Racial issues in DCPS for mixed race kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this to be a very intriguing thread, which has brought to the forefront something very difficult for everyone- a changing of the status quo. People with biracial ancestry- 1st generation, 2nd generation, "light-skinned blacks with green eyes, etc"... are finding themselves comfortable in this era to challenge racial stereotypes of the past. And this is uncomfortable. I'm a first generation biracial (1/2 MGM and half white- technically 1/4 AA) and I can tell you that the MGMs on my mom's side who look white never felt comfortable calling themselves black. They very much wanted to assert the DNA that gave them blue/green eyes, which was European, but pressure from the black community forced them into the closet. I have a great-aunt who's in her 90s and she has told us stories of prejudice she endured by AAs in her community. Certainly, not all AAs are guilty of oppressing biracials, but there are many. This thread is the first that I've read pulling the veil of secrecy and shame off of this evil behavior. This discussion where this is discussed is upsetting to many because it's uncomfortable and AAs have been given a pass for the behavior. Whatever the case, I keep drawing the conclusion that what is important here is that people need to define themselves. Whites, AAs and biracials don't get to choose for others. That right is inherent in the individual. Period.

Sorry, but the bolded really gave me pause! Based on your aunt's age, and the horribly racist, segregted time she lived in, it sounds like what you're saying is she could have and WANTED to assert her European heritage, translation: "pass" (a hugely fraught term with all kinds of personal/political implications) as white and other black people resented her for it. I can really symapthize with the black people in this position!!! I remember an Oprah episode about how family membes who were out in the world "passing" often wanted nothing to do with their black-looking relatives for fear of being outed themselves. (The show was about family reunions.) Not to say your aunt did this, but just to point out that for a 90-year old, yeah, there would have been some really understandable tension b/w a white-looking MGM wanted to "assert" that and other blacks back then. I can understand where all sides were coming from...

Wow! Racist alert! You are the very person biracials have to fear. People who hate biracials that acknowledge their European ancestry. Not sure why. Jealousy, maybe. Self-hatred maybe! Whatever the case, hope you're not a parent. My aunt wanted to be acknowledged as biracial. Not white. However, she would have been slaughtered by the black community if she had done so. And as far as people resenting her for making her choices about her race, that says more about them and you. Biracial people don't owe you a damn thing. They have the right to exist in their skin exactly as they are- African AND European. You're unhappy with your skin. That's your problem. How about you get some integrity and dignity about yourself.

Calm down. I think it's funny you think I'm out to get you. I'm biracial (half black/half white), identify as such, and have posted a bunch of stuff in this thread that is completely along the lines of your post. You probably even agreed with it. But seriously, take a deep breath and try to understand what I'm saying. Your aunt is 90! Meaning she was there when the civil rights movement was really really important and people were literally dying because they were black. At that time, I can understand the impulse of the black community toward solidarity. Whether your aunt wanted to call herself "biracial" or "white" or whatever -- at that time, it would have seemed like a partially significant rejection of a community that was in crisis mode. Particularly against the background of the whole cultural issue of people who DID want to "pass" and deny blackness entirely for a variety of (understandable, given the times!) reasons, one important one of which was access to political/social rights that were denied to blacks. Look, maybe you're on edge because there have been a couple trolls in this thread, but I'm really not out to get you! I'm just saying, think about it from all sides.

I think you need to take a step back and a deep breath and try to be empathetic to biracial people from all eras. They've faced oppression you haven't. Perhaps instead of judging them you should try to be a bigger person and support their right to identify as they see themselves, regardless of the prevailing racial paradigms on the time. A 90 year old has every right to assert biracial because that is who she is and you don't get to decide for her. Simple. I urge you to stop being so obtuse and do some self reflection a bit. Perhaps you're the troll you've mentioned. Good day!

PP, are YOU capable of being empathetic to black people from all eras? It goes both ways.

You sound unhinged. AAs have been the victims of systemic racism, which prevails today. That does not mean it is acceptable to oppress biracial people. Any way you slice the deck, ill-treatment of biracial people has to end. In an era where this happens I think you'll find AAs treated more fairly as well because it will mean our culture has become more tolerant. You'll also find less xenophobia, homophobia and other ills we'll availed for far too long. I don't believe this will happen in my time but perhaps by the time my children older. The racism and hatred is so ingrained you can't get rid of it from people raised in the thick of it. My family will continue to be quiet avengers by protesting in this very simple manner- treating others with respect, minding our own business, and not worrying about boxes others check. Hope some DCUMers will do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

I tend to disagree with the idea that it's not possible. The Washington DC Metropolitan Area is very diverse and in addition to there being interracial couples and bi-racial children all over, this is also one of the most transient cities in the country where people come here from all over (Afghans, Ethiopians, Indians, Cambodians, etc.) so on any given day if you walk around some of the government offices downtown there are dozens of people who you can't tell what race they are - and I think that's a good thing actually. The preoccupation with race, period, has been nothing but drama and headache for this country ever since it was first ingrained into our culture. Why? Because of the accompanying stereotypes that are associated with race. Blacks act like this and whites act like that and blacks do this and whites do that...its all bullshit. So in that regard as it relates to stupid stereotypes I think everyone just wants to be left alone and be themselves but since society is still very much preoccupied with race, bi-racials may very well be the key to finally ridding ourselves of this curse because there are no prevailing stereotypes about bi-racials. As more and more bi-racials move away from being forced to identify as "this" or "that" the more society will become accustomed to taking people as they are and not prejudging people on how they look. Good for 2065 (hopefully fifty years is enough).

X 1000 can't wait till it's pure silliness to label someone this or that. My great grands should be fine then!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find this to be a very intriguing thread, which has brought to the forefront something very difficult for everyone- a changing of the status quo. People with biracial ancestry- 1st generation, 2nd generation, "light-skinned blacks with green eyes, etc"... are finding themselves comfortable in this era to challenge racial stereotypes of the past. And this is uncomfortable. I'm a first generation biracial (1/2 MGM and half white- technically 1/4 AA) and I can tell you that the MGMs on my mom's side who look white never felt comfortable calling themselves black. They very much wanted to assert the DNA that gave them blue/green eyes, which was European, but pressure from the black community forced them into the closet. I have a great-aunt who's in her 90s and she has told us stories of prejudice she endured by AAs in her community. Certainly, not all AAs are guilty of oppressing biracials, but there are many. This thread is the first that I've read pulling the veil of secrecy and shame off of this evil behavior. This discussion where this is discussed is upsetting to many because it's uncomfortable and AAs have been given a pass for the behavior. Whatever the case, I keep drawing the conclusion that what is important here is that people need to define themselves. Whites, AAs and biracials don't get to choose for others. That right is inherent in the individual. Period.

Sorry, but the bolded really gave me pause! Based on your aunt's age, and the horribly racist, segregted time she lived in, it sounds like what you're saying is she could have and WANTED to assert her European heritage, translation: "pass" (a hugely fraught term with all kinds of personal/political implications) as white and other black people resented her for it. I can really symapthize with the black people in this position!!! I remember an Oprah episode about how family membes who were out in the world "passing" often wanted nothing to do with their black-looking relatives for fear of being outed themselves. (The show was about family reunions.) Not to say your aunt did this, but just to point out that for a 90-year old, yeah, there would have been some really understandable tension b/w a white-looking MGM wanted to "assert" that and other blacks back then. I can understand where all sides were coming from...

Wow! Racist alert! You are the very person biracials have to fear. People who hate biracials that acknowledge their European ancestry. Not sure why. Jealousy, maybe. Self-hatred maybe! Whatever the case, hope you're not a parent. My aunt wanted to be acknowledged as biracial. Not white. However, she would have been slaughtered by the black community if she had done so. And as far as people resenting her for making her choices about her race, that says more about them and you. Biracial people don't owe you a damn thing. They have the right to exist in their skin exactly as they are- African AND European. You're unhappy with your skin. That's your problem. How about you get some integrity and dignity about yourself.

Calm down. I think it's funny you think I'm out to get you. I'm biracial (half black/half white), identify as such, and have posted a bunch of stuff in this thread that is completely along the lines of your post. You probably even agreed with it. But seriously, take a deep breath and try to understand what I'm saying. Your aunt is 90! Meaning she was there when the civil rights movement was really really important and people were literally dying because they were black. At that time, I can understand the impulse of the black community toward solidarity. Whether your aunt wanted to call herself "biracial" or "white" or whatever -- at that time, it would have seemed like a partially significant rejection of a community that was in crisis mode. Particularly against the background of the whole cultural issue of people who DID want to "pass" and deny blackness entirely for a variety of (understandable, given the times!) reasons, one important one of which was access to political/social rights that were denied to blacks. Look, maybe you're on edge because there have been a couple trolls in this thread, but I'm really not out to get you! I'm just saying, think about it from all sides.

I think you need to take a step back and a deep breath and try to be empathetic to biracial people from all eras. They've faced oppression you haven't. Perhaps instead of judging them you should try to be a bigger person and support their right to identify as they see themselves, regardless of the prevailing racial paradigms on the time. A 90 year old has every right to assert biracial because that is who she is and you don't get to decide for her. Simple. I urge you to stop being so obtuse and do some self reflection a bit. Perhaps you're the troll you've mentioned. Good day!

PP, are YOU capable of being empathetic to black people from all eras? It goes both ways.

You sound unhinged. AAs have been the victims of systemic racism, which prevails today. That does not mean it is acceptable to oppress biracial people. Any way you slice the deck, ill-treatment of biracial people has to end. In an era where this happens I think you'll find AAs treated more fairly as well because it will mean our culture has become more tolerant. You'll also find less xenophobia, homophobia and other ills we'll availed for far too long. I don't believe this will happen in my time but perhaps by the time my children older. The racism and hatred is so ingrained you can't get rid of it from people raised in the thick of it. My family will continue to be quiet avengers by protesting in this very simple manner- treating others with respect, minding our own business, and not worrying about boxes others check. Hope some DCUMers will do the same.

Are you talking to me? I sound unhinged because I asked the PP to emphathize with the other side, too? Um, huh? I completely agree that it's not acceptable for anyone to oppress else. To do that, it helps for everyone to respect everyone else's experiences -- that goes both way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are bi-racial (white/Asian) adults as hateful as many of these Black/White biracials posting.

IKR Now when I say hello to a biracial person I'll have to wonder if they think I'm plotting to "claim" them and drag them into my miserable black existence

Seriously I need to stay off this website, just makes me dislike everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

No one is talking about today/this century! I completely agree with you that it's not your job to inform anyone of your racial make-up. More power to you - identify any way you want. I'm the one who brought up passing in a specifc historical context, when it was an issue that people dealt with very consciously (distancing family members, straightened hair, etc. and so on) so if anyone's interested in educating themselves about that history and its lingering impact on some of the issues we've been discussing, I encourage them to do so. Google it. There's a wikipedia page on it! No need to get defensive over a reference to a historical issue that actually was an issue (that some people here just seem kind of ignorant about). I'm not suggesting somehow the same "rules" apply today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

How are the NOVA whites and Persians "more sophisticated" in their racism? Just curious....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

How are the NOVA whites and Persians "more sophisticated" in their racism? Just curious....

They smile with a kink in their eye and your kid never gets a play date. You know the types.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

How are the NOVA whites and Persians "more sophisticated" in their racism? Just curious....

They smile with a kink in their eye and your kid never gets a play date. You know the types.

that sucks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I would not recommend raising a biracial child in the area. Too much baggage. Really, biracials just want to be left alone. This thread illustrates that may not be possible. Sad for 2015.

So, where is this utopia where I should raise my biracial children? I grew up in Los Angeles (the U.S.' unofficial biracial Mecca), and all of the issues discussed on this thread were present in LA. There is no perfect place to raise a biracial child.

Stay away from ungentrified DC and PG County. Too many one-drop perpetuators. You could try NoVa. More tolerant of biracials on the one hand, but you'll deal with more sophisticated racists in whites, Persians, etc... No where is perfect. Also, the comments about the passing bs are dumb. If I'm walking my white-appearing ass down the street and people assume im white that's on them. I'm not passing. I'm minding my own damn bidniss. It's not my job to make sure people know I'm part AA. They have yet to pay a bill of mine.

Please expound...what is a one-drop perpetrator?

[Anonymous]

As this thread has demonstrated, this can be a sensitive issue. A lot of the sensitivity among African Americans comes from their particular history, in which those mixed race blacks who were able to "pass" for white did so to escape racism and oppression. Sometimes these individuals were seen as simply trying to get by and have a better life and more opportunities. Others effectively crossed over into white society and never looked back, and cut off their black relatives. I think this is where the resentment comes from historically--the denial, in some cases, of one's black ancestry in an attempt to be accepted in white society during the Jim Crow era.

Take this reporter, for instance, in a relatively recent instance of "passing"--he left New Orleans and moved to Greenwich Village, and ceased contact w/his black/Creole relatives. He married a white woman, and only right before he died did his daughter find out his "secret" (i.e., that he was part black). I read his daughter's account of how she then reached out to her black/Creole relatives, whom she previously didn't know existed. Really quite interesting.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatole_Broyard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As this thread has demonstrated, this can be a sensitive issue. A lot of the sensitivity among African Americans comes from their particular history, in which those mixed race blacks who were able to "pass" for white did so to escape racism and oppression. Sometimes these individuals were seen as simply trying to get by and have a better life and more opportunities. Others effectively crossed over into white society and never looked back, and cut off their black relatives. I think this is where the resentment comes from historically--the denial, in some cases, of one's black ancestry in an attempt to be accepted in white society during the Jim Crow era.

Take this reporter, for instance, in a relatively recent instance of "passing"--he left New Orleans and moved to Greenwich Village, and ceased contact w/his black/Creole relatives. He married a white woman, and only right before he died did his daughter find out his "secret" (i.e., that he was part black). I read his daughter's account of how she then reached out to her black/Creole relatives, whom she previously didn't know existed. Really quite interesting.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatole_Broyard

Forgot to mention Philip Roth's "The Human Stain" and Danzy Senna's "Caucasia" as fictional accounts that wrestle with passing and related issues.

[Anonymous]

I've always said, "Black people are some screwed up people". This thread is proving me correct. And as for the biracial White/Black peeps, it must be the Black DNA that's proving your crazy in this thread.

[Anonymous]

This is an interesting thread. I am white but expecting a baby boy with my Chinese American husband. I think people judge based on what they see and know.... I am white, my parents and grandparents are white but have been told I look like Mariah Carey, including by my husband. I know, I know that may or may not be a compliment lol. In fact I was recently having blood taken and the AA phlebotimist asked me if I was white? My half Chinese half Vietnamese friend told me she thought I was mixed. I have pale skin that tans well and dark brown/ greenish olive eyes. My hair color is brown to light blonde depending on the light or if I have gotten highlights recently. My Chinese relatives have also asked if I was mixed- are all of these people seeing something that others do not when they look at me?

Growing up in my lily white neighborhood in upstate NY no one ever questioned me about my background or my ethnicity. I can't wait to meet my baby boy and see what he looks like but I wonder if we will ever live in a post racial world free from the boxes some people seem to want to put biracial people in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've always said, "Black people are some screwed up people". This thread is proving me correct. And as for the biracial White/Black peeps, it must be the Black DNA that's proving your crazy in this thread.

Yes, like white people are so sane and without issues. Or any people for that matter. Give me a break.