Awhile back, I shared a few thoughts about the potentially “controversial” nature of some of my interracial videos (you can read my original reflections here and here). A blog reader recently posted the following reaction, to which I’d like to respond:
Let’s put it this way: if you were not CONSTANTLY putting your models in subservient, some would say demeaning, and most specifically positions that are demeaning such as feeling their faces and shoving your hands into their mouths as if you were inspecting them like a prospective slave buyer or doing that whole “Look at me! I’m a white guy pulling these fake thugs asses apart” thing that you do that have nothing to do with “topping” as a sexual position, then your furious blizzard of words above might hold more weight.
You compare yourself to other studios, but this is as PERSONAL to you as much as it is a business.
I’m even tempted to give you the benefit of the doubt that YOU don’t believe that you are engaging in racially informed/offensive behavior (despite your upbringing) but then your whole business is racially informed, is it not?
You have your fans who will defend you, including your models. Nothing new there. But seriously, you need to objectively stand back and look at how you actually behave in your videos. I’m not asking you to stop making videos. Only to more closely examine that heartfelt self-justification you made.
I don’t expect this to be published on the site. But then it doesn’t [have?] to be.
Here are some of my initial thoughts in response:
I actually have no problem recognizing the controversial and potentially offensive nature of some of my interracial videos. That was sort of the whole point of those entries: to acknowledge the negative reactions that some of my videos may provoke, but at the same time point out the hypocrisy, inconsistency, and unfairness of those criticisms (in my opinion).
You suggest that I like to put my models in “subservient” positions, and you describe my videos as “demeaning” and reminiscent of slavery. While you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, I’d like to point out that those are purely subjective, debatable value judgments on your part. Some people will watch my videos and find them similarly disturbing and offensive, while others will see no problem with them whatsoever. Each viewer is going to evaluate my videos (and porn in general) through the filter of his or her own personal experiences, prejudices, and subjective erotic tastes.
The claim that some of the imagery in my videos reminds one of a white slave-owner inspecting a potential “purchase” is an absurd and unfair accusation, in my opinion. I guess by the same logic, any white man (or white woman, for that matter) who touches a black male sexually is similar to white slave-owners who felt up potential slaves on the auction block during the time of slavery. I mean, where do you draw the line when making arguments like that?!? Slaves were also frequently forced to strip naked as a part of such inspections. Am I also somehow imitating a sadistic plantation overseer when I instruct my models to take off their clothes for their solo scenes?!?
Listen, I’m all for recognizing and redressing the legacies of slavery, both social and economic. But I think we head down a very slippery slope when we start seeing echoes of slavery in every interracial encounter, both sexual and non-sexual. If we want to pursue such statements to their (il)logical conclusions, I suppose we could also say that white supervisors barking orders at black employees is also reminiscent of slavery. Or black waiters and waitresses serving dinner to white married couples at the local “Applebee’s.” Or white men coaching athletic teams in predominantly black neighborhoods. In fact, one could argue that any time a black person has sex with a white person, regardless of who’s doing the penetrating, it’s similar to the days of slavery. In my opinion, arguments like that are usually pretty stupid and pointless, and they ultimately distract from the very real and persistent racial inequalities we should be talking about.
The overall point I was trying to make in my original blog entries was that things like objectification, domination/submission, conquest, seduction, etc., are universal themes in pornography. If one enjoys and approves of such themes in erotica, then it’s not fair to cry “racism” when those same themes are explored in an interracial context.
