[-empyre-] the 'colourless' nature of the net

[damali ayo <damali@damaliayo.com>]

hey folks.

this is a discussion happening on "empyre" which i am "guest hosting" 
with mendi+keith obadike, who did a brilliant work where they 
attempted to sell "blackness" on ebay.

i've sent this email to some colleagues who i thought might be 
interested in the conversation.
if you want to log on, and join in email: 
empyre@lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au.  text only messages please.
------------------------

first, let me apologize again for my sporadic attendance (though it 
seems discussion is light so far) i've just had an unexpected move 
and still, and just today, got my dial up back.

sallying forth:

let me set to exploring linda's questions. (or some of them)

first, the subject line of your email is really fascinating. people 
have told me that the net is a white-and-asian-dominated venue, and 
that just the presence of race art from black people is a radical 
step.

as far as responses: i was looking over rental responses recently and 
realized that most forms were filled out by white people. which was 
interesting to me. certainly the site is geared toward a white 
"customer" but as i read the satirical responses i received, the sass 
and humor seemed to breach a kind of entitlement that was distinctly 
white. black people were more likely to send me an email of praise or 
detraction in which they spoke honestly, directly, and bluntly. which 
leads me to the question: is part of white privilege the ability to 
engage in satire without making a minstrel of oneself? without being 
accused of treason by one's own race? is there a literalism expected 
from oppressed groups? or a mockery? (sometimes i feel as a black 
woman i have two options-- kick ass or serve up the pancakes....)

in satire, i've found a fabulous in-between territory, but i've been 
accused of minstrelsy, selling out, and re-creating slavery by 
displeased black viewers. i've seen some of my black-artist-heroes be 
accused of similar treasons.  where does this come from? and what 
precious freedom are we trying to hold on to that this satire 
endangers? my feeling is that (as i say below) we have old ideas 
hidden beneath our polite ways and when satire exposes these, well, 
its uncomfortable, to say the least.

as far as performing "rentals" -- yes. in september i will be taking 
applications live at my gallery opening and filling 10 requests. i 
will go out on these rentals and be paid. what happens in those 
moments, will be seen when they occur.

as far as black people wanting to work for rent-a-negro. whew. that 
is completely amazing to me. i'm blown over. and a bit stumped. 
something will come out of that part of the response to the work, but 
i'm not sure what.

and austrailia-  i was on ABC austrailia radio last month and heard 
about the whole "nigger in a woodpile" comment/fiasco (which you'll 
have to explain to this list as i only understand it peripherally.) 
but i think it's a brilliant moment. an honest one. and a way to draw 
attention to the reality of our lives. what is lurking underneath all 
of our proper etiquette and training? old ideas. old images. stale 
notions of what it means to be black. i don't think we've evolved 
quite as far as our charade would like to say we have, and i think 
that reporter's blunder in saying that phrase, was a brilliant 
testimony- a revelation of this truth.

so there are my thoughts for the day.

damali ayo

http://damaliayo.com
http://rent-a-negro.com