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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOne White Parent - One Black Parent
That used to be called 'mulatto' - now it's bi-racial and on forms you can sometimes check 'other'.
I'm one of those women.
With it comes a set of experiences that causes you to view America through a different lens that a white woman.
We are going back to CHILDHOOD here.
For those in America whowish to defend Rachel D's right to 'claim' a series of experiences - go ahead.
But don't compare her to those of us (she's just a few years younger than me) who were born into and grew up in a family with a black parent and a white parent.
Because of her color - she did NOT have the same experiences as us.
And her color is the FAULT of her parents. Be angry with them - not black folks and bi-racial folks who don't accept her as one of us. The beef is with them.
How about - those in America that want to defend this insanity - how about they start taking pot shots at one of her parents for not doing her the favor of marrying/creating with a black person.
It seems to me that the issue could be with them. If Only one of them had done so -
Then Rachel wouldn't have been 'burdened' with growing up blonde haired and blue eyed in a household with two white parents - and in a country that treats that women that looked like she used to as something to be held and cherished (blonde haired blue eyed beauty standard).
Either the folks making this claim that she's 'bi-racial' are deliberately ignorant - or they are deliberately taking pot shots at mixed race people.
Set all of your science aside - science doesn't account for how white racists treat black people - and white people who cross the color line - in AMERICA.
And I really find it funny how white racists in America will ONLY come to a 'black woman's defense' when she is actually a WHITE WOMAN.
Their two faces are showing - they best be careful. Wouldn't want the mask to drop completely - and stay off.
bravenak
(34,648 posts)I feel super pissed about this in inexplicable ways.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)But when people make this argument / point -
I can't believe they are that ignorant to what the world is REALLY like?
Like - do these people live in Pleasantville? WTF?
I'm more like - someone needs to put Baby in the corner again.
ETA - this is what sparked this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6850450
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Same old same old.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)Because I think that was posted for no reason other than to stir up the shit pot- not out of ignorance.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)I didn't want to completely derail that thread - and I tend to agree with you on the intent of the OP.
Problem is - you can never just 'guess' at intent or accuse of intent - unless the poster declares it. Me- instead of derailing his thread - I figured -
Those who disagree with him could always just copy/paste my op until they knock it off!
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)I do disagree with the poster's thesis. It's totally ridiculous. I agree and disagree with some of what you wrote too.
As a mother of a bi-racial child, I don't feel that he is fucked up because of this or the fact that he has a white mother and a black father. When I asked him what he thought of this woman doing what she did, his answer was pretty much "so what?" He had to leave for work, so I'll talk to him more about it later when we have more time because I want to ask him how he thinks he would have felt if I had done what this woman did because it never occurred to me that what she did was even possible.
But what I do want to say (and you probably know this) is that white women who marry black men have their own set of obstacles to navigate through in life that are totally different than any other. We risk being rejected by our own families and we're not accepted into our partner's families either (my husbands brother even tried to convince him that our son was not his). People come up to us in restaurants and other places and ask us what our children are (to which my reply was always "he's a little boy." they stare at you, they make rude, nasty comments and faces and can generally make your life a living hell if you let them.
I'm suggesting that perhaps she felt she was not strong enough emotionally to make it through those obstacles as so many other inter racial couple have done and felt her life might be easier if she took on the role of a black woman?
Personally, I think she has some deep seated emotional problems that stem from her white parents. But I'm not going to make any more excuses for her and it's not what I was trying to do.
I do agree with you strongly on everything you wrote about our president and I also agree that she does not now or ever will have the life experiences of a bi-racial individual.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)My mom married my dad in 1969. 1969. That was not easy.
And it was far worse for him - because it was HIS mother (born at the turn of the last century that COULD have passed and chose not to) who was the most vicious about it all. All my mom's family saw was a lot of stripes, a beret, and army green.
His mother - terrible to my mom . . . until my brother was born. *sigh*
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)But yeah, there were individuals on both sides that were pretty nasty to us both.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)And that totally bit my grandmamma - on her ass.
Keep in mind - she as a bit lighter than me, with blue eyes and bone straight hair. I can't judge her though - she was born at the turn of the century and raised in Mississippi.
Her world was not an easy one to navigate. .
It's so much more than appearance - it's how we experience things.
Now - I'm married to a damn foreigner (husband is from Italy) - I've never worried about a child having issues with race . . . I've worried about crossing between the two worlds of Italian Hillbilly and Chi Chi Poo New Jersey.
There's a world of difference!
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)At one time his parents were sharecroppers from Louisiana. Our son is light skinned and people really can't tell what he is. Probably doesn't help that he was raised in a very diverse community. Arabs mistake him for Arabs. Hispanics mistake him for Hispanic. In fact, I remember he was working one summer for one of my nieces boyfriends doing landscaping and other odd jobs. One day he was working with a group of Latinos who spoke very little English. They were hired for a moving job for a white couple. My son told me that they assumed he was Hispanic and asked him to translate for them. He told me they were pretty surprised when he told them he couldn't speak Spanish.
I agree though, I can't begin to experience what he experiences or know how my son feels out there dealing with the world. From what he tells me, he experiences very little bigotry. His father had the patience of Job and the charm of a prince, maybe that is why or perhaps it is just the community we live in, but people just love him and are drawn to him. I was told once that he has a very old soul, I think that is true. But whatever the reason, I'm so very proud of the young man that he has grown into.
My grandmother was ahead of her time and a very open minded woman. She would have loved my husband and if she had known my son, I think he would have been spoiled beyond belief.
I'm familiar with Italian hillbillies though, a long time ex-boyfriend of mine was Italian, now that was a journey like no other. I have no idea what Chi Chi Poo New Jersey means though.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)The Calabrese - they are tough mountain people. I watched my mother in law throw items and make contact with her back to my husband and brothers for being so proud of the boar they had killed -
That they brought it into her kitchen. The kitchen in his town is the 'living room' in the US.
VS . . .
Chi Chi Poo New Jersey - My sister in laws came up with this when they came to visit us from abroad -
Everyone is so 'perfect' - and they look very very fake. They were amazed at the botox and fillers around here. I too have days where it's hard not stare.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)Don't know much about the region other than Northeast Italy.
Chi Chi Poo, I get it.
enough
(13,447 posts)Explores lives and thoughts of bi-racial people from a lot of different angles. A good read, and it has been in my mind a lot since I finished it.
A review:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/books/review/loving-day-by-mat-johnson.html?_r=0
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)The Color of Water - by James McBride -
It really nails it.
That's his autobiography.
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)I read it years ago.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)Because I read it right after my mom's paternal grandmother passed away - she was Jewish.
And whatever was in McBride's mother's head - was in my great grandmother nee Weiss' head. He nailed her heart space.
PS - are we gonna get silly today!
notadmblnd
(23,720 posts)KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)a lot of anger, resentment and hurt.
A couple of posts seemed like outright pot-stirring for no reason other than to inflame.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge your commentary. Thanks.
JustAnotherGen
(33,268 posts)I can't figure out why they are comparing a fraud to Caitlyn Jenner. Oh wait . . .
Oh - do you think?????
I do.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)H2O Man
(75,202 posts)Well said.
LexVegas
(6,497 posts)First, there are so-called progressives that are talking about "transracial" as if it is real. Then, there are several minorities that I have seen excusing this woman and comparing her to Caitlyn Jenner and saying "let her be what she wants to be". And they are doing nothing but carrying water for bigots that don't give a shit about oppressed minorities.
Solly Mack
(92,299 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)gollygee
(22,336 posts)"If people can choose to be any gender and any race, then there goes Title IX and affirmative action." I think that's one reason why people are supporting her. The thought of getting rid of anti-bias measures makes them giddy. The second is because it's an easy way to make transgender people seem to not be legitimately their gender, and it's a way to minimize what race and racism are and what their effect has been on people.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)Last edited Wed Jun 17, 2015, 04:53 PM - Edit history (1)
I thought at first she was misunderstood, but these following days revelations proved me wrong. She has some serious issues and wounding related to her family of origin, something is terribly wrong there. I think.