![]() ![]() In learning about NZ’s Treaty of Waitangi and the modern Waitangi Tribunal, I realized I had no framework as an American to apply to the issue. That’s especially true with issues related to Indigenous and Aboriginal peoples. No racism is “better” or “worse” than any other racism, but trying to apply an American understanding of racist actions or reparations to an Australian or Kiwi isn’t always going to be effective. ![]() ![]() I’ve also seen insidious, baked-in cultural bias stemming from a much-more-recent history of white colonialism in NZ. I have seen overt, vile, casual racism in NZ that I’m familiar with from the states. ![]() Kween Kong raises a good point here – that in Samoan, there is no word for “sorry.” True apologies come in the form of actions, not words.įinally, having now lived in New Zealand for half a decade, I can tell you that racism presents itself differently in Australia and New Zealand than in North America. We need to leave space for them to have that feeling and to take cues from it, just as we should make space and take cues from BIPOC folks who are welcoming her anti-racist education. For some BIPOC fans and community members, that history might be too hurtful to allow them to appreciate Hannah’s art. I think it’s important that we’re all aware that this is a part of her history. Just as I’m telling you not to accept or decline Hannah’s apologies, it’s not down to me to say she has done “enough” on her anti-racist journey to be crowned as a representative of the Drag Race franchise. And, if you haven’t done any anti-racism work, Hannah’s LinkTree offers several good starting points from an Australian perspective. However, in this instance I think you and I both need to consider stepping back from our label-makers to observe Hannah’s behaviors and to listen to how her community is receiving her (both in general, and in specific when it comes to Kween Kong on this episode).Įven if you have done years of anti-racism work yourself, if you are white/Pākehā it’s not for you to accept or decline Hannah’s apologies or approve or reject her reparative behaviors. I understand that fellow white/Pākehā fans who are strident in their labelling of Hannah as “the racist one” feel they are doing their part to confront bigotry. However, they can take action to reduce and remove those behaviors, and they can apply themselves to being educated about other cultures without asking Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to do all of the emotional labor on their behalf. No one can remove the harm they’ve done through their racist actions, whether they are overt and intentional or passive and the result of unconscious bias. I’ve seen a lot of fans calling Hannah “the racist one” and comparing her to Scarlet Adams from Season 1, and I want to speak to that for a moment. That came to light in this episode in a workroom conversation, which confirmed my understanding that Hannah had already begun to take action to grow and make reparations before been cast on the show. In my pre-season ranking, I mentioned that Hanna Conda had perpetuated racist tropes in the past, including some performances appropriating cultures in insensitive ways. Clearly it was a case of false advertising, as there was nary a breakfast or lunch in sight, but plenty of bottoms! This is a paired comedy challenge meant to simulate hosting a drag brunch. Kia ora and welcome to my review and power rankings for the third episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Season 2 – A Bottomless Brunch. ![]()
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