An Open Letter to the Homosexual Community on the Use of Word "Ghetto"
As a person who grew up in public housing, aka the “ghetto,” I would like our community, and the heterosexual community alike, to stop using the word “ghetto” to refer to things, people, and places seen as dirty, run-down, or whatever else we may not see as pleasant. In the United States, I feel that the term “ghetto” is typically associated with low income people of color, especially African-Americans Therefore, when the word “ghetto” is used to refer to something that is depreciated, the devaluation of low-income people of color is reinforced. As I hear “that’s ghetto,” I experience another moment in which my family, my childhood home, and my old community are seen as inferior. As a young boy, I felt this everyday.
Many wonderful things come from the “ghetto;” yet, we as a society focus on the negative. Sadly, that is how oppression works. Since dominant society can’t see much else besides the negative in marginalized social groups, our humanity is veiled and our beauty is invisible. Can you imagine someone calling a cherry blossom in full bloom “ghetto?” It just doesn’t seem right, does it?
Now, I know that when folks say “that’s so ghetto” or “she’s ghetto” they may not have an image of a low-income person of color in their head. Just like when heterosexual people say “that’s so gay” in reference to something being seen as “stupid,” “dumb,” or “weird,” I do not believe they always have a femme gay guy in tight clothing walking in DuPont (or should I now say Shaw?). At the same time, I think we need to be aware of how the casual use of these words is possible because of society’s understanding that they mean “inferiority” in some way, shape, or form. These assumptions were born in racism and classism. The phrase “that’s ghetto” must be understood within that social context.
The saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is bullshit. I am sure many of you have been hurt by words. Maybe you have used some to hurt others. Words have meanings, and these meanings shape our perceptions of our realities. If language did not impact us, words like “nigger,” “cunt,” “faggot,” and “spic” would not have their painful place in the hearts of many, including myself.
Please be careful of what you say. I do not mean it in a patronizing, PC type of way. What I mean is to watch what you say by understanding how often we feed into the degradation of others through what comes out of our mouths. Words can be an agent of oppression, and they can, also, be a tool for progressive social change. We homos know that oppression is not cute. I hope you feel that we are simply too cute to oppress others.
Much love and affection,
Tyrone
P.S. For all of those who have said “ghetto” in my presence in the context that I am speaking, I apologize for this passive aggressive approach in addressing my feelings. I am working on the whole assertive thing.
6 comments:
I'm guessing this will mainly apply to thoughtful communicators, but you certainly caught my attention. Can't say that I use that term loosely, but I'll be more cognizant based on this.
The use of "that's gay" to denote something negative, uncool, or otherwise unacceptable equally chaps my hide. I work with teens in youth sports and unfortunately overhear this in use (and "ghetto") quite often. I generally try to counsel them to become more thoughtful with their word choice, but have come to the conclusion that they aren't trying to be close minded or hateful, but are just following trends of viral language like the rest of the average population. The Bell curve strikes again; curses!!!
First off, I think it takes guts to be open and honest about something like this that's been bugging you - thanks, Tyrone.
I completely understand why you would take offense to the word. I have a couple of questions.
Why address your letter to the "homosexual community?" While I realize this is a queer blog, I think this is an issue that goes far beyond a specific group.
Is the neighborhood where you grew up still a true ghetto? In other words, when you hear the word does it bring you very real and present images?
I agree that this extends beyond the "homosexual community." I addressed it to the "homosexual community," because this site is for the gays, as you suggested, and I pretty much only interact in the LGBTQ community in my personal, professional, and volunteer life. Therefore, it is where I experience the use of the word the most. With this said, I did say "the heterosexual community alike."
Sadly, I feel many low income people of color use the word "ghetto" in the way that I discussed in the blog, which is another example of internalized oppression.
While I was ashamed of where I lived when I grew up, I was frustrated with the image that people had of it. While it was called "New Jack City" after the movie and drugs were sold in the stairwells, and some people sold their food stamps for money for drugs, I never felt it was as bad people made it to be. Sometimes my family would leave our door unlocked. My lesbian mother was well-respected. I never felt any pressures to join a gang. To me, my life there was much more complex than the image it had.
Thanks for the commentary--I couldn't have said it better myself.
I've always found that the whole 'sticks and stones' arguement about words to be untrue.
Thanks for your insight. It's helpful to be reminded to be more cognizant of what I say.
Once in college, a friend of mine said, "I hate this class, it's so gay." My retort was then (and is when I hear the word used that way still), "Really? I didn't know our stats class likes to sleep with stats classes of the same gender."
He actually paused and thought about what had he said.
You're right -- many people don't recognize that words have power, including the power to hurt people, and I wish you luck in challenging people use "ghetto" in front of you.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" -Edmund Burke.
Which is to say: it's up to all of us to interrupt this discriminatory language when we hear it -- whenever we do.
Post a Comment