Since as long as I and many others can remember, there has always been always been a struggle for acceptance for Goths, Blacks,and people of color among “Normal Society” or “Acceptable society” as some choose to call it. Now I know what some of you reading this might be thinking… “Why is this guy grouping Goths and Blacks under the same struggle?” Well my cats and bats in this Weekly Bat Blog I am going to be discussing an topic or rather an issue; that has been ever growing not just in goth and alternative culture but also society as whole. I am going to talk about the prejudice and discrimination, something that as goths and or people who choose to live an alternative life style and subculture are very familiar with. It is however more so familiar to people who are black or of color. What’s even worse is dealing with racism and discrimination within a subculture where outcasts who were marginalized by “Normal” or “Acceptable” society; are meant to feel safe and welcomed within that subculture.
Marginalized by Heritage And Goth Culture
Growing up I was always different than the other kids, both at my school and with in my extended family of cousins. While other kids were into sports, reality shows, and whatever was in the main stream at the time. I was into anime, horror movies, fantasy and sci-fi novels, Tim Burton Films, and anime. I was often to myself and had very few real friends. Though I was known by a lot of people I was often picked on, made fun and made an outcast through out Middle School and High School, because of who i was, what I wore and what i liked. On top of being ostracized among the kids at school, i was also put down by family members mostly by cousins aunts and uncles; My Mom and Dad didn’t know what to think other than show religious concern when I started by clothes like Tripp pants and band T-shirts that had skulls on them like my Iron Maiden T-shirts. It seemed like everyone had a problem with what I liked and who I was, but what made it even more difficult was the fact I was Latino or Latinyx.
Now those of you who grew up being Goth,Punk, or alternative know the struggles of not fitting in and being accepted by people in everyday life for looking certain way or dressing a certain way. So you can imagine what it’s like to be a part of a subculture, and being not only marginalized by that same sub culture you choose to be part of because “normal” society rejected you; but also being rejected and marginalized by your own ethnic culture. The culture they were born into as Black, Latino, or of color that chooses to reject them for “Not acting their race!” rather than embracing them for their unique differences that make them an individual. Let me ask a question my Goths,Punks and Alternative folk who are of color. how many time have you heard a family member say to you… “Why do you act so white?” “Why do you dress like that you black!?” or they say things like… “What is this weird goth shit? That’s for weird white people!” or my favorite ” Oye mijo Por que te vistes como si fueras muerto?” If you ever heard such hurtful and disapproving things said to you by your own family members or people who like you are Black, Latino or of color, I understand what you go through all to well.
While Black, Latino, and people of color face discrimination and prejudice in a predominantly White society there is another form of prejudice that takes place with in their own culture. This prejudice comes from the rejection of Black ,Latino and colored folk who “Are not of the culture.” as some would put it. Lets say that you are Black or Latino your family and friends who are of the same culture and skin color as you, are into rap, hip-hop, reggae-tone, or some form of mainstream music. They also choose to follow the clothing trends that most people are following be it Gucci bags, Nike,Jordan’s etc. Then along you come along your wearing your long black Tripp trench coat or Tripp Pants. Mayb you have massively spiked and colored hair, dyed in a shade of blue or green high lights.
Maybe you have on make up and black nail polish,with possible nose piercings,earrings, eyeliner or perhaps tattoo. Instead of listening to 50 Cent or Lil Pump you listen to The Cure, She passed away, Susie and the Banshees, VNV nation or Bad Brains. Chances are you felt like yew stood out from the rest of your Black, Latino, or colored family members and friends. As a an alternative Latino i know I stood out from the rest of my family and friends who were Latino or Black,; I remember getting a lot of disapproving looks for having spiked hair and wearing Tripp Pants , what I specially got a lot mean comments on was my taste in music and hobbies.
I grew up listening to a lot of alternative music, Rock, Metal, Punk Rock, EDM and EBM; I would get a lot of mean things said to me by family members and class mates at school like “Why do you listen that music whats wrong with you? Can’t you listen to anything good!?” then I would also get comments like..” Why do listen to that music and wear those clothes are you some sort of devil worshiper?” Along with this I was also picked on for the hobbies I enjoyed such as cosplaying at conventions, larping, and being into Gothic literature and movies like Edward Scissorhands.
Anything that didn’t seem culturally appropriate to them was a taboo in their eyes. It was like if you weren’t into the latest telenovela drama or newest track from the hottest reggae-tone artist there was something wrong with you in their eyes. speaking of cultural appropriation while i did feel welcomed among fellow Goths, Punks, Nerds, Metal Heads and other Alternative folk, most of them assumed because of my fair skin tone that I was white. It wasn’t until they would hear me speaking Spanish on the phone to my Mom or Dad on the phone or to someone of Hispanic decent that they would get surprised to find out that I was also Hispanic.
Now although most of my friends who were all of diverse backgrounds did not think much of me being Hispanic and being into a subculture and having hobbies that were outside of the “societal norm” for someone of Latin american decent; it did come as a bit of a surprise to them given my ethnic background that I was into thing like Metal, Gothic music, Punk rock, anime, larping. Though I was to young and unaware at the time to realize that the reason my friends reacted in such a surprise manner was because of social programming that was embedded in them; whether it was embedded in them through the lens of the media,parents, pop culture, or by what they saw or heard. There was an expectations from both people who were white or of color for a Latino or Latinyx to act, behave and have certain interests. If you were Latino and did not fit this norm you were ostracized to a certain degree on both ends but mostly by other Latinos or people of color.
Although I was put into this box that many people in society put Blacks, Hispanics and people of color into based on their general and sometimes narrow understanding of certain cultures; It did not stop me from being myself. I didn’t conform to the Latin american stereo type of listening to reggatone, and being in a gang. instead I just listened to Disturbed, The Cure, Linkin Park , watched anime and read my books. Did i ever experience any marginalization? I did from my family and from other Latino friends who were not as open minded to other sub cultures. I never experienced any prejudices with in any alternative cultures personally until my mid 27 where I was at a Renascence fair with m y Mom and we were enjoying a show of wandering minstrel who I am friends with who goes by the name “The Creepy Bard” (No relation) I then was saying something to my mom in Spanish, when a man who appeared to be in his late 50s or 60s turned around and in a rude tone said. “What are you here for?” In udder confusion I answered hesitantly “Excuse me?” he replied in a stern voice “What are you hear for ?” I reply “To enjoy the show?” he stared at my Mom and I angrily and then turned around.
It was then that my mom said to me in Spanish “That man is racist!” I said to her in Spanish “Yeah there was no reason for him to ask us that question in such a rude way, its like he had a problem with us speaking Spanish.” This was the first time I experienced racism in a place of subculture where I usually feel safe. Specially experiencing it with my Mom all because we were speaking in our native language. this was the first time I experienced racism in a community that was known for being open and accepting. Now I have not experienced any racism within Goth, Punk, and or any other alternative culture since then, but i have seen others experience it with in the community who are of color and experienced prejudice with in them. I feel its time the prejudice and racism gets called out with in these community’s and those who caused it need to be held accountable.
Stop The Nazis at Goth Clubs and Call Out The Racists
So I want to address a problem that not only me but many people have scene floating around the Goth and Punk scene, specially at Goth clubs and Punk Rock shows. The problem that I am talking about is Nazis! Yes! That’s right Nazis! You see one of things that I noticed in some goth clubs and punk shows, is that there are people wearing Nazi memorabilia like Swastikas. Whether they wear it as patch on jacket or on hat, its one of the most discussing and offensive things you can wear at place that outcasts gather to feel safe from oppression. Glorifying Nazism and wearing the symbol of one of the most evil hate groups in history is unacceptable anywhere! Specially one that is responsible fro the deaths of 11 million people. As dark, ominous , and sinister as Goths, punks and other alternative folk may be one thing that will never be tolerated or accepted is bigotry and oppression. It is not tolerated anywhere and it specially will not be tolerated in the Goth and Punk scene. Its time for all those in the Goth and Punk scene who see this to start speaking out against this and hold the people who wear such things are not welcomed if they plan on wearing such bigoted and hateful symbols.
Goth and Colorism: Your Beautiful Regardless of Your Skin Color Representation is important.
The world is made up of people of all shapes sizes and color, as Goth, Punk and alternative folk we need to show acceptance, representation , and appreciation of people who are Black, Hispanic, and of color. Representation of Blacks, Hispanic, and people of color in The Goth, Punk, and other subculture communities; some of the most talented ,articulate, best dressed people, singers, and musicians in these communities are Black, Hispanic or of color. Some of them even helped pioneer these subcultures believe it or not. Why is representation important you ask? Well when you look up Gothic brands of clothing online, the models that these companies that you see use only White or Pale models, which is a common thing you see or picture when you think of people who are Goth or Alternative. Now the problem is not that pale or white models are bad or that pale skin isn’t beautiful. the problem is lack of racial diversity in commercial modeling in the Goth and alternative community specially in our clothing brands that we buy.
Showing Gothic models of color helps make the community more diverse and accepting, Brown skin, tan skin, black goths, Latino goths, Asian goths, and other goths of color are just as beautiful and important to the Goth and alternative community as White Goths are important to the community. Not very Goth girl is pale skin raven black haired beauty ;some are brown skin blue haired beauty’s. Not every Gothic guy is going to be pale skin Gothic Prince; some of us are tan handsome vampires. We need to end the sigma that Goth is a club for people who are white and pale because its not.
We Are Weird Here!
If you made it this far in the article there is one very important thing I wan’t you to take away from this and that is as a Goth, Punk, Cosplayer and or Alternative person you choose to identify yourself. You need to understand that you are weirdo. However that is not a bad thing because in this community we are all weird here! We are all outcasts who march to the beat of our own drum and are discriminated by “normal society” for being different; so we do not have the right to make people of color feel marginalized in our community. Instead we need to advocate for more diverse representation of people of color with in the community. we can not become worse than the elites who marginalized us as Goths or alternative by marginalizing others because of their skin tone or because it doesn’t fit a false narrative image of what we were told Goth or alternative should be. Goth is not just a subculture for whites only its a subculture for all hose who enjoy the dark side of things , its for those who always felt they did not fit in to normal culture so they join our counter culture. So lets make the Gothic and alternative community more diverse for all.
That being said until the next article Good night my Creatures good night bats, good night my cats don’t get bit by the rats.