A Black Paper

It has come to my attention that a few of you claim to need someone to explain the very basic principle of how the comparison between blackface and drag is simultaneously racist AND homophobic. Do I believe that you are actually convinced that this trumpian-era style of rhetoric is ok? No. Do I think you aim to put two (what you perceive to be) minority groups against one another in an Oppression Olympics? Yes. Nonetheless, I am going to humor you with a very calm, structural, evidence-based explanation of how the comparison between drag shows and blackface is clearly nothing more than an excuse to be both racist and homophobic at the same time.  1) Blackface, alone and with no other assistance, is already a racist concept.  Clearly, it promotes untrue stereotypes, inaccurate representations of AAVE, offensive wardrobes, and dangerous rhetoric that holds in place two centuries worth of oppression and systemic barriers.  Black people are teachers, preachers, lawyers, ...

My dearest Dana, Please allow me to begin with a personal introduction, composed (mostly) of the facts you won’t be able to two-finger tap into Google. My name is Jacqueline and I am a voting, tax paying, St. Johnsbury resident. Shockingly: I am actually one who, on occasion, will pay the meager fee to read your paper. Unfortunately, this is how I recently came across a purposefully divisive and inflammatory article about Drag Story Hour at the Athenaeum.  Among other responsibilities, I have the title of Writer. I maintain a personal blog that sees as much website traffic in thirty days as Caledonian Record garners all year. What’s my point? I’m glad you asked, Senior Editor. As a writer, I understand that I (we) have a responsibility -  especially as a REPORTER - to provide the facts without bias. However, shockingly, even with so many years of hyperlocal experience: you have yet to figure that out.  Instead of reporting the date, time, and title of the event, you decid...