Feminist woman of colour decides how all women of colour feel, accuses band of doing what she actually did

[Metaphor]

One of Australia's usual feminist suspects Ruby Hamad has gracefully translated the interview answers given by a band called 'Black Pussy'.

Incredible as it may seem in our post-racial, post-feminist egalitarian society, I recently came across an all-male, all-white American rock band calling themselves 'Black Pussy'.

Thankfully- because remember racism and sexism are over- when the dudes in the band (which, for what I hope are obvious reasons, I will now refer to only as BP), noticed that black women and their allies were asking them to please reconsider the highly objectionable name,

Did every Black woman in the world and their allies ask the band, did they? How does Hamad know what percentage of Black women oppose the band's name?

the sensitive blokes did a lot of soul searching and research into the history of the hyper-sexualisation of black women.

What they discovered shocked them.

They learned all about how black female slaves were routinely raped by their masters and persecuted by jealous white wives who thought them shameless temptresses. BP noted how the repeated rape of Sally Hemings by her master Thomas Jefferson has been revised by white historians as an "illicit love affair", and how even the great Harriet Tubman was recently depicted as a sex-crazed buffoon who used her sexuality to free slaves.

Having made these grim discoveries, BP decided that the right thing to do would be to change their name and issue a full, unreserved apology to black women everywhere.

Why does Hamad speak for all Black women everywhere? Surely the apology, if one is warranted, ought to be to the Black women who were actually offended and asked for one? Why does she think all Black women deserve an apology and demand one for them when she hasn't asked all Black women what they want?

Just kidding!

Of course, they did no such thing. Rather, they declared that they're "not going to change the name" because they are "committed to it, because that's what artists do".

Now, before we toss this whole sorry episode onto the steaming heap of obnoxious claptrap that is the white male-dominated indie rock music industry's attitude to anyone who isn't a white male, let's pause for a moment and reflect on the great gift that this band has inadvertently given us.

You see, BP did a particular interview that will surely prove to be an invaluable resource to anyone who wishes to understand the mindset of the privileged white male and why it presents such an obstacle to progress.

For those who find intersectional feminist theory too impenetrable or just plain silly, BP is a crash course in just what it is that feminists of colour are banging on about when we talk about things like "the nexus of sexism and racism".

Here are the priceless quotes from that interview, which I've helpfully translated from privileged white-man speak into plain old English.

I do admire Hamad's concise use of language. Here, she uses the word 'translate' to mean 'falsely claim to read the minds of, make cartoonish straw men of, and generally outright lie about'

Without further ado, I give you BP.

"[Our name is] sexy and '70s."

We watched a Blaxploitation movie one time, so we are confident we know all about black people. Since we are now experts on how black women should feel about having their body parts objectified as a marketing gimmick,

When did Black Pussy claim they knew how Black women shoudl feel? It seems Hamad is the one doing that.

"It's very Tarantino-influenced…If he was going to have a band or make a movie about a band, it'd be called Black Pussy."

We are fundamentally incapable of viewing the world unless it is filtered through the sharp lens of a fellow White Male Genius.

They said they were influenced by Tarantino, not that they were incapable of of viewing the world in any other way. Are feminist influenced by other feminists? Does that mean they too are incapable of seeing the world in any other way?

Feminist drinking game: sarcastic use of capitals for White Male Genius kvetching, check!

"I sit in a very isolated spot compared to [the rest of] humanity. Words do not offend me."

The experiences of people who are not white, middle-class males confuse me. I have no idea what it's like to be marginalised, discriminated against and generally dehumanised. I'm blissfully unaware that black women deal with racism and sexism on a daily basis, nor do I comprehend how language perpetuates gendered racism, since it does not affect white men like me.

I thought racism and sexism affected everyone to their detriment, just like the patriarchy? No?

Therefore, I must assume that gendered, racist slurs

'Black' is a racist slur?

"I'm not going to change the name because I'm afraid it'll hurt my project…I've committed to it, because that's what artists do: They commit to an idea."

My band's name is more important than the lives of black women.

No: their band name is more important to them than the hurt feelings of some Black women.

Hell, my sexual orientation is more important to me than the hurt and shocked and disgusted feelings of millions worldwide.

"Even if it was a different band name, people are always going to talk shit about your songs or how you look or this or that."

I have such little understanding of racism and sexism that I actually think someone saying "Dude, your band sucks" or "Your hair is too long" is exactly the same as critiques suggesting that black women's vaginas are not objects that exist independently from black women and should be respected as such.

How does naming your band Black Pussy imply you think "black women's vaginas are not objects that exist independently from black women"?

Did I mention that my band's name is more important than actual human beings? Not the band, mind you, just our name. The name of my band is more important than some human beings.

Bingo, Hamad! Someone's freedom of speech is more important than someone else's hurt feelings!!! She's finally getting it!

"I'm not going to change [the name] because a tiny percentage of the population has an issue with it."

Black women are insignificant and their lives are meaningless to me. Also, I'm a white man and no one is a better judge of what is and isn't racist than white men.

How many is significant, Hamad? If 5% of Black women objected, should they feel offended for all Black women?

A large number of religious people object to my sexual orientation. Should I change it to spare them their hurt feelings?

 

[Bomb#20]

"I'm not going to change [the name] because a tiny percentage of the population has an issue with it."

Black women are insignificant and their lives are meaningless to me. Also, I'm a white man and no one is a better judge of what is and isn't racist than white men.

How many is significant, Hamad? If 5% of Black women objected, should they feel offended for all Black women?

What I want to know is, why do either Hamad or any percentage of Black women think it's racist for some band to name itself after my cats?

 

[Unbeatable]

At least she had the courtesy to leave the original quotes in. Being able to do a side-by-side comparison with her cartoonish "translations" makes it clear that she's making quit up.

 

[bigfield]

Must have been a slow day for outrage.

 

[Keith&Co.]

"I sit in a very isolated spot compared to [the rest of] humanity. Words do not offend me."

The experiences of people who are not white, middle-class males confuse me.

Wow, that's a new take.
For as long as i can remember the charge has usually been that the real translation should be "The experiences of people who are not Americans confuse me."
She should realize that they aren't rejecting her, personally, as a woman, or as a black, or as a black woman, or as the owner and operator of a pussy of color. They're just Americans and they could give a fuck about an Australian's opinion. Or any other non-American woman or their allies.

And within America, getting lambasted for an offensive name is just free publicity.