I personally felt that this image was not intended to be used as a racial slur, moreover, it was just an ill thought out use of opposing makeup colors on a white model.
I put up with the personal attacks from commenters, calling me racist, that I was basking in my "white privlage", that i have no empathy etc etc etc.
To prove that I do, in fact, have empathy, I used the example of my husband and how he has to deal with racism on an almost daily occurrence. Those who are close to me know my husband's ethnicity, and know the impact racism has had on him while he was growing up. I've heard these stories and, my gosh it makes me ashamed to be an Australian sometimes. Some of the things that he was/gets told...it makes my blood boil.
But what would I know, I'm white, right?
Anyway, one Carly Hammond decides to do a little research and try and find out my husband's ethnicity by going to this blog. She then decided that he was "Italian" (which he isn't) and used it as a personal attack on me to show my ignorance. Her exact words:
"Annica, cluck cluck, your husband is Italian?.. I read your blog "Haute and Stylish" And I did not know Italians were people of color, besides that you've really made a fool of yourself and I'm ashamed to have your blog on my favorites. Delete".
Michaela from "Lather, Rinse, Repeat", then jumps on Carly's bandwagon and cries that she won't be reading my blog either. Such a shame because I thought she would know facts before making assumptions, but whatever. Live and let live.
I'm ok with being called names, I'm ok with being abused (sticks and stones), after all you don't know me and have never met me. I would never call YOU a name, or make an assumption about YOU, yet you think it's ok to do the same to me.
BUT BRINGING IN MY HUSBAND IN SUCH A WAY... YOU SILLY, SILLY GIRL. How dare you?! HOW FUCKING DARE YOU. Are you trying to tell me everything he has experienced and grew up with is nullified because you THINK he is Italian?! You're saying I have no idea about empathy because he isn't even "of color". How the fuck would I know about racism because HE IS ITALIAN?! I can't even. I just can't. Did you make that generalization because of his name? Ffs, and I'm being called the racist one.
This blog was never intended to be used in such a way. The fact that it was shows that I don't want to do this anymore. What was meant to be a compelling debate has turned into a bitchy, "agree with what I say or you're a fucking stupid racist bitch".
I'm done with this.
Keep it Haute,
Anni.
Oh this is all very disappointing to read.
ReplyDeleteI was completely oblivious to any of these issues, and as such, can't really comment... but I will say I love your blog and I will be sad to see it closed.
Hi Annica,
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame that you feel that you have to close your blog. I never personally attacked you, and my comment (copied from here https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=562711953745602&set=a.184268764923258.51370.183773591639442&type=1&theater ) said "Annica, that's sad, because I also enjoy/ed your blog too. I believe you're a good person, although just not getting 'it'. And being Italian is NOT the same as being black. Nope."
I'll admit this was blunt, but it's frustrating to see an intelligent, educated women fall to the victim mentality so many of us entertain in Australia. You are not the victim here, and while no one is telling you that you don't know anything because you're white, it is not your or my place to diminish the experiences of non-whites.
I never said I would stop reading your blog, and obviously haven't seeing here I am. I've always enjoyed your content and am sad to see it go.
The thing is, you do have white privilege. I have it too, and acknowledging it is not a personal attack of insult. It just means that in this country, our skin colour is the default, and most things cater to us. This is unfair. To acknowledge white privilege is to understand that white views are not the only views and that we do need to take care to listen to non-whites and not disregard their experience.
Hope that you read this,
Michaela
That faux-pology is just as good as Illamasqua's.
DeleteTo be clear, I'm not apologising for anything. I have not attacked you personally in any way, and merely wanted to correct you misquoting me.
DeleteI will not engage with you any further and become embroiled in your personal drama.
I'm really sad to hear that you are going to shut down your blog.
ReplyDeleteAs a left handed, red headed, transgender geek, I've experienced an enormous amount of abuse and discrimination over the years (more so when I was at school ~ how dare I be different!) and yet I'm sure that there would be people out there who would accuse me of enjoying white privilege (perhaps even white male privilege because they are so clueless) and claim that means that I'm not discriminated against as much as they are.
The best suggestion that I can make is to block those people out of your life and continue on as before.
I'm so bummed! I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that what could have been an intelligent debate turned into people personally attacking anyone who didn't see things their way... I know of other sites where people discussed this very campaign and it didn't turn into anything as nasty as this. I hope that you reconsider and post again, but at the same time, no blog is worth the stress - if it's starting to make you unhappy then you've done the right thing.
This is very sad news indeed! I love reading you blog :( You will be missed!! xo
ReplyDeleteOh Anni, I'm sorry to read this. I will miss your posts xo
ReplyDeleteI think it's a little silly to close down a blog over this drama.
ReplyDeleteI read all the comments and I don't believe anyone was personally attacking you in a really nasty way.
I understand it can still be hurtful (I've had people I don't know say mean things to me online and I acknowledge that it hurts, despite not knowing them), but you can't let that close your blog that seems to be a regular part of your life. If you close it because of people you'll never meet, then the only person who will suffer is you and they are not going to care if you shut it down, so why do it?
It seems the drama over the ad is now over, so my advice is to let it go. They don't know you and you don't know them, so just carry on with your blog as you have always done :)
I agree, and just because she's angry she's also tried to make her blogpost into a hate campaign against another blogger RLL, posting full names and links to their blogs. I think she expected the blogger community to rush to her defence which is hilarious because even though her post above has deliberately left parts out ie been doctored to gain sympathy) people can still see nobody has attacked her to the degree she claims lol. Maybe don't go trivializing racism with your blog picture in your avi on facebook... you might run into your readers on there and get called out on your crap
DeleteVery Interesting post. I really appreciate this post.
ReplyDeleteTravesti
Delete*Really your post is very interesting and informative.I ll surely keep visiting.
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