Wednesday, November 08, 2006

No room for racism



This photo was originally posted on Triniview.com in October, as part of the Divali Nagar Caribbean night celebrations. The first person to comment on it had this to say:

"What is a n***er doing in Indian clothes?"

This promptly set off a torrent of disgust and outrage among fellow posters, along with demands for the moderator to remove the comment. The comment still stands. Now, I think as a moderator/operator of a site you need to operate with a sense of responsibility. Freedom of expression and a right to different views must be respected, but a moderator needs to send out a clear message about what the site stands for and the most important ways to do this is by the choice of site content. One of my favourite sites used to be Idon'tlikeyouinthatway but it no longer is, because the site has now become a major attraction for annonymous visitors to leave increasingly insulting racist comments.

I think Triniview should remove the comment. They should also apologise to their readers for leaving it on so long. Even if they personally have no problem with it the people that visit the site obviously do and at the end of the day, they are the ones that determine the success of the website.

But it's more than this, because if, for one minute, we follow the trend of thought that people should stick to their own thing then no members of other races should sing calypso or even play mas. Only Indians should eat roti and doubles and we'll all have to give up our blue jeans and shoes since Western wear is not "we thing".

It's all well and good to talk about "one love" and "rainbow country". But that's just talk. It's when we take a stand against nonsense like this that we actually live it.

By the way, Petronella Charles-David, you look lovely in your sari eh.

21 comments:

Trinidad Carnival Diary said...

Thanks Hottie girl! I find that comment was quite uncalled for and triniview.com should remove it as racism stinks!!

Hottie Hottie said...

Buy not condemning they are condoning. Plain talk, bad manners. And you're welcome :)

Hottie Hottie said...

Sorry, by.

Anonymous said...

That's despicable! She does look lover-ly in she ting. I swear they leave those things up just to get hits on their site. It's becoming like notches on a bachelor man's bedpost!

Anonymous said...

BTW, that SAME site caught an acquaintance of mine in her fully airbrushed costume splendor on Carnival Tuesday. Someone put up the comment: "Whoever sold a costume to this nasty beast should be shot." :o I believe they did actually take this comment down though. Is like seek and destroy pon dey. Steupssss.

Hottie Hottie said...

I agree with you dolli. I think they leave it up because it draws attention to their site. More attention = more advertising = more money.

Trinidad Carnival Diary said...

Dolli girl you for real ? I did not even realise people left comments until the COTT awards. I just look at the pics and leave!

Hottie Hottie said...

Lemme guess. Anon nah.

Vami said...

I happen to think the lady looked beautiful in the outfit. she showed that she was a "big" person as opposed to the very small mind who posted the comment. she showed tolerance and acceptance for another culture. Kudos to her...

Hottie Hottie said...

Vami, Kevian, I agree. She looks good and as far as we concerned, that's all that matters.

Kevian, good point. I've heard people of other races say that black people are "clannish" about what they consider their thing. Look at the uproar over Eminem rapping and, closer to home, Denise Plummer singing calypso. Maybe that's it...

Trinidad Carnival Diary said...

Very true Kevian for Divali the whole of accounts where I work were decked off in saris, even those who are not East Indian. However for Emancipation I never see them in African wear :S

Hottie Hottie said...

Well, no offence to nobody, but there isn't much traditional African clothes that I would wear. I love traditional Ethiopian wear but that's about it really. Plus, traditional Indian wear has always been a part of Trinidad society but it's only fairly recently that African wear is being utilised. Women of other races wearing saris for Divali is a relatively new thing - I remember about three years ago I was the only non-Indian in a sari. A lot of black people don't wear African wear either. And remember, you can always pick up a cheap khurta or lengha but them African clothes EXPENSIVE! I pay over TT$1000 for a dress and it was on sale!

Carnival Jumbie said...

AHHMMM I sorry but that girl doh look like she is of African descent anyhow. The long hair in the back looking quite East Indian. If anything she is a dougla and well in she right to roll up she tassa. I mean who in Trini is a pure blood these days? That person was fooling they self. I sure both he mother and father take a dip in other races at some point in their life.

Hottie Hottie said...

Well, that could be a piece eh. But even if it isn't she could wear whatever the hell she want once it not against the law. Remember how some people were kicking up a fuss over Saucy wining in a sari for "Indian man", saying that it was religious wear? Bullshit. Tradional Indian clothing came about as the most effective means of combating heat. Actually, women used to just wear dhoti like skirts and go about with their breasts swinging free. Man does beat they women when they wearing sari and who does wine more than people at a chutney event? The burka too was designed to deal with the dust and heat of the desert. People just full of shit and does look to twist everything to their myopic advantage.

Karabana said...

As to why it's still up, I guess it comes down to what type of site the person is running, what their agenda is, if they want to spark controversy, promote heated debates, & be known for the place where you can say whatever you truly feel. Many mods want ppl to feel free to be uncensored & won't delete or edit for that reason. They may figure if one person said it, many others probably think it, let's see what kind of discussion we get.

Hottie Hottie said...

Ummmm... good point Kara.

Anonymous said...

She's a beautiful talented dougla. The pics draw traffic so it's just love for bachannal eg. Panday's trial album the man is an ex-PM have some "broughtopsy"!
If you want to know why 'african' clothing isn't as popular, start by asking any trini what they mixed with? Their reply begins "White/european/british..." and ends with "..and french-creole/some black/negro." It's sad but true. We not really into "Africa" outside of Emancipation Day. If yuh want i'll give you friend's number, she's a good seamstress I can save you $900.

Hottie Hottie said...

Boysieringo, Panday's what?! Also, I understand what you are saying but I think in some cases it's pretty obvious that the person is part black so the assumption is that the person is asking them what the black is mixed with. But you raised a valid point. I had a neighbour who used to go to painful lengths to explain to me that her cousin was mixed with "French". And I couldn't understand it until I got much older and realised that she was somehow trying to create some sort of "equal footing" between us or something. She would constantly tell me about how fair she was when she was born and that she couldn't understand how she was so dark now. I tell you, try being the only mixed person on your street and one of four mixed girls in a middle class Trinidadian neighbourhood and you'll see all sorts of insecurities and prejudices jumping out. One of these days I must tell allyuh about the girl that cut off my hair when I was 4.

Hottie Hottie said...

And I DONE buy the dress yuh want to give me number?! Give meh it anyway...

Carnival Jumbie said...

I does always start with black when i tell ppl about my mix. I say black, spanish and carib and i looking like a indian lolol.

Carnival Jumbie said...

Oh I forget ! A time I do a model screening with Calvin French . i really was out to through them off I put on some green contacts (only for show)and get my hair dead straight and the first question he ask was "What the hell are you mixed with". I have a real callalloo finish , its hard to pick out one race and i end up looking like all at the same time