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... the other Black experience
“I’m Bi-Racial…Not Black Damn It!”
I can't relate but I know some of you can.
There is a new documentary that has surfaced and it’s called “I’m Bi-Racial…Not Black Damn It!”
It is produced and directed by Carolyn Battle Cochrane who is exploring the world of all those living with two or more ethnicities inside their immediate family. It can be cruel, tough, back breaking work for those that are of other cultures coming up in a predominantly black neighborhood, much less anyplace else on Earth.
But with our plethora of identity issues in the black community, it is just like Frank Sinatra said, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” Being “light skinned”, bi-racial, or anything that brings attention to yourself in the black community will get you started on your ”rite of passage.” I haven’t walked a mile in the director’s shoes, but I kinda think she should’ve thought about that title just a little more. It screams, “I don’t like the black in me.” Which leads us back to our innate prejudice that is sometimes projected on to those we encounter, whether black or white and we sometimes make our own problems.
But hey, she even agrees that there needs to be NEW DIALOGUE on the matter. Check it out! It seems to be quite thought provoking and mind opening
" target="_blank">
There is a new documentary that has surfaced and it’s called “I’m Bi-Racial…Not Black Damn It!”
It is produced and directed by Carolyn Battle Cochrane who is exploring the world of all those living with two or more ethnicities inside their immediate family. It can be cruel, tough, back breaking work for those that are of other cultures coming up in a predominantly black neighborhood, much less anyplace else on Earth.
But with our plethora of identity issues in the black community, it is just like Frank Sinatra said, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.” Being “light skinned”, bi-racial, or anything that brings attention to yourself in the black community will get you started on your ”rite of passage.” I haven’t walked a mile in the director’s shoes, but I kinda think she should’ve thought about that title just a little more. It screams, “I don’t like the black in me.” Which leads us back to our innate prejudice that is sometimes projected on to those we encounter, whether black or white and we sometimes make our own problems.
But hey, she even agrees that there needs to be NEW DIALOGUE on the matter. Check it out! It seems to be quite thought provoking and mind opening
" target="_blank">
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Fashionfreak on -
my dad is biracial...and it's like a fucking sin to call him that like get over it. i'm not into the 1 drop rule shit but apparently my mom is trying to convince me that aslong as one side of a person is black that's it theyre just black. bullshit! you are equally the other race as you are black...but hey that's how people think i guess..whatev
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Permalink Reply by Darkness Unlimited* on -
I know the difference. And i've tried to point out several times before, that AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS is purely demonstrated in the fact that it elected a BI-RACIAL president - & NOT someone who was truely, authentically, quite-visable BLACK/BROWN-SKINNED!!!!!!!!!
But also, you must understand that Americans are incredibly intellectually lazy, & that it's simply alot easier to just write off all Bi-Racial/Mixed-Race people as Black.
Yes, it's incorrect. Yes, it's stupid & lazy - what are you gonna do, huh?
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Permalink Reply by t3amBrian on -
How is "AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS" demonstrated in electing a bi-racial president and not someone who was Quite Visibly black or brown skinned? Could you elaborate on that for me?
Darkness Unlimited* said:I know the difference. And i've tried to point out several times before, that AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS is purely demonstrated in the fact that it elected a BI-RACIAL president - & NOT someone who was truely, authentically, quite-visable BLACK/BROWN-SKINNED!!!!!!!!!
But also, you must understand that Americans are incredibly intellectually lazy, & that it's simply alot easier to just write off all Bi-Racial/Mixed-Race people as Black.
Yes, it's incorrect. Yes, it's stupid & lazy - what are you gonna do, huh?
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Permalink Reply by CaliforniaAfrican on -
The title is a little misleading. I watched the video. It was very well done. I remember, after reading some of the posts in the Halfro Punk group, I wrote an email to Jay expressing how proud I am of her for starting the group. Just by reading what those AP's wrote, I have a better appreciation for the experiences of people with bi-racial parentage. I learned not to feel threatened by ANY people wanting to define themselves. To do so is just a bi-product of White supremacy.
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Permalink Reply by Darkness Unlimited* on
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t3amBrian said:
Easily. By posing to you THIS question: If Barack Obama were every single bit the same man he is & [perhapes] little better............................. but as Brown-skinned as his wife Michelle, WOULD HE BE PRESIDENT?How is "AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS" demonstrated in electing a bi-racial president and not someone who was Quite Visibly black or brown skinned? Could you elaborate on that for me?
Darkness Unlimited* said:I know the difference. And i've tried to point out several times before, that AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS is purely demonstrated in the fact that it elected a BI-RACIAL president - & NOT someone who was truely, authentically, quite-visable BLACK/BROWN-SKINNED!!!!!!!!!
But also, you must understand that Americans are incredibly intellectually lazy, & that it's simply alot easier to just write off all Bi-Racial/Mixed-Race people as Black.
Yes, it's incorrect. Yes, it's stupid & lazy - what are you gonna do, huh?
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Permalink Reply by Wheredawhitewomenat on -
...this shit is confusing.
You've got guys like Colin Powell who obviously has more caucasian ancestry than most black folks, yet he's black.
But on the other hand you've got barack obama who has more african ancestry than Powell, yet folks want to call him bi-racial.
You guys have to keep in mind that Barack Obama was brought up as black, so don't get all up in arms when he define himself as black instead of bi-racial.
Henry Louise Gates, has two "black parents". But according to DNA analysis, he's 50% caucasian ...So, should Henry Louise Gates stop calling himself black?
I guess the majority of black folks should just go around saying "I'm Mixed', since most black folks have some sort of caucasian ancestry. Why stop there, lets refer to dark skinned folks as "black" and rest of us will be "Colored".
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Permalink Reply by t3amBrian on
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I'm going to say yes. The country didn't vote for him solely on race. Barack Obama had a poignant message and extremely talented campaign manager. To say that a dark person can't get elected in this country and that light skinned people have the advantage is a ridiculous myth wrapped in urban rhetoric that has ham stringed the black community for generations.
I personally lump Black folks in America as being from slave origin. Many of our ancestors had relations or were forced to have relations with slave masters and some even slept with Native Americans. The majority of black people in America are part white and display European features in bone structure, hair, eyes, etc. So In reality, black or mixed are kind of in the same boat if we are talking about straight genetics.
However if you want to go into detail about cultural biases that's a whole new bag and I might open it if we keep continuing this discussion.
Darkness Unlimited* said:t3amBrian said:
Easily. By posing to you THIS question: If Barack Obama were every single bit the same man he is & [perhapes] little better............................. but as Brown-skinned as his wife Michelle, WOULD HE BE PRESIDENT?How is "AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS" demonstrated in electing a bi-racial president and not someone who was Quite Visibly black or brown skinned? Could you elaborate on that for me?
Darkness Unlimited* said:I know the difference. And i've tried to point out several times before, that AMERICA's RACISM & COWARDESS is purely demonstrated in the fact that it elected a BI-RACIAL president - & NOT someone who was truely, authentically, quite-visable BLACK/BROWN-SKINNED!!!!!!!!!
But also, you must understand that Americans are incredibly intellectually lazy, & that it's simply alot easier to just write off all Bi-Racial/Mixed-Race people as Black.
Yes, it's incorrect. Yes, it's stupid & lazy - what are you gonna do, huh?
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Permalink Reply by NotSoPhotogenic on -
Personally, I believe very strongly in multiracial identity (hell, my own ancestry is multiracial). I think "race" is a social construct as it is, but I don't think anyone should be pressured into having to "choose" a race. I don't believe in that "one drop rule" (which never existed for Latinos, really) that the U.S. clings so desperately to. That being said, however, I do believe that personal choice is an imporant factor in racial/ethnic identity, and if someone chooses to identify with one of their ancestries (such as President Obama), I have no choice but to respect it. I just don't feel that they should have to identify with a single race, and that should also be respected. Peace.
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Permalink Reply by BlaqJeff on -
I'm bi-racial and I have no problem when people call me Black. Hell, I look Black and I grew up as a Black person even though my DNA will tell you otherwise. I don't prefer being called Black or Native. It doesn't matter to me either way. But that's just me. Seriously, what would you want folks to do? Like WDWWA said, it gets so confusing because classifications are so arbitrary.
That clip from "The Spook who Sat by the Door" is interesting because it reminds me that society at large does the defining. No matter what you feel you are, society will always attempt to define you. And I find it interesting that white folks were the ones rushing to define Obama as bi-racial no matter that he identifies as Black.
My 0.02 cents.
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Permalink Reply by kifaru on -
In referece to your comment about the one drop rule never applying to latinos, according to what I've read that's true but a persons amount of black blood was still used a means to determine their status in society. a person who was a quadroon held higher status than a person who was mullato. People used their "whiteness" to distance themselves from "blackness" black blood was seen as a taint. Also there is definitely a preference for whiter people as opposed to more Native people in latin counties as evidenced by the elites of those societies, the people in media, and the fact that just until recentlt no countries leaders claimed to be Natives. Ever noticed how European the people in telenovellas are? Latinos do not occupy a higher moral plane when it comes to racial separation.
NotSoPhotogenic said:Personally, I believe very strongly in multiracial identity (hell, my own ancestry is multiracial). I think "race" is a social construct as it is, but I don't think anyone should be pressured into having to "choose" a race. I don't believe in that "one drop rule" (which never existed for Latinos, really) that the U.S. clings so desperately to. That being said, however, I do believe that personal choice is an imporant factor in racial/ethnic identity, and if someone chooses to identify with one of their ancestries (such as President Obama), I have no choice but to respect it. I just don't feel that they should have to identify with a single race, and that should also be respected. Peace.
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Permalink Reply by NotSoPhotogenic on
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Kifaru,
I never meant to imply that Latin America and, by extension, Latinos can claim any moral high ground over other ways of thinking in the Americas. Latin America remains a fairly racist (or rather, colorist) part of the world to this day. But to those of us who descend from a part of the world where multiracial heritage was more the rule than the exception, the "one drop rule" seems completely absurd. Personally, while my own African heritage is probably somewhat secondary to my American Indian and European roots (from a genetic and cultural standpoint, that is, tho having never taken a DNA test, I don't know for certain), I embrace it whole-heartedly as a part of who I am. Peace.
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Permalink Reply by LesYpersound on -
i have no problem with ppl who assume i'm 100% black, fine by me... but when folks (especially other black people) try and say i can't identify as anything BUT black --that is some bullshit especially when the multiracial person was raised by the non-black parent (and especially if the other half ain't white).
and personally i'll take the one-drop rule over the mess of ambiguous, insidious but just as effective brand of racism that exists in latin america. i would rather have a strong racial identity, shun passing, and know who my enemies are... :]
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