the Boston incident: Point taken. I certainly try to be aware of how my behavior looks on it own, without the person knowing my intentions or history or knowledge or experience or how many friends of color I have. I come across this in regards to music and hip-hop, as you may imagine. Sometimes I get too familiar and forget the outside perspective, so I don't mind at all having possible interpretations of my behavior pointed out. In fact, I prefer it (no matter how flushed and embarassed I get temporarily with white liberal guilt and whatnot).

I certainly don't think I'm the one and only authority on racism when it comes to whites educating other whites. But, to be real, there such a severe lack of it in all spheres of my existence, which is probably why I speak loudly and often on the subject. And I don't mean to imply I'm not willing to engage in discussion with other whites about deconstructing white racism, because I am. It just happens so rarely and I'm THRILLED when people want to push my buttons to because it helps me grow and change and learn.

Re: you're sitting in my living room right now, but I don't want to interrupt the movie with this...

[riotdrake.livejournal.com]

this has absolutely nothing to do with racism or ghetto, sorry to put it in here... but you grew up in atlanta??

Re: you're sitting in my living room right now, but I don't want to interrupt the movie with this...

[raybear.livejournal.com]

yep. Stone Mountain/Decatur were my stomping grounds. you?

Re: you're sitting in my living room right now, but I don't want to interrupt the movie with this...

[riotdrake.livejournal.com]

born at grady! i grew up mostly in alpharetta area.. moved a ton-ton-ton as a kid, ended up graduating from hs right outside of athens. but the 3 years before i moved up to boston i lived in decatur. i miss it sometimes, but sometimes not. i have sort of a love/hate relationship with the area.. heh