Hotashi

Jack doesn’t talk much about his heritage or what it means to him. I’ve come to think that it doesn’t mean as much to him than mine does to me. Wow that sounds so snotty, but that’s honestly what I’ve concluded. Recently though he has dropped random things my way that make me step back and reanalyze my conclusion. He mentioned the Taiwanese festival in Toronto a month ago, and the other day he talked about mooncakes. It may not seem like much but this is the most that I can he has done…really. His parents aren’t big on a lot of Chinese traditions, which is fine. But could it be that Jack is starting to take more interest in his heritage or was I quick to dismiss his silence? Hmm…I hope I can learn more about his heritage through him than through wiki. I am definitely going to attend the Taiwanese festival next year.

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Does this disturb anyone else?

This is an advertisement that I’ve been seeing a lot lately on various sites. It is insane how exoticism is still used as a selling point to sustain colonial powers of the White man having his exotic concubines. It really disgusts me.

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Here are two stories as to why I think that truer (not true, truer) democracy should allow people not only to vote in people but vote them out as well.

Story #1: Toronto City Councellor Rob Ford makes racist comments about “Orientals”
So here is what he said:

“Go to Hong Kong, okay? I’ve been there. You want to see workaholics? Those Oriental people work like dogs. They work their hearts out … that’s why they’re successful in life. … I’m telling you, Oriental people, they’re slowly taking over, because there’s no excuses for them. They’re hard, hard workers.”

So yeah…I guess we should be scared of those crazy overworked “Orientals” who are determined to take over our country. I can’t believe some people think this isn’t racist. Just because Ford is “praising” “Oriental people” does not mean that he is not 1) Othering a group of people, 2) perpetuating stereotypes (aka false statements), and 3) instilling fear into Canadians about “Orientals”. It’s so sad that he is a councellor for Toronto. I guess it just goes to show how stupid people can get elected. He initially refused to appologize and then eventually appologised to 15-20 people who were offended by his comments. WTF?! So basically he doesn’t think that his words were wrong, but that he was sorry he hurt some people’s feelings. What a moron! Btw, he is planning to run for mayor of Toronto in 2010. I am so going to protest.

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In my race and ethnicity class last week we discussed some of the ways racialized peoples alter their image to try to fit in with the White norm. We focused more on darker skinned people wearing light coloured contacts or altering the colour of their hair. The topic really got me thinking. I had thought about these things a few years ago and had decided that I would not dye my hair, wear colour contacts or lighten my skin. I wanted to make a statement that I was proud of who I was and I did not believe I should change the natural beauty of my body to match that of a White woman (a specific type of White woman that most White women do not look like, but still strive to duplicate onto their bodies). But this time I started thinking about the texture of my hair.

Ever since grade seven I have hated my hair - hated. I don’t think I ever really liked my hair, but I really began to hate it with a passion in grade seven. This was when I started going through puberty and I started realizing how I did not fit the ideal beauty that was set out by Canadian society. I was not White, I did not have fair skin, I was not tall, and I did not have luscious hair that was soft to the touch. My hair was big, volumous (more than desired), black, and coarse. It was hard to maintain and I had not yet learned how to “manage” it. I got my first hair straightener in grade eight or nine and I have been straightening my hair ever since. Occasionally I would leave it natural, but this was out of laziness than anything else. I started thinking about why I hated my hair so much. It’s been 10 years of this hatred and I haven’t allowed myself to stop and think about why.

Last year I had seen a movie (I can’t remember the name) about Black American women talking about their hair. I had blogged about it previously, but I only discussed the comb test in that post. I can’t remember the entire movie, but I remember that a prominent theme was the struggle that many Black women have about coming to terms about their natural hair. For many they have been treating their hair for a good portion (probably the majority) of their lives, and they had to make conscious decisions about the statement they wanted to make with their hair. Many were fighting against the image of the ideal beauty having long, silky straight hair and they wanted to send the message that their natural “kinky” hair was beautiful, acceptable and desirable.

Thinking about the messages that Black women have received and self-inflicted upon themselves of attaining this desired type of hair, I have realized that I too have done the same to myself. Also, I have accepted messages that dark, “kinky” hair is undesirable and disgusting. I have always liked the feeling of my straight silky hair after it has been straightened, but I’ve realized that this is part of the socialization that I have experienced that has taught me that coarse hair does not feel good - that the kinks need to be straightened out and erased of any undesirability. How did I not see this earlier?

So this week I did not straighten my hair. I left it natural and went out to dinner with my friends. I received compliments and scowls about my “beautiful natural hair” which I previously used to shrug off, but this time I smiled and said thank you. I have decided that I want to unlearn the hatred towards my hair and relearn how to love it. I want to take back the power I so willingly gave up to an abstract, unrealistic model image.

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Jack and I went on our first double date last weekend - it was fun. We went for sushi first, which unfortunately I threw up because something didn’t agree with me. I don’t think I’ll be eating that for a while, and I really hope that doesn’t include greentea ice cream *lurve*. After dinner/upchuck we went to see The Other Boelyn Girl. I really enjoyed the movie. The plotline was sound (no unanswered questions or confusing parts) and there were continuous surprises. I loved it. I would really recommend anyone to see it, although if you are looking for historical accuracy then I would sway you elsewhere.

The previews for the movies coming this summer were really interesting. I think I want to see all of them, especially the Sex and the City Movie. Personally I think the preview gave away WAY too much into the story - I was actually a bit pissed. I really hope that they didn’t just show the best scenes and the rest of the movie is kinda meh…although I seriously doubt that. Here is the official trailer that doesn’t spoil the fun.

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