"Persons of Pallor"

A few days ago, E. Volokh noted that he had come up with that titular phrase and had thought he was the inventor of same until checking google. Considering "people of pallor," "person of pallor," and "persons of pallor" as one, there are several mentions on web pages and on Usenet, and the first Usenet mention was in 1991. It was also mentioned in this 1994 thread featuring a future blogger.

Many of the mentions appear to be ironic, however, after reading the following interview with Donna Spencer, founding director of the Firehall Theatre Society in Vancouver [Canuckistan], a few times, I think they're both dead serious:

[Interviewer] You are of pale pallor and running a theatre with a mandate to program and support work of "multi-cultural content... Have you ever felt this was a conflict in perception, or do you feel that being on the outside, but working on the inside, has made you a more effective advocate for artists and work of diversity? Do you feel you are seen as having all "the power"?

[Spencer] ...One of the challenges I have faced as the Artistic Director/Producer at the Firehall, is how I fit into the mix. I am a person of pallor from a diverse cultural background; however, because of my pallor, I have sensed questions around my right to choose the work I choose; to direct the work I have chosen when it may be seen as ethno-specific and to function as an advocate for inclusivity in the theatre.These questions, these challenges and in some cases insults, and "bad-mouthing", have come from both sides - the culturally diverse community and the "white" mainstream community. I have been teasingly called a "wannabe" by both groups and have had my motives challenged at funding assessment committees.

Jeebus.

No matter how much you make fun of PC, it's never enough. I hearby call for a zone-flooding of "Persons of Pallor," as well as an increased usage of such terms as "[Anything and Everything] of Color:" "Blogs of Color," "Usenet Commentators of Color," "Homes of Color," whatever. Oh, wait, that last one is taken.

Maybe one of these days people like Donna will get the joke.

MultiCultiCult · Sat, 05/03/2003 - 14:18 · · Importance: 1