| From: | "Fisher, Victor" <Victor-Fisher@******.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Companion Metatypes - Intro Racsim in SR. |
| Date: | Tue, 23 Sep 1997 13:00:50 -0400 |
various other metatypes from the Companions Book because they dilute and
pull the focus away from the type of Shadowrun world the person wanted
to present, since the number of avaliable types were more than enough to
get a braod spectrum of racism [I think that's how it goes. Sorry if I
got it wrong.], but having a LITTLE experience in the Black and Hispanic
communities, I'd have to add this bit of cultural info.
While those outside a particular racial group may perceive them as
a homogeneous grouping, those within look at themselves in a very
sectional light. For example, to use the 'old' line 'They all look
alike',[ and believe it or not, I actually heard that applied to a group
of East Indians just a couple of weeks ago, by someone I used to
consider at least a little enlightened] take Hispanics, who actually
segregated themselves into those with light coloured or white skin, and
those with darker or black skin. Among the more secular [is that the
right word; I didn't want to use the word I was REALLY thinking of] of
them each considers themselves to be better than the others, while most
people outside se them as all the 'same', all Hispanic.
Then you have Hispanics from Mexico, as compaired to say, Spain.
The same goes for Blacks. Those with lighter skin in bad cases
tend to catch a little more flack from those with darker, because the
darker group believes the lighter group thinks they're better than they
are, and are 'trying to pass'.
A fourth example is between Blacks born in the States and those
from continental Africa. I recently got into a SMALL debate :-] with a
roommate of a friend of mine, who, after awhile, came right out and said
that 'blacks in this country just weren't as [I'll condense all he said
into 'good'], as back in his country, which happened to be Kenya. My
friend told me later, there seems to be a slight stigmata on American
blacks by Africans because they're the descendants of slaves, and
basically were the ones who got caught. [Picture me raising one eyebrow
sharply, biting my tongue so's not to say anything.]. There's even a
word in one of the languages for it, though I can't remember it now.
Now, apply all this to the various sub groups among the original
metatypes. While a human would only see and ork is an ork is an ork,
among the orks, they might be distaste, even animosity between orks and
ogres, or even the japanese oni. Or any other group you choose. This
could make for some very rich roleplaying if done right, as say these
two or three types whom everyone would 'assume' would get along actually
don't. [This IS a very racist statement, but beliefs like these are
pretty much held by people today.].
I'm going to stop now, as talking too much about stuff like this
tends to get me down. but if you're going to use racism in your games,
don't play up the stereotypes, but give a little thought as to the
reasons, illogical or not, behind such thinking.
........................................................................
.................................................................
'The frightening thing about racism
is that it can be made to sound rational.'
- Jack Brendan Smoke, from the novel Eclipse, by John Shirley
