Reply to Racial issues in DCPS for mixed race kids

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[quote=Anonymous]I am biracial and self-identify as black. Although I did not grow up in DC I had quite a bit of contact with teens from the area through Jack and Jill, which represented a small socio-economic elite of the black community. At least half the children in these social clubs could easily pass for white, but did not use MGM categories, they considered themselves blacks as did their parents.

It was always very clear to me that I was black because I knew many blacks who had blue/green eyes, pale white skin and straight hair. I am more light olive complexioned and my hair has curls. I tan and don't burn like they do. If these very light skinned AAs were black and looked white, clearly I had to be black.

These are the people written about in the book "Our Kind of People." This color dynamic is talked about in the movie "School Daze." Places like Howard have disproportionate numbers of these light skinned blacks. Some of the political elite in the city still look this way (think Gray). Unfortunately, having light skin still seems to still afford privileges at least for older generations, hopefully this will change for our kids. I know that I have benefitted from my color in ways that my immediate family that is darker skinned has not. Being biracial without light skin can also be a privilege -- having a highly educated white father with high earning power and the ability to live where the best schools are located is a privilege.

We need to have high standards for all children and stop making assumptions about ability and talent based on color.

Back to schools...I recently visited a JKLM and the teacher did not call on a black child and a bi-racial child that had their hands up. Instead she selected a white child who did not have a hand raised. The school debates in upper NW have made me feel extremely alienated because the "no OOB discussion" and constant harping on overcrowding has clear racial overtones (shouldn't THEY go where the kids are like them). These are my neighbors and they make me ashamed to live in this community.

As a product of a biracial family I want to be in a place where all the members of my family will be accepted if they visit for a school event. I also want a place that has high standards for all kids regardless of race. Where does that happen in DCPS, in elementary, middle and high school? [/quote]

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