[she hasn't told a grain of truth since 1992...]

I totally agree.

Oh no - I wasn't saying that it is the responsibility of the unpriviledged to change the views of the priviledged, far from it. In my experience, I have encountered many Jewish people or South African black people who were extremely racist and prejudiced. My close friend N is Croatian - her grandparents were executed less than ten years ago for being Croatian and yet she is the most hateful racist. My experience in dealing with such people has always been indignation because their own parents and grandparents were the subject of systematic attempts to exterminate or suppress our race and yet they still have room in their lives for the same stereotypes or hatred? I just can't do that. These atrocities happened in our own life times, if not in the 50 years proceding our births. My family was persecuted in the Spanish Inquisition 500 years ago and I simply can't find it in my heart to be a bearer of bigotry. That is why I say that of all people, those people who have been previously disadvantaged have a personal responsibility to overcome racism and stereotyping. I think I gave the idea that I thought this was an external responsibility, but I rather meant it as an internal thing. I think maybe it is a South African thing. We know Apartheid was wrong but we rose over it as a Rainbow Nation. The idea was that the Youth had to carry the nation away from the hatred and separatism of Apartheid. My mindset and the mindset of many of my friends, colleagues and countrymen was that of non-racism, non-sexism, non-discrimintion. We could just never get away with a statement like "the audacity of whiteness never ceases to amaze me". Maybe because in 21st Century Africa we know that priviledge and wealth have less to do with race than with power and corruption.

I'm not really familiar with womanist-musings, missusem - this post was the first I saw of hers - so I can't comment on that. I'm not one of those people who outright rejects the notion of 'reverse racism', however, and I think the concept is more nuanced than a simple 'they can't be racist because they are not the dominant group'. So, I suppose in that regard, I agree that underprivileged groups should try their best not to add to discrimination and -isms. I can only speak about sexism in this context, but I agree that I as a woman should not contribute to prevailing sexism by being sexist myself (against any gender). However, in the broader context, I don't agree that it is the responsibility of the underprivileged to change the perspectives and behaviours of the privileged. Why should they? It's not the job of POC to educate white people on privilege no more than it is the job of women to educate men or the job of the disabled to educate the able-bodied.

There are certainly important stories to be told, missusem , but they absolutely cannot be told by someone who has a rose-tinted view of what political struggles are about and what they entail. I really do think that this woman believes that we all had a beautiful time during the Troubles meeting secretly and carrying out fantastically sexy covert operations. She really has not got as clue.

I followed womanist-musings for a really long time but lately I have to admit that I just find her racist. I don't think there is room in this world for hate, stereotyping or generalisation no matter who you are. In fact, I believe that the more previously disadvantaged you are, the higher your responsibility it is to overcome racism and bigotry in this world.

There's so much I want to say. I bring to mind some of the things people have said about South Africa. I think in the end people can never begin to imagine the horror so it is better for them to... shut up? No. Not shut up - Rose's ignorance is the enemy here. She should catch a wake up (or an education). There are important stories to be told, but both sides of the story need to be told and maybe she's not the one to be doing it. /rant

It refers to those of us who were born with the genitalia which matches what we believe and feel we are. So I was born with female genitalia and believe I'm female. It's the other end of the spectrum to transgender, really. Wiki explains in a little more detail. I think it's rather similar to 'cissexual' and I'm never sure if I'm using the right word in the right context.

What does "cisgendered" mean?

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:) Thank you, Victoria. I think she may just be that empty headed though. But perhaps now she will rethink her position.