SCA-minorties-msg - 10/31/00

Experiences of various minorities in the SCA. Attitudes in the SCA towards members of racial minorities.

NOTE: See also the files: blacks-msg, SCA-gays-msg, non-SCA-part-msg, SCA-as-family-msg, p-relig-tol-msg, religion-msg.

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

The comments made in these messages are not necessarily my viewpoints. I make no claims as to the accuracy of the information given by the individual authors.

Please respect the time and efforts of those who have written these messages. The copyright status of these messages is unclear at this time. If information is published from these messages, please give credit to the originator(s).

Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Subject: Re: ANST - SCA and color
Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 22:48:02 -0500
From: jonwillowpel at juno.com
To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

Greetings all this is Duchess Willow de Wisp

I am not sure who was asking the question about color and the SCA but I
can tell you that in my 32 years  of playing the SCA has been more
interested  in the person than the race. My household,the Clan Caldal,
has always had people of many races in it. Even when we started over 25
years ago in the deep South.  We, the people in the SCA , are only a
small minority and if we started excluding people because of their race
we would be even a smaller group. Similarities in thought and interest
have always been our first concern. If someone finds our game fun we want
them.

Our main problem has been communicating to people of darker hue our real
interest in their participation in our club. Since we are studying
western Europe sometime people feel that they are limited to their racial
background in choosing  a persona in the SCA and sometimes this makes the
individual feel limited and so they do not join. If you look closely at
the persona makeup of people in the SCA you will find many blue eyed,
blond Japanese and Moors in the SCA. If I can believe in red haired
Japanese I can believe in a dark Norseman.

I sure hope that the person asking the question will join and if they
need any help please feel free to contact me.

Duchess Willow de WIsp

Subject: RE: ANST - SCA and color
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 07:14:17 -0500
From: "Paul DeLisle" <ferret1 at cox-internet.com>
To: <ansteorra at ansteorra.org>

>     it is a delicate situation - what is the SCA's view and feelings on
>people of .....darker skin complexions, participating and/or joining the SCA
>and the events.  in other words, will there be a problem ???   i do not want
>any more problems in life, i have enough.....   i can always continue doing
>my own thing without an organization to share it with, but i think it would
>be nice to share !!!
>     thank you for your honesty and responses.
>always a lady....> Greetings all this is Duchess Willow de Wisp
>
> I am not sure who was asking the question about color and the SCA but I
> can tell you that in my 32 years  of playing the SCA has been more
> interested  in the person than the race.
****SNIP****

Milady:
Her Grace speaks (not surprisingly) well and truly. Although I have not
quite her breadth of experience (only 19 years here), I have found (for the
most part) that the SCA is a fairly "color-blind" group (especially the
Celts...the plaids they wear...*gaaa*!) We aren't generally prejudiced,
however, we *do* tend to get wrapped-up in ourselves. Very often, some of
our best friends live all the way across two states. The only time we get to
see them is at an occasional event, and we tend to make the most of that.
This can make us look (all together now) "stand-offish and stuffy." We
*really* aren't that way; get involved, offer to help, and keep asking
questions, and you'll make friends quickly!

I must admit that I *have* seen a *very* few instances of prejudice in my
time in the SCA; and unfortunately, we have lost some wonderful people due
to it. My advice (and plea!) is this: if you ever experience such treatment,
let someone else (whom you might know a bit better in that group, or who is
an officer in the group) know *immediately*, and the rest of us will be
happy to stomp said person into the ground!(...figuratively...well,
mostly...*grin*)

Welcome to the Current Middle Ages, milady. I hope I have an opportunity to
meet you at some point.

In Service, I remain
Alden Pharamond
Rosenfeld, Ansteorra

Subject: ANST - Re: ansteorra V2 #297
Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2000 22:18:39 -0500
From: cpenny at swbell.net
To: ansteorra at ansteorra.org

specifically-Melinda(?) who asks how persons of color are treated within
the dream in general, and Ansteorra in particular.

This comment is much delayed; I am far in spirit from the dream these
days. But the age of wonders is far from ended--a great relay machine
can get a message to places >it< would not believe!

Once at an event, you will be surrounded by magic.  These are people
consciously being the best they can be. The failures are awesome.  The
successes are the stuff of legend.  If you believe--you belong. Your own
legends are waiting.

I would state only two cautions.  Ya gotta get to and from.  You have
heard from living legends, who can warp reality when they work at
it.(Your Grace! Sir Burke! I've seen you do it!) A Black Spot in funny
clothes, driving through a small southern town after dark >is<,
as your instincts tell you, in a strange part of the performance
envelope, one wrong decision from a whole lotta trouble.  How good do
you talk?  Get better. (Bards are always welcome!)  Travel with mundane
clothes. Mundane-low profile-mundanes.  See if you can ride with a
group. (That adds to the fun anyway.)

Second---Beware!  It feels so good in there!
You-----can-----not-----stay!
If you expect your boss, or your significant other to treat you like a
knight would, you are cruising for a bruising on a short road.  The
dream is refuge and inspiration-but you must awaken sometime. Be ready.
Don't expect to bring it home with you.

But keep trying. I would so love to be proven wrong on that...

For the Steppes, and for Ansteorra--

Rupert

<the end>