NEWS: Race Play in BDSM

CULTURE: Race Play in BDSM

Dominatricies sometimes speak about putting their submissive's into something called a “mind space” where the bottom’s mind can be completely reprogrammed. For instance, one dominatrix said that she used to break down a bottom to work through a childhood trauma he kept reliving. For another submissive, the dominatrix would reprogram him to feel more confident following a dehumanizing divorce. But in one specific case, mind space was used on black man to work through his deep-seated racist views of other black people, as well as other invocations of race as a part of the S&M scene.

While race play may seem horrifying, its practice is causing heated debates within the leather community.

When entering into a critique of these practices, it's difficult to define the differences between an individual's right to be in an BDSM relationship and taking part in a situation that perpetuates hate. It's very hard to play with hate as a function of power, especially in a BDSM setting. But, given the sure power behind race play, deploying race in service of sexuality and pleasure undermines the very notion of an individual's right to have that pleasure by removing the humanity from the scene. While a submissive might be a maggot, or a worm, or dirt, their is an underlying assumption that they are still human. Racism blurs that line to a point where it's very hard to see where the play stops and where the hate begins.

Interesting article.

So what youre saying is that a sub can be called a worm or a piece of shit and is still seen as human but if a race-related epithet is used, that ceases to be the case???? Bullshit. Perhaps we should leave those who like to play the edge to their own happy devices ? Who are you or anyone else for that matter, to say whats acceptable in the realm of sexual and bdsm fantasy? In my former life as a Pro/lifestyle Dom/switch, I met and played with lots of edge players who played very 'politically questionable' games and fantasies.. rape/abduction, incest, etc. Its like trying to create some imaginary and arbitrary line as to what is 'sane' and what isnt. I know race is one of the most politically sensitiveissues in society today, but that's part of the thrill I would think.Its something like how blood play and radical body mods were 15 years ago-taboo, edgy, totally unacceptable to mainstream politcally correct society. Of course thats not to say that race play would necessarily gain the unprecedented popularity of the piercing/ body mod scene; I think it will remain edgy, but it comes from a similar place.
If you dont like it, dont do it..

I have to agree with hermetica. To put it simply, the last line in her post says it all.
"If you dont like it, dont do it.."

This is officially my new favorite arguement ever.

considering that bdsm is usually based on mutual respect (i thought) i always assumed that raceplay was just a game like any other that ends when people return to their normal lives.

Lots of fantasies seem weird and repulsive to many people. Some of that repulsion can be rationalized better than others, but that does not make it correct.

What's the problem so long as it's consensual and doesn't involve children?

Also, this kind of BDSM isn't even illegal in the UK, so there's other stuff which is scarier.

I'm putting it right up with "Just because I painted a couple houses, doesnen't make me a housepainter."

The difference between race play and actual racism is that it's a choice on the part of the Sub, not an ingrained belief on the part of the Dom. Submissives have a lot more control over a BDSM situation than most people give them credit for.

I agree with the statement-that it is a consensual act between two or more people. Still....race play would be something I would never do.

[Edited on Dec 06, 2004 1:13PM]

I'm sorry, but this is complete crap. Associating a mental mind-fuck with ignorant prejudice could only be done by someone who has no fucking clue about BDSM; 'hate' has nothing to do with the dynamic. It's about physical, mental, and emotional sensations brought about by power exchange. It is about personal choice and personal responsibility, it's about sexual preference and sexual roles.

Racism is what made enslaving black people possible, and they had NO choice in the matter. Sexual slavery of the kind talked about in the article is a conscious choice, as is the humiliation. Linking the two is just as ignorant and prejudiced as linking skin color and crime rates.

Well said.

I agree with this (that is, everything but the crap part), but including race play into BDSM has the potential to be problematic. The power exchanges that occur in a scene are fluid and, while I agree with the right for people to engage in any scene that they want, there's something that gets appropriated in race play that has the potential to get out of hand very, very quickly. Perhaps it is a function of comfort on part of an observer, or rather why issues of race are brought up at all.

Again, I agree with this...

Ok, this is were you lost me. I'm not linking sexual slavery with racial slavery: the scenes themselves play the slave narrative out. From the Article:

I'm not saying that people don't have a right to explore this, or work through them in a BDSM scene, or to use it as a mindfuck. What I'm really interested in is the problematic issues that go into race play, or Nazi/Jew-interrogation play, or any other historic master/slave dynamic that is brought into a BDSM master/slave dynamic. This is not something that I want to take lightly, but rather highlight some of the issues that the leather community has with race play.

In addition, I think that those who do not understand the power elements that are part of leather play would think that BDSM scenes that have a Nazi torturing a Jew or a white woman calling a black man "nigger" would find the whole thing horrifying. But as Midori says in the article:

Interesting across the board, something to think about, and to not dismiss as being "crap."


[Edited on Dec 06, 2004 by christopher]

This is one of the most interesting articles I have ever read on this site. It will be interesting to see where this discussion goes.

A very good article indeed! Although I know some of the aspects of BDSM there is a vast amount that I dont know. Anybody who would like to post some core insites that would be very helpful.
A friend of mine has clued me in on some things others I had to research myself. Here is a good link. www.mcncirce.com I understand that some of the facets of the practice is not for everyone, so pick and choose as you will.
Personally I see race as just another facet to be explored.

Do as you will.

Reading this reminded me of the thread where the some bloke was saying that Suicidegirls are being exploited.

The girls were pretty much unanimous in saying "Don't get angry on my behalf, this is my choice" and "I don't like men telling me how I should feel".

When I first read this post my reaction was Urghh, I don't like this..... Then I thought, why should I be offended on Mike Bonds behalf? I have no right.

I would hope that anyone wanting to participate in this would think about the emotional implications carefully beforehand; after that though, whatever floats your boat.

It is totally within your rights not to engage in a sexual activity that you do not feel comfortable doing... and as far as it's all concerned, I don't think I could engage in race-play myself... but I don't think other people shouldn't be allowed to.