by
Black Girl With Long Hair
By Makiya (not pictured above)
While reading the article Mixed Chicks supports team light skin on Twitter, experiences fallout I was shocked by the nature of some of the comments which were directed at the brand name and the identity of mixed-race people.
Is it possible that in 2011, people can still hold these views?
Unfortunately so. I live in the UK and I have to say that it appears that race is seen very differently in America. I class myself as mixed British. This is what I relate to, how I was brought up and which I am happy to identify with. This is accepted and not questioned, yet in America it appears to be a totally different story. I just wanted to take the time to look into some of the comments and points regularly made when the topic of mixed-race has been brought up (for example, on the article When Natural Hair Tells a Different Story) and to hopefully shed a little light on the mixed-race identity. For the purpose of this article when using the word ‘mixed-race’ I am talking about those whose mix includes the Black race as this is what others comments are referring to.
1.) The term mixed-race does not apply to skin colour. Many people supported this notion agreeing that there was no ‘one’ colour or shade for those who are mixed-race. Yet some disputed this by latching onto the cliché and the Media’s single portrayal, that mixed-race women are light skinned with long curly hair. Being mixed-race is not always a simple case of being ½ one race and ½ another. There are many racial combinations and percentages of racial mixtures. Because of this the ‘mixed-race’ is hugely diverse, with a range of skin tone and hues, eye colours, hair colours and textures. This stereotype of the so-called average mixed-race woman needs to be erased as there is just so much diversity that comes with being a mixture of different races.
2.) A commonly heard phrase is: “Society sees them as Black anyway, so why bother to class yourself as mixed?” This implies that in order for someone with mixed heritage to define themselves and establish their identity, they must either conform to society’s standards and views or allow others to dictate how they see themselves, without giving a thought to how they feel. Just because society may see you a certain way doesn’t mean that that is the way you should see yourself. Society may see mixed-race people as Black but this does not mean that they have to identify with what ‘box’ society has put them in. You define who you are. Regardless of how society sees you, you should be able to form your own identity. The society does not truly dictate who you are, only how you think/feel about yourself.
3.) One comment that I have heard many times but truly do not understand is when others feel uncomfortable about someone acknowledging their multiple races: “I have a problem with people classing themselves as mixed-race.” Why on earth should anyone else have a problem with a person classing themselves as mixed? Does this affect you in any way? Is it life changing? No, I didn’t think so. If a person has a problem with someone stating what they are then they are indeed the ones with the problem. I think that when people have views like this they really need to take a look at themselves. They need to find out why it is that they feel this way because surely it cannot be coming from a place of positivity and acceptance.
4.) Within the Black community some people think that by people classing themselves as mixed they just want to be separate from the Black race: “They just don’t like their blackness. They want to be different and therefore they have self-hate issues.” Classing yourself as mixed does not mean that a person does not want to be Black. It means that a person wants to acknowledge all of who they are, not just a singular race. Identifying as mixed-race is embracing all of a person’s cultures, heritages and backgrounds. It has nothing to do with the denial of the Black race. Just because you are part Black doesn’t mean that that’s the only race you should identify with. Why is it that as soon as a person wants to class themselves as mixed-race, they are instantly seen as a self-hater who wishes to rid of their blackness by ‘diluting’ it? I know many mixed-race people who are proud to be Black. Yet they are also proud to be White, Asian, etc.
5.) Oh the ‘Tragic mulatto’ stereotype. “All mixed people do is talk about their problems, it’s always woe is me.” Poor confused mixed girl, right? Wrong. Although people of mixed cultures and races may carefully think about how to define themselves, not all of us are confused and feel totally lost. Some mixed-race people may not feel accepted by one of their races or one may always have to define their race to others, but these are experiences that some mixed people have come in contact with. The fact that many have experienced situations like this does not mean that we are all depressed and ‘tragic’. A lot of mixed-race people are well adjusted and happy with who they are.
6.) Now… here it comes… the most ignorant and over-used statement in relation to the classification of being mixed-race: “All African-Americans are mixed anyway.” Where do I start? Firstly, not all African-Americans are mixed. Yes, some of the slave masters had children with the field slaves and these bi-racial offspring became known as the house slaves. Yet many slaves also had children with each other, with no mixing from the white landowners or the mixed-race house slaves. Secondly, yes some African-Americans do have traces of mixed ancestry, but this cannot be compared to someone living through current ‘mixed-race’ experiences and who has a significant percentage of mixture of races to affect their daily lives. The majority of mixed-race people do not have to search their ancestry in order to find a mixture of other races. These will come straight from their parents or their grandparents. Basically, it doesn’t need tracing to find where the mixture started. Someone being 1/60th Cherokee Indian will not have the same experiences as someone who is ½ Black, ¼ White and ¼ Asian. To put all African-Americans in the ‘mixed barrel’ in order to justify why no one should class themselves as mixed-race is ridiculous. Someone whose Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great grandmother was ¼ white is not going to fully understand what it is like to grow-up with a mixed heritage and the chances they have been affected by it is close to nil.
I feel that it is not fair for someone to use this statement in order to make the mixed-race term seem like an irrelevant and pointless definition. By saying that all African-Americans are mixed means that people are not acknowledging that there is a clear difference between being ‘mixed’ way back in the day and being mixed, right here, now, today.
I hope that this has cleared a few things up and that people can view these points from a different perspective. I think that the most important thing is to have ‘The freedom to be who you are’ (ironically the mixed Chicks leaflet slogan). It’s not about being what society sees you as, but being who you know you are. Whether that’s classing yourself as mixed-race, Black, White or Asian. Be proud to be who you are. It is not right to pass judgement on a person unless you have ever walked in their shoes.
What are your thoughts on this?
231 Responses
I totally understand Sheylah Monique as I too receive a lot of outcast from the black community and I believe it’s really sad because at the end of the day we are all humans no matter our race or no matter what country we come from. Jealousy is certainly an ugly characteristic to have. I’m mixed race – both of my parents are mixed race -half black and half white and I’m proud of who I am and I don’t try to hide it as I believe it’s a blessing and its beautiful. We are all humans let us learn to love one another by putting race aside
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I am a mother of a two year old daughter who is “mixed, bi-racial.” My daughter is a human being and that is it! Color does not have to be an issue if we just all remember we are ALL humans.
Well I have to say there is a HUGE difference from a Black American and an African. I believe that is why most Black Americans say they are all mixed. Cause technically we are….like the Brazilians. That is why there are so many different hair textures in the black community. Cause we are all mixed up. LOL. But a “mixed” person that comes from parents with two different races, well yes they will look quite different from a Black American because they have less African in them. And they usually have the experience of two different cultures in their life. So yes in a sense it is a more biracial feel to it then.
I agree with you totally about how So many people think biracial people have had hard confused lives! I am biracial, my dads white and moms black. I never grew up confused or didn’t feel wanted by one of my races. I think it has everything to do with how your brought up in your home. I lived Ina loving caring family and we never had to even discuss race. A lot if the problem also is that some biracial kids parents or people their associated with MAKE them choose a side to identify with… This is very ignorant. I don’t care if you look more like one race you should still say what you are. My half brother looks hits but he doesn’t identy as that only or he would be totally dismissing his black mother. I always lived when people asked me are you blaxk and white because I love being differ and I get tons of compliments! I feel very comfortable with who I am. As I get older I do realize that the black community not all but some who I have known get mad at me because of certain traits I have. Ex my hair and skin color. And a lot of black girls make it a big deal when white girls are very respectful and are never rue or mean to me because of the way I look. I guess they feel I look a lot like them.. I do have a lot mor white genes from my father. It makes me angry when people ask do you have a hard time identifying who you are.. No I don’t because I was never in a family or wasted my time hanging around idiot people who bring your self esteem down by making you choose to feel excepted. I feel excepted by both races and I thank god I don’t have that problem. I have not met any biracial people who feel this way. And I’m beginning to think many biracials don’t have this issue. Just people who think they know everything like to say we do…
You guys are forgetting that many people that are considered black don’t necessarily come from direct African descent. People from Honduras look just as black as most people. You have people from all over latin america like that.
My mom is black and my dad is white. I don’t exactly know my origins, which i suspect to be the case of many. I think everybody is mixed in this country. Unless you come from a family that is inbred or you only associate with people from your origins, everybody is mixed. White people are just as mixed as black people are, their skin tones just aren’t as varied so you can’t tell. You can tell when you mix two very contrasting skin tones.
I know I had a lot of issues growing up, because I grew up in what would be considered a white town. I was like the token black kid at my school, but I didn’t really identify myself that way. I’ve been almost completely removed from what would be considered “black culture.” The white kids all saw me as black, the black kids all hated me because there were so few of them they thought I was a traitor or something…idk immature highschoolers…
I had issues with people not believing my dad was my dad, which is ridiculous because if you take 2 seconds to look I have his face. I look just like him.
I had people telling my mom to put me in organizations that would insult the other half of my family, because they were liek anti-white.
And I don’t mean to be all woe is me, either. My life is good. I just think you can’t really understand other people’s situations. This doesn’t just apply to race it applies to everything in life. Everybody views their own worst pain as the worst thing they’ve ever experienced. You can’t compare pain. Everybody is different, so everybody experiences the same situations differently. The other people around you involved are all different. Everybody’s experience is different. I don’t think somebody who is black fully understands how a mixed person feels , or a white person could understand, or a mixed person could understand what another mixed person is going through..maybe to an extent, but not completely.
And whoever said mixed people can’t look white or black, guess again. There are people mixed 50/50 white and black who look purely white. They may have exactly 1 feature that tells you they have something else in them…their nose..their ass…their bottom lip..something, but unless you paid super close attention you wouldn’t know. Most people I know don’t even know I’m mixed, and I’m extremely well-balanced in my white/black features. If anybody looks biracial it is me, but many people are not exposed to it, so they don’t know. Imagine if my skin were white. I have a biracial uncle who has skin that just looks like he’s been in the sun, and has blue eyes.
A mixed race chick’s response to the biracial chick:
This article could have been much shorter. The author could have just said, now dare you plain ol’black folk go around calling yourselves mixed. I’m more mixed than you!
Here is what she doesn’t address. There are MGM people who are not biracial and who look WHITE because of years of endogamy. There are MGMs who look more biracial than many biracials. There are dark skinned MGMs with dead straight hair and white features or afro features, and there are light skinned biracials with very afro textured hair. At the end of the day, no matter how you classify YOURSELF, people will determine your race according to HOW YOU LOOK, speak and act. What are all these FGM biracials who just look like black folk going to do? Wear placards proclaiming themselves non-black? Introduce themselves by saying, “Hi, I’m Bridget . In case you have any doubts, I’m BIRACIAL” i don’t care what we call ourselves Do,what makes you happy. But understand that no matter how mixed you look, there will be someone technically more black than you who will look less black than you do. Live with it.
A lot of interesting comments on here.The bottom line is that we’re all humans,have similar likes and dislikes,emotions etc.I’m a 100% black african guy but medium brown. I sometimes wonder why people spend soo much time and energy on race issues.Love those who love you and ignore those who hate you.Life’s too short.Enjoy it and make the best of it instead of bothering about what people think about you.Do you live your lives for people or for yourself?I have a mixed race childhood friend with a Russian mother and African father.He sometimes used to get riled up when people refered to his skin in a negative way.I always told him to just smile and walk away.
Again, it’s culture and the way we’re socialized. African Americans didn’t make the rules of race, they we’re forcibly imposed upon us and not subscribing to such could mean death. Interracial couples couldn’t even marry in many states well into the ’60’s..and I’m talking about a white person trying to marry a person that maybe considered mixed because one parent was white and the other was black.. But according to American law not a whimsical passing by African Americans was indeed identified and ONLY recognized as black. As mentioned in an earlier post, call yourself what you want but when you encounter someone from a different culture they may have a different lens through which they view you. Honestly, I’m stunned sometimes here but definitely when I visited Europe and I met people (after initial conversation or others told me)who identified themselves as mixed or the like. I just said great and smiled.. But in my head I was thinking..obviously this about more than race and what one looks like ’cause you all look “way blacker” than me and please know that if you say that in the U.S. you may get your feelings hurt or be offended. It wouldn’t be intentional in all likelihood it’s just that our history, socialization and stereotypes of what mixed looks like is fairly different from my perspective..personally, I would have never thought that Mel B, Heidi Klum’s children, Corrine Bailey Rae, Samantha Mumbai, Haille Berry, Lenny Kravitz, his daughter, etc….all beautiful people…just don’t fit my image of what mixed looks like..and my opinion is not fact but it is my reality…Lastly, it’s not just differences in cultures but also differences among family members. My mom’s biological sister–same–parents– identifies herself as mixed.. And she’s dead serious… We just laugh because my grandmother always says I’m all of you alls mother and we all know who you alls father was (deceased) so how could you be anything other than black? .. But that’s her choice to make that distinction based upon complexion and hair texture….Best to all!
hi i love this site…i have struggled all of my life being put down and treated like trash for being mixed. im black,native and irish. It seems that i have had to fight for being “light skinned”. i was rejected as a child alot by haters and that caused me to have serious self esteem issues, with forming friendships and relationships. your never black enough or white enough so i have alot of hispanic friends. people really dont understand how the cruelty really can effect our lives. i shouldnt have to only hang out with mixed people or hispanic people. i should be able to hangout with anyone. its reverse racism and being called a hybrid or the black devil. i have been so hurt by these people that ive moved to hawaii hoping to blend in alittle better. i have experienced racism from white people also but not as much. im 27 still trying to find myself because of the pain that ive gone through. i notice that other people that are mixed races that doesnt include black dont get this treatment. i hope time will change people and my children will never go through this. this site is great..
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When I saw your picture I immediately took you for a hispanic person that originates anywhere from Central to South America.You’re beautiful by the way.
My family is black dark skinned in the immediate family and then all lighter cousins and ancestry from the carribean. Both of my parents come from mixed race backgrounds and just happened to be the darkest of the kids. I know its weird but I look like a typical dark skinned African American girl with curly brown hair. When I was little the edges were blonde. Ironically white men and women see my mix more than blacks who are supposed to be yhe experts. I attract all non black men in droves.
A lot of great points and a great read, but I think the fact that the writer was mixed raced, she probably could not see the dynamic of number four. I have no problem with people claiming their mixed heritage, but what I find sad is people that try to fabricate such an identity. There is a large percentage of Blacks that will go out their way to try and make their peers believe that they are mixed, just because of their skin tone or hair texture. You don’t have to be mixed to have a looser curl pattern or a lighter complexion, but that is what people hold on to, to distinguish themselves even if it isn’t true.
Actually the term mixed indicates that a person has more then 1 race group in their heritage. Biracial means that you have either parents or grandparents that are of different races from each other.
Isn’t this just semantics? Does it really matter? Mixed race means more than one race and biracial means 2 races, but so what? And?
I really enjoyed reading this article. I have recently learned more about my family’s history. Both of my grandparents on my mama’s side are biracial: my grandpa was black and white, my grandma was white and black indian. on my daddy’s side: my grandma is black with some indian and my grandpa was half black and half indian. With all of this information that i have been informed with, I have been wondering what does that classify me as. I’ve always thought I was only african american until recently. I have very light skin and long type 3b hair.All through school, i was always asked whether or not i was mixed and I’ve never knew how to answer that question. I still check black or african american to this day because i’ve always checked it but now when someone ask i respond by saying somewhat.
The author provides an interesting perspective although I question the accuracy of certain statements regarding African Americans. For many of us, mixed ancestry is not that far removed..maybe 3 or 4 generations but clearly the way that race is viewed in the U.S. is quite different from the British experience. I think that people should be able to self-identify but it’s also important to “respect” the historical context in which race assignment developed; particularly in the U.S. As an African American woman with light skin, hazel eyes and 3a hair ( for my curly hair folks) & 2 black parents..by American standards, I recognize the oppression, hurt feelings and pecking order from multiple perspectives. I have always had to explain that I’m not mixed and in many instances prove my “blackness” particularly as an adolescent and teen. I recall being teased so badly about being mixed in elementary school that my Dad told me to tell the kids that indeed I was mixed…male and female! Not to make light( no pun intended) but it was new territory for all of us given the fact that everyone in our household identified as black.
Thanks for sharing!
Im a biracial gal and I totally agree with everything she said. That has always been frustrating to me when Im asked “why do you have to say “mixed”, your black” in my situation I feel like it would be rude to not acknowledge my fathers heritage. I’ve even gotten the comment “Black is more dominant…so you’re black”…..that one my eyes almost popped out of my head. I identify with both sides equally and its as simple as that.
you have to learn to love it- most of us start out feeling like ugly ducklings. Then you have people who try to make you feel bad about liking who you are once you do learn to love yourself! My sisters and I are all very different because we have been exposed so many things because of our mixed family and I love it!
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I think I’m getting here a little late but I thought this was a great post! I think the poster did a wonderful job communicating her point of view and life experience. I am a black woman who has lots of mixed ancestry, but I consider myself black. People often ask me what my background is and I say, “I’m black but pretty much all of my grandparents are mixed.” If people want more of an explanation, I break it down for them, but really, it is only about a 60 second Parton the conversation and then we move on to the next thing.
My nearly six month old daughter is mixed. Her father is 100% Scottish, from the UK. My daughter looks white. She’s got white skin with pinkish undertones, grey eyes and straight brown hair. I’m sure with time her looks will probably change but for now, she doesn’t look black or really mixed at all. My husband and his family are always asking, “when is she going to darken up?” Because they love our beautiful brown skin and kinky-curly hair. My sister in law was convinced that my daughter would come out looking like me with my color skin and maybe blue eyes and I had to tell her, “that ain’t happening, sister. She’ll most likely be close to white,” because i know all the mixture there is in my ancestry, and she is, for now.
I have learned from being an interracial family and from marrying a white, non American that many black Americans seem to have a lot of unresolved heart issues regarding race. If someone is mixed and they have decided upon a way they want to represent themselves, then who is anybody else to stand in their way? I’m not them so I don’t know their experience and I can’t tell them how they should feel. I know that my husband is an amazing father and I would hate for my daughter to feel like she couldn’t recognize his contribution to her gene pool because she might be offending me and my ancestors. My ancestors don’t matter any more than his do and vice versa. People may try to project their world view onto her, but all that says is something about them, it doesn’t have to mean anything about her unless she lets it. She is her own person and her experience in life is going to be very different from mine and my job as her mother is to love her, let her know that she is beautiful, no matter what anybody else says and teach her that there are way more important things in life than your skin color; like your standing with God, the state of your heart and loving people who are different than you as you love yourself.
I think the author has a lot of courage putting this out there and I wish her all the best and God’s love on her journey!
My parents are from Jamaica and the Jamaican motto is’Out of many, one people’ and this is to reflect that Jamaican people are mixed with people from all over the world and that’s just the way we are are and Jamaicans are inherently proud of their mixed heritage and this has been proved with many people of Jamaican heritage who have had their DNA screened to find out for definite what their heritage is. And quite suprisingly the percentage of African DNA is not always necessarily the highest percentage of DNA found, yet the person concerned may have dark skin and thick hair. So are they still black? Or African American? Or mixed race?
What I find interesting, is that just as many black people who may have a mixed heritage, so do many white people as well.With slavery, colonisations across the World and the displacements of people throughout the centuries, there are very few people who are pure anything.But thats why man has survived and thats why all of us who decide to appreciate and love our own natural selves don’t all have the same texture hair and that for me makes a more interesting World.
Hey! I agree with you! I’m Jamaican and I’m VERY MIXED. I’m Black Jamaican, Polish Jewish, Irish, French, Scottish, English, East Indian, and Chinese heritage. My family is mixed, and we call ourselves MIXED, not BLACK. I’m not African-American either, and I refuse to let people classify me the way they want to. I was raised in an Irish Italian community and they never called me “black” or “African American”. They let me categorize the way I wanted too.
Yeah I grew up in an Italian neighborhood and let me tell you, Italians are VERY mixed.
The bottom line that we need to clearly see here, is do we put a race’s issue with self acceptance (black) or AA) before the well being of a child? We are so blinded in America by our struggle as a black culture, that we think if we let it go and just be, then catastrophe will fall. Eventually we will have to let it go. Until then, you have a child who adores each side of her parentage, and then they get a little older and have “Black America” telling that child he/she is black. How do you think that makes them feel about the other parent that they love more then anyone else in the world? That they KNOW is part of them. They begin to question what is wrong with that parent, and then the part of them that is inside of them that Black America refuses to see because they are so wrapped up in “your denying your blackness”. These are babies, and an entire group of people are screwing with their heads because they can’t handle a baby acknowledging a white parent (let’s face it folks, the white mix is the biggest issue here). Shame on us. The one drop rule is as ridiculous today when used in a separatist manner by Black Americans, as it was when used by the Klan to keep us out of school, work, pools, and everywhere else. It is CLEARLY America that has this issue and other countries DO see it.
I agree with this whole entire article…. I would also like to add, that white folks just sit back and laugh at our STUPIDITY among ourselves. We got our own problems to deal with before we keep blaming everything on “the man”. The lasting affect that our slave masters embedded in us when it comes to light skin dark skin is still very much alive…. because of US.
For the most part, points 1-5 are well taken. However, as a black woman with some mixed ancestry, I actually find the author’s views in #6 to be quite ignorant. It’s strange b/c the author’s first point (which I agree with) seems to contradict the last one…
Sometimes people who identify as biracial feel like they have the right to define who is “really” mixed. Even the biracial label seems inaccurate to me, since either the “black” or “white” or “Asian” parent may well be of mixed ancestry themselves.
I understand that the experience of growing up with one white and black parent is *very* different than say being raised by two black parents, but having inherited green eyes and blonde hair from a man who owned your great great grandmother. And I think it’s correct to say that people with an immediate mixed-race heritage have a unique experience. However, the FACT is that a great many people in North America and the Caribbean who identify as black are of mixed ancestry, whether or not the majority of their heritage is African. It’s not a matter of opinion. If you run a DNA test, like someone did on Henry Louis Gates and the results show 50% Caucasian ancestry (as they did in his case), how can anyone say that he isn’t mixed?
I guess my point is if you want others to stop trying to define or label you and allow you to claim all of who you are, how can you then turn around and try to do the same thing to someone else. Because if you say well that “black” person’s mixed heritage doesn’t count or isn’t significant b/c it doesn’t meet my definition of what mixed is, aren’t you then putting someone else in a box?
If you say “I’m mixed and a “black” person says “cool, I’m mixed too”, why does it automatically mean that they’re trying to diminish your experience? And why would you feel the need to diminish his or hers? In reality, you have different experiences and different admixtures, and you identify differently, but you’re both stating a fact.
All that said, I agree with Kendra that race isn’t real. It’s more of a social/cultural/political construct which is why the perspectives vary so from country to country, and region to region. In the US, it’s quite common to be all mixed up and call yourself black. A few generations ago, there really was no other choice/option. It makes sense that people would feel differently in the UK, where race mixing is much more common, and there really isn’t a legacy of slavery (in the Mother Country; the colonies were a different story,of course). Canada is very much the same.
i’m black i guess LOL. I had a grandpa that was blk and white, my grandma doesn’t know what she is. my other grandma was from guyana she said her dad was very fair ( probably white) my other grandfather didn’t know his father yet his mom had native american features. so my point is i’m black yes but i’m mixed with so many things. isn’t that why i’m so light??? is that why i tan easily to a medium brown. does that explain my features??? i can’t accept some one telling me how i should classify myself. actually i refuse too
Oh My goodness peoples, BLACK GENES DOMINATE!!!!!!! STOP already. This is why the KKK has their own website. why don’t we all talk to them. I am Black first LOL and Cherokee Indian. But, I will say I’m sorry i would not want to B white. I do not need a “tan”. But, let’s talk to the real “HATERS” Okaaaaaaaay!
Hollu!
Your stupid, where in genetics study is that. “black” genes dominate?
I know this post is older and not recent but I had to comment I have 4 multiracial children and the looks and comments we get are enough to make you wanna scream but they are mine and I love them regardless of what people say or think this post is sooo true and I love that it was actually written I have heard many stereotypes about my children coming from places you wouldnt believe from the nurses at the hospital where I gave birth to the teachers at their schools its sad that in 2011 there is still so much negativity towards race and what not.
Well, I am a caramel-colored mixed-race person and I agree with everything in this article. I think the problem is that once you look tan, light-brown, to medium-brown, you are considered black and the stereotypical image of a mixed-race woman or man is almost ALWAYS white. So, in other words, in order for a person to be claim “mixture”, he or she would have to almost be white?!? That, in itself, is very racist. It goes back to the notion that “white is right” and to those bi-racials I say, claim both sides of your heritage and don’t say you are white, when you know you are both or think you can “pass”. Generally, a person with light-brown skin is mixed. I’m sure Will Smith does have white ancestry somewhere down the line. So even though, society will consider Lenny Kravitz, or Bob Marley black, they aren’t. They are bi-racial and should be categorized as such. Second, when we talk about mixed race people, generally, people mean their parents NOT THEIR GRANDPARENTS or anything else further down the line. Melanie Brown, from the Spice Girls, (and I don’t care how dark she looks to people) is half-white and half-black. Obviously, the entire human race is mixed – stems from Africa, yada yada yada, etc (we’ve heard this argument before). Third, since colorism and racism are the heated topics of this world, I think black americans should stop focusing on who is mixed or not, or who looks exotic or not and realize that it is the darkest of your skin tone that makes you subject to discrimination. So, if you are a very light mixed-race person, you won’t be subject to discrimination and you’ll blend in nicely with Europeans. If you are Halle Berry’s color all the way up to Melanie Brown’s colour, then you will face discrimination from whites. As far as biracials complaining, well blacks complain, Eastern Europeans complain (they don’t want immigrants and HATE people of color), everyone has a right to vent and/or complain as they see fit. It doesn’t matter what society sees you as. You alone can decide what you want to be. Lastly, the problem is this stereotype that white is white and black is black PLUS all other variations/shades of dark skin. Indian people are dark but they aren’t black! Most light-skinned boys and girls have got European or some other “racial” identity floating around in their DNA. So as far as who has suffered the most…it’s based on your skin tone, not so much, if you appear mixed or not, appear monoracial or not…it’s just your skin tone. This has shown me that we need to categorize ourselves based on culture. If a young man is half-black and half-phillipino but grew up for 15 years in the Phillipines before coming to the U.S., then culturally he is Phillipino NOT black!
I think the self-hatred is really American blacks trying to pinpoint their insecurities on biracials. If a biracial genuinely loves their mixture and isn’t afraid to say it, it’s black people (particularly the women) that feel threatened by this because of white supremacy, it has been engrained in their minds that the lighter you are the better. Thus the reason why black women, particularly, attack biracials. Most biracials love their black heritage and most blacks seek marriages with people outside their race because of their self-hatred thus creating the “tragic mulatto”. Look to yourselves and your communities and stop blaming the innocent children that were brought into this world. But I have come across a LOT of dark-skinned blacks that will deny their blackness and insult other dark-skinned blacks and that needs to be acknowledged. It’s usually African-Americans that dump their problems on biracials NOT the other way around! I truly believe that when a biracial claims all their identities, black people instinctually think “oh you think we’re low. You deserve to suffer like us. We’re not going to suffer alone the white man’s racism”. No, YOU think you’re low. If you were secure with yourself then it shouldn’t bother you what or how I choose to label myself. If you know you are heterosexual then why are you bothered by homosexuals?! I love gay people and I know I’m straight, so being around them doesn’t bother me. Truth hurts!
I hear ya! I’m mixed and usually I don’t pay much attention to how I’m perceived by other people, but since starting a new job, I just noticed something from a black woman here at my job–makes me wonder if all of the other black women here at my job think the same way? I could tell she had a problem with me–Just noticed it today–I was using the women’s restroom located on her end of the building, as opposed to the one on my end–She says to me “Is your bathroom crowded or something?” …I told her “No, I just like this bathroom more” (which is true) But it got me wondering what she meant by that question? Was she trying to imply “What are you doing in this bathroom? You should be over on your side!” …Another woman walked into the bathroom (she’s white) and I asked her “Is it okay for me to be in this bathroom?” …She says to me “Yeah! It’s a community bathroom, anyone can use it! …Besides, this one is better anyway!” (which I agreed) …So, usually, like I say, I’m usually oblivious to such comments, but since it came from a black woman co-worker, it had me wondering why she seemed to take offense to me using the same restroom that apparently she uses. Does she have a problem with me being mixed…light-skinned and classified as HISPANIC? Before the white woman left she said something to me in Spanish (basically telling me “Later”) when the white women walked out of the bathroom, so did the black lady and I overheard her ask the white lady “Why are you talking to her in Spanish?” …Was that to imply that since I’m part black, I can’t be HISPANIC too? lol 🙂 …Some people! lol 🙂 I know I’m not the one with the problem, but it’s troubling that in 2011 there is still so much ignorance!
maybe you’re reading too much into things … jeez
I agree girl! At my last job I had never had so many problems with blak girls or noticed them caring so much about me! I feel like a freakin celebrity lol! And my mom as black! I am half white as well and except both very proudly! I will say I don’t even think about my race I’m just me! but anyway thus would bother me because your story is similar to mine there was a black girl on one of the teams next to mine at my job who would always comment when she over heard people asking me what’s my nationality because some people arent sure. She would always insist on me also having Hispanic in me. Once she said your parents didn’t tell you but your Mexican,and it skipped a generation! I thought wow your ignorant first of all don’t tell me who I am because of certain features I have. She would always have something to say about it and one day I told her I don’t like her comments and she never did it again. I used to struggle last year with a lot of black girls not knowing how to except me because they didn’t like that I’m light and my hair looks more white nd not like a lot of other biracial people’s hair. Well my dads white so that’s why my hair is this way lol! But I will tell you this just know their jealous of your beauty and who you are. Also to a lot of black girls if you don’t “act” black ex ghetto! Then they think you think your better than them just because your classy and have manners. At least this was my personal experience with a lot of black girls at this job. I still love who I am I just hate that black girls don’t want to except me because they can see I have black in me but also so many genes that make me obviously look equally white. And another thing don’t answer dumb questions like that girl! You do what you want!!! Lol
“Generally, a person with light-brown skin is mixed. I’m sure Will Smith does have white ancestry somewhere down the line. So even though, society will consider Lenny Kravitz, or Bob Marley black, they aren’t. They are bi-racial and should be categorized as such. ”
Not at all. Do Will Smith, Bob Marley and Lenny Kravitz have white in them? Yeah maybe but not all light-brown skinned people are mixed. Far from it. I’m light-brown skinned yet both my parents are FULLY African (0% white), lightness just runs in my father’s side of the family and in his tribe. Before you ask, both my parents emigrated from Africa so there’s no chance of racial mixing or anything like that. Just because a person is light does not mean they have white/asian/latino in them. However I definitely agree that a lot of black people tend to get offended when a mixed person claims their heritage. I don’t understand why, everyone should be able to be proud of their heritage.
This is the best I have read on here! Omg I think you pinpointed it! My dad white and moms black! I am totally happy with who I am and love being mixed! But anyway yes what you said about a biracial identifying as both makes blacks feel oh so you think we’re low so you don’t want to say your only black is very true! I never saw it this way I thought they were just jealous of my hair and skin color since they say I think I’m better than them anyhow. Which is not true ugh… For Christ sake my moms a beautiful dark skinned woman and I would never feel better than anyone because I’m lighter. But this is very dumb for blacks to feel we as biracials should choose black since that’s oh so dominate… Yes when you are mixed with black those genes do come through strong but that doesn’t mean you should only identity as black. If I did that it would hurt my caucasion father who may think well am I’m low or not good enough… These kind of black people are selfish because they can only see or care about the black side and only feel you don’t like them for claiming both. They don’t look at the other race and care how they feel for a biracial not claiming their white side..l this can make them feel bad as well like what’s wrong with white people. I think you did a great job at analyzing this situation and finding the true problem and I agree 100% with you. Good job:)
I see her point of view but no one ever talks about mutiracial people with mixed grandparents. I personally have a emotional struggle on the inside. My 3 of my grandparents are mixed, including black American, indian, Asian, European, and native American. Due to the time they grew up in ( 1 drop rule) they considered themselves black. I was never told that I was multiracial, I was always black because my grandparents and parents called themselves that. I stared asking questions as I got older because I saw pictures of blood related family that didn’t look like the average black person. When I was told about my family’s racial history I really wanted to be proud of that because I have grown up in a time where people acknowledge the full racial make up. I have struggled with my racial identity because I was always the black girl with “good features” like my hair, nose, and hair colour, but I was never called the mixed girl due to my skin colour. I have very darkskin in the summer time ( as if I came from India) and in the winter my skin is brown with a pale undertone. Some people don’t even recognize me in the summer, that’s how drastic the skin change is. Because I have never been ” lightskin” people always think that I have my hair texture due to weave or chemicals and they think I colour my hair auburn every summer. I can’t tell people that I’m mixed because they never believe me because I don’t have a mixed girls light skin. My dad has eyes that change colours but people always ask me if he wears contacts. It’s like if you don’t look like the “typical” biracial person then your just full black. The hardest part of it is that I have to live with the difficulty of being darkskin while getting the mean comments about my features that mixed girls get. I dont even think my half black half white female cousin has it this bad because she is full on half and half. I dont mean to go on forever but I just don’t think people understand how conflicting it can be when your mixed with out having parents that are two different races. Sometimes I wish I was half and half just so I could have a group to identify with seeing that my half Black half whatever friends don’t have this problem. At the end of the day I just call my self black American and if someone ask I tell them that my grandparents are biracial. Maybe there is someone else out there that understands what I’m going through.
Hi, to an extent I understand where you are coming from. I am also a darker skinned mixed race woman . so many people class me as black. However because my skin is a medium brown and I have long curly/wavy hair I am always asked alot of questions such as “are you black?”, “are you mixed?” and “where do you come from?” It is quite annoying but I understand that as I don’t look like the ‘typical’ mixed or black person people will be curious.
I have 2 black grandparents, 1 mixed grandparent and 1 White grandparent. I had identity issues in my early teens as I felt I didn’t fit a certain mixed or black look. But I am proud of my ethnicity and mixture. I dont SEE myself as mixed, I AM mixed. Others may SEE you as black but that’s the difference. Embrace your beautiful mixture regardless of others 🙂
I also agree about what u said about ‘non-typical’ mixed race girls defenitely do have it harder. Some black and bi-racial girls do see me as more of a threat for some reason ….. :/
Hi Kate,
I totally agree with you! I am from Jamaica and I have a VERY mixed heritage. I am Black Jamaican, Polish Jewish, English, Irish, French, Scottish, Chinese, and East Indian heritage. As a Caribbean family we call ourselves MIXED, not BLACK. Black Caribbeans are more educated than African Americans, so we don’t classify people based on their appearance. I REFUSE to call myself “black” because of my racially mixed heritage. I was raised around Caucasians in New England but I never experienced racism. They were all good to me and I love them all. Anyway, ignorant Black Americans have told me I have “self hate” issues, and that I’m “denying my blackness”. What sort of ignorance is that? I refuse to classify myself based on how other ignorant blacks perceive me. I am mixed race and I’m PROUD.
you are a contradictory to your statement. Do not call black Americans ignorant as when you do this you are racist.
I just have to say as a BLACK WOMAN, a lot of you guys don’t seem to get it. I totally agree with the fact that blacks use the whole we are all mixed card all the time when discrediting immediate bi-racial peoples experience. The common thought is that there is no difference. I will tell you what the difference is. When a black person has mixed ancestry for the most part as kids they are NEVER faced having to ask, “Why is my mommy white?” or why am I not the same color as my dad? Kids can CLEARLY see the difference and not coming home feeling like they really look like either of their parents. Growing up, even though I am an 1/8 Blackfoot Indian and an 1/8 caucasian, I never dealt with I have a white parent and a black parent and I kind of don’t look like either, so I fall somewhere in the middle thing. It doesnt have to be a BAD thing but I’m sure it raises some questions and it proves to be a VERY different sense of self awareness than the average Black American. Also in an immediate bi -racial home, the kid sees CLEARLY two very distinct cultures. Though blacks say they are mixed, did they experience anything of the other cultures. Living in an IMMEDIATE bi racial environment you have no choice. You hang out with maybe your white dads parents and see their way of life, their food, how they live, act and talk, the music etc -then you go and do the same with your black side and lets be honest. In America Black and white cultures can be VERY different.I think we all need to look a bit deeper and not be so quick to judge and be so angered about something I think every human being has a right to. Choosing to be who they are. Yes bi-racials are black and yes they are white too, or asian, or Mexican or whatever else. Just because someone wants to embrace the other side of their culture does not mean they are denying the other.
I agree with every single point. Please watch my video about this – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErW9FJ_az0I – we must NEVER stop talking and fighting for our right to identity. A lot of blacks, though not all, would rather we shut up and call ourselves black but it’s not for them to determine who we are.
I really enjoyed reading this article. It provided interesting insight into your own unique perspective on being a mixed-race individual.True you live in Britain, so race is accepted differently. In America, as previous people commented, race is seen different; however, it’s viewed differently in various parts of our country. I live in New Orleans. Have lived here my whole life. Both my parents are Black Creoles. Not many people know what creole is, but briefly put, its a mix of African, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and/or french, and Native American. My dad’s family has been like that for generations, as has my mom’s family. The only difference is in their phenotypes. My dad is dark with fine wavy hair, and my mom has an olive complexion with thick coarse hair. My brother, sister, and I all have a tanned/light brown complexion, but our hair types or different. Mine is fine and curly, my brother’s is thick and wavy, and my sister’s is coarse and curly. I have short hair, my sister has long hair. But enough details about appearances…
You say that Black Americans cannot know what “immediately mixed-race” individuals go through on a daily basis because our mixing occurred generations ago. That is not fair of you to say nor accurate. Growing up, I went to a predominantly Black elementary school, and I would get teased all the time for having long hair and being light-skinned. I would go home sometimes, and ask my mom why I wasn’t “Black enough.” I struggled with my racial/ethnic identity growing up because I was told that I was either too light or too dark. In high school, I remember hearing I was too dark to be anything other than Black, yet when fellow students saw my mom they would ask if I was “mixed.” I went to a predominantly white school. So I have struggled in the same way that you have, yet I have always and will continue to identify with being a black woman. It’s my race. Most creoles identify with being Black here. For us, it’s not a race, its our ethnicity, our culture. I grew learning creole french (which I have forgotten) spanish, and some portuguese. Of course I do not speak much of that now, but I acknowledge my ancestors.
African Americans do not try to discredit your mixed-ancestry, but when being raised with “white-is-right” image it reflects badly on mixed race individuals to emphasize their mixed-ness. It appears as if you are trying to separate yourself from your African roots, which of course may not be the case, but to some it appears so. I grew up with relatives who I thought were white, but self-identified as Black. It was normal to me, because I was raised to believe that Black people come in all shades.
So, I am not knocking what your’re saying, as I stated earlier, I found your perspective interesting. But, I feel as though by you making the statement that not all African Americans are mixed was made erroneously. True slaves may not have all been biracial, but not all slaves on the same plantation shared the same phenotypic traits. Africa is diverse. A prime example is Nigeria.
Ultimately, for all intensive purposes, race is based on phenotypic traits. If you look Black, you’re Black. If you look white you’re white. That’s how its been in America, and most likely how it will be. No one is going to take the time to investigate the entire population’s genetic history. For this reason, some (if not most) Blacks here self-identify as Black.
[file]http://bglhonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/pic.abw[/file]
so if this girl lived in the USA would she be black or white?
I am not mixed raced i regard my self as being black british, however my grandmother is mixed she is 1/4 black jamaican, 1/4 jamaican syrian, 1/4 white scottish & 1/4 chinese ( i know alot of mixes) born in jamaica to 2 mixed parents explaining her mix, she had my mother with a fellow jamaican man (my grandad) who is 3/4 black 1/4 white.they produced my mother who is a mixture of all those races. my mother then had me with a black man i now have 2 kids of my own with a black man and my children are black children however due to mixed heritage you wouldn’t look at my eldest daughter and see a black child many would see a mixed race Chinese/ black child with fair skin curly brown hair and the epicanthic eyes (squint eyes) included. I my self look like any other brown skin black woman with a bit of a curl to her hair, my sister looks Asian/black with very dark skin and wavy/curly long hair. my point is mixed blood can not and should not be discounted no matter how far back it goes its a part of our DNA and it can show itself at any time in anyone of us and our children as it has done with one of mines. we need to recognise that black comes in many shades with many different hair textures and eye colours. And the discrimination that a mixed person may suffer as a result of physically looking mixed is not uncommon to those that are regarded as black because as i said before black has many shades and appearances as does mixed. a mixed race person in my opinion is no more mixed than me, we bot are made up of a variety of races/ethnicity that does not disappear through generation, our differences are in our outward appearance which is determined by are genes/DNA and the fact is that a lottery!
Though I understand that be of mixed race might pose some individual challenges (emphasis on INDIVIDUAL, and SOME!!!) just being Black in AMERICA has its own challenges. I am a black woman from America, I have no idea what the racial setting are in England cause I’ve never been, so until the author has had to live, dwell, and grown up here in America, with it’s customs, and issues she cannot make the assumption of what its like to be back or even mixed in this country!! Now to my next point…To make such a crass generalization about people who are mixed in relation to being fully black is absolute nonsense!!! Again I state that I am a black woman (Mother+Father=Black daughter LOL)on my father’s side I do have lots of white Irish ancestors passed down that I even have an Irish last name (McC****), many traits that have come from long ago have flowed into my veins here today in 2011!! I have long, down my back wavy hair all my life, have never been considered dark skinned, and when I was born I had BLUE eyes, and looked fully white!!! people would ask my mother if i was her child!!! And even through all this i have never claimed to be mixed though I carry some traits!!!(maybe only 1/60 i say sarcastically), whereas i had a boyfriend whose mother was fully white, and a father who was half black/Puerto Rican, he was three times mixed, he was much darker than me, had coarse, rough, nappy hair, and dark brown eyes. And you wouldn’t know he was mixed unless he told u!!!So I ask you who is more mixed him or me?!?!? And it’s also wrong to say that it’s devaluing to say that “All Black people are mixed” whereas most black people in america have no idea where their roots come from beyond their parents or gradparents IF you’re lucky!!! As black people in america the problem we have with separation is that having blacks are so different mixed and full race to say that as people of mixed race all fall into a certain group is a lie because being mixed doesn’t make for certain that u will deal with certain issues. My point is that mixed or not it needs to be considered a black issue and not separate ourselves from one another, mixed or no we are all different and no one falls into a particular group just because OF being mixed or not…
I know it’s hard being mixed and all.. But it’s a little easier when you have the answer at home, right in front of you. Mom’s white.. Dad’s black, or what ever.. But there are mixed people who can’t really trace where it started. Everyone asks me “what you is..” Yeah, it’s usually stated just like that. And since there is no white person staring me in the face or indian, or asian… Just my regular old folks.. Who look a little mixed…. But then they can’t trace it either..
Far as being well adjusted as a mixed person, shut up… NO ones’ well adjusted.. They just trick themselves into thinking they are. :p
Just kidding.. You don’t actually have to shut up.. 🙂
Jen
I don’t think that the writer should take offense if some one corrects her on the diversity of African Americans/Mixed Raced People in the US. She is British so I’m sure that has something to do with her views which is fine.
But I agree with the posters who are disagreeing with her about her point number 6 “All black people are mixed anyway”. I do think it’s wrong to use that phrase as a way of denying a mixed race person their mixed status. (I get her point) But she is unaware that it is a FACT and not LEGEND (which most black people won’t even admit) that most black people in this country have been perpetually mixed race for generations.
I think it is a mistake to believe (a rumor perpetuated by whites) that the slave master rape scenario was a rarity. It was actually the norm. Not only that, but there were also free blacks marrying whites before it was made illegal in the Jim Crow era. I only know because I study history. I think people should really not form opinions until they know facts.
Add in the Native Americans to this to boot. Because they were lower class just like blacks, they often intermingled and some even CHOSE to identify as blacks when they were not to escape living on reservations. If you did a DNA sample of any random “black” person today you would be surprised to know that their percentages of mixture of origin look VERY similar if not identical to people who are of immediate mixed race.
So really the point is looks don’t determine a darn thing. AT all period point blank. And I agree with the Original poster on all points except that one. RACE ISN’T REAL http://www.pbs.org/race/001_WhatIsRace/001_00-home.htm
I agree with most of what you stated, but very few Black Americans have Native American ancestry. There is a small minority of people in the U.S. that do. Some Native Americans, depending on their location, have intermingled with other groups but the majority have not.
Many Native Americans do not accept blacks either. There is a beauty queen named Radmilla Cody who is part African American, part Native American…she is gorgeous. But Native American people will not accept her as being one of them. They simply see her as a Black woman. They don’t care that one of her parents is Navajo. They were upset that she entered the Miss Navajo beauty contest because they felt that she was not a true representative of their people.
While there is no denying that slavery and interracial unions have resulted in various admixtures among Black people, it seems that people want to downplay what biracial/multiracial people who are more “immediately” mixed have to deal with.
Having parents or grandparents of different races is much different than having a distant ancestor with European or Indian blood. It can lend itself to different experiences, especially if you look very different from most black people. Some people look so different that they aren’t accepted by any particular group.
I agree with the author’s words because I have experienced all of that. Some people try to define others based on who they look like and what they are mixed with. No one has the right to tell me who I am or what my life has been like, because they are not me. I wish that we could all simply love and accept one another as human beings. The world would be a better place if we could see the beauty and humanity in everyone.
I agree 100000%. You put it perfectly.
Until you can DNA test all Black Americans you do not have the authority to claim who has what ancestery. It’s true a lot of Native tribes don’t accept Blacks, but it’s more so because they want to whitewash a lot of their history in order to assimilate than it is an absence of truth. Just as you wish to be accepted for who you are, please don’t judge and diminish pieces of who others are as well.
you completely missed the point. please read. she said that most black americans have mixed race ancestry, which is fact. she did not, however, say that most black americans were mixed specifically with native american- she used that particular group as an example, though. and for the record, my great great grandmother WAS one quarter native american. so it does happen and not all of us are ignorant of our heritage. and i have white ancestors as well but i identify as black because my immediate family identifies as such. i’m certain i’m not an isolated case. i rest my case.
Most black Americans are not mixed. When the author says mixed she means at leat 1/2 something else. I’m around 1/4 mixed and most black Americans aren’t even 1/4 mixed either. Many are 1/8 and some aren’t at all. Not all white slave owners reproduced with their slaves.
^^^Exactly, 100% Agreed
Ya did ur homework, “pat urself on the Back” right now!! C-Span with The Black agenda, The First Eve narrated by Danny Glover. 90% of African-Americans have Native-American blood whether they want it or not. Some blacks do not even know anything about themselves. As soon as I get the name of the book a white man wrote about why they despise the black man so much I will put it in my reply 4 u.
I can give u a taste of it ” He said the reason is because the black man changes the whole landscape” . The white man cannot reproduce himself with other races, he can only reproduce with himself with HIMSELF! “Tell them to go “Mix ” Dat!!!!
Hollu!
i totally agree with you, though i know this is more than a year late. and i’m gonna go to the extent of saying something that may make other people mad but i don’t care. people from other countries love to come to the united states and speculate as to what’s wrong with american blacks, which irks me because i’m always thinking to myself, “You don’t know a damn thing about what it means to grow up black in america. how DARE you come over here and try to throw onto us your own narrow perception of american blackness framed by your european experience.” the reason the authoress made point number six is because, so far as i understand, your average black person in britain is either first, second or third generation african- straight from the motherland. so she’s right when she talks about BRITISH blacks that most of them are probably not mixed with anything. but over HERE in the USA the vast majority of blacks who are not second or third generation african do have quite a bit of white ancestry. actual DNA samples produced in a study actually verified this claim (i forgot when this research was published). so in the united states it’s not uncommon to find that your average black woman’s skin tone ranges anywhere from fair to medium brown to darker skin. this varies, too, by geographical location because some regions have higher mixed percentages than others. (i’m basing my perception off what i see personally on the day to day. your experience may not be the same). So again, she’s injecting her own european bias and trying to tell us americans a thing or two about a concept she can hardly understand and never will. that’s what i find insulting.
I don’t believe the author meant to rude or insulting and you are right when you say she doesn’t have any idea what it is like to grow up as a black person in the US. However where I would part with you, is when you talk about your average black person in the Britain.I’m afraid there is no such thing.We have black people from all over the world, Austrailia, the Middle East and of course the continent of Africa.There has been a prescence of black people in the UK since the Romans. The group of black people I will talk about are the people from the carribean since its where my parents are from.( See email sent 5/12/11). People from the Carribean are a people with mixed ancestry due to slavery and European Imperialism. DNA testing has also been done with many so called black people having more non African DNA than African DNA. So of course you have a large range in terms of nose shape,skin colour and hair texture. But this is also the case with people from the African Continent. They also have a large range of skin colours and hair textures too, due to numerous Invasions over the centuries and Imperialism.
So when you take umbrage and complain that she is ignorant, you too seem not to know about too much about the Black people in the UK either.
But its about learning and keeping our hearts and ears open so that we can listen and learn,not shout and get easily offended.And as you have come to this issue late, it maybe worth going back and reading some of the old emails.
So when you says she doesn’t understand, you’re probaly right, but many of us who live either in the UK, Europe or in fact anywhere else in the World might just do.
Native Americans did not mix with the African slaves. Although they enslaved Africans, they were not mixing with them. See video on this research on rumors of African DNA in America. A professor from Harvard has a show on PBS:
http://www.widwid.info/1dcdddf7b.html
I think identity is a complex topic. The identity you have for yourself and the one you are given by various societies changes.
While I can agree with SOME points I cannot say I agree with everything. You seem to be IGNORING the FACT that black people are an extremely diverse group which encompasses many different looks and genetics. Being ‘black’ is a racial grouping which spreads from the lightest of skins to the darkest with variant features not only if your mixed. You say mixed people come in all shades and features well so do black people.
Thus in essence someone can be black and look how society terms as mixed race, and thus their EXPERIENCE will correlate with that of a mixed person even if both their parents are black or white. You can be mixed race but, look black or white and thus your experience will/may correlate to any black/white person unless you say that your heritage. Case and point Tyson Beckford, Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa are mixed but look black. Whilst Sandra Laing was of white heritage but looked black.
I have no problems with mixed people stating that their are mixed as there parents possess different racial heritage who can deny that. The problem lies in the social fact that being mixed has been applied to how you LOOK. The problem is that black people come in all looks thus for some denying the black label means to deny a group which fully encompasses how you look already. Race in essence is ethnography which is categorization of the physical in my view.
Problems always occur with identities. They conflict against your own will to shape your label and the one outsiders attach to you. No one can erase their heritage whether immediately mixed or through the centuries.
Unfortunately although you are mixed you seem ignorant of the prejudice of the past and its continued effect on the black community. That generational mixed blood is not something which is erased in time, it is interwoven into the heritage of the person, in the blood and the skin it cannot be eradicated with your words or even the person. In essence to disregard those same mixed people in a black person heritage is to disregard people like yourself.
Just my view.
I’m mixed-raced and so very proud of this. My mother is black and my father is white-i will never call myself black or white because i don’t look like either race for sure and HELLO? How can i be when i have two parents that gave me EQUAL numbers of genes?
This post is AMAZING! And so true. You’re correct in everything you say, you go girl!
i don’t thin any mixed raced person can look black or white. As you say, looking black or white is more than just a skin colour 🙂
Tyson is only 1/4 mixed, we’re talking about half-black and half something else. Black is a term used for people of specific black west African descent. A term used to describe the slaves with kinky hair, and dark skin. You don’t understand that the reason “black” people are mixed is because there mixed. You’re missing the point. Black people don’t have these so called varying features if they aren’t mixed
What about racist homesexual gay people? Has anybody mentioned them? I dont think so.
The reason why nobody has mentioned racist homosexual gay people is that this is a site for Gorgeous Black Women with Long Hair. You areW either confused and has not read anything or you have accidentally come onto this website accidentally.Whilst you are here, read and educate yourself, you might just like it.
Abductees into slavery into the Americas represented multiple nations. I have read Haitian accounts describing that.
A great post and it made me think of how we judge each other and this thing call race and all the issues it brings will never seem to go away… how sad!!
As a woman of mixed race I just want to thank Makiya for writing everything I wanted to say. At some point we all have to learn to define *ourselves* rather than let society define us. It’s no wonder that so many have the misconception that all mixed race or “mulatto” men and women must be confused about their own race. We’re constantly being given contradictory labels. Growing up I was alwas reminded by my black peers that I was black. “You know you black, right?” Then with the same breath, what was I called? “White girl.” I don’t think it’s the mixed race men and women that are confused, it’s the rest of society because we don’t fit into the boxes provided. My suggestion: make a new “box” if you want to shove everyone into one. Include “multi-racial” or “mixed race” as an option. That truly is what some people are.
Agreed. In Britain we have the option of mixed on the census.
Also, I know a woman that is techinally white because both her parents are white. However, since her great-great-grandmother was mixed she looked mixed. She is mixed, she had many issues growing up because of the way she looked. She chose to identify herself with black because she was not accepted by her family. So tell me is she not or is she mixed? According to the writer of this article she is not and she has no right to identify as mixed race. That is what i mean by the complexity of racial identity in the US. So please don’t dismiss our longing to identify with our past culture as something like pulling at straws.
She was saying that in response to the people who try to say that to mixed people in order to delegitimize mixed people. Do not take her words out of context, come on.
That is actually not what the writer said, so you can calm down.
SAD TIMES MUCHOS VENOM IN SOME OF THESE POSTS! I’m BLACK, HAPPY & PROUD of my mixed origins!:)
Hey people, I personally know the writer makiya because she is my cousin. stop hating!! this is why this was written in the first place.
I am black, not bi-racial and I know some of my ancestors were white way way way back down the line but both my parents are black and this is what I identify with.
I have read most of the comments and there are several valid points along with many stupid ones. I know a girl called Lucy who commented and she was slated by several readers, what she said may have come across negatively to you but what she means is that Makiya like many other bi-racial girls has had to deal with different things than I or other black girls have. now I am not generalising and saying that all black girls are haters on mixed girls as that isn’t true, but i have seen plenty of girls staring at Makiyas hair looking for weave tracks, staring at her and giving her mean looks. which is why she says that people of different races will have different experiences, which they do.
One girl actually missed the whole point of the article and said something like ‘your black anyways’, really? you sure? because you havent met the writer and she is not just black. Its ok to identify with all that you are and people shouldn’t have to say their just white or just black why cant they class themselves as more.
Now point 4, they just don’t like their blackness, lol, i’ve heard people say this before. If a person is mixed they are mixed and just because they want to class themselves as this it doesn’t mean they don’t like their blackness, which is why a mixed person will still include the fact that their black if they are black mixed. and as i read before in someone elses comment ‘why is she writing this, its for black girls with long hair not mixed girls’ omg, did you read the article? she is black also!!
Now we do live in the UK and so therefore race is seen differently in the US but she does address this in the beginning paragraph. This is her telling you what she thinks and has gone through which no doubt is similar to many other mixed girls. she is not hating on black girls or as someone else said trying to place her mixed race problems on black girls. she is simply trying to get across her views,thoughts and experiences with people.
Race is and will be a very controversial topic for quite some time.
If a person is mixed and chooses to class themself this way who am I to disagree with them because it is what they are.
Georgia
xx
p.s. nice work makiya
The thing is that most black americans, it is not that having mixed heritage is in the distant distant past. Many of them, it is in withing the last 3 generations. When you grow up with having grand parents and great grand parents that are of mix race, you do want to identify with them. When you know these people and their issues were passed down to you and affect your family, you can’t say that their lives have not been affected by the mixed race controversy. And just because a person with parents of the same race have the same issues that a person of mixed race would have. i.e. people asking if your hair was processed, weave or a wig. I got those questions when my hair was straightened and now that it is natural. What about the people that are of mixed race and don’t look mixed? can you say that their experiences are not of count because they really did not have to deal with the mixed race issues, as to which you call mixed race. or what about the people that are not of mixed race however, look as if they do. These are the issues that black americans have to deal with. it is not that they try to identify with the mixed race issue, and try to place themselves in the mix. It think it has to do with it being just a lot more complicated than well my parents are mixed, then there for i am mixed. Also, you have to think about the face that many black americans are not just mixed with black and white. They can be mixed with native american, hispanic, white, asian, and/or middle eastern. Even if this was in the past few generations and both of their parents identify with one particular race, they could still hold on to their mixed culture. How do you clasify those persons? Racial identity should never be place in such a black and white category when it is clearly not.
AMAZING response!! I think that is a fair assessment of American Blacks. Who gets to decide how far back you can claim a mixed ancestry? Am I to ignore some of my non African features because they came from a non black great grandparent? My relatives who look very non black but are equally mixed as me are no longer Black American now? I’m sure they’ve had to defend the,selves way more than I have. The context of race is a unique situation and it cannot be explained in one editorial. It’s not even fair for Mikaya to compare her experience as a mixed race person in Europe to one here in the US, just like I cannot compare my experiences with those of my relatives with lighter skin and straighter hair. We all have our crosses to bear and our stories to celebrate and let’s not compare who has it the hardest.
I think you kinda missed the point of the article though I agree that all these categories should just be chucked. Now if you’re a 16th of something that’s only 6.25% and an eighth is 12.5%. The 8th is likely to affect maybe your eye color and very minimally your hair texture if the other 87.5 % is of black west African descent. The mixed article was referring mostly to your black and white mix.
i agree with everything she said
I agree too, nothing in this article was put of line and I concur with everything said. Perfect and could not have said it better myself
Great topic. I have to agree with every point you made. Although, I personally feel that labels period are to blame for all ignorance and confusion. In the U.S. people worry too much about classification whether it be race, gender, sexuality etc. It’s all bologna! We need to just focus on our pronouns “I and Me”. I know there is no chance of eliminating labels altogether however, we try to organize and categorize things too much and it is causing us to lose sight of what is important; Not trying to figure out what we are, but understand who we are and what we like and embracing that.
The UK does have race issues, ever heard of the black and white twins or black couple white baby.
Don’t want to sound rude, but if mixed women are not Black, why do I have to read their posts on “Black girl long hair”? Isn’t this website for Black women? Why not start a website called “mixed women long hair” for mixed women?
We actually do have plenty of websites, like mulatto.org, confessions of a mixed girl, mixed american life, mixedfolks.com, and the list goes on. The only reason “mixed issues” get posted on black sites, is because, let’s face it, a lot of Black people with minor mixture from generations ago wanna be on the mixed boat, for the very same reasons they get mad when truly ambiguous mixed people mention they’re non-Black heritage, it’s because of the perceived societal privilege therein. That’s why….
It’s funny how the OP was quick to say don’t make me choose sides, but was quick to break down how “different” it is to be mixed today than back in the day (and even into fractions at that). What about those of us who look like “normal” African-Americans yet come from Hispanic backgrounds yet aren’t accepted in the Hispanic community? YOU wouldn’t know what that’s like because you’re in a different situation. Do we all now get to write a column on how hard it is to live in a society where we’re not accepted? No, we just keep on pushing. Just because you “look mixed” doesn’t mean you can pass judgment on other people’s experiences because they’re not yours. I think the original intent of the whole controversy wasn’t that the brand’s name is “Mixed Chicks”, but that they of all people practiced colorism when a large percentage of the people they cater to happen to not be on #teamlightskin. It’s also a slap in the face to the African-American community because we (yes we) accept any and everyone regardless of the shade. If you have a drop, and ounce or a body full of Black blood in you, guess what? You’re still Black. It’s not putting down the other races. It’s about acceptance.
I think some were offended because Mixed Chicks jumped into a debate that they really had no clue what was going on. They were just marketing their products. Of course they were going to say Teamlightskin, they are light skin but I think it was just a bad marketing ploy at the wrong time.
As far as the rest of us, Mixed Chicks was and really still is geared toward textures that is common in biracial people with certain types of hair. That was on their website. WE as African Americans decided to use their products because they were geared toward curly hair. But it’s like I have said before, ALL curly hair is not the same.
So really have no place to get mad at Mixed Chicks, although their products are open to any one to use, they made it clear who their original target and hair type was.
It’s like when some biracial celebrity or sports star becomes the first in their field and then they identify with something else other than Black and then we get mad because they don’t call themselves Black. They didn’t ask for that label, we put it on them.
Will some one explain who has the authority to decide or police who can identify as mixed raced?
I can’t believe people are still fighting/arguing over all this nonsense even to this day.. Why so much anger? Why does anyone care what anyone calls themselves? Light skin or dark skin doesn’t tell anyone anything about anyone’s heritage.. how do you know that dark skinned “Sista” isn’t an aborigine from Australia? Or that light skinned “sista” is a tanned European? You won’t know until you ask, and even then oftentimes people give you grief when you answer honestly. What’s the point of being honest when you aren’t believed?
Like most of you I was nodding my head until the author got to point #6. I believe that people should be able to self-identify. There is nothing wrong with a bi-racial person wanting to identify with all of their parts. But sometimes they are the first people to call out others for doing the same thing. My mother’s family are creole. That side of the family comes in all shades, from lily white to the darkest of black. My father is half native american, but considers himself to be a black man. All of my ancestries show up in my features. I was raised to know about my background and not to have shame about anything. For someone to say that it is not valid for me to identify with all that I am, just because my parents are not of differing races, is idiotic. What’s good for you is not good for me?
Sorry you may have some valid points but the min you said some african americans have some mixture sorry you are incorrect. MOST have 12% or more mixture this slave culture in american was very expansive and devastating it was not one slave master out of 100 it was 90 out of 100. I got it you are british but please know what you are talking about with regards to our history in american. I am very light with 3b-3c hair my sister is very light with 4a-4b hair both our parents are black, actually growing up I never met one “mixed” person who was lighter than me and most had kinky hair. Thus is the problem with the product and the underlying message. You name your product after this idea of the fair skin long curly woman who it stuck in between two worlds. Please! No I dont know what it is like to have parents of different races so I agree with you that is different but the fact remains that because of the history of this country your “mixed” self and my black but light self would still be segregated still be used and abused.
Am I the only one uncomfortable with having a picture posted of a woman who is not the author of this post? For something that is such a personal perspective and ascribed to an individual, it seems best to go without the image.
Just because the company’s name is mixed chicks and this girl happens to be biracial – isn’t at all relevant to the issue at hand. I didn’t really care enough about her opinion to even read through it all. I’m sorry just because Mixed Chicks made a fool out of themselves last week doesn’t mean I needed this woman’s perspective because she’s biracial.
She annoyed me especially when she talked about how different it is to be a mixed race person presently as opposed to being just black & you happen to be mixed up generations ago. Ok sure I’m sure it’s hard to fit in at times and maybe quite confusing.
But at the same time I felt, how dare she even go there. First off she’s not what she considers to be full black, and she’s not American so how would she know how it feels? She has no idea about how about 95% of us black people don’t have the luxury of knowing what the hell we are mixed with or who any of our ancestors are black, white or whatever. Some biracial ppl love to go on and on about how hard it is to not fit in, and how they have had to overcome these identity crises. But news flash being black in America is an identity crisis. I don’t know what country I originally hail from, like a German, Chinese or a Mexican American person would.
The only thing myself and most Black people who’s ancestors were brought to the U.S. on those ships can say is that we’re just Black which is a color, or we can get fancy and say we’re African American. And what is Africa? A whole friggin continent – because we literally don’t know what country we were taken from. We’re the only race that has been called about 10 different names in the last 400 yrs because we have no real identity. We are certainly mixed! Tribes with different customs and languages that probably would’ve never interacted were mixed together on those slave ships and plantations and were seen as the same even though they probably didn’t feel that way at all. So even if a black person has no European ancestry doesn’t mean he’s not mixed.
I never even trip on race because it’s just like a 1% difference in our DNA but I feel sorrow every time I think about how other races have a real culture and know their history, but ours has to begin at slavery and how our culture has mostly come about from a little bit of this & a little bit of that and taking what we had and making it work. This site is a reflection of how we are still trying to get our sense of identity.
Anyway I just had a strong reaction to this for some reason I guess I’m just tired of hearing the whining from biracial people. I’m sure a lot of them get teased growing up, but who doesn’t. And while they have that might be a downside to being biracial their are also certain privileges because of it just because it’s not 100% black.
Girl! GET OUT OF MY HEAD! I can’t add anymore to what you’ve posted accept for AMEN.
ummm.. what are the privileges, exactly? i’m curious, because as a multiracial woman, i guess i’m still waiting for mine. i’ve been called every name in the book and been discriminated against by all parts of me… and the type of teasing i endured growing up wasn’t something that either of my parents or anyone else i knew was equipped to deal with… actually my dad (who is black) used to joke about how easy i would have it… umm, again, easy compared with what? my hair certainly isn’t easy (which is why i love this site!) and neither is my skin color. this false assumption that bi-/multiracial people have some sort of privileges or advantage is ridiculous. i actually do identify myself as a black woman and get funny looks all the time, by black, white, asian, latino, etc people. but i’m proud of being a black woman and i firmly believe that being a black woman is not something that can be defined by anyone – each woman’s experience is unique and personal and beautiful, and is also full of struggle, no matter how light your skin may be or how nice your hair is.
i guess my point is, i would never assume what life is like as a “100%” black woman – so no one who is not mixed race should presume to know what my life is like as a mixed race woman. we should each celebrate our differences and similarities and leave the internal conflict to some other group of people.
Thank you Cherie,
And noname I don’t claim to know what an experience of a biracial person would be I acknowledge that there must be downsides but at the same time on a general level the privilege is in the fact that you’re not 100% black because black in America is like the lowest thing on the totem pole.
Yes I too have had the experiences of being teased in school & not fitting in, & being called white girl just because most of the girls were darker than me. And I’ve felt like I was an outsider and not accepted as black enough from my own race.
But at the same time I still have experienced the privilege of being light skinned. I’ve had guys approach me for that reason only, & it was even worse when I relaxed just because they thought it was better. I’ve had people ask me black & white if I was mixed in an excited way as if it would make me more interesting and exotic, and I’ve had white people make ignorant comments like my skin is pretty because it isn’t so black.
Everybody has their own crosses to bear, but I’m just saying we all know as black people we are often looked on as bottom of the barrel. And I know that if people treat me better sometimes just because of some light brown skin which means not as black, than I know you have experienced some sort of preferential treatment in your lifetime just because one of your parents isn’t black. Keep it real.
Advise to Mixed UK woman: Speak on what you know about, and not what you think you know. Simply put…”STAY IN YOUR OWN DAMN LANE.” Black and mixed people in the UK need to worry about acquiring political and economic power, instead of trying to masked their feelings of inferiority when compared to African Americans, the most educated, successful African descended people in the history of humankind.
Wow..this statement is true, yet very harshly stated. All of this has to do with status and power and it is sad. I love variety and all people.
Wow the tone of this discussion is becoming extremely combative and offensive. Shirley I understand you may feel insulted by the OP in the article but this —->”the most educated, successful African descended people in the history of humankind” Really? Do you need to stoop to this level? I don’t agree with you at all but it is also sad to see that one voice in the UK, could bring out such venom and animosity towards those of us who are black and non-American. Black people are never so happy as when we are being divisive and one upping each other. Very sad.
I think someone from the UK disparaging the history of African Americans is wrong. This woman contradicted herself through-out her entire rant. Her ignorance shined brightly in the #6. Is she serious? I’m speechless at the level of ignorance. Yes, ALL African Americans are mixed, some are more mixed than others, it would be impossible for a AFrican AMerican to be 100% pure African. I for one don’t get into claiming races I can’t prove, I’m not obsess with White, or native American heritages. I really wish bi-racial/mixed people would get over themselves, stop hating your black heritage, you are not fooling anyone.
and isn’t the title of this blog – black girl with long hair?
why bother to fill it with chatter from people who don’t regard themselves as black in the first place? ugh.
its exactly these types of comments I’m talking about.
@Merry,
That’s exactly what I asked in my post. Great minds think alike (smile).
i didn’t read all the comments, but it seems i’m one of the only ones who feels patronized by this post – as a black/american.
that’s all, before i go say something untoward and just not nice. lol.
girl needs to go somewhere.
Yaba yaba yaba…. anyways, what hairstyles are ya’ll wearing this winter? Lol
Trying to commit myself to some creative yet doable updos….Almost ready wig-it-out.
I hear you… that’s what I’ve been doing!!! Wearing wigs, but I am tired of it. I wish the weather would let up
I’m late (long work day + Pacific time!), but I think that what the author (perhaps because she lives in the UK or maybe because she’s uninformed) is missing is that “White” in the US is an umbrella term that represents power and privilege. It is not a purely cultural identifier in the way that nationalities/ethnicities tend to be (e.g., French, Latino, Filipina, Hausa). People aren’t walking around Europe uniting themselves under the “White” title–half of those countries hate each other! And “Whites” in America are only united in terms of having privilege, that’s why the Irish “became White” to escape discrimination. So it’s not that “White” is a bad label in and of itself, it’s that (you guessed it) White people, racism, and White supremacy have made it the honored distinction of the “haves”. That’s what it means to be White (as opposed to Jewish, Iranian, Serbian, etc.) in America. Yea, my kids will be Black and Jewish…
“1.)..Being mixed-race is not always a simple case of being ½ one race and ½ another. There are many racial combinations and percentages of racial mixtures…”
So there’s no percentage to qualify for mixedness….
“6.) Basically, it doesn’t need tracing to find where the mixture started. Someone being 1/60th Cherokee Indian will not have the same experiences as someone who is ½ Black, ¼ White and ¼ Asian.”
….But now there is?
Anyway, I think some people choose to feel offended.
Lol thank you Rosie! You made the point far more succinctly than I.
I hope the author reads this and realizes how hypocritical and circular that argument was. As another person said, one experience is no more authentic than the other. Is its different…yes! But don’t tell me that my ancestry doesn’t matter as much in the present day as yours. If we are going to truly embrace diversity, then let’s open our arms wide, let people define themselves, and not invalidate others experience with that tired “your blues aint like mine” ish.
Author I hope you read this and understand that as African Americans we value OUR multi-cultural heritage too.
I say, define yourself as what you want, just don’t deny what you are or are not.
Meaning, don’t say you’re German if your great great great great great great granddad was German but everyone else down the line is Philiphino. Don’t deny your family history but don’t say you are 100% something that is really more like .4 %. On the other hand, do not claim to be 100% black when your dad is Portuguese. No one race is better although historically some have been given privilege.
Also, because the author is from the UK does not nullify her points. What she said was valid as is her reality. I cannot say that although my great grandmother was French, that I have any idea what it is like to be raised and viewed by society as someone “mixed” or multiethnic. She is talking about her truth, which may be truths shared by others but not all. And I wish that everyone here would respect that.
and i know ppl are still gonna come in here breathin fire but, hey, that’s race in America.
@emma, in response to the post i think you’ve made the most sense. Others have picked up that this post is not an apples to apples argument on the twitter backlash.
Most of the responders seem to be in the frame of mind that all american black persons grow up in a culturally black american household (note the adjective inversion). That is not the case. If it were so then how would your defense that when a mixed race person, who has grown up with culturally competing identities both in their head, their familial relationships, and from society, should not somehow dismiss a black american’s claim of mixed race far heritage is far fetched.
I cannot positively ID myself as mixed race, but having grown up with many people who are from varying global cultures, the backlash on the twitter post is difficult to see as a right or wrong argument. 140 characters is a bit slim to summarize a life’s worth of social, cultural, and familial ills done to a person even if many were well intentioned.
bottom line for me is that the “Mixed Chicks” brand should Not have taken part in that “light vs. dark” debate on twitter. It was childish,disrespectful, and uncalled for. I am however, glad i found out this is how they feel befor i spent my money with them.
I find it really interesting that the author writes in her first reason that “The term mixed-race does not apply to skin colour” and doesn’t include the very reason why all of this fallout happened in the first place. The company “mixed chicks” made this very assumption when they chose to tweet #teamlightskin and got called on the carpet for it. Granted, its the company’s business to shape their brand however they wish. Other companies do this in not so subtle ways with who they choose for their advertising. It just that more irritating when its coming from someone that you thought was supposed to represent you.
The more I think of this the more I want to put it into the larger context. If the company “Dark and Lovely” did the same thing under #teamdarkskin, would their be as much fallout? I really don’t know.
What I do know is that when you make assumptions about anything, you just end up making and ass out of u … and someone named umption… lol!
Why is it nobody mentions how “offensive/exclusionary” the title Dark and Lovely can be, but everyone gets all up in arms over the title Mixed Chicks? Imagine the fallout/uproar if we dared have a product called Light and Lovely! Why is it that the moment mixed people want something for themselves, suddenly it’s offensive, but never when monoracial (read: Black) people want something for themselves? Ridiculous….mixed women should be able to have pride in who they are and their heritage with no apologies, I know I make none for myself (proud Mulata here!) . We are MIXED, it is what it is, no matter how much others want to pretend it’s not….
Just want to say that I found this writer’s comments (and many of those who responded) very thought provoking. Also, being from the UK its really nice to see a UK writer featured on the site, and a global debate. There is an interesting site link here with some articles on the mixed experience in the UK that some others might be interested in.
I feel that articles like this often create a slight divide in the black…or ‘black-containing'(if u are part black or something) race which isn’t originally there. In Most cases mixed-race people have no issue relating to the ‘black side’ or being defined as ‘black’, as it may be all they can be defined as…..there’s too many different variations of black people to start to differentiate which is black and which is mixed, its just unnecessary and pointless. Many full black people may look mixed and visa-versa…then its an issue of what does ‘look mixed’ mean?…you see… pointless…just deal with you own personal identity probs and chill….simple
I believe that because she is from the UK, she doesn’t understand American concepts of race. “Race” is socially constructed, a man made idea! It’s nothing biological at all.I believe she speaks from the UK point if view, because mixed people are recognized has that. Due to the one drop rule, Mixed People in America are more than likely considered black. Her tone of the essay, could be viewed as very negative toward Black Americans.
Now about #6, she should really pick up a book and read about slavery in America. A little over 80% of Black Americans have a mixed background, and around 40% have more that 2 mixes in their blood.
She speaks about letting mixed people call themselves mixed people, as they should be able to. What she should not say is how people should classify themselves!
i completely agree with you, i’m from the UK aswell,and often ‘mixed’ people do feel being mixed is more superior to being black… but unfortunately to them you cant always look at a mixed person and know that they are mixed…they may just look black…..thats because they are… yes i said it… sorry mixed people YOUR BLACK lol, but its not all you are…but it is what you are, so dnt get mad… embrace it.. i feel these type of posts are useless
I doubt the majority of mixed people believe they’re superior, unless you can tell me you’ve run a poll or know all the mixed people in the UK, I’ll have to disagree.
And there’s not need to say sorry, we are black just as much as we are the other race 🙂
Colorism runs so deep.
I’m tired of seeing this redundant “skin color debate”
on this site. It never gets anywhere, honestly.
Can we please just talk about hair?!
i thought we were… 😉
I consider myself as black and mixed. While I identify with black people and care deeply about black issues, I also have had the experiences of a mixed person and I must acknowledge that. I am half black, 1/4 white and 1/4 lebanese. I wish I knew all of where I came from. I thought the post was good except I’d disagree with the notion that black people who are not mixed can not identify with their ancestors. I understand what she was trying to say, but it was poorly worded and delivered. And to answer the questions above, mixed people talked about their issues with black people because black people are the ones obsessed with race and identity in America. Sorry, I know thats unpopular to say, but white people just don’t give a damn anymore on an individual basis. Racism is institutionalized so that we’re racist without even knowing it. Or if we know it, we don’t want to admit it. If some (and I stress some) black people didn’t have such nasty things to say about mixed people, then you wouldn’t hear a peep from us. But too often I hear “you’re in denial” “Your not black” “Your a self hater” all too often…so the conversation continues.
I’d like to add that yes I know there are racist white people. But seriously, if you’re letting them stop you then you’re only stopping yourself. Usually they’re hiding behind a computer screen…seriously, they’re not that serious.
Good points. I think the danger in making the mixed race identity accessible to persons with different raced parents and not grandparents and grandparents is that it once again supports a system that needs to be dismantled. I understand the spirit of the argument that the experience is different for a one generational mixed race person than that one a second or third generational mixed race person, however, who gets to decides which experience is more authentic or valid? It’s the same as saying who can and who cannot be Black. This is why there needs to be adiscourse about the social and political implications that being made with the mixed race identity.
@Ebony, how do you not recognize that the ability to say that you don’t see color or don’t care about race is a PRIVILEGE that only the majority can claim.
Why would a white person care about race when at no point in their life will their race adversely affect them.
You sound like the white people who claim that black people make everything “racial.”
Well, darling, when you pull stories of white men getting shot for their wallet being mistaken for a gun, being pulled over for driving while black, or white men who can get beaten on camera and yet have the perpetrators go free, then I’ll believe that black people’s “obsession” with race is something that we need to let go of.
There are racist white people, and there are non-racist white people, but the white person’s life is not harmed in any way when they choose to “ignore” race. I’ve always been fascinated by the white people who did risk life and limb (and sometimes lost) who gave a damn because they could have continued to view the world as you do…those whiny black people make an issue of everything!
SHEESE MAMA…..I’m glad you handled that….i could go on…..In case she doesn’t know, black people still get tied on to the rear of a truck and DRAGGED!!!!!!! WHO ARE WE TO CALL THEM RACISTS??!!!
I never said black people were whiny. But yes, we do have a tendency to turn everything into a debate about race and sometimes it’s completely irrational and unnecessary. I’ll give you an example off the top of my head…a white girl covered Willow Smiths Whip My Hair on her guitar and the comments exploded into a race debate about white ppl stealing black music and how she was racist. We are race obsessed and some of us use white privilege as an excuse to not try or get ahead. Like I said racism is institutionalized, its still a huge problem in this country but I was answering the questions above as to why mixed people talk about their mixed problems to black people. And its because black people are the ones obsessed with race all the time. White people don’t care because they don’t have to care. Their privilege is all they know or what they’ve become accustomed to. Doesn’t mean you can’t let them know they’re privileged but don’t expect them to be all understanding. And when did I ever say that not seeing color or not caring is a privilege? I never said it was a privilege I just said thats the way it is with white people these days…they don’t give a damn and seriously, that’s the way it should be. No, we should not forget our history or white wash it with lies, but when we deal with one another in society today our color should not affect that in any way shape or form.
Oh and just to let you know. There was a white man on the metro attacked by a group of black men and women while he was reading his book waiting for the train to go home. Nobody came to his aid or went to get help. There was also a white man riding his bicycle and a group of black kids knocked him off with a jug of piss. There was also a white man on the train who got his nose broken by a group of black boys and the perps got away scott free each and every time…..sooo yeah. Sit on that for a moment.
Yeah, that sucks. Sometimes white people get attacked by angry black people. I never said that doesn’t happen. But it happens far less often than the other way around, and it doesn’t disprove anything that I said about white privilege.
I think it is far more insidious when people who have sworn to serve and protect kill you. It is more disturbing when people who are paid to educated you do a crappy job because they don’t think that you are “worth” it.
None of these examples demonstrate that race affects white people’s lives on a DAILY basis. It doesn’t affect their ability to get a job, it doesn’t negatively affect their access to education and how they are treated by their teachers, it doesn’t negatively affect how they are treated when they to the doctor. These are not examples that prove that white people do not hold a privileged place in our society. Try again.
And I say this as a black woman who has had every possibly advantage in life, so no, I’m not whining that I didn’t get something because I’ve gotten a lot more than most. I’m not even arguing that I’d have gotten more if I was a white woman or white man. But I CAN say with confidence that if I were a white woman or man, I’d have NEVER been followed in a department store, I’d have never had a person grab their purse when I hopped on the elevator, I would not be getting id checked by people as I enter my office building for work.
So find some examples of white people being abused by law enforcement, denied treatment by medical professionals (doctors are very likely to judge blacks seeking treatment in the ER to be drug seekers, and studies have shown that they suffer more because of it), or otherwise being denied ACCESS and then we can talk.
The incidents you mentioned are individual incidents that occur due to the way blacks in the US are treated in the first place. Individual anecdotes don’t even compare to the level on which people of color are treated unfairly. Not to mention, a few rotten apples can’t account for black people as a whole and can’t explain away anyone’s privilege. For every group of black youth that get away with doing something shady, there are dozens more locked up in the prison system for simply being black. More than likely, if a white man went to the station to report that a bunch of black youths attacked him, the cops would be on that report like white on rice. It might even make the big evening news even though we’ve got other things to worry about like the state of education in this country or our national deficit. If it were the reverse, a black man walking into a station to report that a group of white youths attacked him, well, how do you suppose he would be treated?
Sit on that for a moment???? Are you serious!!!???? Yes, they are crimes, but how can you compare a few instances as opposed to YEARS OF VICIOUSNESS!!!!????? And you really think you have a valid point!!!! Sis, I’m NOT gonna take you there! Stop it! Just for the record, I am in NO WAY condoning this, This is not the time or place to have this discussion, even if I wanted to. But if I did, TRUST ME…You can’t handle this! Sit on what?!
So blacks are obsessed with race, but mixed-raced people aren’t? Most people of color don’t have the privilege of ignoring race–including those who are mixed. This is the reason why these types of discussions always find a home in forums like this. You’re right, white America by and large isn’t talking about race, because they don’t have to. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the perspectives and experiences of white people are the cultural norm. If that were not the case, this website wouldn’t exist. So yes, race does matter and by making the entry fee for whiteness purity, white people have essentially cast all their mixed-race offspring out if their norm– making the valid concerns of mixed race people (who are part white) a special interest. I appreciate the author’s experience, but I’m tired of blacks being scolded about color lines we never drew and certainly don’t benefit from.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at with the statement: “Mixed people talked about their issues with black people because black people are the ones obsessed with race and identity in America. Sorry, I know thats unpopular to say, but white people just don’t give a damn anymore on an individual basis.”
Yes, white people don’t give a damn about race, because it doesn’t affect them. And fyi, this is sometimes referred to as color-blind racism, it’s a very subtle and insidious form of racism that is unfortunately the dominant racial ideology in this country (and elsewhere). This attitude is something that contributes significantly to racism and to maintaining white privilege.
Color-blind racial ideology linked to racism, both online and offline
http://news.illinois.edu/news/10/0421online.html
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6085/Color-Blind-Racism.html
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6087/A-COLOR-BLIND-IDEOLOGY.html
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/6093/THE-RACIAL-STORIES-OF-COLOR-BLIND-RACISM.html
People of color are preoccupied with race because it affects our lives on a regular basis. You can’t compare how we view race to how white people, who don’t have to worry about racism, view race.
Who do you think was responsible for the rift between blacks and those who are mixed in the first place? Black people are still having this conversation because of slavery, racism, jim crow etc. Every conversation we have about race and identity goes back to slavery, and there’s no separating white people from that conversation.
There’s also aversive racism (which relates to this color-blind ideology). This is racism that operates on a more subconscious level. Since racism is institutionalized, those born in a place of privilege have inherently racist attitudes that would need to be examined in order to be combated…and most white people don’t want to deal with the notion that they could possibly harbor racist feelings.
http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/5976/Aversive-Racism.html
Aversive racism is a form of contemporary racism that manifests at the individual level. Compared to the traditional form of racism, aversive racism operates, often unconsciously, in subtle and indirect ways. People whose behavior is characterized by aversive racism (aversive racists) sympathize with victims of past injustice, support the principle of racial equality, and regard themselves as nonprejudiced, but at the same time they possess negative feelings and beliefs about blacks or other groups. It is hypothesized that aversive racism characterizes the racial attitudes of many well-educated and liberal whites in the United States, as well the attitudes of members of dominant groups toward minority groups in other countries with strong contemporary egalitarian values but discriminatory histories or policies. Despite its subtle expression, the consequences of aversive racism are as significant and pernicious as those of the traditional, overt form (e.g., the restriction of economic opportunity).
co-signed.
I actually co sign with everything you just said. But commenters above complained that mixed people bring their mixed problems to black people. And that was what I was addressing. Some (and I do mean some) black people make insidious comments about mixed people as though their not people too. Or they assume we think we’re superior or we don’t want to identify with our black side. That’s not true, in fact its quite the contrary.
@Ebony,
What do Whites say about mixed people? Are you having a dialog with White folks? Since you are part White, do you have a problem with their racist comments? Or are Whites lovey dovey towards mixed people?
By the way, if Whites are accepting of mixed people, why don’t you all just call yourselves White? Why bother calling yourselves Black? Join the folks who love you.
So, what are her thoughts on the “MC” tweets again????? I think I missed her response to the tweets somewhere here :/
While I can understand most of the author’s points, I, like some others posters have expressed, have a problem with #6 regarding most African Americans are mixed. Perhaps she doesn’t understand that some of the same (perhaps not to the extreme degree)insensitive derogatory remarks are visited upon African Americans that ‘appear’ to be of mixed race. I identify with being black or African American; however, my heritage is often questioned because of my complexion, hair, eye shape, facial features, etc. I’ve been called every negative derivative of being mixed but am not (at least by the author’s ‘standards’). I also receive dubious looks when I answer that I am black when questioned. My children are questioned even more intensely because their father has even more ‘mixed’ features than I do.
At the end of the day, do I really care about the fact that two generations ago my maternal great grandmother was 100% Creek (Native American), my paternal great grandfather was Irish and oh yeah somewhere back there’s an Asian man – nahhh, not at all. I’d much rather people remember the content of my character because tomorrow I can be horribly burned and disfigured from head to toe and then how relative is the color of my skin?
Yes, yes on this point specifically: “Perhaps she doesn’t understand that some of the same (perhaps not to the extreme degree)insensitive derogatory remarks are visited upon African Americans that ‘appear’ to be of mixed race.”
People treat others all kinds of ways based on appearances, whether the assumptions are correct or not. Looks and race/ethnicity don’t always correlate. Even so, the reactions of others based on those looks is what affects our lives.
I feel i’m going to get a lot of static about what i’m about to say, but oh well….. THE WHOLE LIGHT SKIN VS. DARK SKIN BATTLE IS SO LAME!!!!
We’re humans and some of us may or may not have more melanin than the next human…. I wish that at some point society will put aside this debate and just be who God made us, fearfully and wonderfully made….. #teamdesignedbytheCreator
She made some good points in her post, but she is from the UK and they do see race differently there than here. I do not condone what the mixed chick company did (for publicity) but it’s done. Lesson learned think before you tweet, the company as well as the people commenting. As for me in my family i stick out like a sore thumb, growing up and the family i started with my husband. My mother is black my father mixed Puerto Rican and black. I alway thought of myself as black just very light. I don’t have the wavy hair, it’s tightly coiled and course. since my father was the mixed one i just didn’t think it mattered to me, but to every one else it did. People would point out how i looked like no one in the family (dad didn’t live with us). That i couldn’t be my mothers child, i was switched at birth an so on. So then it was ok fine my dad is…. so this is me. still didn’t matter. So when my babies were born and are dark skinned with curly hair, i get they have nothing from you. Uh yes they do it’s called “genes” remember that from Biology class. I know who I am, a person, a human being. Race and color is just my coating. It will matter to some people and they will say what they want and think what they want, only way race and color will not matter is if we were all blind.
I’m black. When I was relaxed ppl would question whether I was mixed or not, since being natural I don’t get that so much. But a person with two “black” parents can come out with wavy hair and pale skin b/c somewhere along the line that gene was present. A biracial child mixed with someone of African descent can be as brown as someone who is not mixed, so looking from the outside(skin/hair) to determine what a person is or is not…and black ppl in America come in all types of shades/textures and that’s where we get the mixed thing from b/c black ppl in America are not a pure “race”.
My mom’s grandfather was white. Her dad lived during the time of segregation, he was able to pass for white and he would whenever it was beneficial for him. He had siblings I’ve never seen or met b/c they decided it would be easier for them to portray/live as being white. So I understand why race in America is a complex issue even within the black community. If the writer is talking in broader terms then okay I agree with most of what she’s saying but for black America I think its something that’s ingrained that goes deeper than skin color.
My children(2 boys) are half black half Mexican and I tell them all day that they are black.(In america, my kids are a minority and the reality is that prejudice still exists) Our family is mixed, they are exposed to both cultures and its okay if they grow up and choose to identify as biracial as opposed to just black. At the end of the day though I hope they define themselves by the content of their character b/c skin color shape/size or hair texture does not make the person.
I think the article makes some valid points. However, as she noted the discourse about “mixed-race” is largely based on the culture. Race itself is a social construction. My primary “beefs” with the entire mixed-race saga are: (1) If race is socially contructed, how can mixed race not be the same? (2) Why is this issue always put at the door step of Blacks? I think identify politics are short-lived. I am a black female and that has personally, socially, and political meaning. I rarely see persons who identify as mixed race creating discourse about the social and political meanings behind their identity.
OMG I agree with you WHOLEHEARTEDLY!! Mixed people (those that are mixed with black) tend to “dump” their emotions on black people… but I don’t EVER see them having the same discussions with their other half, whether it’s white, asian or hispanic. And that REALLY bothers me.
Black people absorb so much vitriol from other ethnicities, and we also absorb it from bi-racial people.
And I agree that often mixed race people stop at, “I want to be identified as mixed, not black.” Beyond that I don’t see a lot of thoughtful discourse on what it is to be bi-racial.
That’s just as bad as an African American women telling Africans, “I don’t want to be defined as African American. I just want to be defined as American.” But giving no reason, justification or rationale.
I’m tired of mixed race people throwing tantrums in the black community. I’m tired of reading about it. I’m just tired.
Exactly. It’s hardly the fault of Blacks that the mixed-race discourse is often seen as a extension of the Black discourse. No one group is subject to this. Asian, Hispanic, Native Americans etc..I never read of individual identifying as mixed race bringing mixed race issues to their door steps. I beginning to believe that Blacks should stop engaging in these dialogues. We should refuse to be a home or start for their discourse.
Well said *rofl*!
I totally agree with this comment and the next. This is something that is always dumped at African-American’s door. When are bi-racial people going to start complaining to white people about their feelings? I always suspect its because (a) they know white society at large is NOT tring to hear that and (b) some bi-racial people actually do not want to identify with blackness because they feel like society treats black people like they have cooties so they want to be “other”!
(1) I think it is important to acknowledge the fact that identity is a two-way construction. It is based on (a) what you think about yourself and (b) what society thinks about you. Sometimes these things match-up and sometimes they do not.
(2) The US and the UK have different, yet not unrelated or totally dissimilar practices and historical legacies regarding race, race mixture, and racism. The US inherited many of its basic views on race from England – most importantly the one-drop rule! In 1667 we had the infamous case that said status (slave or free, which was tied to race) would follow from the mother. Clearly that was when the US was still a British colony. Moreover, Great Britian had slavery and colonies all based on race and has a complicated current history regarding black immigration from its former colonies. Not all British people are like, “Oh yes we recognized mixed-race people as mixed-race and equally black and white (or whatever mix it may be)!” Just like not all Americans are.
(3) The UK did not suddenly grant black people equality when slavery ended.
(4) Mixed people in the United States have historically benefitted from their black heritage. They went to African-American educational institutions, joined African-American organizations, became citizens and got full citizenship rights through black struggle, etc. When white Americans fully rejected them, they only place could find some type of solace was amongst African Americans.
I’m not much of a commenter on this website, but your comment really gave me the urge to speak on the matter. I am really bothered that you feel the mixed community “dumps” their emotions on black people. Where are you getting this from? A few commenters on hair sites? How can you say that you don’t ever see them having the same discussion with their other half’s? How would you know? You obviously have no clue what you are talking about. There are websites dedicated to mixed raced/culture people (not just black and whites, but black and Asian, or Hispanic etc)People discuss their experiences with people from all ethnic backgrounds and it’s not always about blacks. Yes, I agree with you that most mixed people do like to identify as being mixed, however , I wouldn’t say that most mixed people don’t identify as black. Most mixed people actually do identify as being black but DO NOT FORGET THE OTHER HALF. I embrace the fact that I am Black and I also never forget that my mother is Hispanic. So yes I identify as being mixed. I am mixed. I speak another language and adhere to most of my mother’s customs. I am proud to be a Hispanic woman just as I am proud to be a black woman. I embrace both sides happily.( My father is black and his family is from the south) When you mentioned that mixed people don’t have discussions with the other half, that really urked me. That is so untrue. I personally have had that discussion more with my Hispanic side and have never had a reason to talk about it with my black side of the family. I really hate that people think most mixed people are confused “tantrum throwing” babies. Most of us are perfectly confident people-no different than anyone else. All of this is so silly and just divides us more and more. Everything you have listed that “REALLY bothers” you are stereotypes that you should really throw out of your head. Its silly. I’m not “throwing a tantrum”, but I’m just letting you know that your opinions are really wrong and based on silly stereotypes. I agree with most of Makiya’s post, all except for number 6. As for the mixed chicks “team light skin” vote; I totally disagree with that. It was silly for them to even participate in such stupidity in the first place, and light skin doesn’t represent the mixed community- mixed people come in all beautiful shades.
So how about this: You just tell me what you want me to say and believe, and I’ll say it and believe it. Because I am so TIRED of this!
I’m not going off of stereotypes, I am going off of FAMILY MEMBERS and FRIENDS I have who are bi-racial and feel the need to remind me every time they get a chance, every time the conversation turns to skin color, every time the conversation turns to hair texture that they are part white.
I don’t know what else I can do for them… They have this obsessive desire to remind me that they are mixed and I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT!! What tangible thing can I do with that?!?!? YOU tell me!!
So, just tell me what to do, tell me what to say. because I’m at a LOSS. I’m just tired of being confronted with the insecurities of bi-racial people on a regular basis.
Did you base your whole idea of tantrum-throwing mixed people on your family members andfriends only ?
That doesnt seem very opened minded to me.
I have to agree with Kris, why should we forget the other half ? Is there some kind of race war going on and we have to take sides ? That doesn’t seem very tolerant.
And if it bothers you so much, tell them. Or just refuse to get into those conversations.
Maybe they remind you that because you refuse to acknowledge it in the 1st place ? (Then again, I’m not saying that’s what you do, because I don’t know your family and friends, but that could be.)
That might be the thing they want you to do with that.
(Arg, sorry, the former psychology student is poking out !! lol)
I’ll just add one more thing : why should it be ok to say “I’m a proud black woman” and not ok to say “I’m a proud mixed woman” ?
@Kris,
Why do you claim that you are both Hispanic and Black? Hispanic is not a race. You can be Black Hispanic, White Hispanic, Asian Hispanic. My understanding is that Hispanic (latino) is an ethnicity.
This comment is so TRUE. I have a mixed friend, black and white. When she felt like it and circumstances called for it, she acted white and vice versa. 1 thing she told me and i was shocked, she said she LIKED to discuss race topics because she KNEW it would set everybody off, come on now, MC surly knew what was gonna be the aftermath, IT’S A PUBLICITY STUNT!!!!!!
Amen!! Preach!
another divisive topic…
Hey, Makiya! 🙂
Thanks a lot for taking your time to write this, I found it very interesting and this has helped me know you that little bit more now. Having known you for nearly two years, I know you as simply ‘Makiya’. Not ‘that mixed race girl’ or ‘that girl with the funky hair, I wonder where she’s from?’. I couldn’t quite understand why these girls were so fascinated by your hair (your hair is fantastic!) and I think I can pin that down to the fact I am 100% Asian (even though people always say otherwise) and up to the point of meeting you I was quite ignorant of these issues you have raised here. You made me realise these things are happening ALL THE TIME, even in this day and age. It’s 2011 and black people are still going through this. Take the other day, I was on the train and this black lady was staring at this mixed race girl’s hair and outfit. AND I MEAN STARING. Now what does that show?
Well, anyway. I can’t really comment too much on these issues as I am in no way experienced to do so. Having said that I have seen some things and it’s sad really. It’s just sad.
Bye xxxx
Um, just for the record Lucy, there is no such thing as looking “mixed race” and unless you saw the girl on the train with her mom and dad, you shouldn’t assume that she was.
The lady who stared may have been envious, but you dont’ know anything about the other girl.
I think my main issue with this article is that I did find a lot of the assumptions to be incorrect, and definitely they were ignorant of the historical and social issues that relate to race in the U.S. (Number one being that people who are “totally” black are only talking about some distant, unknown relative when talking about having racially mixed ancestry. For a lot of people, it may not be your parents but it is frequently pretty darn close. And no, you cannot tell that by looking at anyone!
I hate that now you have it in your head that you know if someone is mixed or not, because you don’t.
you sure can’t comment on it Lucy, you sound every bit of 17, so i’m gonna be easy. I was in the Asian Market yesterday, and as i’m looking around i wander over to a display counter which is FULL of SKIN WHITENING BARS!!! On each and every bar there was an Asian woman. I’m thinkin to myself……why on earth are they (Asians)trying to whiten their skin. My point is, EVERY people has THEIR OWN ISSUES…..Ours is displayed more in the forefront. Ours generally speaking, NOT mine.
What did this help you to understand more about? This is one person’s opinion and experience, it’s limited and narrow as to what it will teach you about the complex race relations between human beings. Coming to observe and opine on what you think you’ve learned is baffling to me. Not only do you sound incredibly ignorant but also I wonder what things are ‘happening all the time’ solely in the black community, in your opinion that do not happen elsewhere? If you’re 100% asian then you will know that the asian community has their issues so why come in here acting as though you were born yesterday and only black people have complex racial issues to contend with? Ever heard of the caste system in India? the shunning of Japanese who are the product of mixing with American soldiers during WW2 or the evidence of western culture’s global impact causing people to seek homogenised features and physical traits that mirror the dominant culture? It seems you may need to go back and learn your own history before commenting on that of others based on a rather simple article that deals with a very singular issue.
Without words spoken on the train, there are any number of reasons that the lady you saw looked at a mixed race girl, she may have admired her style, been looking around blankly as many people do on the tube or she may just be the kind of INDIVIDUAL who dislikes certain people and indeed she may be a racist. Who knows? More importantly that small occurrence in a tiny corner of the globe, on one day out of 365+ days, does not tell you a single thing about race relations between black and mixed race people. You came to it with a biased point of view based on what you believe you saw, was that the reality? To me it’s as basic as one woman looked at another woman, you attached a racial undertone to it yourself. You assumed the black lady was jealous or envious but why would she be? People have long held assumptions, stereotypes and inferences about other races that lead to this kind of sub conscious prejudice that I’m afraid you display.
I’d argue that you’re probably more fascinated by Makiya and your perceptions of a mixed race person than anyone else here.
I’d be careful getting off that high horse you think you’re riding on, if I was you, it’s lower to the ground than you think.
wowzers!
shat as. be quiet please. mis a u
The connection was made early on; the author clearly stated that she was motivated by the vitriol in the comments, which I couldn’t even bring myself to comment on. It seems any time there is opportunity for division it’s taken, which is just sad.
Someone’s personal experiences are their own, and how they choose to identify themselves is their own prerogative. Culture plays an impact, and nobody should feel pressured to deny one side or the other. Why is it such a stretch to embrace the diversity? Society at large may see brown skin or curly hair, but those features cannot speak to the experiences that have shaped someone’s life..
I also wanted to add that just because someone doesn’t live in the US, doesn’t automatically make them ignorant of the situation. Certainly the situation for the US is unique based on sheer numbers, but the fact that the African slave trade existed in the UK and it’s many colonies as well is often overlooked. It’s not talked about often, but many forget that slavery only ended about 30 years earlier in Canada. Divisions within and without exist here too, it’s not some sort of exclusive situation.
In fact, one might even say that for European countries that the tensions run even deeper, since they’ve existed longer than the US has even been in existence. Read up on the situation of the black population in French, or how football (soccer) players are abused by the fans.
It’s my understanding that slaves were traded just about everywhere but once slavery ended in other countries the slaves integrated/mixed into those societies where as in America segregation/jim crow laws were implemented and that’s the major difference. I don’t know, but were they lynching and hunting black ppl for sport in other countries?
Actually that’s not entirely true. I am a Caribbean and Latin American historian. There are two ways to think about this:
(1) Some countries did continue to discriminate against people of African descent. While it may not necessarily have been by law it was engrained in these socieites to treat African descended people as lesser-than socially/by custom. For example, in Cuba when slavery was finally over white Cubans lorded over black and mulatto Cubans basically saying, “Oh you all should be soo grateful to us because we let you be free.” Some black and mulatto Cubans united to form a political party – Independiente Partido de Color – to address the discrimination that they faced. The establishment got angry and basically executed all the party’s leaders and made it against the law to politically organize around race. Some of these men were hung.
(2) Just because a society has people of mixed race doesn’t mean there isn’t rampant discrimination and racism. Maybe countries in Latin America engaged in whitening campaigns where they attempted to rid their countries of black people by increasing European immigration and encouraging interracial unions. The idea was that over time, there would be less and less black people. Moreover, these countries either straight OUTLAWED black immigration or they made it prohibitively expensive (“You can come, but you have to pay $500 in order to assure your good behavior.” – WTH?). You can count Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic amongst these countries. Other countries like Mexico did the same thing with their indigenous populations. Brazil is a classic example of an “integrated society,” where many, many of the people of African descent are poor. I read a great article about Brazil a few years back. The best comment by far was the acknowledgment that there was race mixture, but that you could always tell who was black when the police showed up looking for a suspect!
i just read about Independiente Partido de Color (had never heard about them). And I totally agree with you that many people do not know about the discrimination in Latin America. Now I find as a Black woman traveling I have had no problems (then men tend to love us, lol), but I have seen the men definitely treated different. I’ve heard of Brazilian universities having a quota on how many people of color are allowed. In the Dominican Republic even if a Haitian woman has a child on their soil, the child is not considered a citizen. I don’t think people realize how rampant racism is elsewhere.
Really? That’s a pretty optimistic world view, but while there may be subtle differences between different countries and cultures, it’s still very much present. Segregation is seen within many countries and cultures upon the end of slavery. Just because the institution has been destroyed, doesn’t mean the mindset is quick to follow. Few people want to give up their sense of entitlement, and they certainly don’t want to mix with ‘lessers’.
It’s deeply entrenched everywhere, even amongst ourselves.. which is the most disturbing aspect of all.
I think the author is addressing the reader comments related to the article about Mixed Chicks’ tweet, as well as comments made towards people that identify themselves as bi-racial or mixed race.
From what I read, it seems that her intent was to clarify what she believes are misconceptions about persons that are mixed-race.
Completely unrelated, the girl in the picture has such a cute baby face.
The model does have a cute baby face! Somewhere someone’s attributing that post to that face..lol.
Yeah the model is a cutie tootie. Her hair color is pretty too!
Her opinion is already null and void simply because she’s in the UK with an experience that is unlike race in America. So, I’m trying to figure out what is her point? The Twitter “debate” refers to an event in America with ties to colorism. No one’s talking about biracial heritage; but, rather colorism, which exists.
So, what was the point?
Those are HER ISSUES!!!!!
Um, I’m trying to figure out exactly what this has to do with the previous mixed-chics post? I’m a little insulted that this women felt the need to “school” everyone on mixed-race identity while willfully ignoring the racial mixing if African-Americans and racial identity in America.
Race is social construct, not a scientific formula. There’s a reason why our mixed-race president self-identifies as black. She seems to conflates heritage and culture with race. Also her breakdown of slave mu
I agree that notion really annoyed me to the core.
My post got cut off, I meant to add…
She mentions slave mixing in such a dismissive manner. Coming from the UK, she may not appreciate that most of the black people here are not 1st, 2nd, 3rd, generation immigrants. We’ve been in this country for centuries and like our counterparts who were enslaved in the Caribbean and Central and South America, we experienced considerable racial mixing–developing our own unique culture and standards for racial identity. America’s racial definitions are informed by our history. If you ever watched a Henry Louis Gates special you’d understand how complex black American racial identity is and why, despite DNA that points to obvious racial mixing (sometimes more non-black ancestry than black), black identity in the US has less to do with biology than it does societal standards. Mixed-race people can choose to identify themselves however they want. We should be EQUALLY understanding of everyones choices AND realities.
I understand how diverse the black community is and how many mixed-race individuals are a parts of forums like this, but I get annoyed with that fact that black people are always the ones who need to be schooled in this topic? We have had multiracial families for centuries. There’s probably not a black person on this site who doesn’t have wide range of skin colors, hair textures and mixes in their own families? If mixed-race people are truly living between multiple racial groups, where is their representation on non-black forums? Why are products like mixed-chics featured in Essence instead of Marie Clare. It seems to me, that these types of discussions need to be happening elsewhere. While non-black communities may acknowledge mixed-race identity, accepting someone as your own is another story. For instance, I know mixed-raced people (black/white mix) who self-identify as black, but would never call even think to themselves white. They flock to the black community because they find more representation and acceptance despite the fact that they are just as white as they are black. When you also consider how the black community has a history of elevating mixed-race individuals this issue is even more complex than we like to realize.
chuuuuuch!
PREACH
“Why are products like mixed-chics featured in Essence instead of Marie Clare.”
ooooh say it girl!!
Sooo true!
+1
Why are these issues always addressed on “black” dominated media like this website?
I wonder about that too. Why are Black women concerned about mixed women? Why don’t mixed women write about their issues on their own websites? They make it clear that they are not Black, so why are we worried about them?
i dislike that mixed chicks promotes the idea that there’s a direct correlation between racial mixture & hair type (race is a social construct not a biological fact), and the only thing stupider than their original #teamlightskin tweet was the way they handled the aftermath. that being said, i don’t have a problem with products or services being geared towards mixed race people and their unique needs. i just think you’ve got to do it in a way that doesn’t marginalize other groups. we don’t live in a vacuum. just like the phrase “white power” has a different connotation than “black power” (in an american context), heralding the beauty of light skin women is not the same thing as talking about beautiful brown skin ladies. context matters.
Although I applaud the poster for writing on a controversal topic there are a couple of huuuuge issues that set off a knee jerk negative reaction on my part to what she wrote:
1) First and foremost, she lives in THE UK!!! For the poster to comment on a culture that she only has surface knowledge of is completely ignorant and insulting. The black/ mixed race issue here in the US has a long and complex history (paper bag tests, miscegenation laws, the one drop rule, passing, and exclusion to historically black colleges, sororities, and fraternities) so for her to make such grand sweeping statements about the lack of evolution of “blacks” who express pain, rage, and sadness at this issue comes off as culturally insensitive to say the least.
2) I agree with Anonda, it comes as a bit hypocritical for her to point out the respect that does indeed need to happen with people of “mixed races” only to point out that people whose parents aren’t of two distinctive races aren’t as “special” and have no right to claim any part of their own multi-racial background.
3) She blithely chooses not to address the fact that there is indeed discrimination within the black community against it’s darker skinned members. It’s rather reminiscent of white people who steadfastly refuse to talk about white privilege while in the same breath wondering why race relations haven’t progressed.
I know that this is coming off as extremely angry, but to be told by someone who is apparently ignorant of the complexities of this issue within the African American and Biracial American communities how “monoblacks” should feel about identity and identify themselves is in extremely insensitive and in poor taste.
I agree 100%. That is all.
Very well said!
Thank you, Eve.
Well written.:)
Amen to this and a few other comments on the post. Sorry but the author missed some KEY issues, mixed up ideologies of race vs. culture, and doesn’t seem well informed to be honest. She hasn’t even scratched the surface of this topic so before she can critique and speak upon something, (mainly a culture she doesn’t have first hand experience with) either needs to pick up a few books or live here fully. Personally, I am sick and tired of people trying to tell people how we should think, feel, what to accept or what to believe when it comes to race or experience with race. Everybody has their own so let’s stop painting people with the same brush.
Agree with all your points except #1. The perceived priveledge of having light skin is an international issue.
She isn’t saying that anyone is more soecial than another, she is simply saying that the girl who is half and half and lives with both races that are part of her is going to be much different than someone who may be mixed, but is “seen” as black, and raised by predominantly black people.
special*
Co-signs. And the whole Mixed Chicks debate about supporting team light skin was ignored too by this poster. I understand that mixed people want to claim both sides of their heritage. Genetically, most black people are mixed with something… but phenotypically (outwardly) we might not show it.
The entire line of my mother’s side of the family was mixed with white. My mother could even pass for white, but she chose to call herself black. In my family’s case, my great grandfather had constant contact with the white relative who was his father. The were creoles. My grandfather spoke french creole and to this day, many of my cousins still do. My mother could pass, but chose not too. They were all light skinned, but all chose to be called “black”.
The whole Mixed Chicks debate was not about “mixed race”, it’s about colorism (or bigotry between light skin and dark skin blacks) and it still exists though. I am dark-skinned. My sisters are lighter in color than I am. Growing up I was subjected to “colorism” in subtle and not so subtle ways. Even from my “dark” skin father, whom my grandfather didn’t want my mother to marry because he was “black”.
Because I was dark skinned (and quiet), they believed I would be slower. My mother would tell stories about how she was teased that my oldest sister would turn out dark like my father, but was so happy when she turned out light. At first, I didn’t understand growing up what this was about, but after getting older, it’s like wow. I was thought to be uglier and plainer than my siblings, and constantly teased. And it still ##cks with your self-esteem.
At an all-black college, in the early 1990s, I had one dark skinned friend say how they’d want to marry a white man to have “lighter” kids, while other “lighter” friends would have dark skin men tell them they were cute because of their skin color. And on campus, there were unwritten rules about which shade “light” or “dark” belonged to certain sororities.
There was even a history at this all-black school, that “dark skinned blacks” weren’t accepted on their campus until after the mid 1960s. It was fact, not fiction. Things like the “paper bag test” went on, even at black colleges.
Coming from an American “Mixed” family, I would never use Mixed Chicks products, simply because of the name alone. Many of the “mixed” people in my family had 4a/4b hair, although their skin was extremely light, anyway. Also, their support of “team light skin” on Twitter…whatever. It just further supports the argument that they based their name on color. Colorism plain and simple. That’s why people are so pissed at Mixed Chicks.
No one looking at me would call me, or tell me I am “mixed” and I don’t bother to call it. Looking at me, people think of me as a black woman. And I proudly stand by that.
You just shut down this whole debate… This is the core of the issue. Colorism. It has NOTHING to do with race (being mixed or not). It’s skin tone and shades that causes the divides.
My neice and nephew are technically black, their parents are technically black, and their grand parents are technically black. However, they are mixed with (middle eastern) indian, and venezalan. Are they not mixed because their parents and grand parents are not technically mixed? According to this person’s reasoning, they are not mixed. However, it is clear that they are. What about a person that is black who last name is Gonzales from louisiana, my uncle. His parents and grand parents are considered black. However, it is very clear that he is of mixed heritage. I was with her until the last statement. You should not have to look for your mixed heritage. I disagree.
I say dust that chip off of your shoulder!
I think most everything she mention was a black issue period. The reason people get irritated at hearing “I’m mixed — I’m mixed” is because a lot of people act like their “mixed” problems are so much worse or so much more mixed-up than the next black girl. Get over it..you’re black, therefore you have the same kinds of issues anyone else has..if not to an even lesser extent in terms of society and being accepted.
Another thing, yes all black americans are mixed with something whether you accept that or not, it is true. I also think if a darkskinned black girl states that, it doesn’t mean she’s clinging on to your “bi-racial” coattails. It is what it is. No need to get snarky over something so trivial. At the end of the day we’re all black women.
You might be generalising here, I don’t think the majority of mixed people act like they have more dramatic problems.
You might just misunderstand the identity crisis some of them may go through (which has nothing to do with anybody else but themselves and the way they accept themselves – or not – as part of 2 races).
I’m mixed myself (Black Mum/White Dad), and I remember struggling to come to terms with who (or should I say what ?) I was when I was a little girl, because it seemed I had to choose between being black or being white. And that seemed really unfair because it meant rejecting one side of me, one of my parents.
Fortunately I understood pretty quickly, with my parents’ help, that I didn’t have to : I’m simply both and none of them at the same time ; I’m mixed.
So no, we’re not all black women, but that doesn’t make us any less equal.
oh, and yeah, what I just said hasn’t got much to do with that “Mixed Chicks” debacle that prompted her rant in the 1st place, sorry about that ! ^_^ Just wanted to bring my view on what you said.
NO! at the end of the day we are most certainly not black women, there are some black women, and there are some mixed women. And not everybody acts like their “mixed problems” are worse than other black womens problems. And the issues are different, and the ones that are the same are NOT to a lesser extent, because when a black girl is rejected by the white community, they’re accepted by the black community, but mixed girls often times are rejected by the black, and the white community. And out of the millions and millions of black americans, not every single one is one hundred percent black, but not one hundred percent of them is mixed either. And THAT is what it is. At the end of the day, we are all different, unique individuals.
At the end of the day, we are all the same, not because we are black, not because we are mixed, but because we are human. We are each unique individuals and yet we ALL have things in common. This debate is ridiculous, and I think the problem begins when each person on either side assumes that they know the problems of the other. We ALL have issues fitting in. We ALL have issues accepting ourselves. We ALL have to learn who we are and accept where we come from… black women, mixed women, white women, poor women, rich women, short women, tall women, and the list can go on as long as there are ways to classify people. And no one persons struggle is any more (or less) valid than another’s. Let’s all find ways to support each other instead of taking sides. Team light, team dark, team black, team mixed… it’s all ridiculous.
I respect what the author has to say but 1)How does this relate to mixed chicks a brand that many African American women of all shades use jumping on team light skin and 2) I know our brothers and sisters across the pound have their own issues with race and thankfully I have been blessed with the chance to travel and see that race in Europe is seen differently then here in America. Not to down play what you (the author) have gone through as a biracial women but in American as such a “young” country with such deep deep DEEP issues on race in such a short amount of time, I dont see this issue coming to terms for some time. People always bash Americans for our thoughts on race and religion but think of all these countries that have been around for much longer, developed and “worked through” their racial issues. I think this will take much longer for Americans to work through, the black community is still feeling the affects of slavery (believe it or not). So please dont see us as these ignorant African Americans. We are not such, we are still learning and expanding our thoughts on race relations
And that my friends is my lil input. 🙂
Trust and believe a lot of these countries have not overcome their race issues, they just play them down or try to associate the issues with anything other than race i.e. Brazil
I definitely agree wholeheartedly with this article. I have seen comments before where others state that a mixed individual should stop “lying to them-self” and understand that they are black. I’m Kenyan and my cousin is half Kenyan and half Italian. She would be lying to herself if she said she is black because she would be erasing the half of her that is Italian. Labeling oneself as “mixed” indicates to the world that there is a diverse mixture of culture in their heritage. I think everyone needs to stop the nonsense of simplifying race and culture. The complexity of each individual is what makes our world beautiful.
The only problem is that black americans, it is not that cut and dry. Most black americans are of mixed race, and it is not just in the distant distant past. it is within the last few generations where they know and see the mixture.
Makiya, thank you so much for writing this! I completely agree & cosign with everything you have said. As a mixed-race woman myself, 1/2 black & 1/2 white, I have obviously grown up & dealt with all the stereotypes you have mentioned. It is unbelievable to me the ignorance that a lot of people have when it comes to biracial, multiracial, mixed race, or however you want to label us. For example…YES, I am 1/2 white, YES I am “light-skinned, yellow-bone, etc” or however you want to say it, but NO I do not have the “typical mixed-girl hair,” the long, wavy, or loosely curly hair flowing down my back! I have tight, wiry, COARSE kinks & have always dealt with negative comments from people who think that since I’m 1/2 white I’m supposed to have “that good hair.” I’ve had people make snide & rude comments about how “the white-ness shows up everywhere EXCEPT her hair,” & even felt like there was something wrong with me growing up b/c my hair didn’t fit in to the stereotype! When will people realize that there is not just ONE hairtype all mixed women should have?!
Also, another thing that you mention that frustrates me is when people try to classify themselves as mixed when they are not directly mixed. For example, a guy I went to school with, woke-up one day & decided he wanted to be “mixed.” So he started telling everybody that he was NOT black, he was “mixed” and don’t you forget it! It turns out that his great, great, great, great grandmother was 1/2 white! Now I’m not saying that he wasn’t in some small part mixed, HOWEVER…he had lived his whole life as a black man & been accepted as that & never mentioned his white heritage or relatives which he didn’t know, while I lived every day of my life with my white relatives, & was made fun of, etc, for being 1/2 white… my daily experiences with being “only 1/2 black” as kids would remind me made me feel disrespected by his sudden decision to start being mixed! Being mixed is not a trend, it’s a reality…
I also have had people tell me that “since you look more black, you should just say you’re only black” or the “one-drop rule” or “the world sees you as black so that’s what you are…” YES, I identify myself as a black woman, I LOVE being black, but that does NOT mean I deny my white side! I will always classify myself as mixed race or biracial but that does not mean I don’t want to be all black…it means that out of respect to my white mother who carried me for 9 months & raised me, I am not going to pretend to NOT be 50% her…I love both sides of my family & I don’t understand why people have a problem with someone being 1/2 one race & 1/2 another. It’s not a problem! I’m not confused! I know & love who I am! & YES it is possible to belong to 2 races & to be equally black & white!
Anyway, I could go on and on, but I really just wanted to thank you for bringing this to light!
Agree with you wholeheartedly, I’m not mixed, not directly so it’s basically like you said about the guy I don’t identify myself as being such, I do acknowledge my heritage however.
Anywhoo saying that to say I’m not mixed but I’ve always hated when mixed individuals did not identify with 100% of who they are especially when the mother is the denied race like I love my pop, but it’s my mom that I identify with the most so I could never understand if say a mixed friend of mines who has a white mother and black father considered themselves black. There is a shaping that is done by mom that plays a huge role in the people we grow to be, plus there is a whole side of the family aunts, cousins, neices and nephews etc. That gets tossed to the side although they shape who we are as well. And in that respect it’s not just a mixture in skin tones and hair types but cultures as well.
Oh and in case I’m not clear, not saying you should identify with what you’re mother is, but with both ethnicities. Just saying in my experience with people that I’ve known to be mixed, I couldn’t understand how they would say they’re black when that isn’t 100% true, not just when it comes to physical but culturally as well.
I agree with everything you said! I’m dealing with this now, my fiance is Filipino and his previous wife is black, they have a daughter who is having identity issues. In our house she knows that he don’t tolerate her not acknowledging both of her parents. It would be disrespectful for her to say that she is solely Filipino and it would be disrespectful for her to say that she is solely black.
The problem is that her mother doesn’t share the same beliefs as my fiance and I. She encourages her to deny her black heritage and not to make mention of it, which is silly because her mother is black. I mean what kind of sense does that make.
As my fiance and I prepare to get married in a few weeks, we’ve discussed having children and the impact of his daughter’s attitude would have on our children. We’re trying to keep it as positive as possible…
As a spectator from the UK, I can agree with several of the sentiments above.
However, I always thought that the situation in the U.S was different because of the ‘one drop rule’.
i think we have to careful when trying to compare race between different countries since so much of how we view race is country-specific.
i don’t understand what this article has to do with a company jumping on the #teamlightskin trending topic. maybe i am out of the loop. however, it was well thought out and an intersting read.
#teamstrongwomen (hello!)
This is the real issue regarding the MC Twitter incident. The author did not address this in her response.
i don’t either. I feel like she completely went left with the topic at hand.
Her response isn’t to the incident but the reaction. BGLH could have said A bi-racial woman’s response to the mixed chicks twitter storm/backlash. The title is probably confusing people.
Honestly, I get the writers point and I completey agree with her view on the whole identity thing. However, what I do not understand is how it directly relates to the ‘mixed chicks’ debacle. To make reference to the debacle but not ‘connect the dots’ is a little confusing. Did the author mean that there were fair grounds for ‘mixed chicks’ to have taken the position they did on the stupid concept of ‘team light skin’/’team dark skin’? Or was her view the opposite. Sorry but I’m confused…
I’m wondering if the author realizes “Mixed Chicks” is the name of the brand.
lmao
Alot of people made comments on here about how they hate the name of the company anyway and how it only further drives us as people apart.
I’m assuming that’s what motivated this.
She stopped just short of saying mixed chicks was ok in their decision to go for “team light skin”…..lol….(literally) which is fine with me because i don’t use their products anyway. Now being a woman of color, and if did use their products…….TRASH CAN QUICKLY!!!!!
I agree with all these points EXCEPT for no. 6.
That’s not about race (race is a social construct and biologically does not hold water) that is about CULTURE. I totally agree that growing up with two easily identifiable parents of different cultures will yield a different experience, but let’s stop muddying the concept of biological race. If you are not going around dna haplotyping people then you are not qualified to say just by looking what admixture a “black” person is. Also, by doing that you are exhibiting the same behavior you are fighting against i.e. telling another that their smaller percentage of admixture (presumably)is not significant enough to warrant acknowledgment? I really object to that. I remember a bi-cultural writer constantly referring to black people as “monoracial”. That’s a crap, unscientific concept and was just as biased as the bias she herself seemed to be objecting to.
I don’t have a problem with the mixed chicks brand or label, but I do have a problem with people who fight for their identity turning around and telling others what their identities should and should not be.
this. this. THIS!
Well when we all need some bone marrow we can decide what box to tick.
I think part of that statement, which I’ve made myself is how people use it as if it’s no biggie because we’re all mixed anyway when that isn’t true, not that she’s saying you’re less mixed than I am. Or the fact that how it impacts you as a person is different. For example my grandfather is mixed with Indian. That’s all I know Indian I assume Native American and not that one of his parents are from India.
He died when I was young and it’s not something that’s spoken on often, we have no clue of anything apart from knowing he was mixed. But for a person that was raised by a parent that’s Native American, they will have an altogether different experience than someone that just knows they have Indian in their family.
Donna I understand that. Truly I do that’s why I said it’s about culture dictating experience NOT race. If I’m Bi-cultural, and one of my parents dies and I never knew that person does that make me any less “mixed”? Because I never knew them does that mean that I can’t claim their genes and heritage? That’s the situation for many many African Americans. Just because we didn’t ( weren’t allowed to in most cases) grow up with our ancestors and all their customs and experiences does not void of us the right to acknowledge them.
Who gets to decide that I’m “monoracial” and that I therefore can’t sincerely embrace a multi-cultural experience of life? That’s as ignorant to me as saying Tiger Woods has to identify himself as black when he was raised by an Asian mother.
My bottom line to the author of this post – PLEASE don’t tell me who I am as an African-American, because I surely wouldn’t dare to try to define you.
#cosign
I totally agree with you, Anonda. I felt the writer just completey wrote off African Americans who embrace their distant ancestral heritage, be it Cherokee, Caucasian, Hopi or whatever. No African American is pure Nigerian or Ghanaian, etc. Just because I may not know all of what I am mixed with, I don’t have a right to embrace what I do know of? Sounds like she just basically reversed the “one drop rule”. So instead of the usual if you have one drop of Black blood then you are Black, she seems to imply unless you are directly mixed with something you don’t get to claim anything else but Black, who cares what your ancestors were. She herself said “The term mixed-race does not apply to skin colour”. So, what? That statement applies to everyone but African Americans? She also goes on to say “…what it is like to grow-up with a mixed heritage and the chances they have been affected by it is close to nil.” Try growing up being told you are simply a color (Black) and not having a clue who or what you really are. That in and of itself is a tragedy. She closes by saying “Be proud to be who you are. It is not right to pass judgement on a person unless you have ever walked in their shoes.” So, if I, an African American/Black woman, wants to claim I am mixed because of my great great grandmother being 1/2 Choctaw, that’s MY choice and you don’t have a right to judge me, right? Thought so….
I agree with Cherie completely. And I wanted to add that most African Americans do not know how mixed they are. Take Henry Louis Gates, he has no recent mixing in his bloodline. Even so, after taking a blood test he found out that genetically he is 1/2 white. If that isn’t mixed I don’t know what is. Another thing to think about when telling someone that “yes some African-Americans do have traces of mixed ancestry, but this cannot be compared to someone living through current ‘mixed-race’ experiences and who has a significant percentage of mixture of races to affect their daily lives. The majority of mixed-race people do not have to search their ancestry in order to find a mixture of other races.” Alot of Dark African American parents have children who appear to be mixed. Alot of mixed race people have dark children. In other words whether you want to acknowledge it or not, the MAJORITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE MIXED. Most acknowledge it, but don’t feel the need to state it. It just is what it is.
thank you! I was with the writer until she said that. no, i do not have one parent that is native american and one that is black, but my life experience and the history of my grandparents and their parents and their parents were defined by the indian nation that enslaved them, and that were also their brethren. so yeah, i might be 1/16 Choctaw, but I am involved in both the Native and Black communities and I know my history and traditions. I’m not just someone walking around claiming to be Indian. By using point #6 in my mind, you make all your other points moot, and judge others just as you’re saying mixed-race people should not be.
exactly! that is where she lost me…
I agree with the poster. However, I do not think the “debate” about the Mixedchicks tweets had anything to do with identity as much as it did exclusion and division. Mixedchicks did not tweet on a “mixed-persons” board, but on a board with “black” Americans who have a long history of making a big deal out of someone’s skintone. If you are mixed-race, you are mixed-race and should be able to identify as that and be happy with it.:)
honestly, i’m tired of the whole mixed chicks debate/backlash. yes, what they said was ignorant. yes, it’s ignorant of people being on any team related to race/skin color. yes, it’s ignorant of people to make insensitive comments because of race.
at the end of the day, there are more pressing issues to deal with besides twitter beef. know who you are, think before you tweet if you’re representing a brand, and ignore the negativity.
http://msjanelle.blogspot.com
I completely agree!!
I agree 100%…
Yes! This is so true! I’m tired of the back and forth and all the drama it causes. Here is my call to all mixed girls and black girls:
http://mixedreamers.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-mixed-girls-for-black-girls.html
I agree with freeyourheart. This article is way too long (sorry didn’t read it). These post are way too long. This conversation is wait for it………Way Too Long. Let’s move out.
Yes! Thank you! I am tired of this issue too! I am also tired of people having to defend their heritage on this blog. This is supposed to be a space for education and healing. Not one that promotes separation.