2 My "Mixed" people: Are you "Mixed?" or "Black?" or "White?" or Both?

All of a sudden I'm questioning "mixed" folks. Meaning: What are y'all?... For the most part I always considered anyone mixed with Black as "Black." But after watching this video and just thinking about the times when I've been confronted with the actual identity of some mixed folk, the question clearly stands with the reality of YOU ARE MIXED. So just what are you?

Now don't get me wrong, you don't have to choose. And then again, you can choose if you want to... But it would be remiss to think that just because you're "mixed" (with let's say Black and White) you are one and not the other. The truth is your are both, right?

Yet I know some Mixed folk who have clearly chosen to be Black vs. the Whiteness of one of their parents. And that's cool. I guess... After all, It's not my dilemma.

The historical rules of this society have labeled a person to be "Black" if you have one drop of Black blood in you. But I now see that's just a societal term or thought. It really doesn't embody the truth of what a mixed person is. It only deems how society is "supposed" to think about you.

However some of you have clearly decided to be just "Black." And some resist being put in a box of just "Black."

Personally I've never associated "Black" with being a real lael of race. I'm saying you got Persians in Persia, you got Indians in India, you got Chinese in China etc.... But where is the country Black? Or just as valid, where is the country of White?...

Sure I get the convenience of those labels, but I think our society has become lazy when it comes to acknowledging each other. Then again, are we moving towards a colorless society, or at least a society where color doesn't really matter?

I dunno.... But I do that it is important to some people. So it'll always be an issue. So to at least help me and the rest of the world figure it, please take the poll below.

And is it politically correct to capitalize the word "Mixed?" I I always capitalize Black, White and so on... And I know it's like a matter of choice. I guess I'm kinda wondering if "Mixed" is the new race.

Comments

[Gam]

Just stumbled upon this...gotta say i discussed this issue some two days ago. This video made me cry.

[dpm]

Why did you cry?

[Jasmine Darrah]

what if I had a black great grandma? does that make me an eighth black? like, where does the blackness end and whiteness begin? and why is the color of skin so important anyway?

[Me]

Great clip! Now I have two sons and they're biracial, but I honestly have to say that I "raise" them as being black. I also tell them that even though they are actually half white, people will first off all look at them as being black men. They can't and should not have to walk around with a sign on their forehead which says: my dad is white/I'm biracial. It's like Obama said during his election period: He would be running for president as a black man, because that's how society labels him in RL. I encourage my sons to think as individuals, but they should be well aware that they are going to face racism/prejudice from whites because of how they look.
And I also teach them exactly what the little boy said: If someone doesn't like you because of how you look, then they're really the one with the pproblem. You were born this way! They could change their ridiculous mindset, you can't change the way you look. So they are the weakest link, because they can't cope with reality in a normal fashion!

[Me]

Addendum:
My sons and I have not yet experienced racism from blacks, but that may be due to the fact that we don't live in the usa. We live in Holland and I'm Surinamese. The large majority of Surinamese people think of biracial children as being black.

[Dont' Push Me]

In all fairness I think the racial divide/topic/crisis that I speak on is directly unique to the USA. I'm sure people world wide can relate to a degree, but we have our own issues in the United States.

[JJ]

I am a bi-racial man who outwardly is quite black looking. The people who frequently accosted me during my youth & even in adult years, never used the term 1/2 nigger. My school teacher in third grade who lashed me regularly because she read a book saying blacks need to be beaten to learn, did not 1/2 beat my knuckles. This happened even though I later discovered I as an adult I have an IQ of over 155 btw, so it was not a lack learning ability on my behalf. The people who slammed doors in my face when I arrived for job interviews, after initially being excited by CV and my white English sounding name. Didn't consider me to be 1/2 worthy, nor did the racist whites who yelled obscenities at me & my first wife (who was white) consider my 1/2 white status.

On the other hand I have a grown daughter who's mother was white, she has light brown hair white skin and green eyes. My Afro genes have contributed to her having full lips, and slight broadness to her nose. She is considered by whites to be very beautiful because of the combination of full features with white skin.

Color of skin matters because the institution of "white privilege" is very real, and when your skin is not white it doesn't apply to you. So to answer your question directly Jasmine, blackness ends when your skin is no longer black. And skin color matters because we live in a society that's entire ethos is built on affirming the correctness of whiteness, whilst subsequently demonizing & persecuting non-whiteness. This is why colored people from America to India set about trying to bleach their skins with creams, and straightening their hair to be more white!.