Hey. Hi.
For any other white people in the room who are just kind of following along and watching (and hopefully learning) from all this, a good documentary that was very interesting and eye opening I found is Dark Girls.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Girls
It was on Netflix for a while (might still be) and is very good. It unpacks a lot of the issues black women face today and historically.
This this thisQuote:
Originally Posted by merwandering
I come from Hawaii where a lot of people (white) get Polynesian/tribal tattoos without understanding that there are stories ingrained in real tattoos and designs. I am also Asian. I see people with Chinese symbols as tattoos all the time. They have always been on white people. I saw someone with a tattoo who told me it meant "harmony" and it was literally the grammatical word for "and". I felt embarrassed for her. Honestly, if I had known about your design before it was made and it was up for discussion, I would have said something. But I don't know why you wanted it - maybe the symbols had some personal meaning to you. Maybe a partner had that as their tattoo. And that's okay, to me. And if that was the case I'd probably be aware that I'd have to talk about it with everyone that asks. I mean, if I were going to drop that much money on a tail I would really think hard about the design and why every bit of it was special to me (but that's just me). I think it's important to be aware of where you come from, but if you don't, that's also okay. Your lineage doesn't need to be present for you to function everyday in society. But it's good to be aware that it does for a lot of other people. You could look into your family history if you wanted. You could get tested and connected with family all over the world, if it's that important to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidCelesteFL
In any case, this topic itself was about Hannah accepting a role in which she plays a race that is not her own. To her, this comes across as another ladder rung for her career - she'll accept any role that is big enough/pays well enough/makes her look impressive - and so would anyone else. She doesn't understand how a young Asian girl might watch her work and wonder why a white blonde lady is pretending she belongs in her heritage and that could be damaging. When I was in preschool we would have story time and I remember when the teacher read a book about mothers - every single mother in that book was white and was stay at home and I was so confused. My mother is not white. She is also not a stay at home mother. I remember questioning myself at 3 if the lady I would see later in the day was actually a real mom. That's messed up, don't you think?
Self vs Society
Gain vs Perception
I'm worried this post will come across as a ramble. I have a lot of thoughts and it's not fully sorted through yet.
^ you're good. I understood everything.
There was a reason for me putting the tribal symbol on my tail, other than it looking cool: in my religion/culture, I can't get tattoos. I wanted a symbol to embody strength and a warrior spirit, more than just my original blue tang tail design. I wanted to show little girls that they don't have to adhere to "magical princess" stereotypes, and some mermaids could be amazingly bada$$ too. As I mentioned earlier, I know next to nothing about my lineage, so I borrowed a Celtic tribal design to represent my strength. I'm sure there are other ways to do this as well, but I felt that it was something that didn't need much explanation to kids for them to get the point.
Under the same vein as the tribal tattoo and tattoos in other languages, I used to see a lot of Hebrew tattoos on people when I was a lifeguard. Most (if not all) of the people I talked to did not know the language. When I asked them what they thought their tattoo said, some were relatively close to the actual meaning of the word or phrases, but some were really, really far off.
"Oh, a tattoo in Hebrew! What does yours say?"
"G-d lives within me."
(It actually says "Jacob")
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In any case, this topic itself was about Hannah accepting a role in which she plays a race that is not her own. To her, this comes across as another ladder rung for her career - she'll accept any role that is big enough/pays well enough/makes her look impressive - and so would anyone else. She doesn't understand how a young Asian girl might watch her work and wonder why a white blonde lady is pretending she belongs in her heritage and that could be damaging. When I was in preschool we would have story time and I remember when the teacher read a book about mothers - every single mother in that book was white and was stay at home and I was so confused. My mother is not white. She is also not a stay at home mother. I remember questioning myself at 3 if the lady I would see later in the day was actually a real mom. That's messed up, don't you think?
well said! also, sad :(
I have an embaressing story to share when I was a kid. My mom never took me out of the house when I was young (I was super sick) I did not see a non-white person until I was 4. My first visit to the grocery store was a man who recently imigrated from Morocco and he was black as night and I'd NEVER seen anything like that in real life. I started crying and asking my mom what was wrong with the man and I am sure my mother was MORTIFIED at the time. God love this man, he took it all in stride, and came over and introduced himself and actually became a life long family friend because I was an ignorant 4 year old.
How does a kid get to 4 without understanding black people are real? Pretty much no representation in the TV/books I was consuming as a toddler.
Working as an ECE I am so glad to see how much that has changed. Daycares here strive to have dolls in many colours, books and videos representing all people, and I'd say that whites in many of the centres where I worked were either 50/50 or 25% so they were around a lot of non white friends. I see these kids have no idea what racism is because it's just their normal friend. Where I live racism awareness programs are huge in schools to so when they get to school they're taught how to stand up for each other rights. Especially the last school where I worked.
I am glad so many things have improved since I was a kid but we sure as hell have a long way to go.
Hahaha that's cringeworthy! Yeah, but see you used a symbol that had a strong personal meaning to you. In my book, that's okay. I just think that to go down that path you'll have to, from time to time, deal with questions about it. Hannah doesn't have that connection. This isn't a personal journey to her. It's just a gig. It's meaningless except for the context of resume building. Does that make sense?Quote:
Originally Posted by MermaidCelesteFL
OMG I'm not sure whether I should laugh or cry at that story lol. But yeah, I feel really thankful that I get to work on a mermaid team that does have diversity (I mean, there's only two of us that aren't blondes, but still). I get the least amount of gig requests in my opinion, although I DO NOT have the actual numbers to back that up so don't take that as fact. In my perception the requests are either for Hawaiian mermaid because we are in Hawaii, or blonde because that is what most people think of when they think mermaids (besides Ariel).Quote:
Originally Posted by AniaR
yup, I told my preschool teacher that my mother didn't like brown people and that when my brown friend came to our house to play my mom always left.
(my babysitter was black.)
preschool social skills ftw.
Very interesting topic. Before I was a mermaid I was an opera singer. Puccini's Turandot has been played by non Chinese women for about a century now. Right now in Chicago Theyre performing this opera. It's set in China. This was one of my first paying opera gigs when I was a teen and I was dressed Chinese (and sang in Italian). They didn't hire us based on race, they hired the singers based on talent and skill. My point is that this happens in performance not just in mermaid situations. My sister in law is a ballerina and it happens there also (ie The Nutcracker). I admire Hannah's skill and talent. The only mermaid I think that is at that level is Melissa when it comes to breath hold and Grace underwater. Hannah was approached by her employers who wanted to hire a mermaid with this talent and skill yet I see nothing racist about it. She has to make a living right? I get hired mostly as a blonde and I'm a quarter Cherokee. I have dark features and high cheekbones yet no one has called me racist for being blonde, something that is not in my family? I see women of different races dressing up as Ariel or Belle and I think it's fine. I'm just adding food for thought and not trying to be offensive at all.
Here's an idea! If you are deeply troubled by Hannah being hired this way and you are black or African American (depending on which label you want to use as I have friends who use one or the other) then send in your audition video to the employer. Maybe they initially looked for someone who physically matched the description who also had the talent but could not find someone who could match Hannah in skill and talent? Maybe you are the one who can. It can't hurt, right?
I'm probably going to get a lot of hate here, but I've been so "educated" about this stuff that...honestly, it comes off to me now as "everything white people do is wrong, you're a bad person because you're privileged and white and you couldn't possibly try to understand because you're white so don't ever try to break out of the white stereotypes." And I'm sick and tired of being afraid to do anything.
I gather this is about Hannah playing a role that is a cultural icon not of her own race.
Why is this okay when it's a person of color (is that the politically correct term now)? Auditions are "colorblind" all the time! I've seen Celtic gods played by colored people, traditionally colored characters played by people who are Hispanic or Asian...and yet when it's a "white" girl playing the role it's suddenly horrible.
Take the Disney Frozen show. They cast, as hugely popular SISTERS from a European culture who have been previously established in their race, a woman of color and a white woman. Anyone who raised negative opinions was immediately met with hate and, "The auditions were colorblind. It's standard in the industry, and you're just racist saying that Elsa shouldn't be black." A popular character from a popular company. Yet it was not only okay, but applauded.
I have seen my religion, the most important thing to me IN MY LIFE turned into not only a character but a lewd, disgusting show that not only doesn't understand it but mocks it. But if anyone says that they are supposedly taking it too seriously, they don't understand, they should be flattered that it generates more interest in their culture.
I'm tired of the double standard. I'm sorry I'm white and can't possibly understand. I'm sorry I'm Polish American, but I won't stick to wearing just traditional Polish dress and eating bigos, I'm sorry I instead strive to understand and live in a GLOBAL culture instead of focusing on differences no one can change and drawing a line to divide us all. I'm sorry I have band aids that are "my skin color" (They're not, btw), sorry I "don't get followed through Walmart" (I do, btw, because I'm a wanderer with "shifty eyes" even though I've never stolen anything in my life). I'm sorry I might want to play an amazing role, take an amazing gig, or cosplay someone not of my race. I'M SORRY, okay? And because tone is hard to read over the Internet, this is not some sarcastic sorry, but a heartfelt apology because I've learned my whole life that this IS all my fault. This is what my multicultural classes have instilled in me. Nothing but anxiety and self-hate.
I won't be coming back to this thread, because I'm very aware that this will make me unpopular. This is not a popular opinion to hold. And I'm sorry for that, too.
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I know this is becoming a large conversation in general, I have seen more so in film than theatre or live performance- I don't know anything about Hannah or the role, and usually wouldn't ever chime in- however, I think it is important that in these conversations we are listening, and her response made me wonder. The piece that concerned me, and that I commented on, was the response not that she was the one with the skill most necessary for the job, nor that it was a project that they wanted her specifically for, but that she most embodied the role (of an African goddess). I definitely think it is an important conversation, and interesting, and there are many aspects, and I do think growing up in different cultures is a valid reason for those cultures, which are a part of you, to be reflected in your life. But while I have never seen any of her work, and I don't know her background, it would take a lot to convince me that she embodies the role of an African goddess more than any woman of African descent. I just see that that thinking as being destructive to the conversation and the patterns. The reality is that while opera and mermaiding are extremely specific, when there are general jobs and the talent is even, jobs are more likely to go to white women than women of color. So if you have a platform, and an important conversations comes up, your response is a piece of something bigger, and makes an impact on the reality system behind it.
However, so crazy- a very interesting point about specific talent, and yes- a time when yellowface is widely used and accepted.
Thalassa, I think we were typing at the same time, but one point I wanted to bring up in the dreads thread, but is relavent here, is how many people I am friends with or who are in my family WANT to share their culture. My stepmother, who is Indian, bought me saris and stuck bindis on my forehead from a young age, and was always thrilled about sharing dress and customs with myself, my friends, and now my kids. I have very mixed feelings about locks, because for example, my 10 year old white daughter has grown up with her older sister, her one on one aide from school, and a little girl she shared a hospital room with for a few weeks, who are black, braiding all of her hair, telling her she should wear it like that more often, and that she looks beautiful. But then if she walks down the street that way in a few years, people will think she's a jerk. The biggest thing glaring at me about locks though is how much it was not cool for my black daughter to wear braids growing up, but she'd get made fun of after her hair broke off for it being so short, and she'd get made fun of for wearing a weave or clip ins because her hair was fake.....do you know how much easier her childhood would have been if locks were cool???
it infuriates me to see double standards all.the.time. But bindis, for example, have become somewhat separated from their meaning starting in their culture of origin, widely shared, and engrained in fashion, and- that could be a good thing
Random but It actually sooo irritates my older daughter to see things like a Black Elsa because while some people might applaud it- ELSA ISNT BLACK and I'd love to see more black princesses (and more mixed race sisters to be honest) but is it not kind of creepy for Elsa's race to be interchangeable?
And just realized- again, my disclaimer is that I am just hopping over briefly from the tail making thread, but would want to say that if this thread is unwelcoming to people with different ideas, there is no dialogue, and then what on earth is the point? If intelligent people who care about making the world a better place can't have a productive and respectful conversation about it, then there needs to be a real look at how things are being discussed. The most powerful forces in changing the trajectory of things are understanding and caring. this thread started as how change can be made in the mermaid community. I'd say- act like a community. Treat each other as if you are working out an issue with a friend. Treat each other as though you initially assume that someone who is sharing their perspective is doing so out of wanting to gain and share perspective.
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Originally Posted by MermaidBonnie
They didn't. I employ an award winning internationally known circus performer who has direct access to their casting notices across North America. My Free diving instructor also has access (and he just auditioned for a free diving role actually, fins crossed)
I know mers reached out to Circ as well to express their concerns and none heard back.
I think what she's done is done and can't be undone, I think it's more the excuses and replies she's giving to mers expressing their concern and trying to educate her, that has become the problem and spurned on these videos.
I have really thought about it and I feel like this conversation is one that I need to step out of.
It makes me sad because I think it is important, but I also think that depending on the tone, and respect for each other, and the realization that no one can speak for a whole community, or their whole race, and that experiences and situations are very different in different places- that can do more harm than good.
It isn't something I want to be a part of, and I hope that it can evolve, or just end, because when we stop valuing the honest point of view of another person, when we shut people down because they have a different perspective or say they don't agree or don't understand, we are no longer the good guys, even if we have good intentions.
Bonnie have you even seen the videos? Or read the comments under the videos? I'm sure you follow Hannah's page so you'll also see that there were a lot of recommendations for mers who were qualified. Older works like operas you can't do anything to change it. Current works however there should be no excuse.
thalassa... I'm just gonna tell you to read over the thread once more.
seriously bye guys. I'm done with this community. Obviously white mers cryin white tears over what they want is so much more important than the feelings of the oppressed group of people right? :/
Please don't leave. I really love having you here. You're inspirational, funny, and intelligent, and you're a dang good mermaid. I would seriously miss you.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaGlass Siren
Everyone needs to step back for a moment and look at the bigger picture. To my fellow white mers, we've had everything go our way for hundreds of years in the US. It's time to let minorities say what they've got to say and teach us all a little something. Don't you think they deserve to be heard and respected after centuries of being silenced? You can't see the forest between the trees. Let's listen to our mers of color and work together instead of dividing ourselves.
I love all you guys. It doesn't matter where you come from or what you look like. You're all important to me and I want to hear what you need to say.
Lay it on me.
I second this! Very well said! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Whisper
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Tbh I'm secodimg seaglass on this. It's tiresome saying the same things over and over and over again only to be met with people who don't want to listen because their feelings got hurt. There are tons of reference both here in this thread AND online (literally, google is free and available).
And instead of people taking advantage of all these resources they instead choose to whine about their feelings being hurt over some truth tea being spilled but can't spare a few moments to even read over what was written and i am not going to lie;it shows that the community is not open to critiques that would make it a better place for thise who want to enjoy it.
Yes i said i wanted to hear all thoughts in the video but I figured that most of those thoughts would be more than "I'm tired of people blaming white people" (also just fyi you might want to research WHY white people are the focus of nearly everything race related. Hint: it may have something to do with racial genocide and colonization and forced assimilation of everyone not white)
I think i'll stick to the mers of color specific groups from now on. (i'll still lurk here tho in case anyone needs a new butthole)
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And one more reply: for whoever said that in theatre including ballet they pick the most talented over ballet; i suggest you watch the misty copeland documentary, and read some of the books mentioned in it about ballet and race and follow the page "brown girls do ballet". I'm sure that theatre has something akin to this but me being an ex dancer, ballet is all i really pay attention to
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Seaglass, when I said- wow, interesting, they are using yellowface there in performance art regularly, it is to answer the question that I literally kept asking- is there anywhere that would make someone think that's ok?? And to say- well, someone in performing arts might have that idea because that's how performing arts works, values, for example, in opera, voice over any other aspect-
does that mean that the final answer is, welp, yellowface is ok after all? No, it means, that's part of the conversation. But I'm sorry if it came across in a way that was offensive.
And to just everyone in general, well, in a community, people do regard one another's feelings. And if you are trying to build community, it is something that matters.
And besides that, I think most of the people on this forum are genuinely good people, and it makes sense to find common ground because this is a fabric of people who are trying to exist together, and perhaps even be a network of allies.
I wear my bleeding heart on my sleeve, and it is broken in a million pieces for my daughter, and for every young woman in her position, and every man and every child because from where I am sitting I can see SO CLEARLY ALL THE TIME what is wrong. And it is horrible.
I have not gone back and forth about locks here, though it is what my hair naturally does AND it would be easier AND it is encouraged by the people in my life who matter to me who are black, because- this conversation, in America, is NOT. ABOUT. ME.
If it is going to make a difference, it can't be.
At the same time- if I were, it would be to say- my experience is different, and I don't want you to be offended when you see me, because I am not trying to take what is yours.
But since it DOES feel like that right now *where I live* (which is really different than other areas, so - seriously that makes a difference- we don't condemn hand gestures or nudity or so many other things in their cultural context by justifying judgement by American standards, and that perspective is just as narrow from a global perspective)
but because there is so. very. much. that HAS been taken, I am respecting that. There are a people who, in the south, in America, have been constantly pillaged and then left disregarded. So, in that vein, I am not going to say, 'wait, can I just have this one more thing?"
But I hope that overall feeling changes, because that's not what it should feel like, because there are a lot of reasons why, using locks as an example, it isn't true.
I see it. I experience it. I cry way too often tears for the lack of basic human value that, in America, no one seems to notice is diminished or altogether withheld all too often for people of color.
But- I also see this.
My family, meaning- grandparents, aunts uncles cousins parents are:
hispanic, Cherokee, black, caucasian (several different European origins) and Indian.
The cultural experiences I have been raised to have as a part of my core and my soul and who I am are diverse, and no I am not going to allow someone else's prejudices or assumptions take away from what is a valid part of who I am just because I am white.But I will try to be sensitive with the way that I embrace them.
And so I hope that especially with the fact that, Hallelujah, cultures are being shared and races are coming together, we can move to a perspective where we don't automatically look at someone with a symbol or hairstyle or dress that doesn't match their skin color and assume they are an ass.
And I recognize that for that to happen, there need to be a hundred other aspects of society in which people ARENT being an ass.
BUT I also believe that- in America (which btw is a tiny corner of the world, and this is an international forum, and it seems like at least some of the issue is coming from that) there is a HUGE problem, and there is a white power and entitlement and privilege that is so engrained everywhere that no, it is also not ok to just let things happen, because there are a million examples of what ARE gross misrepresentations and it is really offensive and not helping us move in a different direction.
So where does that leave us??
I have to advocate for change. I have to. I cannot sit down when it is time to stand for what is right.
Of course, where I direct that energy should be where I think it is effective, and where feels right.
But I also have to point out that it is possible to educate and come together, and also have different ideas.
It is complicated.
Sharing a different perspective is not part of the problem. Disagreeing is not part of the problem.
I'm so sad because IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME TO SUPPORT THE VOICES OF PEOPLE WHO, IN AMERICA, ARE BEING SILENCED.
I just don't understand why things need to get personally insulting, and harsh, and make people stop listening. I can name a lot of the most influential people in human rights movements in history that DID regard people's feelings. And they DID want active participation in conversations. Because their goal was to unite.
By all means, everyone deserves to have their voice. But why initiate a conversation if you don't care if anyone listens?
And from your perspective, if someone is part of what you see as the problem, isn't it their hearts you most want to speak to?
It just starts to feel like more darkness in a time desperately in need of light.
And Momo, I messaged you because I wanted to start a dialogue about dreads, and am just realizing I don't have the time to devote to doing that in a way that is productive, and I'm not sure that it CAN be done productively in this climate. Sometime I would love to tell you about some of the work I am doing in my everyday life, because it seems like it is actually working.
And I work my tail off. Because half of my family is black, but also because even if they were white I don't want to live in a world where people are STILL judged by the color of their skin.
This is emotional and personal and hard. But important, and I hate for it to end this way. Because I believe that we can come together and make a difference.
And I don't know a lot about the mermaid community.
But I know that for the sake of life in general, we have to.
I dropped you a PM
but in short it wasn't directed at you. You've been nothing but kind and thoughtful during the discussion.
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Originally Posted by Mermaid Momo
Please keep trying, Mermaid Momo: Some of us are learning and really appreciate the links and discussions going on here.
Thank you to everyone participating in this. Personally, I am learning a lot, and the topics discussed and information here is helping direct me towards my own research on the subject.
Best wishes!
merwandering you've honestly been fine through this whole thing. I have learned lots from you!
Momo, thank you so much for everything. I LISTEN. Your tumblr is literally where I learned a lot of this stuff. I seriously listen and consider this stuff.
I look at my own mermaid bubble here in canada and I ask myself all the time, how can we be more inclusive? I have an all white team. I didn't plan it that way. I did employ someone who was non-white but due to some serious issues they had to be dismissed. However, she did experience racism from a MULTICULTRUAL FESTIVAL (all run by white people) none-the-less when she worked for us. It was one of the most livid moments in my entire career. I actually had Sean send them an email telling them off because I was so angry I was shaking.
I try to look a how mermaiding can empower all people, and that means marginalized groups. I think I do a good job representing those with chronic illness/disability in myself, but I recently read an article and it has me wondering how I can empower others with physical disabilities in my mermaid school.
With mers of colour I haven't been able to employ anyone yet. I've put out casting calls a number of times after consulting with some of my pro friends in the community who are non white helping me. Naja raised a good point that in her experience as a mer of colour trying to get other mers of color itnto mermaiding, hair can sometimes be an issue. For now, we just tour to a lot of cultural areas and try to show support with our mermaid team. it really sucks though when I get asked "do you have a black mermaid? My little girl wants to see a mermaid like her" and I have to say no.
I was so close to hiring an awesome black lifeguard but she didn't fit in any of my tails, and I didnt have the $$ for a custom one (nor did she) She's still on my backup list though for the second I can make anything happen.
The main way I try to address it right now is through my multicultural workshop that we do for dry events. it focuses on mermaid myths across the world and shows art depictions of the mermaids. We tell stories and the kids help act them out and get involved, and at least in the stories and artwork they see themselves represented.
Not everyone is willing to speak up on touchy subjects on mernetwork. I can tell you from personal experience you can often feel very alone. but in reality a lot of people are relying on you to speak up for them. Either because they're scared, or don't know how. You are empowering people, regardless of how many white folks don't get it.
My dad used to be really racist toward aboriginals in Canada. it had everything to do with their rights for hunting and fishing, he didn't think it was fair. Then by a stroke of pure fate we were invited to a powwow and included in a drumming circle, and encouraged to participate. it totally changed my father. it stripped away all his hate and ignorance. they gave him a tshirt with their tribe band on it. And he wore it so much people asked me if he was native (my dad works outside so his skin is often way darker). Now he is a huge advocate. And it took him til his 40s to "get" it.
You words do change people. I promise. Sometimes it just feels like you're repating it over and over again. but you rock.
I actually had a great video from Feburary with me as a mermaid participating in a drum circle, but I didn't realize when it was being filmed that the child on my lap kept poking my boobs. LOL. So i didn't put it online, but I had a few snapshots.
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...ea&oe=57E86DE1
I learn a lot from my friend Naja too who runs najestic entertainment. To me, she is a true embodiment of Yameyah. I call her that. LOL she is hopefully coming to mermania.
For anyone who doesn't know, we will also be having a panel presented by mers of colour about these issues at mermania!
Merwandering you are perfectly fine and such an amazing person to have in this thread :) my post was more in regards to those who refuse to even think about how they may be hurting mers pf color and instead want to make the focus about how hurt they are that white people were called out specifically.
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Finally saw this. Sea glass Im talking about performances happening right now. Aida, a North African Queen being played by white women. Turandot a Chinese princess being played by a white woman. Madame Butterfly being played by...you guessed it, white women. There are other examples but this is the performance world. Denyce Graves made a perfect Tosca (she's African American but the character is supposed to be white Italian) and Grace Bumbry who is one of my faves played Carmen. When auditioning for a role the company chooses who they want. I just assume this is what happens in all performance categories.
the whole point of this thread, is challenging that status quo, and empowering mers of colour. It doesn't mean they're being passed over for lack of ability. This is the same in the film industry, and the same controversy came up at the oscars. It's a well researched issue. You can't just tell an entire race they aren't being chosen because they aren't the best qualified, or lecture them on going for auditions. People ARE turned down for their race, and this specific instance, Circ didn't bother trying black performers who could also fit the role. And while it's not Hannah's fault, maybe now that she's been educated on the matter she can make wiser decisions.
This entire thread is literally about how white washing isn't OK and we all have a role to play in stopping in. Just because it did happen/does happen doesn't make it OK
Is there an audition video that shows a mermaid of color that can out perform Hannah Fraser? I haven't seen any mermaid out perform her yet. Id be impressed with anyone regardless of race who could.
*sigh* there are many, MANY mers of color that could outdo her, but us white people are too busy pretending like they don't exist [emoji849] Hannah's not top notch OR a goddess, she's just famous. There are so many people out there that do incredible things and never get noticed for it because of the color of their skin. It's time to stop that, don't you think?
I'd rather see one mer role model for every type of person than a hundred for one type, you know? Diversity is what makes the world more interesting and beautiful.
Not trying to come off as rude, but your notion that Hannah is the one and only is wrong.
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Hey Whisper, it's just my opinion that Hannah is the top mermaid performer. Id love to see others who could take a mermaid performance to a world of amazing above her. I love watching mermaids do fantastic stunts! It helps me push my own boundaries. I have been a performer since I was 6 as a pianist. If I got a dollar for everytime I heard a performer say "I didn't get the gig bc of this" whether it's race, looks, weight, etc I would be rich. Does racism happen? Of course. Am I totally uneducated on it? No. I went to Tennessee State University which is a historically black college for my Masters and took graduate courses in Multicultural studies. I got a real taste of being the minority there as I was not even welcome to join a sorority bc of my race. I had issues with one professor who never gave me grades and tried to fail me bc I was a white (blonde at the time) girl. I had so much documentation but got no help. So I got a good taste of racism and it helped open my eyes. when I lived in Austria I was refused service bc I looked too dark at a restaurant. I was sent away from an audition before I even sang bc the director wanted a singer who looked like Claudia Schiffer. Anyways I want people to be successful. I even give away black mermaid dolls at my events to encourage more little girls to become mermaids. If there were women of color who could outperform Hannah then yes that was probably a racist move on the company's part.
Also just to make it clear, I'm not a huge Hannah fan. I respect her work and have to admit she's really good at what she does and is a pioneer for all of us.
Whisper, please share videos of these mers you speak of. Sorry I keep posting responses teying to care for baby
why does anyone have to prove to you that a black person is qualified to play a BLACK GODDESS??? You act like they must of brushed over black people because they didnt fit the role, when literally black people werent even considered for the role of a BLACK goddess. You are being the sterotype. The white woman coming into the narrative from coloured people, trying to suggest what is and isn't racism. You didn't experience racism being white. You may have experienced some sort of prejudice. You are aprt of the problem. Go ahead, make passive aggressive comments like I'm a bully for telling you. All the black and asian mers are telling you, but you aren't listening. For someone so anti drama your sure stir it up! Maybe you should ACTUALLY WATCH THE VIDEOS put in this thread and start listening to your mer brothers and sisters trying to get you to understand.
http://www.dailydot.com/via/reverse-...-doesnt-exist/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/...b07addcb45da97
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/whi...erience-racism
http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/07/...e-people-race/
http://www.evangelicalsforsocialacti...le-getting-it/
http://matadornetwork.com/pulse/18-t...ussing-racism/
I know you'll disregard all of this, for the plain fact that I'm the one posting it, but maybe others will find this helpful.
http://ripetech1.wpengine.netdna-cdn...61ad90a26a.gif
Very well spoken.Quote:
Originally Posted by AniaR
Raina, thank you for being a good role model for white mers. We need to accept our privilege as light-skinned folk and use it to help those who don't get all the chances we do.
The fact of the matter is that ONLY black people should have been considered for the role, just as we do for specific characters on television. Hannah should have never even come up in the discussion, because she is British, blonde, and, ah--WHITE.
I urge you to listen to all of the voices that have come up in this topic instead of just picking out the ones that strike your fancy.
I'll say it again. Hannah is not the end all, be all of the mermaid world. Spindrift, Coradion, the Singapore Mermaid, and so many more have what it takes to be the best at what they do, but we're not letting them. Take your hands off their wings and let them be free.
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Just a reminder for everyone to be cool. No rule violations here, I just wanted to chime in cause it looks like the discussion's getting heated.
If anyone here finds themselves getting too upset, I recommend taking a break and getting some tea. And if you think anyone crosses a line feel free to let me or the Mods know, although please remember that "disagreeing with you" isn't a rule violation.
Thank you for that, Malinghi! Though I must say, I'm more of a coffee girl [emoji6]
I do love all you guys and I respect your opinions. I've just seen so much injustice in my time on Earth and my heart aches every day for each person I cannot save. I'm a sap and a bleeding heart, and I just want everyone to be happy.
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