It also means that if you're black on a list such as this you have to identify yourself as such whereas if you're white you wouldn't bother (unless talking about race), since the assumption is that everyone 'here' is of euro descent (and most likely male; even when I sign my complete name I've been addressed as a guy.)
Judging from the questionnaire R aimed at Charles, it also means that you have to somehow account for the sellouts in your group in a way the dominant group will not have to.
>Black people or anyone else shouldn't be put upon to explain how it works.
>They don't need to tell anyone how it "feels" to be black. Just as I
>shouldn't be asked to explain how it feels to be a chick in a forum
>dominated by dicks. Taking the time, as Chuck did or Joe did, to talk
>about how it works because they've spent some time observing it and paying
>attention to it is what whites ought to do. When a man on this list--like
>Brad de Long once did, or Carrol has done, or Mike Yates has done, or
>Michael Pollak has done (I'm sorry if I missed someone... I think I
>have...)--to explain to other white men what sexism is about, THAT means a
>lot to me. It means they GET IT. It means they are willing to put their
>asses on the line and educate others. THEY have to take the heat for a
change.
This last is a key point. Although I have to add that at times watching men discussing feminism is like watching someone repeatedly shooting and missing a target. I'd rather it happen than not, though.
Jenny Brown