When I clicked on the Time Person of the Year cover page, I thought, "Oh, no. White women. Really?!"

[EffieBlack]

Then, as the page loaded from top to bottom, Adama Iwu's beautiful face appeared.

And, for a moment, all felt right with the world.

Thank you, Time Magazine, for getting this one right!

[demmiblue]

1. And Isabel Pascual. n/t

[L. Coyote]

4. There is no such thing as race, and people are not "white"

Using such language is itself racist.

[LexVegas]

5. "There is no such thing as race" says white people. nt

[bigtree]

6. +1000

[EffieBlack]

13. LOL!

Ding ding ding!

[snooper2]

7. LOL cracks me up- Hey, have you ever seen Von Luschan's chromatic scale?

[L. Coyote]

8. No, never saw that, and I'm an anthropologist.

AAA Statement on Race
http://www.americananthro.org/ConnectWithAAA/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=2583

The following statement was adopted by the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association on May 17, 1998, acting on a draft prepared by a committee of representative American anthropologists. It does not reflect a consensus of all members of the AAA, as individuals vary in their approaches to the study of "race." We believe that it represents generally the contemporary thinking and scholarly positions of a majority of anthropologists.

In the United States both scholars and the general public have been conditioned to viewing human races as natural and separate divisions within the human species based on visible physical differences. With the vast expansion of scientific knowledge in this century, however, it has become clear that human populations are not unambiguous, clearly demarcated, biologically distinct groups. Evidence from the analysis of genetics (e.g., DNA) indicates that most physical variation, about 94%, lies within so-called racial groups. Conventional geographic "racial" groupings differ from one another only in about 6% of their genes. This means that there is greater variation within "racial" groups than between them. In neighboring populations there is much overlapping of genes and their phenotypic (physical) expressions. Throughout history whenever different groups have come into contact, they have interbred. The continued sharing of genetic materials has maintained all of humankind as a single species.

Physical variations in any given trait tend to occur gradually rather than abruptly over geographic areas. ..............

[brush]

17. It's use was abandoned in the early '50s. Wonder why?

[uriel1972]

21. there will be 'race'...

as long as there are racists. It is a social construct but it is real nonetheless.
To deny it is in itself an act of priviliged racism.

[L. Coyote]

24. Racism exists even though there are no races.

That might be a better way to state the obvious, rather than attacking those who know the facts by calling them "priviliged" (sic) racists.

Knowing truth isn't privileged, it is normal. It is also simple arithmetic anyone can understand.

[Rene]

2. why the ugly black outfits and dark look to the picture?

these women have come into the light

[EffieBlack]

3. Maybe that's what they wanted to wear?

[nini]

9. I see strong women coming out of the darkness

I guess it's all how you interpret it.

[Merlot]

10. I was wondering about that too.

It's weird and off-putting.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. Yes, if only they had dressed up to be prettier.

[EffieBlack]

14. And they look so MEAN! Why don't they at least smile?

They'd look so much prettier, more pleasant and not so "off-putting."

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Right? Just looking at it makes me feel uncomfortable.

Why do they have to be so angry?

[Beaverhausen]

18. Really?

wow- the point is so far over your head it's in orbit.

[malaise]

36. +1,000

I give up.

[nolabear]

30. That's your response? Maybe they're in MOURNING for their fellow victims.

Maybe it's gravitas. Maybe they didn't want to be pretty. Here, how's this?

[Tipperary]

35. I wear black clothing a lot. I like it for a number of reasons.

I think the women look beautiful.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. Not just white women, but Taylor Swift!

Last edited Wed Dec 6, 2017, 12:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Kesha would have been better in that spot, IMO. Of course, Tarana Burke would have been best.

[emulatorloo]

16. "Taylor Swift's 10 Most Powerful Statements From Her Sexual Assault Trial Cross-Examination"

Maybe you are not aware that Taylor Swift was sued by a man who sexually harrased her. David Mueller, a radio host, stuck his hand up her skirt and grabbed her ass.

She won. Jury voted unanimously in her favor.

Have not read the Time article so I don't know if that's why they picked her, but this was news this year.

Taylor Swift's 10 Most Powerful Statements From Her Sexual Assault Trial Cross-Examination
https://www.glamour.com/story/taylor-swift-sexual-assault-trial-cross-examination

<snip>

Thursday (August 10) marks day four of Taylor Swift's sexual assault trial against former KYGO radio host David Mueller—and it's arguably the most important one so far. Why? Because Swift herself took the stand to testify against Mueller, and what she said is slowly making its way onto the Internet.
If you're unfamiliar with the case, here's a brief overview: According to Swift, Mueller allegedly reached under her skirt and grabbed her ass when the two were taking a photo together during a meet-and-greet on her Red Tour in 2013. Mueller sued Swift two years later for $3 million, claiming her allegations were false. Swift is countersuing for just $1. (More on that here.)

We'll let you read them for yourself. Here are the 10 most powerful comebacks she said in court today (context provided where needed):

(1) McFarland suggested Swift could've taken a break from her concert meet-and-greet if she was so shaken up by Mueller's alleged assault. (Swift previously said she was distressed by the incident but carried on with her schedule because she didn't want to upset her fans.)
Swift's reply: “Your client could have taken a normal photo with me.”

(2) McFarland noted that Swift is actually closer to Mueller's girlfriend in the photo. (Presumably the point of this was to imply Swift could've been confused about whose hand, if any, grabbed her backside.)
Swift's reply: “Yes, she did not have her hand on my ass.”

(3) McFarland suggested Swift’s bodyguard, Greg Dent, could have intervened if a sexual assault did occur. Vogue reports the lawyer then asked Swift if she was critical of Dent for not preventing the alleged incident.
Swift's reply: “I’m critical of your client sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass.”

(4) McFarland argued there isn't anything visibly inappropriate happening in the photo of Swift and Mueller.
Swift's reply: “Gabe, this is a photo of him with his hand up my skirt—with his hand on my ass. You can ask me a million questions—I’m never going to say anything different. I never have said anything different.”

<snip>

Much more at link

[WhiskeyGrinder]

19. I am aware. She countersued and won.

The system worked for her. She's an exception, not a rule. The women who speak up and lose are much more numerous; #metoo has not changed the system.

[emulatorloo]

22. That's no reason to minimize the win over her harasser, or to denigrate her.

She stood up. Maybe I misunderstand you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Fair enough.

Taylor Swift has enough baggage around race and the alt-right and not pulling up others behind her on the ladder that I'm disappointed that she's held up as a face of a movement. It reinforces the idea that feminism is for white women and as long as you play by the system's rules you'll win. That's a high bar for Time, I get it.

[Iggo]

20. LOL.

"Oh, no. White women. Really?!"

[DavidDvorkin]

26. Sadly, that type of racism acceptable on DU.

[Iggo]

27. That ain't racism.

That's looking at the thing and thinking "Oh no! Did Time Magazine really just name White Women as their Person Of The Year?" And then scrolling down and seeing that that's not the case at all.

It's funny.

[Skittles]

33. in that case the dismay would be if it was ONLY white women

not white women in general

[KitSileya]

25. Someone pointed out that the moniker is all wrong.

They are not the "Silence Breakers." They are not the first ones to speak out about sexual assault and harassment. They're just among the first to be *heard* en masse. Previous victims have not been listened to.

It is important to make clear that the onus is not on them to speak, but on men to listen.

[Skittles]

28. nice, but for the record

there's nothing wrong with being white

[EffieBlack]

31. Who said there was?

I’m always amazed at the consternation that ensues whenever white people are referred to as white people.

[Skittles]

32. it's not CONSTERNATION

it's just a reminder that kind of language SUCKS no matter to WHOM you refer

[EffieBlack]

34. Countless posts and threads on DU refer to African Americans or women.

Do you jump into every one and accuse the posters of racism or misogyny?

If not, why not?

[Skittles]

37. LOL

are you REALLY accusing me of not standing up to racism and misogyny?

hoo boy

OVER AND *OUT*

[EffieBlack]

38. Not accusing you of anything at all

I have no doubt you call out racism and misogyny when you see it. I’m just trying to determine what you see as racism and misogyny and what you don’t.

You seem to think that referring to white people as white people is racism. I’m wondering if, by the same token, you believe that identifying African Americans and women as African Americans and women is racism and sexism.

[Lil Missy]

29. Oh crap! I misread the OP.

Last edited Wed Dec 6, 2017, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)

My mistake.