Date: Sat, 02 Dec 1995 13:34:00 -0500 (EST)
From: Francis N Nesbitt <fnn-AT-oitunix.oit.umass.edu>
Subject: Re: Wacko Jacko


post-ness liberating?
we choose our racial and gender identities?

excuse me!

do the indios in guatemala choose their identities?
how about the blacks in the west? did they come up with the terms 
'pelo malo' (bad 'black' hair)  "no seas tan indio" (don't be an indio) 
"esta mejorando la raza" (improving the race) "me estas 
negreando?" (don't treat me like a negro) "lista negra" "la oveja negra" "tu 
lado negro" "trabajar como negro para vivir como blanco" (working like a 
black to live like a white) ???????"

as to postness/hybridity being liberating, this is exactly the issue i 
was ridiculing with my analysis of Wacko Jacko. Jacko's desire for 
whiteness is only a reflection of the millions who straighten their 
hair, color it blond, use skin lightening creams, etc. it is (excuse me 
for using a term from cultural studies) an attempt at the  "magical 
resolution" of their marginalization  

hybridity with intention? what about "mejorando la raza"? (improving the 
race) isn't this what mestizaje is all about? to cover up the racialized 
class inequities that maintain the structures of slavery to date? Why 
have 'critical' theorists ressurected 19th century theories of 
hybridity/mestizaje? what does this colonial lazarus promise?  

njubi


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