Hipster racism explained

Hipster racism is engaging in behaviors typically regarded as racist and defending them as being performed ironically or satirically. Rachel Dubrofsky and Megan W. Wood have described it as being supposedly "too hip and self-aware to actually mean the racist stuff one expresses". This might include wearing blackface and other performances of stereotyped African Americans, use of the word nigger, and appropriating cultural dress.[1] [2] Talia Meer argues that hipster racism is rooted in what she calls "hipster exceptionalism", meaning "the idea that something ordinarily offensive or prejudiced is miraculously transformed into something clever, funny and socially relevant, by the assertion that said ordinarily offensive thing is ironic or satirical."[3] As Leslie A. Hahner and Scott J. Varda described it, "those participating in acts of hipster racism understand those acts as racist when practiced by others, but rationalize their own racist performances through a presumed exceptionalism."

History

Carmen Van Kerckhove coined the term hipster racism in the article "The 10 Biggest Race and Pop Culture Trends of 2006", citing "Kill Whitey" Parties and "Blackface Jesus" as examples.[4] "Kill Whitey" parties, as described by The Washington Post, were parties held for hipsters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, by Jeremy Parker, a disc jockey who goes by the name Tha Pumpsta, in an attempt to "kill the whiteness inside". These were parties in which white hipsters mocked the black hip-hop industry, and essentially a part of African-American culture, for the sake of irony.[5] Sierra and Bianca Casady of CocoRosie were noted as regulars at "Kill Whitey" parties.[6] Van Kerckhove also regarded the use of blackface by white people and the normalization and acceptance of such use from other individuals as hipster racism. Van Kerckhove contends, quoting Debra Dickerson, that the use of blackface by individuals such as these was an effort to satirize political correctness and racism.[7]

Matt Pearce of the Los Angeles Times characterized the appropriation of cultural artifacts as fashion without recognizing the significance of the article as hipster racism. Examples include wearing Native American headdresses, or more specifically, Urban Outfitters selling clothes with Navajo and other Aboriginal and African tribal prints without giving tribute, acknowledgement, or compensation. Filmmaker Lena Dunham was described as a hipster racist when Dunham defended her Girls collaborator and screenwriter Murray Miller when he was accused of sexual assault by actress Aurora Perrineau, who is of mixed race.[8] [9]

See also

References

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Pearce . Matt . 1 May 2012 . Trayvon Martin, Kony 2012, L.A. riots – and Now 'Hipster Racism' . Los Angeles Times . 15 September 2017.
  2. Web site: West . Lindy . Lindy West . 26 April 2012 . A Complete Guide to 'Hipster Racism' . Jezebel . New York . Gawker Media . 17 December 2013 . 19 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190119125514/https://jezebel.com/5905291/a-complete-guide-to-hipster-racism . dead .
  3. Web site: Meer . Talia . 2 January 2013 . Die Antwoord — Are We Missing the Misogyny? . Thought Leader . Johannesburg . M&G Media . 26 October 2017 . 1 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201081302/https://thoughtleader.co.za/taliameer/2013/01/02/die-antwoord-are-we-missing-the-misogyny/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Van Kerckhove . Carmen . 15 January 2007 . The 10 Biggest Race and Pop Culture Trends of 2006: Part 1 of 3 . Racialicious . https://web.archive.org/web/20130302044555/http://www.racialicious.com/2007/01/15/the-10-biggest-race-and-pop-culture-trends-of-2006-part-1-of-3/ . 2 March 2013 . 12 January 2013 . dead .
  5. News: Garcia . Michelle . 26 August 2005 . Deejay's Appeal: 'Kill The Whiteness Inside' . The Washington Post . 25 October 2017.
  6. News: Deejay's Appeal: 'Kill the Whiteness Inside' . . 18 January 2023.
  7. Web site: Van Kerckhove . Carmen . 9 December 2005 . Dude, Where's My White Privilege? Take 2: 'Blackface Jesus' . https://web.archive.org/web/20060328003413/http://www.mixedmediawatch.com/2005/12/09/blackface-jesus/ . Mixed Media Watch . New York . New Demographic . 28 March 2006 . 25 October 2017.
  8. News: D'Zurilla . Christie . 20 November 2017 . Lena Dunham accused of 'hipster racism' after she initially defended 'Girls' writer . . 25 November 2017.
  9. News: Mahdawi . Arwa . 25 November 2017 . Is Lena Dunham's 'hipster racism' just old-fashioned prejudice? . . 25 November 2017 .

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