At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. 😉
The other day on Turner Classic Movies I caught a bit of Watermelon Man. After reading the premise, I thought, what a great what if. So, here it is...
What if you woke up one day to find that you were a different race?
It would be interesting to try to adapt to it. I think it would be a good lesson on discrimination.
ReplyDeletebetty
The differences between humans is trivial and being a humanist I consider myself a lucky human being living on this earth as opposed to being an extraterrestrial, the existence of which is dubious at best.
ReplyDeleteAs long as it was still human and my wife was all right with it, I'd just learn to adjust. And have a heck of a time explaining it to my parents...
ReplyDeleteI would think it would be cool! I used to watch a Canadian show about ancestry and this man, who thought he was always white found out he was part African American! He found out his dad, who left his mom when he was little, had an entire other family living, I think, in Nova Scotia. he met up with them and was embraced. He found his family and felt enriched.
ReplyDeleteIt could be interesting. I'll have to see if I can find that show.
DeleteAncestors in the attic
DeleteI don't know. I mean, I'm white. I've led a privileged life. It's hard for me to accurately imagine what difficulties POC go through. Things would get a lot harder, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteYour question reminds me of a book that was popular back when I was in HS, Black Like Me. Was an eye opener. I don't think I need my eyes opened. I've been screaming from roof tops about in--equality and am quite frustrated to find out how racist people used to like or respect are. I'd like to make a list of people who should wake up to that set of circumstances you mentioned though...but some of them are so lost, I doubt even that would make a difference. Not at all familiar with the show you mentioned though.
ReplyDeleteThe movie came out in the '70s, I think. I didn't watch it. I just saw enough to think it was a good question. I have heard of that book, but I haven't read it.
DeleteNow, that's a question, though. What if you could make this happen to other people? Would we use that ability for good or evil?
It would be a huge learning curve, I should think.
ReplyDeleteLikely.
DeleteWell after waking enough romrealize it is true I would be asking WTH! then o wou,d start asking questions to whoever willl listen and try to figure out what happen. I am not one to just go with the flow, I need answers! And I wou,d be asking...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'd want to know how, too.
DeleteI regularly hang out with those of Hispanic descent, people who are from mainland Chinese, and various other places like the Philippines, Africa, Russia, etc. I think it's one of my favorite things about living near a world landmark. I've also been a minority--when I lived in NYC, and have always been a religious minority. Change my race, I think I'd do okay.
ReplyDeleteinteresting
ReplyDeleteI'd try it for a day.
ReplyDelete