tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post6280418137980446897..comments2024-01-04T04:31:00.481-05:00Comments on Mixed Race America: Why the phrase "half-blood" needs serious interrogationJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-13332718096787785402015-11-17T09:05:49.217-05:002015-11-17T09:05:49.217-05:00Alanna,
Thanks for leaving such a long, detailed c...Alanna,<br />Thanks for leaving such a long, detailed comment. I can see that the series has a lot of meaning for you, and I understand that people may not have ill intent in using the phrase "half blood." But the thing is, even though the intention may seem "innocent" the truth is, the phrase has a particular history and is offensive to people--and just because one Cherokee fictional character in a book or movie comes to see that the phrase is harmless doesn't mean that it is--you can't have a single person ever stand for an entire group of people. After all, we wouldn't expect Brad Pitt to act as the representative of all white people. Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to write and that you want me to have a different perspective. I think it's great that you are so passionate about this series and perhaps we will have to agree to disagree on the phrase "half breed."Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-64983571619318149062015-11-16T15:53:53.234-05:002015-11-16T15:53:53.234-05:00Hi,
I'm a 10th grader (sophomore) that read t...Hi,<br /><br />I'm a 10th grader (sophomore) that read the Percy Jackson books when I was a kid. I will admit to not reading your full blog, but I feel that from the getgo your not understanding the books (because the movie just does not do the books real justice) has colored your view of them in a negative way.<br /> Also your lack of understanding of Greek mythology. Artemis is not a godly parent because she is a virgin goddess that has foresworn all men, seeing them as inferior to women in mythology. In one myth, when one hunter accidently comes across her bathing in a river and sees her naked, she turns him into a stag which is then hunted down and ripped apart by his own hounds. Kinda makes having kids a little problematic, don't you think? That is her own choice, though. <br /> Hera is the goddess of marriage and fidelity. To sleep with another man who is not her husband (Zeus) would be entirely against her nature and doing something so drastic is just impossible. It would be like saying Dionysius (God of drinking, Bacchus is Dionysius's Roman equivalent) refuses to drink alcoholic beverages. Because of something he did that angered Zeus, the king of the gods forbid him from drinking alcohol and every time he tries it turns into water. Yet he still tries. Or like saying that Apollo doesn't help doctors/healers in myths despite being the god of medicine. <br /> And in the book, these gods and goddess that you call problematic (Like Dionysius or Aphrodite) do have cabins and children, but in the first series only the major gods actually have cabins. Children of the minor gods just get thrown together. There are an even number of gods and goddesses represented in the books with cabins for Hera, Aphrodite, Athena, Demeter as well as Poseidon, Zeus, Ares, Apollo, etc. The Big Three (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) are actually not supposed to father any children at all because they (the offspring) become too powerful. And it is said in the books that before Percy was born children of the gods and goddesses would actually interact with their divine parents, but then Percy was born and Poseidon was neglecting his godly duties and instead spending all that time with Percy and his mom, so Zeus forbid any contact between a god/goddess and their half-blood offspring.<br /> About you're comment of the term half-blood which is a slur against people with mixed race and from what you said, especially Native Americans. Well, it's not meant as offensive, the term is not derogatory in the story, if anything it's seen as a good thing. A good thing to be special and be this thing that other people are not. And in the beginning of the second series Heroes of Olypmus, one of the characters is part Native American (Cherokee, if I remember correctly, but you can fact check me if you wish). Riordan actually has her react negatively to the term at first, stating how it was a derogatory term used against her and her father before in her life, but then later accepts the term as an innocent use of the phrase to describe people that are half divine and half mortal. That is the truth, it is an innocent phrase, not meant to hurt or cause offense. It's almost as if Riordan is trying to reclaim the word and replace its negative connotation with a positive one and a positive image of being different as a good thing.<br /> Maybe I am making no sense, but this is what I'm thinking. Hope it makes you feel a little better about the whole situation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10055394808173503392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-32011243314955336942012-01-26T08:22:23.713-05:002012-01-26T08:22:23.713-05:00Candi, June, Celia--thanks for your very thoughtfu...Candi, June, Celia--thanks for your very thoughtful comments. I'm sorry I wasn't so timely in acknowledging them--at the time you wrote in, I think I was dealing with some personal and professional issues that kept me from regular blogging. I do appreciate all of your perspectives, and I find it interesting that the author of the Percy Jackson series tackled the phrase "half-blood" through the perspective of an American Indian character--that is a clever way of dealing with this issue, and I applaud him on doing this as a way to bring awareness.<br /><br />Christelle, I'm sorry that you haven't found more inclusion in the native community. Racial slurs are hurtful no matter who is using them--and excluding people because of blood quantum seems, in this day and age, to be very retro and archaic, although I know these issues are fraught in the Native American community. Where I live (NC) the local Native American community, Lumbees, are a very mixed group, and so issues of blood purity seem to be less prevalent and to the best of my knowledge, all who claim Lumbee heritage are welcome.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-73918594940203953682012-01-25T12:21:36.950-05:002012-01-25T12:21:36.950-05:00I'm a "half blood" and I agree with ...I'm a "half blood" and I agree with what you said.<br /><br />I am not allowed to participate in Pow Wows or other such functions....I must live in a "white" world while my heart is tied to people who do not acknowledge me as one of them. Back in the early 1900s it was hard to be Native American, my great-grandmother changed her name to Jane Brown and left behind her Choctaw heritage...because of her actions there is not enough documentation for me to be acknowledged by even the US government let alone my nation.<br /><br />Being a "half blood" is a lot like being a refugee. It is not something to be desired.<br /><br />And in response to .....<br /><br />"I am wondering, if you don't mind commenting again, whether you think that a mixed-race Native American using this phrase with other Native Americans is as problematic as non-Native Americans using the phrase, either in total ignorance of its racist overtones and/or knowing it has a racist past but not caring? "<br /><br />I would not mind so much if other races called me a half blood or half breed, the feeling of isolation is direclty linked to the fact that Native Americans use this term so freely. There has been a lot of press and "education" on accepting people of mixed race as far as black/white.....but when you are red/white.....you lose half of yourself, the white world welcomes you (or so it has been in my experience) while the people you yearn for reject you.christellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15476141037324202242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-3253060674235930582011-05-20T11:54:29.956-04:002011-05-20T11:54:29.956-04:00I've had this kicking around in my head since ...I've had this kicking around in my head since it was posted on racialicious (about a thousand years ago.) I just finished reading Rick Riordan's new book in the same world, "The Lost Hero," which caused me to seek out this post again.<br /><br />In it, a Native American girl named Piper (I believe she's Cherokee) voices the problems with using the term "Half-Blood" pretty early on in the book. I wonder if Rick Riordan had heard the criticism (from you and others) and decided to write it into the book? <br /><br />Also: I've actually read the books, and yes, even the more problematic gods have had children. (Yes, including Hades.) Also: while all the kids have a single human parent, that parent is not always female. The female gods are also procreating with humans. The main female character in the first series is a daughter of Athena. In the new series, Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite.Celiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03436427552080974876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-59457386297135781692010-09-06T11:22:33.919-04:002010-09-06T11:22:33.919-04:00I agree that the term is problematic, and I wouldn...I agree that the term is problematic, and I wouldn't be wild about a real-life camp using that name. In the context of the books, I didn't explain to my son that it was a potentially negative term, but I probably should have. In the books the characters usually self-identify as "demigods" or "heroes", and those were the terms that my son picked up on, and the ones he uses when he talks about the stories or asks questions about them. We're starting another volume shortly though, so this time I will take the initiative and discuss the term the first time it comes up. <br /><br />In terms of the gender roles though - I thought these books were better than most. There are lots of strong female characters, and the boys and girls are equally likely to fail or succeed. Male and female gods were both responsible for all these offspring - the secondary character in the books, who is female, is the daughter of Athena. (Even Artemis has a cabin at the camp, although it is, of course, empty.) And the gods do not get off scot-free as far as their children are concerned - there is lots of discussion about their lack of responsibility, and judgment of their behaviour. So I didn't feel that aspect of the books was problematic, and I say that as a single mom. :)junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725282108831338452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-62723202255662779562010-08-31T18:30:23.186-04:002010-08-31T18:30:23.186-04:00Jennifer,
I believe some know the past of the stat...Jennifer,<br />I believe some know the past of the statement (and the present of the statement) and do not care. I believe that some just don't know how hurtful it is, though. It's a mixture of both. See, sadly - one of the most common things in our culture, is that people will brag about being "full blood" and look down on those who are "mixed blood", which I have experienced as someone who is mixed blood. However, I have never had any experience of hearing another person of another race using "half-blood" or "half-breed" (with the exception of Cher's song/video, which is controversial for that reason and other reasons in her video - for example, wearing the headdress - the headdress is something sacred and not to be worn the way it is in media). Other than that, I have had no other experience seeing a reaction to anyone who is not Native using the terms "half-blood" or "half-breed". In our community, most people get angry at the term "squaw" (and rightfully so) moreover, something like "half-breed". At least, in my experience... <br /><br />Again, there's a sense of superiority amongst some (that is not to say all people, a LOT of people welcome people such as myself as well) people who are full-blood, but I cannot help that my family is partly white and partly Native and I refuse to be ashamed of it or not talk about it. :)Candihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17944418209265453026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-18234163697674835802010-08-28T14:22:44.055-04:002010-08-28T14:22:44.055-04:00Candi,
Thanks for your comment and for stopping by...Candi,<br />Thanks for your comment and for stopping by this blog! I appreciate your perspective and clarification of the terms "half-blood" and "half-breed"--and the fact that both are negative/racial slurs.<br /><br />I am wondering, if you don't mind commenting again, whether you think that a mixed-race Native American using this phrase with other Native Americans is as problematic as non-Native Americans using the phrase, either in total ignorance of its racist overtones and/or knowing it has a racist past but not caring? <br /><br />Because I guess I would feel like it's more of an in-group type of reappropriation for Native Americans to use the phrase in-group with one another in a safe space versus having others use it without a personal identification/knowledge of its history--I suppose there are corollaries to African Americans reappropriating the racist slur "nigger" (and softening it to "nigga") and some thinking this is a good thing to do and other African Americans feeling the word incapable of rehabilitation, even in-group re-appropriation.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-54432070224969122712010-08-28T11:27:18.109-04:002010-08-28T11:27:18.109-04:00I am white and Native American. The term "hal...I am white and Native American. The term "half-blood" is not used half as near as "half-breed" is in reference to those of us who are white and Native American. "Half-breed" is definitely meant as an insult and of course, "half-blood" is as well. I also don't really disagree with what you're saying, considering it affects me. There is a lot of ignorance towards the Native American culture, quite a lot of appropriation that we, as Natives, need to stand up and educate people about. We have AIM and such who are absolutely amazing, but we ALL should be doing what they're doing. <br /><br />One problem: In my experience as someone who is mixed, "half-blood" and "half-breed" were most often used by my own people...so until they quit using it and assuming that every person who says they're mixed is from "a Cherokee great-grandmother princess" (common joke) so it's alright to insult any one who isn't full-blooded, then we're basically saying it's okay for anyone else to use it and that's sad to me (and hurtful).<br /><br />Btw, I like your blog. I've been trying to find mixed race blogs, sites that don't just focus on black/white mixed people :)Candihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17944418209265453026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-19640698851909966212010-08-11T08:40:24.552-04:002010-08-11T08:40:24.552-04:00Jasmin,
Thanks so much for your comment--I agree a...Jasmin,<br />Thanks so much for your comment--I agree about the whole "proxy" for racism thing in fantasy books (and just in general)--I also think that the racial/race/racist issues in Britain are different in the U.S. and could be why the term "half-blood" doesn't register in the same way that I believe it does in many anti-racist circles. Thanks also for your well wishes on my chemo/recovery--it has been hard and I'm just counting down the days to when I may start to feel like myself again.<br /><br />Joven<br />Thanks also for your comments and I'll definitely be checking out your blog.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-58723675959378443102010-08-10T01:13:40.517-04:002010-08-10T01:13:40.517-04:00Hi Jennifer,
I read this post at Racialicious and...Hi Jennifer,<br /><br />I read this post at Racialicious and then came over here--I haven't been able to stop reading your work! :-)<br /><br />I liked your post, though I don't know about the series in question (though I have read all of the Harry Potters). I agree with you that "half-blood" is a pretty obvious slur (I had no idea it originated as a term to disparage Native Americans though), and I vaguely remember being irritated that people were holding up J.K. Rowling as a "beacon for tolerance" when the HP books came out. As someone mentioned in the comments over at Racialicious, I believe, it's annoying to read fantasy books with "proxys" for racism, especially since so many people don't transmit their feel-good takeaway messages* ("We shouldn't see color/blood status! Kumbayah!") over to real life in the least.<br /><br />*I think it goes without saying that the feel-good messages are problematic in and of themselves, but I want to clarify since this is my first time commenting.<br /><br />**On another note, I wish you the very best (well, as best as can be expected in a really crappy situation) with your chemo. I'll make sure to send infinite good thoughts your way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-53925837583610628212010-08-03T21:04:38.787-04:002010-08-03T21:04:38.787-04:00Arturo,
Feel free to cross-post! I'm enormous...Arturo,<br />Feel free to cross-post! I'm enormously flattered!<br /><br />Best,<br />JenniferJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-66191943157208140262010-08-02T14:51:51.021-04:002010-08-02T14:51:51.021-04:00Solid piece - would it be okay if we cross-posted ...Solid piece - would it be okay if we cross-posted it at <a href="http://racialicious.com" rel="nofollow">Racialicious?</a>Arturohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09225034948614887038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-41894509725891333632010-07-27T00:33:01.084-04:002010-07-27T00:33:01.084-04:00As I said, I agree with what you wrote. Just think...As I said, I agree with what you wrote. Just think there's also more going on, and that there's value in addressing that. <br /><br />(As for pacifism, I'm kind of the opposite. Moving unsteadily away from it and towards just war theory.)Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05146833770654841724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-45568823466881917812010-07-24T13:17:54.864-04:002010-07-24T13:17:54.864-04:00David,
I think we're going to have to agree to...David,<br />I think we're going to have to agree to disagree--because the phrase "half-blood" is offensive as well as being enormously problematic--which was the whole point of my post. I do get the sense that you disagree, so thanks for leaving your 2 cents on the matter.<br /><br />Matt,<br />I think the god of war IS potentially problematic in terms of a society that is already reinforcing the militaristic and violent overtones that are part of our culture/society and that may not be the healthiest message to send to young boys. But that's just me as an aspiring pacifist (I struggle with the pacifist thing since I do believe we need a military and have friends/relatives in the military).<br /><br />I see "Oriental" and "Negro" to have a similar outdated and potentially offensive connotation. I'm aware that most people don't see the two as similarly valenced in terms of a negative racial connotation, but for me they are the same. <br /><br />And the thing with "half-blood" is that even if it is being used very different from the Native American slur, it doesn't take away from the fact that the word IS a slur for a group of people (and for others aware of its origins and history) and that the idea of reclaiming a word and getting rid of its negative connotations--which are so closely aligned to the formative idea behind it--that is a person whose ancestry is mixed--is what is most problematic in using this slur and then turning it into something seemingly positive without understading the racist undertones of the phrase.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-35135272555728729112010-07-20T11:19:31.391-04:002010-07-20T11:19:31.391-04:00I don't really disagree with a thing you say h...I don't really disagree with a thing you say here (except the suggestion that Ares is not one of the more problematic gods), but it seems to me it would be stronger if you acknowledge that children often fantasize about a secret identity, suddenly revealed, that makes them special. Look at Superman as an immigrant identity.<br /><br />Not that intention is everything -- it depends on the question it's used to answer, and I'm aware that people of Native descent might be interested in different questions than the people in these camps --but "half-blood" is being used very differently from its use as a slur. This is probably much closer to "Oriental," if that's being used in a supposedly positive way, than to "Negro," but even that doesn't seem to me to quite capture the usage. In "the Oriental Princess," the slur is used to <b>create</b> (or at least to mark) difference, but this resonates as a way of dealing with <b>already present</b> (and salient) negative feelings about being different, by turning difference into specialness. Perhaps that makes the whole thing closer to the issue of people with tenuous (or completely made up) links to Native ancestry claiming a Native identity than to the issue of reclaiming slurs. <br /><br />That doesn't blunt all criticism. Perhaps it even creates new lines of criticism. And I still think your post is relevant and important. But I do think it ought to make some difference. Especially to the tactics one might choose in responding to children with particular emotional needs that are being met in this off way. <br /><br />Or, if you disagree, I'd love to hear what you think, if you choose. But good luck with chemo, and I hope you are well.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05146833770654841724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-2068823078838753872010-07-17T13:36:04.762-04:002010-07-17T13:36:04.762-04:00I, personally, have no problem with this because i...I, personally, have no problem with this because it's role playing. They, the kids, should be old enough to understand the difference between fiction and reality. If they can't, then they should be told that it's just fiction(the role playing).<br /><br />If a word or term is offensive then they should also be told not to use it.davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01658591003292252448noreply@blogger.com