Nov 13, 2012
I’ve talked a lot about growing up in an area that was largely full of white people (I believe 98% of the county I grew up in was white during the 80′s). The effect this had on me, growing up, was not actually the one you might expect. Instead of (I thought) teaching me explicitly to be a racist, it taught me that racism was some kind of anomalous...
Nov 12, 2012
Spoilers: The hostages get away! The boat sinks! Etc. When I saw the first trailer for Argo, I guffawed at the implausibility of the entire movie. CIA creates SF movie ruse to smuggle people out of Iran? Whatever, Hollywood. I figured it was just a good excuse for the media to fuel itself up for war with Iran (because we don’t have enough wars! And oh, those...
Sep 4, 2012
NOTE: Contains a fairly major spoiler for GOD’S WAR. I spent a lot of time this weekend on panels at WorldCon talking about the responsibilities of being a writer, and how what we put on the page can mean something very personal to people. I spend a stupid amount of time buried in research books and googling shit on the Internet and digging up first person...
Jun 1, 2012
When I rant about biases and stereotypes and authors’ blindspots, I get the impression that some people think I’m some perfect person without any biases. I’ve talked a lot about my awareness of my own misogyny and racism, but there’s other stuff that creeps up on you too, sometimes when you least expect it. Bias does not happen in a...
May 17, 2012
During times of great social upheaval, it can often seem safer to say nothing. You get noticed less. You piss off fewer people. You go around making sure the trains run on time. You make your dollars and go home and stuff them in the mattress and keep your head down and hope they don’t come for you. It’s a silly position, really, because they always come...
You’re a racist. Ok? It’s OK. Take a deep breath. It doesn’t mean you have to be a horrible person. I promise. Just… listen. For the most part, I’m addressing white American folks in this particular message, because, you know, I’m white. And American. I get it. I grew up here too, in a white ghetto. But no matter what kind of sticky racist...
They came first for the gays and the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t gay, or a Jew. Then they came for the immigrants and the socialists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t an immigrant or a socialist. Then they came for the Muslims, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Muslim. Then they came for me...
