Patterico's Pontifications

12/10/2018

A Vacation from White People

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 7:16 am



This is sad. It is a story about a group of black women who have paid to go on a vacation in Costa Rica billed as an escape from having to be around white people.

I watched the whole thing, expecting it to make me angry, but instead I was alternately interested, amused, and saddened. I was interested because there was a mixture of valid complaints (white people calling these women articulate and touching their hair) and invalid ones (assuming that all Trump supporters are racist). The amusement stemmed from a retreat in which the participants engage in yoga, meditation, eating vegan, and enjoying nature. I can just hear some comedian saying that these people are escaping from white people by doing the whitest activities possible. But, of course, such a joke is based on a stereotype of white people, and the experience of these black people shows that they too can defy the stereotype about “white” activities just as they would defy stereotypes whites might hold about them. That’s interesting too. But the sad part is seeing how willing they are to engage in stereotypes about whites, and how eager they are to retreat from whites, even as they smash other stereotypes.

Obviously, I think such retreats are a bad idea. But it’s more complicated and subtle — and sad — than simply taking a position “what if white people did this?” That’s the easy (and somewhat lazy) reaction. The harder reaction is to take these folks seriously, and yet not to give in to their stereotyping. To refuse to stereotype them, but forgive them for stereotyping us, and try to understand why they do.

[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]

54 Responses to “A Vacation from White People”

  1. So, if I were to tell them, “It’s a vacation for the white people you went away from, too”, would that be racist?

    nk (dbc370) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:18 am

  2. Flip it around how long would they stay in business,

    Narciso (efbd0b) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:19 am

  3. As long as people continue to view each other (and themselves) as exemplars of some group, instead of individuals, we will continue to suffocate in the stereotypes of the past.

    Dave (1bb933) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:22 am

  4. Surely someone can sue someone? Where are the race baiting, grievance mongering lawyers? Sitting there in stunned, confused wonder, trying to figure out who is more “oppressed”? I think so.

    Fred Z (05d938) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:23 am

  5. Does this mean we can have our men only clubs again?

    I don’t want a whites only club because I find I have more in common with any man of any race than with most women.

    Good thing I’m anonymous, no?

    Fred Z (05d938) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:26 am

  6. there’s so many places you can go just here in chicago for to escape white people i think these ladies got taken advantage on

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:37 am

  7. I sympathize with these women, as I suspect it must be difficult to be treated as they are by white liberals who treat Americans they come across that have a different perspective as Margaret Mead treated the people of New Guinea.

    I have a few neighbors who are black Americans, they are good people and we all get along. People are people. You find you may have common interests if you just TALK to them.

    Colonel Haiku (af8791) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:51 am

  8. I do wonder if that company owner is a follower of Farrakhan who has a disdain for the “white devil”…

    Colonel Haiku (af8791) — 12/10/2018 @ 7:58 am

  9. And the Trumpety Trump Trump tone is right in line.

    Colonel Haiku (af8791) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:12 am

  10. Back in the day ‘WhiteWorld’ called these ‘country clubs.’ See ‘Caddyshack’ for details.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:13 am

  11. Meanwhile in south africa?

    Narciso (efbd0b) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:15 am

  12. It also looks like a vacation away from all men regardless of skin color. Oh, and Andrea X is a racist.

    Paul Montagu (cbbfc4) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:36 am

  13. facebook’s for trashy people so they should for sure not put their whitey-free vacation pics on facebook plus that way burglars don’t know their houses are empty (good advise)

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:40 am

  14. Gets a big “meh” from me. I have no problem with people trying to self-segregate for a vacation. I sent my kids to Jewish summer camps, I’ve gone on trips sponsored by my Temple – I’m sure that other religions do the same.

    Sometimes it’s nice to have relax around people who are of a like background and who are privy to all the “insider” jokes.

    Doesn’t mean I wan’t to do this 24/7/365

    bendover (eedbbe) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:40 am

  15. The fellow who green lit was a member of the board of haklyut

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1056692/south-africa-white-farmers-land-expropriation-Cyril-Ramaphosa-African-National-Congress

    narciso (d1f714) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:46 am

  16. If you find yourself living in a neighborhood devoid of African Americans, you might want to take a pass on judging these folks.

    Munroe (d79d9a) — 12/10/2018 @ 8:57 am

  17. i’m judging just cause there’s no food or drink in the pic above

    they need to step up their whitey-free vacation game

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/10/2018 @ 9:07 am

  18. IMO these are people who have removed God from their world view and are looking for him. So in that light it is sad and new-agey, but not really offensive. The retreat is billed as a “women of color healing retreat,” not a “get away from whitey” retreat. Reminds me of the movement a few years ago of men gathering in circles to beat drums and run through the woods, championed by Robert Bly and others. Only the very well to do can afford this kind of thing. The rest of us have to figure out how to live together.

    https://www.womenofcolorhealingretreats.com/women-of-color-healing-retreats.html

    JRH (fe281f) — 12/10/2018 @ 9:18 am

  19. Narciso,

    South Africa is going forward with their pogrom against the people that feed them. It’s going to get ugly and the rest of the world is going to ignore it.

    NJRob (4d595c) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:07 am

  20. The question isn’t whether there’s a lot of honesty in their complaints, but why similar complaints from other groups would be judged differently.

    Kevin M (6fea79) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:07 am

  21. As long as people continue to view each other (and themselves) as exemplars of some group, instead of individuals, we will continue to suffocate in the stereotypes of the past.

    Ted Sturgeon explained it this way: “90% of everything is crap!” Focus on the stuff you like because the other stuff is far more prevalent.

    Kevin M (6fea79) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:09 am

  22. As with Ethiopian famine they’ll be a snazzy tune with bruno Mars and lady gaga or maybe ot will be silence like zimbabwe.

    Narciso (efbd0b) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:13 am

  23. The good news is that there are now black women with disposable income, who will give it to travel agents and tour operators with a new gimmick.

    nk (dbc370) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:14 am

  24. I’m sure the people memorialized by all those statues they want taken down are laughing their asses off about now.

    Who knew that if one race wanted other races segregated, all that needed to be done was to give them their freedom and they’d do it to themselves.

    MJN1957 (6f981a) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:18 am

  25. Heartache: Kavanaugh backs Planned Parenthood

    Dave (1bb933) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:27 am

  26. According to Wikipedia, as of 2011 the population of Costa Rica is 86.3% “White/Castizo or Mestizo”, i.e. at least 50-75% European descent or more. If they wanted to “get away from white people,” it strikes me there are a number of other destinations that better meet that criterion.

    Of course, if what they really mean is, “get away from particular stripes of patronizing North American white bourgeoisie,” well then, fair enough. I *am* one such bourgeoisie and I find myself annoying all too frequently. But being specific and honest would be welcome.

    Stephen J. (19e151) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:29 am

  27. even if you don’t wanna do a lot of work i know this from doing boat rides: grapes and popcorn

    both of these are super easy to just have out so you look like you’re making an effort

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:30 am

  28. ikes looks like kavanaugh’s another cowardly piece of harvardfilth what hates the constitution and loves raping hot young things

    happyfeet (28a91b) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:33 am

  29. Interesting that they exhibit the same behavior they seek to escape. Says a lot about the existing double standard.

    And it’s not just Trump supporters they consider racist, it’s anyone to the right of Hillary Clinton.

    One of the more crazy recent trends is liberals (including white women) scapegoating white women for election setbacks. One of the more scary trends is white liberals seeking forgiveness for being white to the point of supporting just this sort of lunacy (e.g. a day without white people on college campuses).

    The recent op-ed in The NY Times supporting Devos’ efforts to restore due process on college campuses is framed as necessary not because it’s unconstitutional but because it has a disparate effect on minority men.

    The libs now even mock people who seek to be color-blind regarding race. They also condemn merit-based judgement as a white power ploy.

    harkin (1161c2) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:38 am

  30. 25, it’s his exposure to girls/women’s b-ball to blame. He’s not a lech (a la Bobby Petrino) himself, but probably hears the older girls lamenting that they may be “in trouble”.

    urbanleftbehind (be670e) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:51 am

  31. This is why we wanted judge Amy, but the cleanup would look like the end of kingsman.

    Narciso (efbd0b) — 12/10/2018 @ 10:54 am

  32. not every black person can be dr, king.

    lany (b8e8f6) — 12/10/2018 @ 11:20 am

  33. A healthy society would allow for segregation in the private marketplace.

    Not vilify.

    But alas imagine whites people engaging in similar?

    Dr Dre (5fdadc) — 12/10/2018 @ 12:23 pm

  34. The amusement stemmed from a retreat in which the participants engage in yoga, meditation, eating vegan, and enjoying nature. I can just hear some comedian saying that these people are escaping from white people by doing the whitest activities possible. But, of course, such a joke is based on a stereotype of white people, and the experience of these black people shows that they too can defy the stereotype about “white” activities just as they would defy stereotypes whites might hold about them. That’s interesting too.

    No, that’s cultural appropriation!

    🙂

    Dave (1bb933) — 12/10/2018 @ 2:00 pm

  35. But the sad part is seeing how willing they are to engage in stereotypes about whites, and how eager they are to retreat from whites, even as they smash other stereotypes.

    “Taking a break from white people” implies a lot about how they see themselves as a certain set of full-bore “persons of colour”, and how they live as Americans.

    A lot of other (shall we say) melanin-gifted individuals in other countries will see this as highfalutin self-segregation by… not exactly black ladies, who of course happen to lunch, which will be seen as par for the course in big chunks of Latin America and West/Southern Africa.

    I’m not sure these ladies would care for the suggestion that they are offshore versions of local mulatta princesses, but the world can be a pretty complicated place outside of Brooklyn.

    They are an especially clueless bunch and it is very sad.

    JP (12f774) — 12/10/2018 @ 2:30 pm

  36. what could go wrong:

    https://legalinsurrection.com/2018/12/beto-seeks-al-sharptons-blessing/

    narciso (d1f714) — 12/10/2018 @ 2:39 pm

  37. Find yourself a private sector business, preferably a manufacturing business located in an ethnically mixed area. Check the shop floor, you will probably find people working together regardless of color. Now check the lunchroom.

    Rock Bottom (5a4596) — 12/10/2018 @ 4:45 pm

  38. Umm, no one explained to them that Costa Ricans are technically Caucasions?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvia_Poll

    ….Poll was born in Managua, Nicaragua. Her parents were Germans and they settled in Nicaragua where Sylvia and her younger sister Claudia were born. After the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake and rising political tensions, Sylvia’s parents decided to move south to Costa Rica.
    Sylvia Poll is a famous backstroker and freestyle swimmer for Costa Rica, who won the silver medal in the Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics Women’s 200 meter freestyle at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Her silver medal was the first medal ever for a Costa Rican athlete. .

    You might think I’m cherry picking my information. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish.

    Guess what continent that language comes from. G’ahead. Guess.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/11/2018 @ 11:32 pm

  39. , https://www.scoop.it/t/lausiahoca/p/4103976346/2018/12/12/sajtovi-za-upoznavanje-partnera Sajtovi_za_upoznavanje_partnera↓, http://archive.is/gZdws plavi_oglasnik_zene, https://www.scoop.it/t/briltiacomnu/p/4103968881/2018/12/11/igre-za-dopisivanje Igre_za_dopisivanje↓,

    Pxtktgzu (770667) — 12/12/2018 @ 12:26 am

  40. I dunno, I did the same thing when I went to Ireland recently. I enjoyed a quieter more polite society. Not to say that I didn’t interact with people of color there, it’s just that they were Irishmen/women who happened to be people of color, not people of color who happened to be Irish….

    pitchforksntorches (1f6b9a) — 12/12/2018 @ 6:24 pm

  41. Legally. LEGALLY. We sell them vacation packages to South East Asia. Vacations against white people. We get kick backs.

    Oh, then there are the Che t-shirts.

    https://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/03/che-guevara-true-revolution-is-love/

    I sell these on the internet.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 4:22 am

  42. I don’t actually sell these on the intertetubes. Yet. But I need a legal opinion.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 4:27 am

  43. “I’ve had a lot of trouble trying to understand your husband.”

    Sincerely, Fidel

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 4:31 am

  44. Or they could revive the Marcus Garvey scam against the 1920s kkk; the Hondo terrorist Ulla aka senor 50k is just saving us the trouble of his adherents populating a midwestern meat plant or a southeastern car wash (the Insta fans will get that reference real quick).

    urbanleftbehind (3d4138) — 12/15/2018 @ 4:32 am

  45. The last was in reference to Desi Arnaz. Which if you’ve been to stand up 101* means I’ve already failed. So here I am, trying for the trifecta.

    *The wrong side of the bridge. Is there a right side these days? I’ve been to stand up 101. Open Mike night. And my fried was all nervous. It was his dream to be a comic. So I’m like, how bad could it be? I’ll get up, I’ll bomb. This was already after a few black guys had already gotten their legs cut out from them about trying to get a laugh out of how white their teeth were.

    So I get up and make a few jokes. Credible jokes, my mistake. I actually got a few chuckles. I didn’t want to toss the game away too obviously. I was just trying to show him that there wasn’t anything to be scared of. Then my friend got up and tried to start his career. It was a horror show. And he tries to save the day, believe it or not, and to drag his girlfriend up on stage with him. And she’s holding on to me, screaming, “No, no” while the club staff turns out the lights and herds everyone out.

    I’ve gotten the lights shut off for bad karaoke. In Japan. They’re like, “Steve, no. That’s not how you are supposed to do ‘Country Roads’.” Never for bad comedy Probably because they didn’t know I was doing bad comedy.

    I guess you should have been there.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 5:12 am

  46. That’s no way to keep a girl friend.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 5:17 am

  47. Who is with me! I’m seeing a market opportunity people.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 5:32 am

  48. Seriously. “Vacation From White People.”

    We can paint on the plane.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 5:34 am

  49. And the best part is, we’ll just employ white people. But we’ll tell them we’re a minority owned business. Our stockholders are Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke, and what’s her name Dorezal.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 5:45 am

  50. BTW, haven’t we already died from:

    A) Climate change
    B) Capitalism
    C) Citizen’s United
    D) Tax reform
    E) All of the above

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 6:05 am

  51. I have a question for Governor Moonbeam who keeps preaching to me about global warming. Let’s say he’s right. Let’s say he’s 100% right.

    Isn’t that a good argument for getting rid of the dead brush?

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 6:09 am

  52. https://www.arnolditkin.com/personal-injury-blog/2018/july/pg-e-wants-to-charge-customers-for-its-wildfire-/

    Does anyone in Kalin want to know why I’m done?

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 6:22 am

  53. Kali.

    Steve57 (0b1dac) — 12/15/2018 @ 6:24 am

  54. You forgot cancelling net neutrality, desi armaz, whose father was a mayor of Santiago, was a big anti Castro activist

    Narciso (1eb6be) — 12/15/2018 @ 6:54 am


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