Racial issues in DCPS for mixed race kids

[Anonymous]

Ladies, DCUM is the wrong place to air your dirty laundry. Just sayin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, DCUM is the wrong place to air your dirty laundry. Just sayin

Why? Are non-whites and/or ppl with non-white children only welcome on DCUM if we stick to topics like our Prius, school closings, and yoga pants fashion?

Please let me know if there's a special auxiliary website you'd like us to take our unsettling "race" discussion.

[Anonymous]

This thread shows that prejudiced AAs will let go of biracials kicking and screaming, all while claiming they don't care etc... Very scary and another reason for biracials to mind their own business and quietly assert their right to all of their heritage. Any outwardly vocal assertion will likely result in unhappy people accusing the biracial of hatred of AAs, of not wanting to be black, etc... I'm just glad we don't live around this sort of troubled crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies, DCUM is the wrong place to air your dirty laundry. Just sayin

It has been very informative. I knew about the one-drop rule but didn't realize that biracials were still being harassed about it these days.

[Anonymous]

I really don't think biracials are being harassed about their identity. I think that the way race is lived is highly personal. This discussion includes issues of color and class. There is also a strong undercurrent of power which is part of discussions of racism. If someone on the street says you are black and you don't feel that way, that person at most has made you have a bad day. If someone excludes you from an opportunity because of your race and/or ethnicity this is something completely different. The challenge in a school setting is that you want your child to be treated with respect and not discriminated against.

I grew up in urban and suburban settings. I was teased by some black kids growing up in the urban setting, but I was excluded by white teachers from extracurricular activities because I was not white or "white enough" (hair not straight enough). I cannot recall a single incident of teasing although it happened relatively frequently (at least a few times per week), but the incident with the teachers makes my blood boil to this day.

- A biracial person who self-identifies as black, but is often perceived as not being black

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think biracials are being harassed about their identity. I think that the way race is lived is highly personal. This discussion includes issues of color and class. There is also a strong undercurrent of power which is part of discussions of racism. If someone on the street says you are black and you don't feel that way, that person at most has made you have a bad day. If someone excludes you from an opportunity because of your race and/or ethnicity this is something completely different. The challenge in a school setting is that you want your child to be treated with respect and not discriminated against.

I grew up in urban and suburban settings. I was teased by some black kids growing up in the urban setting, but I was excluded by white teachers from extracurricular activities because I was not white or "white enough" (hair not straight enough). I cannot recall a single incident of teasing although it happened relatively frequently (at least a few times per week), but the incident with the teachers makes my blood boil to this day.

- A biracial person who self-identifies as black, but is often perceived as not being black

Great points. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

^^ PP - forgot to mention the urban schools were about 85% black. The odds that any teasing I received would be by a black child were sky high because almost all the kids were black. I think that this may be altering people's perceptions of their childhood. Many neighborhoods in this country were highly segregated therefore the schools were mostly black or white.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think biracials are being harassed about their identity. I think that the way race is lived is highly personal. This discussion includes issues of color and class. There is also a strong undercurrent of power which is part of discussions of racism. If someone on the street says you are black and you don't feel that way, that person at most has made you have a bad day. If someone excludes you from an opportunity because of your race and/or ethnicity this is something completely different. The challenge in a school setting is that you want your child to be treated with respect and not discriminated against.

I grew up in urban and suburban settings. I was teased by some black kids growing up in the urban setting, but I was excluded by white teachers from extracurricular activities because I was not white or "white enough" (hair not straight enough). I cannot recall a single incident of teasing although it happened relatively frequently (at least a few times per week), but the incident with the teachers makes my blood boil to this day.

- A biracial person who self-identifies as black, but is often perceived as not being black

How did your parents present to you issues of race/racism/opportunities, etc? I realize this is a vague and loaded question, but raising bi-racial children, as much as possible, I would like them to "be above" racial slurs will also subtly preparing them. To me, the fact that you don't recall teasing speaks volumes, whether it's the way your parents prepared you, or how you prepared yourself? That is useful information, at least to me. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think biracials are being harassed about their identity. I think that the way race is lived is highly personal. This discussion includes issues of color and class. There is also a strong undercurrent of power which is part of discussions of racism. If someone on the street says you are black and you don't feel that way, that person at most has made you have a bad day. If someone excludes you from an opportunity because of your race and/or ethnicity this is something completely different. The challenge in a school setting is that you want your child to be treated with respect and not discriminated against.

I grew up in urban and suburban settings. I was teased by some black kids growing up in the urban setting, but I was excluded by white teachers from extracurricular activities because I was not white or "white enough" (hair not straight enough). I cannot recall a single incident of teasing although it happened relatively frequently (at least a few times per week), but the incident with the teachers makes my blood boil to this day.

- A biracial person who self-identifies as black, but is often perceived as not being black

I really do think they are. That was my experience and something I here from other biracials frequently. Ironically, biracials who identify as black are quick to say the harrassment doesn't exist. That's part of the game to maintain the vail. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don't think biracials are being harassed about their identity. I think that the way race is lived is highly personal. This discussion includes issues of color and class. There is also a strong undercurrent of power which is part of discussions of racism. If someone on the street says you are black and you don't feel that way, that person at most has made you have a bad day. If someone excludes you from an opportunity because of your race and/or ethnicity this is something completely different. The challenge in a school setting is that you want your child to be treated with respect and not discriminated against.

I grew up in urban and suburban settings. I was teased by some black kids growing up in the urban setting, but I was excluded by white teachers from extracurricular activities because I was not white or "white enough" (hair not straight enough). I cannot recall a single incident of teasing although it happened relatively frequently (at least a few times per week), but the incident with the teachers makes my blood boil to this day.

- A biracial person who self-identifies as black, but is often perceived as not being black

I really do think they are. That was my experience and something I here from other biracials frequently. Ironically, biracials who identify as black are quick to say the harrassment doesn't exist. That's part of the game to maintain the vail. Sad.

I'm not the PP but I understand her to say they may be "teased" by some people (as PP was) but that's different from harassment, which at least to me has a more systemic/institutional sound to it. As a black/white biracial who does NOT identify as Black that rings true for my own personal experience. Some black kids teased me for acting white whatever, but at the same time one of my best friends in high school was black. I also experienced racism from whites and just because of the power dynamics of our country I experience that more as institutional discrimination rather than as a few bad apples. YMMV. P.S. I grew up in mostly white suburbs.

[Anonymous]

I also think a lot of the biracials who identify as black try to downplay the discrimination biracials who don't identify as black face. Because they are black- I'm accepting that as their race because they've chosen it, I find that many of them present some of the same oppressive behavior that many 'one drop' AAs present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend looking into Eaton. It has a lot of diversity, both racially & socio-economically, & very strong academics. We are a biracial family & have found it to be a warm, welcoming & inclusive environment.

I agree with this. As a mixed race family, the first thing I would look at, considering any school, is the demographic profile. No way I would send my kids to predominantly black school. Eaton's demographics mirror as closely as we would like to find for our family. If you look at DCPS you can compare school profile pages easily. If you do want a demographic profile that is not 80%+ white don't even bother looking at Janney, Key, Lafayette, Murch, or Mann.

Are you mixed raced? So whats the difference between a majority black school and a majority white one? Are black people an evil group of people or something? My goodness the racism and ignorance directed toward blacks in this thread is an eye opener. I'm not mad though I like hearing what "others" really think about my race no matter how ignorant. It lets me and my family know what the read deal is

+1000 This thread is so racist it's shocked.

I'm biracial, before you all start posting that I don't understand, and I'm appalled by the blanket statements by mother's of biracial children in this thread. I'm hoping and praying that the children are less prejudiced than their parents.

Could you explain what's so racist? I think people are getting upset that AAs are being criticized. That's not racist. The comments are directed at AAs who take it upon themselves to force racial identity on children. Certainly, white people have been guilty of this. AAs are too and deserve being called out. Perhaps the behavior will change, perhaps it won't. Until then biracial children are better off in diverse areas where they self-identification may be respected. In all black enclaves it's typical that the "one drop" rule will be acknowledged as valid. This disgusting racist viewpoint has no place in our society. And biracial kids don't deserve to be subjected to it.

And who CREATED that view point? Def not African Americans...blacks accepted "mixed" people into their community because they faced the same hardships and discrimination as fully black people. Had blacks turned their backs on mixed raced people you all would be whining about that. Blacks accepting bi racial people has nothing to do with some silly stupid notion of "keeping our numbers up"...thats something white racist worry about, that has never been an issue or discussion in the black community. Its almost laughable that Bi racial people actual think that. I know plenty of Bi racial kids who grew up in black enclaves and none has the mental issues or anger towards AA like the bi racial people posting in this thread. Its clear you dont like AA period, it has nothing to do with some one drop rule or your experience with AA...because I seriously doubt you have EVER lived around AA...I'm 100 percent positive you grew up mostly around whites which is where your anger, hatred, and rage towards AA comes from

Oh super -- now you're generalizing! Every biracial person you know had a super positive experience therefore everyone else is delusional! And everyone nows the one-drop rule is the creation of white supremacists but that doesn't mean that SOME black people haven't internalized it and perpetuated it in their treatment of biracial people.

My point is those people in this thread Attacking AA have no experience growing up with them, they are BIGOTS hiding behind a bi racial excuse. They dont like blacks REGARDLESS...its super annoying that they dont just come out and say it. I'm sorry black people dont go around bad mouthing and attacking biracial people. Obama didn't have this issue nor Halle, nor did Anthony G. Brown. Yes someone will say something ignorant towards you at least once in your life...but to make it seem as if cultural blacks are this angry group of people bent on attacking biracial people and trying to kidnap them into their group is LUDICROUS. There are a bunch of Biracial people with a 'white supremist" attitude

President Obama, Halle Berry and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown don't get much flack from black people because they publicly identify as black. If President Obama had stressed that he was biracial throughout his campaign, you would have MOST LIKELY seen a very different response from a large swath of the AA community. If you need an example, please see Tiger Woods--or anyone else who strongly states their bi/multiracialism. I'm certainly not saying that ALL AAs try to force biracial people to "just choose black." However, there is often a strong negative reaction when biracial people simply state "I'm biracial." You may be familiar with such responses as: "You must think you're better than me;" "You just don't want to be black;" "You must not have grown up around black people."

Tiger Woods is a good example. I do recall his white colleagues being concerned that he would elect to have collard greens and fried chicken served when he won the Masters (or whichever tournament it was). This is the type of thing that your AA friends are referring to when warning you about the painful reality of "feeling white or biracial" but being perceived as black. Despite his biracial assertions and his clearly Asian mother in attendance at all of his tournaments, Tiger has had to deal with the reality that there are some whites AND blacks who simply do not acknowledge his biracial heritage. The response from some in the black community is based in the understanding that race is something that cannot be simply proclaimed. As much as you want to deny or reject it, race is as much about your perception of yourself as it is about others perception of you. I imagine that biracial children who look wholly one race or the other have a much easier time if they simply embrace their racial appearance than those that are clearly a physical reflection of both their black and white heritage. It seems to me that the negativity experienced at either the hands of whites or blacks has much to do with the tensions and awful history that exist between these communities. Do biracial children with one Asian parent and one white parent have the same experiences? The negativity and generalizations that are being spewed on this thread by some seems to be misdirected at the AA community. Why? We simply did not create the atmosphere of negative race relations that your child is left to navigate. The blame for that rest with that proportion of your ancestry that is of the lighter hue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend looking into Eaton. It has a lot of diversity, both racially & socio-economically, & very strong academics. We are a biracial family & have found it to be a warm, welcoming & inclusive environment.

I agree with this. As a mixed race family, the first thing I would look at, considering any school, is the demographic profile. No way I would send my kids to predominantly black school. Eaton's demographics mirror as closely as we would like to find for our family. If you look at DCPS you can compare school profile pages easily. If you do want a demographic profile that is not 80%+ white don't even bother looking at Janney, Key, Lafayette, Murch, or Mann.

Are you mixed raced? So whats the difference between a majority black school and a majority white one? Are black people an evil group of people or something? My goodness the racism and ignorance directed toward blacks in this thread is an eye opener. I'm not mad though I like hearing what "others" really think about my race no matter how ignorant. It lets me and my family know what the read deal is

Stop being so dramatic. This thread is discussing the hardships biracial children face if they choose to be labeled as biracial versus one race. There has been criticism aimed at AAs who make the self-determination of biracial children difficult. This BS about what "others" think, etc.. is over the top. What "others" think is that AAs should be a part of solution for biracial children by allowing and encouraging them to self-identify as biracial. Get a grip.

First you are telling AAs to fuck off and leave biracials alone, and now you are saying they should be a part of the solution. Identify however you want, but I think there are some truly angry people, or maybe just one or two, on this thread who perhaps need therapy. Again, my family did not experience this hatred from the AA community and our hues run the gamut from light to dark. And again, we did find the discrimination from the whites. Of course, we weren't allowed in their neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend looking into Eaton. It has a lot of diversity, both racially & socio-economically, & very strong academics. We are a biracial family & have found it to be a warm, welcoming & inclusive environment.

I agree with this. As a mixed race family, the first thing I would look at, considering any school, is the demographic profile. No way I would send my kids to predominantly black school. Eaton's demographics mirror as closely as we would like to find for our family. If you look at DCPS you can compare school profile pages easily. If you do want a demographic profile that is not 80%+ white don't even bother looking at Janney, Key, Lafayette, Murch, or Mann.

Are you mixed raced? So whats the difference between a majority black school and a majority white one? Are black people an evil group of people or something? My goodness the racism and ignorance directed toward blacks in this thread is an eye opener. I'm not mad though I like hearing what "others" really think about my race no matter how ignorant. It lets me and my family know what the read deal is

+1000 This thread is so racist it's shocked.

I'm biracial, before you all start posting that I don't understand, and I'm appalled by the blanket statements by mother's of biracial children in this thread. I'm hoping and praying that the children are less prejudiced than their parents.

Could you explain what's so racist? I think people are getting upset that AAs are being criticized. That's not racist. The comments are directed at AAs who take it upon themselves to force racial identity on children. Certainly, white people have been guilty of this. AAs are too and deserve being called out. Perhaps the behavior will change, perhaps it won't. Until then biracial children are better off in diverse areas where they self-identification may be respected. In all black enclaves it's typical that the "one drop" rule will be acknowledged as valid. This disgusting racist viewpoint has no place in our society. And biracial kids don't deserve to be subjected to it.

And who CREATED that view point? Def not African Americans...blacks accepted "mixed" people into their community because they faced the same hardships and discrimination as fully black people. Had blacks turned their backs on mixed raced people you all would be whining about that. Blacks accepting bi racial people has nothing to do with some silly stupid notion of "keeping our numbers up"...thats something white racist worry about, that has never been an issue or discussion in the black community. Its almost laughable that Bi racial people actual think that. I know plenty of Bi racial kids who grew up in black enclaves and none has the mental issues or anger towards AA like the bi racial people posting in this thread. Its clear you dont like AA period, it has nothing to do with some one drop rule or your experience with AA...because I seriously doubt you have EVER lived around AA...I'm 100 percent positive you grew up mostly around whites which is where your anger, hatred, and rage towards AA comes from

Oh super -- now you're generalizing! Every biracial person you know had a super positive experience therefore everyone else is delusional! And everyone nows the one-drop rule is the creation of white supremacists but that doesn't mean that SOME black people haven't internalized it and perpetuated it in their treatment of biracial people.

My point is those people in this thread Attacking AA have no experience growing up with them, they are BIGOTS hiding behind a bi racial excuse. They dont like blacks REGARDLESS...its super annoying that they dont just come out and say it. I'm sorry black people dont go around bad mouthing and attacking biracial people. Obama didn't have this issue nor Halle, nor did Anthony G. Brown. Yes someone will say something ignorant towards you at least once in your life...but to make it seem as if cultural blacks are this angry group of people bent on attacking biracial people and trying to kidnap them into their group is LUDICROUS. There are a bunch of Biracial people with a 'white supremist" attitude

President Obama, Halle Berry and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown don't get much flack from black people because they publicly identify as black. If President Obama had stressed that he was biracial throughout his campaign, you would have MOST LIKELY seen a very different response from a large swath of the AA community. If you need an example, please see Tiger Woods--or anyone else who strongly states their bi/multiracialism. I'm certainly not saying that ALL AAs try to force biracial people to "just choose black." However, there is often a strong negative reaction when biracial people simply state "I'm biracial." You may be familiar with such responses as: "You must think you're better than me;" "You just don't want to be black;" "You must not have grown up around black people."

This. This. This! President Obama purposefully chose black instead of checking more than one box on the US Census for the sole purpose of not upsetting AAs. He had theopportunity to start the national conversation and he didn't I was saddened by that behavior. I hope another national figure with courage will one day get the gumption to "come out". Biraical children are waiting.

Now you have the supernatural ability to read hearts and minds, while also insisting which boxes they should check. If you don't want people insisting which box you check, you have no right insisting which box others check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd recommend looking into Eaton. It has a lot of diversity, both racially & socio-economically, & very strong academics. We are a biracial family & have found it to be a warm, welcoming & inclusive environment.

I agree with this. As a mixed race family, the first thing I would look at, considering any school, is the demographic profile. No way I would send my kids to predominantly black school. Eaton's demographics mirror as closely as we would like to find for our family. If you look at DCPS you can compare school profile pages easily. If you do want a demographic profile that is not 80%+ white don't even bother looking at Janney, Key, Lafayette, Murch, or Mann.

Are you mixed raced? So whats the difference between a majority black school and a majority white one? Are black people an evil group of people or something? My goodness the racism and ignorance directed toward blacks in this thread is an eye opener. I'm not mad though I like hearing what "others" really think about my race no matter how ignorant. It lets me and my family know what the read deal is

+1000 This thread is so racist it's shocked.

I'm biracial, before you all start posting that I don't understand, and I'm appalled by the blanket statements by mother's of biracial children in this thread. I'm hoping and praying that the children are less prejudiced than their parents.

Could you explain what's so racist? I think people are getting upset that AAs are being criticized. That's not racist. The comments are directed at AAs who take it upon themselves to force racial identity on children. Certainly, white people have been guilty of this. AAs are too and deserve being called out. Perhaps the behavior will change, perhaps it won't. Until then biracial children are better off in diverse areas where they self-identification may be respected. In all black enclaves it's typical that the "one drop" rule will be acknowledged as valid. This disgusting racist viewpoint has no place in our society. And biracial kids don't deserve to be subjected to it.

And who CREATED that view point? Def not African Americans...blacks accepted "mixed" people into their community because they faced the same hardships and discrimination as fully black people. Had blacks turned their backs on mixed raced people you all would be whining about that. Blacks accepting bi racial people has nothing to do with some silly stupid notion of "keeping our numbers up"...thats something white racist worry about, that has never been an issue or discussion in the black community. Its almost laughable that Bi racial people actual think that. I know plenty of Bi racial kids who grew up in black enclaves and none has the mental issues or anger towards AA like the bi racial people posting in this thread. Its clear you dont like AA period, it has nothing to do with some one drop rule or your experience with AA...because I seriously doubt you have EVER lived around AA...I'm 100 percent positive you grew up mostly around whites which is where your anger, hatred, and rage towards AA comes from

Oh super -- now you're generalizing! Every biracial person you know had a super positive experience therefore everyone else is delusional! And everyone nows the one-drop rule is the creation of white supremacists but that doesn't mean that SOME black people haven't internalized it and perpetuated it in their treatment of biracial people.

My point is those people in this thread Attacking AA have no experience growing up with them, they are BIGOTS hiding behind a bi racial excuse. They dont like blacks REGARDLESS...its super annoying that they dont just come out and say it. I'm sorry black people dont go around bad mouthing and attacking biracial people. Obama didn't have this issue nor Halle, nor did Anthony G. Brown. Yes someone will say something ignorant towards you at least once in your life...but to make it seem as if cultural blacks are this angry group of people bent on attacking biracial people and trying to kidnap them into their group is LUDICROUS. There are a bunch of Biracial people with a 'white supremist" attitude

President Obama, Halle Berry and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown don't get much flack from black people because they publicly identify as black. If President Obama had stressed that he was biracial throughout his campaign, you would have MOST LIKELY seen a very different response from a large swath of the AA community. If you need an example, please see Tiger Woods--or anyone else who strongly states their bi/multiracialism. I'm certainly not saying that ALL AAs try to force biracial people to "just choose black." However, there is often a strong negative reaction when biracial people simply state "I'm biracial." You may be familiar with such responses as: "You must think you're better than me;" "You just don't want to be black;" "You must not have grown up around black people."

This. This. This! President Obama purposefully chose black instead of checking more than one box on the US Census for the sole purpose of not upsetting AAs. He had theopportunity to start the national conversation and he didn't I was saddened by that behavior. I hope another national figure with courage will one day get the gumption to "come out". Biraical children are waiting.

Now you have the supernatural ability to read hearts and minds, while also insisting which boxes they should check. If you don't want people insisting which box you check, you have no right insisting which box others check.

+1

I found the bolded statement really weird. And it's not like Obama is "in the closet" about having a white mom. Huh? The man seems happy to identify as black to me... Read his damn book if you want his reasons that.