As the year is nearing its end, my roommate and I have been tossing ideas around about the final party we want to throw in our room. Naturally, the party must be themed (because if it's not themed, it's not Colby). Last night, (what I thought was) a brilliant idea hit me. A WHITE TRASH BASH. How great does that sound? But then I remembered this class. And it made me think-- is a white trash themed party offensive?
First of all, it is obviously targeting a certain racial group. But not only that, it is focusing in on a specific part of that group, and mocking its members for their cringe-worthy habits. However, as a friend of mine pointed out, most of those habits could probably be attributed to their poverty or lack of education. And most people are not entirely responsible for their economic status or level of education-- it's somewhat inherited as a facet of the class to which they belong. And the class to which a person belongs is, generally speaking, hereditary.
What do you all think, is a white trash bash offensive? Is it any more acceptable to make fun of someone for their class than for their race?
I feel throwing a white trash bash would draw the same reaction as the compton cookout, a black themed party, did at one of the University of California campuses. The lady in the news report reads the facebook event and it sounds like the people throwing the party were also hitting on things that could be attributed to poverty and lack of education. Class is very closely tied to race so I think that it is all on the same level, people will be offended its just how well the offender can smooth it out by defending their actions.
ReplyDeleteCompton cookout video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdCmNoRMs1M