From: gt7994a@prism.gatech.EDU (ORMOND,SEAN PATRICK)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.misc
Subject: Re: Is La Forge Black? (was Startrek as American Imperialist)
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:46:48 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

In article <1992Aug12.150236.3275@usace.mil> pace@usace.mil (Joe Pace) writes:
>  [Original Poster ???]
>>	But in a series where other characters are allowed to be proud
>>	and vocal about their origins -- O'Brien is happy to be Irish,
>>	Picard delights in all things Gallic -- Geordi comes across as
>>	a curiously blank cipher.
>>
>>	Apparently, TPTB would rather err on the side of the politically
>>	correct than allow a character to show pride in a African/American
>>	heritage.  And that's a damn shame.
>
>Mabee his character just doesn't have the desire to be this way, or
>he just doesn't think too much about it.  It is the 24th Century.
>I know people whose families came from Yugoslavia, for example,
>but they never mention it.  
>

No kidding!  Star Trek has always presented a somewhat idealistic future.
In Geordi's case, TPTB have suggested that in 300-400 years it may be 
possible for a black man to go through his daily activities without 
constantly reminding everyone of his "Proud African-American Heritage"(tm)
and attributing his every failure to the misfortune of being an oppressed
minority.

I would never consider calling myself an Irish-American.  My grandparents
took tests (that most "Americans" couldn't pass), spent alot of money,
and risked all just to earn the right to be called "Americans"!  On the
other hand, I can show you blacks that can't identify Africa on a map or
tell you what "Apartheid" means with a dictionary that insist on the
"African-" prefix!  You simply can't solve the failures of a race by
assigning some ready-made heritage!

Apparently some posters had a problem with Geordi not being "black enough" -
would you prefer him to wear an "X" hat backwards with the tag hanging out?
How about a "By any means necessary..." T-shirt?  Maybe he could just
stand around Engineering holding his crotch and complaining about how 
Picard "dissed" him by transferring him off the bridge and down below to
work on the engines, "Shit, I'll just get a phaser and blow a few things
up...see what he thinks about that!"  Seems like a reasonable way to release
that pent-up frustration with the system - sounds justifiable to me!

What really offends the tiny minority of liberal NAACP-type blacks is that
Geordi is a successful, innovative black man who works side-by-side with
his "evil white oppressors" and more importantly, he works on a ship 
commanded by a white man - AND HE NEVER EVEN COMPLAINS ABOUT IT!  In fact,
Geordi is one of the most friendly, cheerful officers we see.  What an 
insult to his race!  :-(

(Flames to e-mail - make my day!)

Sean Ormond - white boy who couldn't possibly know what he's talking about
              as he's never been poor, black, and/or oppressed!
              (...at least not that I know of!)


-- 
Sean P. Ormond
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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