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paget situation,random thoughts, appropriation, racism, stuff on my mind i need to let go {thread}
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not to be the beginning of a criminal minds episode but i found this quote and it felt relevant to me: “The denigration of those we love always detaches us from them in some degree. Never touch your idols: the gilding will stick to your fingers.” — Gustave Flaubert
so i’ve been seeing the question “why now?” which, to me, translates to:”if it was okay then, why is it not okay now?“— appropriation has never been okay. and moments like this require intentional call out, followed by conversations and learning.
the resurfacing of that image must be contextualized through current events and national protests against oppression. right now people are radicalized,more people are calling attention to privileged pov’s and unchecked displays of racism. standom is no exception to that movement.
for me, being a fan/stan is never without critical consumption, elsewise i become complicit in my fav’s supposed & every ideology (esp the problematic.) in this case, no criticism of paget’s cultural appropriation would seem to indicate i condone it. i do not.
i do personally acknowledge that this was not a conversation i would have ever been brave enough to start.... but now we’re being forced to really face it & what it means: paget does have a pattern of unaddressed cultural appropriation.
cultural appropriation in costume can intentionally or unintentionally cause harm/offense to the marginalized group being appropriated. more often, i think people are unaware of the harm caused bc of positions of privilege, or under-education. But ignorance is not an out.
i like paget. even if she gives zero fucks about me, she’s my vice. i like her acting and her quirky personality. but.... right now i can’t even get into that as this whole conversation has reanimated my response to her privilege.
i don’t feel shameful for having been a fan, but i’m overwhelmingly disappointed & discouraged. and i want accountability in two areas now, but unfortunately i don’t know if she is willing to give it....
being her fan and a black poc has required a duality that, for me, is somehow not yet broken, but that is dwindling. this storm has left me feeling nothing but unresolved, and while everyone’s cancelled her, i still want answers to these questions:
-are you aware this is cultural appropriation/is considered offensive to native/indigenous groups?
-do you still own this headdress?
-why did you presume wearing native headdress as a costume was okay?
-what steps have you taken to change this behavior?
-do you still own this headdress?
-why did you presume wearing native headdress as a costume was okay?
-what steps have you taken to change this behavior?
if i ask directly, i don’t know that she’ll respond. but i do insist on accountability. and “why now?” —because the conversation is being had now. it’s uncomfortable for me, as i’m sure it is for many fans & for Paget esp. but if we have to have it, we must fully have it.
i’m frustrated, and i want to be clear on the actions i want to see her take towards anti-racism. and that does not begin and end with a blanket apology, but an apology is a start.
no one can undo the harm they cause. whether it be intentional or unintentional. they can only apologize, learn, and work to prevent a repetition of the same behaviors. and i hope paget does.
