April Foster Racist or when Trying to Be Cool Goes Wrong!

I don’t know that I would personally go as far to say that I wouldn’t purchase anything from Inked for this reason, but she’s clearly in the wrong. I just don’t think she’s aware of the meaning of the word or ever thought about how it’s tied to oppression, esp of Jews and blacks. That’s no excuse, as she should know in this day and age, but I would’ve given her the opportunity to apologize and recant after she was made aware.

Pretty much all ‘definitions’ of ghetto are offensive. It’s either racist, classist or anti semetic. Is there a ‘good’ definition of ghetto? What am I missing

Is her camera set up going to a concentration camp next? WTF

She's a clueless middle aged white woman from a farm in Kentucky (or Tennessee). Keep us posted if she actually responds. She is not known for her ability to self-reflect/correct or apologize.

Playing a little bit of devils advocate...

Why is it not okay for a white woman to say it but Latinos, Hispanics, blacks, asians, ect can then use the word? Isn't it still derogatory? Isn't it still referencing negative connotations?

Why can people go "oh that ghetto? Oh shit yea that place is even more ghetto than here? Ha, that's the ghetto for you."

It is heard daily. From ALL races and genders.

I don't use that word because of what it represents and if I want to state poor I say poor. Or use other appropriate words. But others use ghetto to represent poor.

I really am curious as to see your responses.

amidwestkingdom
1. Yes, you're more than allowed to be pissed off;
2. No, you shouldn't be lining her pockets anymore;
3. No, not everyone who isn't black will get your anger;
4. No, the history of systematic oppression isn't the same for all ethnic groups;
5. Yes, I stand with you on this matter.

Look, you can't compare talking about bad/poor quality stuff as ghetto and thus associated with the systematic negative treatment of Black people in the US with jokes about any other origin. I can take the French jokes (sure, I am over the whole no-armpit-shaving and unpleasant stereotypes but that's just lack of originality on stereotypers' behalf) but they don't compare to the history of African Americans. History marches on, times change. It's a positive thing that we're socially banning the use of terms to sound cool when they, in fact, refer to a loaded history of inequal treatment of a specific group of people (who were stolen, sold and brought in as slaves with no free will and complete dehumanisation).

As a woman, I don't accept men calling me "bitch", I do accept it jokingly with fellow women. As a white person, I don't use the N-word or other references to the oppressed conditions Black people have (and to a certain degree continue to) experienced. Ghetto is not a word that one should use to sound cool. "That's so ghetto" is no longer ok to express something being bad or low quality.

I cringe so often these days, I swear. Even if you don't emotionally get it, at least be smart enough not to publicly use it. It's really not that hard. I understand it's not meant with bad intentions but if we don't speak out, we're just accepting that these negative stereotypes continue to be vehiculated outside of their historical context for the sole purpose of sounding cool/in the know. Nope. You don't sound cool to me, you sound passé and unaware of the current context.

Words carry meaning. Social sensitivity is vehiculated greatly through them, especially in the digital realm. It's ok not to completely "get" it, but try to educate yourself and read some articles on why these discussions are being held today and why they matter to other people, how your involvement in everyday interaction can help or hinder an important social cause.