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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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. [b]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.[/b] 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.
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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...[/quote]

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.[/quote]

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.[/quote]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! :D [/quote]

Yeah, I do empathize biracials from that era.  Did you not read the part of my post where I said it would be understandable for the times for someone to want to pass?  I get it.  I'm not judging people for those choices.  I'm saying the countervailing reaction they might have gotten from self-identifying AAs is also understandable.  I'm definitely not the troll, but believe whatever you want.  [/quote]

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