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:
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:09 am
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Fascinating…
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 am
This is what blacks get for exalting these people. You have a hand in creating your own homegrown racists that you hold so dear. For What!
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:59 am
so how come the title of the movie isn’t i’m bi-racial damn it, not white!
To demand that you’re not black, means you’re trying to impress that you are indeed not black.
These ppl always talkin they get more racism from the black community, they are full of ish. black ppl welcome everybody, because we have always… always since slavery dealt with the reality of mixed races, and how that conduit was used to keep Blacks in control, yet it was beyond our control as well since many of us were captives. Blacks have always been around this mixture of ppl. in our families and so on. If there’s anybody suffering from their race dwindling it is the Dark Black person who is always being foreshadowed by the whiney light skinned, cause they don’t know what they are. This is more white BS propaganda, to degrade and devalue the essence of Black/African identity.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:03 am
First, I want to say it is sad that the young lady is embarrased by her mother..Secondly, this is pretty interesting. Everyone wants to fit in. Case and point; I have said since day one, that our President is neither black nor white. He is rooted in both cultures. So how do you define a person by half of what they are. I found the most profound statement made by another young lady ” I don’t want GHETTO to define BLACK.” Loved it..
Cause we all have out stereotypes as to what each race is “supposed” to act like.. who made that up?
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:11 am
This is straight up bs!!! I am lighter than most people on this video, both my mother and father are Black (they have mixed blood—Cherokee, Choctaw, Jewish and Black [African]), but I could pass for “bi-racial” more than most people on this video! You define your own self!!! When I have been asked if I was Hispanic, I say no and move on. I don’t have to define who I am racially.
This is just more BS for people to talk about. And finally, did you notice the lips on the female that says she looks neither Black or white? Bia, please. You know what you are, too bad time has alloted you the ability to deny it. C’est tout!
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:24 am
Oh Puhleeese…every last one of them looked black. But ok…”Poof – You’re Beige” get the heck outta here. I like what Skoopes said…its more BS for people to talk about. For some reason white people say to me all the time – you must be mixed with something…I actually find it offensive bur politely say no…i’m not. Is that supposed to be a compliment or something…like i’m somehow something else? Why is it that some people want to try everything to NOT be black…or at least have something else in them. They really shouldn’t make that big of a deal out of it. If someone asks…tell them…if they dont ask…who the heck cares??!!! So what – now you want a census category? Do you know the repercussions of that???!!! Know the unintended consequences before you go off demanding things…cause…all of you … LOOK BLACK – heheheheh hahahaha
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Well, I have not watched the entire documentary…just the clip…but, I can only hope that they interview a wider group of people. Being biracial myself, I don’t feel any of the ways described in the promo. I am Black. I am White. I love both sides and both sides of my family love me. I do not struggle to find myself because both of my parents raised me to understand who I am. I never got lost behind the color of my skin or texture of my hair. There are many “comfortable biracials” like me out there. Love is blind and the only thing that matters.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Rootsyd, this documentary is part of a series, which includes another documentary called “Biracial . . . Not White Damn It.” For what it’s worth.
Skoopes, I find it interesting that a child in the video clip suggested how wrong it is that “Black” is equated with “Ghetto” (it’s an offensive stereotype). Yet here you are, seemingly equating larger “lips” with being “Black.” Is this also not an offensive stereotype?
Cede, as for your census comment, to suggest that people with any Black ancestry identify as Black only to give Black Americans an artificial head count is ridiculous. Time to take off the training wheels. And it is unfortunate that you seem to take such glee in saying, in effect, “These folks are still Black, just like me.” It doesn’t speak well with regard to how you think of yourself/your self-esteem.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 am
Nada1, that was my point exactly. It is all superficial and ignorant. Full lips are a characteristic of African ancestry as are many other traits, however the point I was making is that as a person, you decide who you are and define yourself. And finally, I never did catagorize her, just stating the obvious. Nice attempt at a position though.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
“Rootsyd”- I think it doesn’t say “NOT White” because in the African American community and some people of other ethnicities just think if you are ANY African American, then you are simply JUST “Black”. Even though the person is Biracial. A good number of Caucasian people call people that are Biracial, exactly that..Biracial.
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
“TINA”-Love your statement.
And “Nada1″ oh I didn’t know there was the flipside too, nice.
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
SuZSoPiSceS>>>I know biracial people in my family who call themselves black, so do you have a problem with them? Our own president refers to himself as black. A good number of Caucasian people call biracial people just that…biracial. Huh? Oh really. Well tell that to my biracial family and friends who get called N*gga all the time by those Caucasians. Pleeze.
Some of you guys need to get that chip off your shoulders because in the scheme of things, who really gives a rat’s azz what you are and how you identify yourself? You sh*t just like everyone else and you have to wash your azz too. I get sick and tired of mixed people spouting that b.s. as though we (blacks) somehow get brownie points by including mixed raced people with the black community. I don’t care if someone is a Martian. You are what you are, and that is no better than anyone else.
July 22nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Well, I think these people need to be people talking to their white counterparts. White people made up the the one drop rule, not us, we didn’t have the power to make up a damn thing!
So, if you have a problem with being classified as only being black, you need to take a trip back through time and talk to those white slave owners.
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
My husband is white and our children are Black. Race is a social construct. There is no mathmatical formula or science to it. If someone asks me my race I don’t say 10% this 50% that. Like Dee Dee said, we (Black people) didn’t make the rules.For all intent and purposes when my children walk into a room of filled with white people they will be seen as Black. When they’re old enough to drive in our predominately white neighborhood, they will be seen and treated as Black. If they went on a date with a white girl, they would be seen by her parents as Black. So why should I allow them to grow up under the misconception that they are anything but? Why wouldn’t I prepare them for the world as it is and brace them for it in the same way I would any other Black child?
I don’t care what these people want to call themselves, but my children are Black. They will confident and comfortable telling people just that. My husband does it all the time because he also believes it. Biracial sounds like the mixing of two seperate breeds of animal. I am not an animal, nor are my children. If the parents of these people would have taught them some pride, they wouldn’t have had to change their last names and pass as Italian in order to just be themselves. (I found that statement to be both hilarious and sad.) They wouldn’t be embarrassed by their mothers or feel the need to distance themselves from other Black people with special terminology.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
“SickNTiredofthisNonsense”- No I don’t have any problem with people identifying themselves as whatever they want. When I speak of someone I will use the term I want. So they can think of themselves as “Black”, but I will call them “biracial” if that is their background.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
“Huh? Oh really. Well tell that to my biracial family and friends who get called N*gga all the time by those Caucasians. Pleeze.”
I didn’t say ALL Caucasian people call Biracial people, biracial.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
LoveThyself>>>My brother-in-law have biracial children from his previous marriage. He absolutely HATES the term “biracial” and so do they. They identify with black and that’s what they want to be called. All his mixed children married black.
SuZSoPiSceS>>>To call someone something they don’t identify with would be very disrespectful in my opinion, but I guess if they don’t mind, then eh. If someone is mixed and they want to be called black or whatever, why wouldn’t you honor that?
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
SuZSoPiSceS said, “I think it doesn’t say “NOT White” because in the African American community and some people of other ethnicities just think if you are ANY African American, then you are simply JUST “Black”.
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I know you didn’t say all Caucasians, but a “good number” of Caucasian. However, you know the “One drop rule” was not instituted by African-American/black or other ethnicities, but by Caucasians. Just saying.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I hate The Term Bi-Racial. I use the word Mixed..I have people in my family that have very light skin to very dark skin with blue eyes which happens to be my dad with the Dark skin and blue eyes who’s family is from the West Indies hmmm…But i’m not labled mixed or nor can I claim ..it ..even though I have a grandfather that is half creek indian ..and my great grandmother is mixed with white .Hmm And My skin tone is meduim dark brown ..What about Folk such as myself…
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
@Rootsyd,
It’s called “I’m Biracial… Not Black d*mnit” because obviously, they are mixed with Black, and people presume that means they are only defined as Black.
I get it the point of the documentary. I don’t know why African-Americans hold on so dearly to that “one-drop” rule that was invented by White enslavers, to prevent mixing in the first place.
Being proud of your entire identity does not have to mean they are ashamed of one, or prefer one over the other. Who cares if they “look Black.” You people are missing the entire point. They would not exist if their White parent did not procreate with their Black parent. Yet, they should proclaim Black moreso than any other race, even if it makes up a minority of their genetic makeup.
And I wish people would stop pretending that racism and self-hatred doesn’t exist in the Black community. It’s like a dual personality. On one hand, Blacks exault someone with light-skin and wavy/curly hair claiming how beautiful such person is. Then, the very same people are ignited into a rage if that same person acknowledges they are mixed with any other race. Then it turns into “She/He doesn’t want to be Black; she/he thinks she’s better”
I personally think it odd that African-Americans try to “claim” every Tom, Dick and Harry as being a part of the Black race, yet other races do not do the same. It feels like some sort of self-validation. As if to say, “See, he’s Black and successful/talented/praise-worthy” and if a person acknowledges that they are not completely Black that somehow means that they are taking away from the capabilities of Black people in general.
It’s an unfortunate situation here in the States. We missed the opportunity to be able to define what is beauty not based on our White neighbors. We are continually treated as outcasts and subconsciously taught that we are inferior to others. But that isn’t reason to take it out on mixed people who simply want to be who they are.
I understand the resentment one would feel if a person completely disregarded his African Ancestry, but simply recognizing that you are not just Black, doesn’t mean they are denying your heritage.
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Obviously this is a very complex issue, because there are quite a few Black people who still believe that being not purely Black is more appealing, and revel in the idea that they are considered more attractive by Blacks because they don’t have Black/African features, like nappy hair (beautiful nappy hair I will add), a broad nose, or dark skin.
But I can’t even purely blame them. From my experience, Black people (from dark to light) have shown me that they believe nappy hair is something that should be corrected, and dark skin coincides with being ugly.
I think when mixed people mention their “mixedness” it stirs up subconscious or unspoken resentment that Blacks feel about themselves.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 am
Who really cares! whites will NEVER except “biracials” as white, yet blacks who have white in them are quick to shoot down their African American community who accepts them and gives them an identity! The president of the United States, the most powerful man in the world, IS a black man! not “biracial”! Now, if this man who has accomplished the greatest goal achievable by man, and is still looked at by the world as “black”, and is called a “n***er”, what makes these confused people think that they will be treated better by denying their heritage? i’ll tell you what, to make it more clear for these people who are clearly living in LaLa Land, I want them to go to a white supremicist meeting (especially the little girl who is ashamed of her black mother and would rather be white) and try to join. Let’s see how welcoming they would be of their fellow “biracial” sister or brother! and, in school when the girl said she had no one to identify with, there are plenty of black people who hang with mostly whites, and plenty of whites who hang with mostly blacks. it’s not about what you are, its about who you vibe with, and who you share the most in common with. these are just a bunch of low self esteem having people, who all look like jackasses saying that they’re not black. its like a comedy line someone would use as a stand up show, or when trying to be sarcastic. they are all LOSERS!….. and by the way, i’m someone who has so many cultures in my blood, it would probably take me a day to say em all lol. but no doubt about it, no matter what you may mistakenly take me as, I’m black
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:48 am
That one drop rule is BS! You are who you are and if you are mixed/bi-racial (whatever you want to call it) Embrace BOTH not just one!!!! For crying out loud you are both!!!!! Both my parents are mixed, my mother is half Black and half White, my father is Native American, Black, and White and I look like I’m an from the Middle Eastern Indian weird but it is what it is! As I have gotten older I have really learned to love every drop of me not just my Black side because that’s who I’m generally around in my family, but the White, and Native American part too and that’s ok! I get the question what are you or where are you from (from Indian men because they think I am one of them) and it tickles me and my friends because people never know. I don’t get offended by it I let them know because they are generally really just curious. I don’t deny my Black side, but I don’t deny the rest of me either because I would be lying.
People love yourselves all of you it doesn’t matter if you’re Black, White, Asian, Indian, Hispanic, Native American, etc, or a mixture of 2 or more. And we all need to lover others for who they are and not make anyone deny any part of themselves or their history!
Oh and not all Black people are excepting of their mixed peoples!!!! My mother can tell you some stories about a few of her cousins and how they treated her and her sister and some of the horrible things they would say because they were mixed….but the deep rooted problem with that was that they really did not like themselves and their parents did not make them feel beautiful about themselves and what they were….it’s sad!
For those Black people who really love themselves and who they are…they don’t care about mixed people only calling themselves mixed and not just black…they understand the importance of loving all parts. Those people who have the problems and hate mixed people who deny their Black side by not just saying they are black, they have the problem with being African American but try to cover it with all that hoopla! . Once again…it’s sad…but it is what it is. I think Black is beautiful and I have a beautiful black husband and will have beautiful black children who will be taught about their white great-grandfather and great- grandmother and their ancestors, their Native American and White –great-grandmother and her ancestors, along with all the Black history!
It is not about who you vibe with or connect better with…that’s the most ignorant thing I have ever heard and ignorance is bliss people.
When you know your HISTORY, you know your greatness!!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 am
Ok tiffany thanks for your long life story…lol just kidding.
I think this is an interesting documentary and I cannot wait to see the rest and the other half. I myself am “bi-racial” if you want to define me as that. I in no way want to have bi-racial be a race, its silly and only will make us more distant from our white and black people. In actuality no one is completely one race, black people are supposedly 17% white and white people are 17% black from slavery times. They did a study on that and so to say I am bi-racial makes no sense. I’m black and I wish I was interviewed in this documentary, come to the south.
I also think the people in this video grew up in a certain way. One race being seen as better than the other may have influenced they way they want to be. I live in a small southern town in Mississippi and the white people here don’t say oh shes mixed, they say shes a nigga…lol honestly if those kids grew up the way I did than they would be like James brown “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud”
And what about the people who are 70% white and 30% black and who look as white as a white person. Can they really be classified as bi-racial..Quadroons and Octroons and all this mess needs to stop
WILLIE LYNCH LIVES ON!!! its sad..oh and my moms black..dads white as snow
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
So, nothing has changed with those who are lead to believe that they are better or other than black. White people were the ones who defined you as being black (n*****) from the very beginning when they violated the African Women sexually, enslaved your black people(remember this). Yet, so many fail to acknowledge that black(darkness that you fear or despise)is in every genealogical line despite global demographics or geographics. Take a moment think about the people throughout the world in Africa(do you really know what this continent entail), Asia, South America, North America, Central America and the Pacific Islanders etc. I am not buying this s*** because no matter how you feel or what you may say we are a group of people united by a common historical lineage( so wake up). No matter how you phrase it or play on it languastically you are BLACK. Blacks have been the only race that has accepted all regardless of who you are the good and the bad. I hate to hear that BLACK is only ghetto, slavery, criminals, drug users. There is so much more to Blacks in America and Blacks throughout the world than the misconception of those who may feel or think that they are other or both because they are truly ashamed of admitting that they are BLACK or that by their own admission to being black will deny them privilege or opporuntities that black people are still not entitled. (Are you conscious)Those that are too ashame of your parent or parents for being black that is like being ashame of the one whom has perfected you in the image that pleases him and has given you life GOD. (Mankind is truly an ingrate) I love “MY BLACK PEOPLE” it doesn’t matter that he or she is homeless,lives in the city ghetto or quiet suburban area, rich or poor, dark or light skinned, educated or uneducated, Muslim or Christian these are GOD’s people and I am apart of these people. Regardless of our circumstance GOD has given us life with a purpose and it is our commitment to GOD to fulfill our obligation to all people. So, I ask my LORD to make me not like those whom appear ashame of being Black and all that I am because I am more than just my skin tone, most of all I am please with me I know that I am not perfect but I am perfection because my LORD has created me and given me life. I am a creation from him and I ask my LORD for forgiveness of all my sins major and small. I ask my LORD to give for my faults and flaws, I ask my LORD to give me patience and to deal with mankind in a manner which pleases him. I ask my black people may we all be pleased with our differences,similarities and to deal with each other patiently and with kindness.
July 23rd, 2009 at 3:08 pm
I’m mixed with Black , White ( Italian , Irish , Greek ) , Cherokee Indian , Laos&Korean . But I’m categorized as Black & I embrace that & also my other races . But how I feel about these “Un-Black” people in this video ; decieved . One young girl is talking about “Ghetto” , my mother is lighter than these people ; most of the people in my huge family are lighter than these people . My family is very mixed , but we are BLACK . And the title is bs too . ‘ I’m Bi-Racial … Not Black Damn It ‘ , why not ‘ I’m Bi-Racial … Not WHITE Damn It ‘ . They put down being black because its embarrasing ? Barack Obama is HALF & HALF but he calls himself a Black man . They little kids & teenagers & adults rather be called Whtie because Black is simply embarrasing . They make it seem like its a curse to be half Black ? This is just BULLSH*T . Atleast be a little proud you know . This is a little decieving in a lot of ways . It’s kinda embarrasing too .
July 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Tamia being interracial you should understand that when most people meet a “black & white” person they automatically categorize them as black. This title does not mean the author is in any way ashamed of being black however she is speaking out against the ignorance which most mixed people come in contact with when they tell people they are mixed and then are categorized as black.
I’m biracial and actually look hispanic, most people can’t even tell i’m mixed until I tell them and that’s when I am considered black. My peers in most races consider me black because i’m half and maybe it dates back to the one drop rule. All I know is that the only time I am acknowledged as being either both or white is by my family, close friends or if a black person is mad at me.
July 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
Thank you; You hit on so many true points; about Time!
July 24th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I have a easy way for folks to think about the whole Bi Racial thing: If you can’t get in a Klan Rally you Black!!!
July 24th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Just want to let you know about an article recently published about the film with a response from the filmmaker’s view.
here’s the link:
http://www.mixedchild.com/NEWS/July2009/Biracial_Not_Black_DamnIt.htm
July 26th, 2009 at 11:23 am
To the person who said black people embrace all people: Who made you the ambassador for all black people everywhere? I am mixed ( English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Native American) but being over 80% white with blond hair and blue eyes no body ever thinks i am anything but white. Try being me and driving through Oakland and then tell me that all black people embrace everybody. Racism exists in all cultures. Also Obama is as much of a white man as a black man, and to deny either side of his heritage is equally degrading to humanity.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
It’s 2009, and based upon these comments, the world is still ignorant. I’m half black and half white. Yes, I claim both sides EQUALLY! My black father did nothing to enhance my life other than donate sperm. To ignore my white side would discredit my white mother, and the rest of her white family that participate in my life. I’m not stupid, I know I’m viewed as a minority (newsflash though, there are other minorities, like latin people which I’m OFTEN mistaken for). Before you jump to ANY conclusions about what “part” of a person’s heritage they should (or should not) embrace, try putting yourself in their shoes for once.
August 4th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
When I first heard the title, it sounded a be shallow to me. But when I listened to this woman talk. She talked like she were the first biracial person ever, and in looking at her, she just looks like a light skinned black person, WITH CORN ROWS IN HER HAIR. It sounds like she wants to be white when it’s serves her best, and black, when people say she’s not black enough. But I would never think of her as mixed, just light skinned. Okay she’s got some white in her. Does she realize how many of us, got this and that running in our veins. But listen to her, and she’s the first one, and you’d better recognize it. Great way to make some money during a tough economy, but the content is just not engaging.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
i get so tired of these hypocritical idiots
there is a science to race its called genetics and btw the only thing whites ever did right was the 1 drop rule cause its a scientific geologistic fact
whites have the dreaded recesive genes and blacks have the dominant genes
2 blacks can have a white as a child its called albinism
the only way whites can have a black child is if they pull a madona or bradangelina and adopt
race is a state of mind true, but its also a scientific fact
please dont blame blacks only for your problems get over it or work on it
August 7th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Look: Both of my parents are black, but I have a Chinese last name. My family is full of people with natural curly hair, freckles, and light skin. Are we bi-racial too? Or am I only black because both of my parents are black even though they’re both mixed with everything from Chinese, German, African, etc. When people see me they see a light brown skin African-American. On paper, people see my last name and think Asian until they see me.
Outside of maybe some Mexicans, the rest of us are all mixed with something, so in my opinion this documentary is pointless. I’m not 100% black (it’s obvious when I look in the mirror), but I consider myself to be black and so does the rest of America. I’ll close with this: both of Henry Lewis Gates parents are black (by skin color terms), but when he did his DNA/Genealogy, his makeup came back as 50% white and %50 black. Using the people in this documentary’s logic, that would make him biracial too right? But he STILL calls himself a black man and that’s exactly what the Cambridge police saw him as when he got arrested.
August 9th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Mike thats fine if you want to consider yourself black regardless of the other races your mixed with, but the director of this video does not consider herself black and neither do loads of other biracial or multiracial people in America. I find it disrespectful in my own right to deny being biracial when i was raised with both my white mother and black father all of my life. It’s not cool to deny a whole part of your history which is undoubtedly part of your identity because other people see you as black. Not everyone wants to be viewed as one race and you need to respect that.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I am Black, White and Native American. I think it’s best that I say I’m African American because nearly all African American’s are multi-ethnic. If I say I’m Black some people both Black and White look at me and say, “You Don’t Look Like It”. Others say they can see it or that I look Mexican, Arab or Greek. It causes a lot of uncomfrotable conversation and some people are in denial that I could be Black and be so light skinned. I think it frightens them or something. It’s just more fitting to say that I’m African American and that all African Americans are mixed whether they know it or not.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:15 pm
If not in America, where else? This is the country with the most confusing identity classifications. Carolyne has a weak moral courage to stand the persistent skin-color identity and discrimination in America. She showing complex. When I see her on CNN I saw a beautiful pure dark-skinned [black]woman. Her problem is that she rejected totally by the so-called white community. “I’m Biracial, Not Black Damn It”. Why not simply say ‘I’m Biracial Not Black or White? She is trying to identify with a group that does not need her. That’s a shame. Carolyne, for your information there is no purer skin color than ‘BLACK’ DAMN IT.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Carolyn Battle Cochrane enlightening video should give most biracial or multi-racial
people food for thought.
Two points, (1) If a person of multi-racial or biracial background completes a general
form or government document and there is a part asking for the persons racial
background there should be listed a category stating:BIRACIAL OR MULTI-RACIAL.
A PERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DENY ANY PART OF THERE RACIAL BACKGROUND.
(2) Some previous comments seem to incorrectly give the impression that if a person
LOOKS BLACK LIKE OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA THEN HE IS CONSIDERED BLACK. THIS
IS INCORRECT, BECAUSE IF A PERSON HAS A WHITE MOTHER AND A BLACK FATHER
LIKE OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA WHETHER HE LOOKS BLACK OR WHITE
HAS TO DO WITH
THE PERSONS GENETIC MAKE-UP , ONLY. PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE- UP AND NOT LET THE
OLD GOVERNMENT WAYS OF THINKING BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE CIVIL WAR AND EARLIER DEFINE A PERSON OF MULTI-RACIAL OR BIRACIAL BACKGROUND.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I find the comments fascinating. People really need to raise their mind to the next level.
The issue I have with this whole racial identification thing is that most people miss what I think is the critical point: the process to determine which societal group that you most identify with is an important one because the labels and stereotypes associated with all societal groups influences how we perceive of individuals.
I think Earl Woods’ most brilliant stroke of parenting was not when he taught Tiger how to hit a golf ball in the dark but when he told Tiger that he was caublanasian. I remember the flack I heard from African Amercians when Tiger said he did not consider himself Black but rather he is caublanasian. In spite of the fact that Tiger has clearly defined himself, Blacks still want him to be Black. Many still call him Black.
But by inventing a new title for him, Tiger has forced society to accept him on his terms, on a different level. The racial and ethnic perceptions and biases that we have all internalized over the years are immediately challenged when we meet someone like Tiger who does not fit neatly into one of the racial boxes we like to put people. It forces us to think for a minute, just what the heck is a caublanasian? Doing so allows new, unbiased perceptions that are not preconceived to become the defining element in the formation of our relationship with that individual. It creates a new blank slate to be filled with positively constructed imagery.
I would encourage bi-racial people to come up with a new term, an amalgamation that represents the societal groups that they identify with. It might go a long way to addressing some of the issues that the folks in the movie mentioned.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:44 am
Enough is Enough okay.. can’t we just all agree that all of us are bi-racial and (whether both of your parents are ” on ” black or one black one white) drop this subject. I’m not denying the white, Asian or Scottish that is in my blood stream, but the rest of America does. Why? Because when they see me all they see is my light brown skin and label me as 100% African American.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:31 am
Hmmm… I thought we were all bi-something.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
My father was a black bandleader from the 30’s and my birth mother was of german decent and if you saw me I could easily pass as white or puerto Rican. I grew up with my Black father and my Black step mother in Harlem, NY in the 50’s,60’s and 70’s . I have always identified as a Black man I connected with every anti-white group possible maybe because I wanted to prove that I was just as black as those with more coffee than cream. I have 4 siblings that I didn’t get to live with or my white mother so my whole influence came from my Black parents,my Black friends,my Black community,and the culture that came along with it.
I believe most of my fighting growing up was contributed more to the fact that we were well off living in our own brownstone as my Dad made a good living with his musical talents than from my complexion.
I have always been against the term biracial I always thought it was created by a segment of blacks that didn’t want to be identified as a black person, but for me I think I was afraid of the term because it forced me to face the reality that I had a “white mother”.
I haven’t had contact with my mother for almost 50 years and my siblings from 35-45 yrs.
When I read Carolyn’s title it confused me as I know Carolyn and I knew she was a strong Black woman who survived some diificult years growing up and I knew that she loved her Blackness. So I had to talk to her one on one and she explained to me that for her whole life she hid the fact that her mother was white and that isn’t easy to do when you were raised by her. She told me that her whole life she had to endure the hate that allot of Blacks had for whites and in her all Black hair salon she had to endure it for years and then face the mother that raised her,nurtured her and loved her unconditionally and she conveyed to me this is when she had enough and decided to take her mother out of the closet and acknowledge that the only loving parent in her life is a white woman so this is why she started this project, not to deny her Blackness but to acknowledge that there is more to her than what her black father contributed.
I love my sister (Carolyn) whom I missed growing up with and we just reconnected after not seeing or knowing the whereabouts of each other for over 35 yrs.
Not that it’s important but one poster said she saw a dark skinned black woman on CNN, well she did see a Black woman but she was far from being dark skinned, could have been the lighting maybe the makeup? but I only commented to make a point about how everything we see is interperted by our own perception.
Love to all and God Bless
Claude
August 23rd, 2009 at 4:47 am
I don’t considered myself a fully black person. I’m black, cherokee, choctaw, creek, seminole, irish, scottish, french, cuban. I’m not a black man but in the laws eyes im black because i have dark skin. But i know im multiracial. I dont mind being called black but i’m not fully to white ppl im black. I do have caucasian features. I’m hairy, average penis.
It i could change it i wouldn’t be african american i would be native american. Most fully blackmen are not hairy. Most have large bananas mines alot smaller.
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:19 am
the common denominator here is that everyone says society considers mixed people black, therefore thats why her video is titled “im biracial, not black dammit” so stop trying to make it into a racial issue as though she’s embracing being white but not black! She is making a statement that she is not just black so stop categorizing her as such! She has a white parent and it is very disrespectful to that parent as well as herself to deny that she is white because society sees her as black.
To be frank most blacks in America are mixed with some type of white. If your skin is not dark like the Africans I know you don’t think you just evolved as a people to have lighter skin over 300 years. Definitely not! So get off your high horse because I’m pretty sure no one is left of a pure racial lineage anymore
August 24th, 2009 at 5:30 am
The painting(?) of the three women’s faces is just beautiful.
Do you happen to know the artist’s name. And where more of his/her work might be found?
Thanks!
August 25th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I want to first start off by saying; I’m what you call Bi-Racial but I’m Black! All you so-called Bi-Racial should read about Willie Lynch http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html. I’m half Egyptian and Black American. My father is Egyptian and my Mother is West Indies, Native American and German Jew. My mother maiden name is Massenberg (Jewish). The Original People of Egypt never called themselves Egyptian, they called themselves KM which means BLACK and they called their land KMT which means Black Land or Land of the Blacks. The word Egypt is Greek and a White Greek person named it Egypt. All Egyptians are not Black Africans, but most of them have some black blood in them. Egypt was conquered by Greeks Empire, Romans Empire, Persians Empire, Black Muslim Moors of southern Spain and North Africa 711 A.D. to 1492 A.D. and Ottoman Muslim Empire (Arabs and North Africans) 1299 A.D. to 1922 A.D… Most of the people in Egypt are Bi-Racial, just like most of the People of Mexico are Bi-Racial. The word MEXCAN means Mixed-Race. Most People on the Earth are Bi-Racial; most of us don’t know history or our history. DNA has already proved the Brown, Red, Yellow and White people came from the Black Man; they are the Black Man’s family tree. Any race you mix with Black came from Black, so that make it BLACK! Dam my people need to wake-up! If I go to Africa and say I’m Black, My African Brother will say me too! If I go to Mexico and say I’m Black, My Afro-Mexico Brother will say me too! If I go to the Philippines my Agta (Natives of the Philippines) Brother will say me too! If I go to India and say I’m Black, My Siddi Brother will say me too! But if I say I’m African America, all of them will say not me! Black is just a way that all of our people can unity as one people. In slavery they always wanted us to think that Bi-Racial slaves where different and better. That’s why they put the Bi-Racial slave in the master’s house and dark Black slave out in the fields and called them House Negros and Field Negros, but the White Slavemaster called them both Negros! Most Black People still have the Willie Lynch syndrome, and that what this “I’m Bi-Racal not black damn It” comes from. Bob Marley father was White, but he will tell you he is Black. I’m not saying to not claim your White side, but the KKK, Skin Heads and White Supremacy Groups want claim you. I had White Jewish people tell me I could not be a Jew, because I’m Black and my father is an Egyptian. I had Arabs call me the N word, but Black Churches, Black Islamic Mosques and Black Groups will say come in my Brother!
The word BLACK means the Original People of the Earth (Black, Brown, Red and Yellow People). The Original People of our planet always call themselves Black or Asiatic Black People. Before White Europeans was on the planet a little before 6,000 years ago, WE the Original People called our planet ASIA. Then around 4,000 years ago White Europeans change the name of our planet to Earth. White Europeans start calling our people in SOUTH ASIA “African”, because a White European name Mr. Africana discover South Asia and renamed it Africa.
After the Crusades White Spanish European start calling Black Africans NEGROS which means BLACK OBJECT, because we was look at as property and not people. Even the original meaning of HISPANIC means property of Spain, because they were conquered by Spain. This is why our well learned Brown Brothers want to be called Latino (A Native or Inhabitant of Latin America (Taino Indians)) or CHICANO (People of the Land). The Taino Indians were indigenous Native American tribes – inhabitants of the Caribbean islands and Americas in pre-Columbian times. Our well learned Brown and Black Bi-Racial Brothers in Puerto Rico want to be called Boricua or Boricuo (Natives of Puerto Rico (Taino Indians)). Puerto Rico was named by White Spanish Europeans which means Rich Port.
Our well learned Yellow Brothers want to be called by their Original People’s name ASIAN, and not Oriental (The East). Our well learned Red Brothers in America wants to be called Natives of the Land or Natives Americans and not Indians (Someone from India). Our well learned Black Brothers in America wants to be called Black and not African Americans, because Africa was named after a White European named Mr. Africana and America was named after a White European named Mr. Americana. Rev. Jessie Jackson started having us call ourselves African Americans this was Rev. Jessie Jackson Ideal. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad started teaching Black Americans that they were Black in the 1930s and not So-Called Negros. Before Elijah Muhammad start teaching Black Americans, we called ourselves Negros or Colored People.
It’s ok to call yourself African American, but don’t let that be a denial of being Black. Remember before there was a content named Africa we were Black! White Europeans named that content Africa, like White Europeans named this content America. If you only connect yourself to Africa and America, then you will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Mexico, Belize, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rico, and Guatemala there are Black People all through Central America. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela there are Black People all through South America. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Bahamas there are Black People all through the Caribbean Islands. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey there are Black People all through the Middle East. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia there are Black People all through Asia. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and Fiji Islands there are Black People all through the Pacific Islands. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in England, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Germany there are Black People all through Europe. There are Black People all over the World, and we are one family!
PEACE!!!
August 25th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I want to first start off by saying; I’m what you call Bi-Racial but I’m Black! All you so-called Bi-Racial should read about Willie Lynch http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html. I’m half Egyptian and Black American. My father is Egyptian and my Mother is West Indies, Native American and German Jew. My mother maiden name is Massenberg (Jewish). The Original People of Egypt never called themselves Egyptian, they called themselves KM which means BLACK and they called their land KMT which means Black Land or Land of the Blacks. The word Egypt is Greek and a White Greek person named it Egypt. All Egyptians are not Black Africans, but most of them have some black blood in them. Egypt was conquered by Greeks Empire, Romans Empire, Persians Empire, Black Muslim Moors of southern Spain and North Africa 711 A.D. to 1492 A.D. and Ottoman Muslim Empire (Arabs and North Africans) 1299 A.D. to 1922 A.D… Most of the people in Egypt are Bi-Racial, just like most of the People of Mexico are Bi-Racial. The word MEXCAN means Mixed-Race. Most People on the Earth are Bi-Racial; most of us don’t know history or our history. DNA has already proved the Brown, Red, Yellow and White people came from the Black Man; they are the Black Man’s family tree. Any race you mix with Black came from Black, so that make it BLACK! Dam my people need to wake-up! If I go to Africa and say I’m Black, My African Brother will say me too! If I go to Mexico and say I’m Black, My Afro-Mexico Brother will say me too! If I go to the Philippines my Agta (Natives of the Philippines) Brother will say me too! If I go to India and say I’m Black, My Siddi Brother will say me too! But if I say I’m African America, all of them will say not me! Black is just a way that all of our people can unity as one people. In slavery they always wanted us to think that Bi-Racial slaves where different and better. That’s why they put the Bi-Racial slave in the master’s house and dark Black slave out in the fields and called them House Negros and Field Negros, but the White Slavemaster called them both Negros! Most Black People still have the Willie Lynch syndrome, and that what this “I’m Bi-Racal not black damn It” comes from. Bob Marley father was White, but he will tell you he is Black. I’m not saying to not claim your White side, but the KKK, Skin Heads and White Supremacy Groups want claim you. I had White Jewish people tell me I could not be a Jew, because I’m Black and my father is an Egyptian. I had Arabs call me the N word, but Black Churches, Black Islamic Mosques and Black Groups will say come in my Brother!
The word BLACK means the Original People of the Earth (Black, Brown, Red and Yellow People). The Original People of our planet always call themselves Black or Asiatic Black People. Before White Europeans was on the planet a little before 6,000 years ago, WE the Original People called our planet ASIA. Then around 4,000 years ago White Europeans change the name of our planet to Earth. White Europeans start calling our people in SOUTH ASIA “African”, because a White European name Mr. Africana discover South Asia and renamed it Africa.
After the Crusades White Spanish European start calling Black Africans NEGROS which means BLACK OBJECT, because we was look at as property and not people. Even the original meaning of HISPANIC means property of Spain, because they were conquered by Spain. This is why our well learned Brown Brothers want to be called Latino (A Native or Inhabitant of Latin America (Taino Indians)) or CHICANO (People of the Land). The Taino Indians were indigenous Native American tribes – inhabitants of the Caribbean islands and Americas in pre-Columbian times. Our well learned Brown and Black Bi-Racial Brothers in Puerto Rico want to be called Boricua or Boricuo (Natives of Puerto Rico (Taino Indians)). Puerto Rico was named by White Spanish Europeans which means Rich Port.
Our well learned Yellow Brothers want to be called by their Original People’s name ASIAN, and not Oriental (The East). Our well learned Red Brothers in America wants to be called Natives of the Land or Natives Americans and not Indians (Someone from India). Our well learned Black Brothers in America wants to be called Black and not African Americans, because Africa was named after a White European named Mr. Africana and America was named after a White European named Mr. Americana. Rev. Jessie Jackson started having us call ourselves African Americans this was Rev. Jessie Jackson Ideal. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad started teaching Black Americans that they were Black in the 1930s and not So-Called Negros. Before Elijah Muhammad start teaching Black Americans, we called ourselves Negros or Colored People.
It’s ok to call yourself African American, but don’t let that be a denial of being Black. Remember before there was a content named Africa we were Black! White Europeans named that content Africa, like White Europeans named this content America. If you only connect yourself to Africa and America, then you will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Mexico, Belize, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rico, and Guatemala there are Black People all through Central America. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela there are Black People all through South America. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Bahamas there are Black People all through the Caribbean Islands. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey there are Black People all through the Middle East. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia there are Black People all through Asia. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand, and Fiji Islands there are Black People all through the Pacific Islands. You will forget about your Black Brothers and Sisters in England, Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, and Germany there are Black People all through Europe. There are Black People all over the World, and we are one family!
PEACE!!!
August 28th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I read all these posts above and was ready to start my literary swinging against the idea that this ‘bi-racial’ title doesnt matter and bi-racial people should get over themselves. But instead I offer this, as a bi-racial woman growing up in New York in the late 60’s & 70’s I have spent my entire childhood explaining and being denied by the black community as black. I can remember more than one occasion of Black people angrily “correcting” me if I called myself Black – this after being asked “what are you?” outright. On this forum, for there to be so much denial of bi-racial being rejected by Blacks, I can only blame your POVs on a being of different generation. Bi-racial people have not been embraced by the Black community always. It wasnt always that way – AT ALL. PERIOD. You are enjoying a different reality for these times.
September 16th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I am considered, light skin, high yellow, red bone, fair skin. My mother and the women on my mothers side are all lighter toned, with eyes that go from dark brown to my late grandmother who had light green eyes. My father is tan/reddish brown and POOF! You got me. I have no idea about my lineage. I have been told that there are close native american relatives in our blood line on both my maternal/paternal side as well as white folks. But for as long as I have been living (26 years) I have only seen in my family people who look like me and who are a various shades of tans and browns. I honestly, never had an identity crisis. Growing up I was TEASED by classmates for being “too light” and being taunted as a “white girl” but I didn’t grow up with any complexes. My hair says it ALL. It is not consider (dare I say it) a “good grade” or naturally curly or wavy—though I have been told that I should never process my hair with chemicals because it is consider “nicer hair” but as I said, I never let any of this effect who I WANTED TO BE. I am me. I love all the shades of BLACK people in my family. Black is the ONLY culture I have identified with, so that is what I claim. I am not ashamed or obsessed with why I am lighter toned or why my grandmother was light with green eyes. Skin color, facial features and hair grades—are just the trivial things that make people individuals. All of these complexes are really unneccessary.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Oh my goodness! Wow! Race is such a sensitive topic. Mixed people are affected in so many ways. They are affected by the ways other races treat them. They are affected because they may idenify themselves as black but don’t look, feel or get treated as black enough. They may feel rejected by both races. Some mixed people only look like only one race or neither race. Then there are others who look white were raised by only white relatives, identify as white and feel completely comfortable in their skin. I believe that mixed who are upset about Obama being called only black are people who are hurt because maybe they also wanted to be identified as black but people think they are white or something else. I understand now that skin color, treatment by other races, the people the are raised by and other life experieces play a role in how mixed people identify themselves. At first I thought it would be a good idea for mixed people to have thei own seperate race but now i disagree because then they woud have to have several more boxes to check and there are so many mixed people out there who may be black and white, indian and spanish or asian and whatever. Also not all biracial people identify themselves the same so doing this could be offensive to others.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Listen: Like I’ve already said and Terry Akins alluded to, we ALL are bi-something.. I’m not trying to be insensitive, but damn this is getting annoying..
What if my attitude towards racist white people (and no not all white people are racist..) was, “don’t hate me because my DNA make-up may be 50% European..?
September 17th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
This is what I’m saying! If your skin is not completely black, as the color then you have something other than african in you! And as far as anyone not biracial or someone who is not claiming to be biracial, don’t speak on what we sho9uld be called because you don’t know what your talking about
September 27th, 2009 at 1:39 am
You can emphasize to a person what you prefer to be classified as (black, white, mixed, whatever) and they SHOULD respect it, but where do mixed people get off saying in one breath, it is up to the person what they want to be called and then sticking it to someone when they rather not be classified as mixed or biracial, but only black (like obama, halle berry, mariah cary, ne yo). Sounds hypocritical. I understand the premise of the movie when looking at people w/PARENTS of different races being allowed to call themselves what they want. I only say those with parents of different races because where will biracial end. The average black american has mixed lineage so if we do that there will be no black people or white for that matter since they are in the same racial mixture boat. The last time I checked Black people were not the only people who call biracial people black either. I grew up in a black community in the northeast (NJ) the biracial kids where I am from were always considered “mixed” thats just how it was. I think that is why I understand what mamatude said. Now when events or issues went down concerning black people the kids who were mixed with black were considered black because it did directly involve them, even if only half of them, you get me.
Race as a whole is honestly just a state of mind anyway. Living in several different parts of the world the early part of my adult life, has led me to that conclusion. Race is not real, it is determined by the society you live in. Living abroad in southeast asia w/ a golden complexion, green eyes and light hair, people there considered me to be everything from what the call a “halfcaste”(the same thing as mixed), arab to samoan. Race is up to interpretation of the society and as we know the region you live in. My friend from Guyana who now lives in the south has had a couple people ask her why she talks like a jamaican when she is indian. That is a total disregard for her country and her culture but she understands alot of people outside of the northeast have not been exposed to coolies from the west indies. So no hard feelings unless after she schools the person they insist on still calling her accent a fake jamaican accent. There is no golden rule to being mixed you come in all shades and hair textures so how is anyone gonna know unless you tell them anyway, and my mother taught me something a long time ago, “anyone you meet who concerns themselves with what your racial make-up is when you first meet them ain’t worth you knowing anyway”…. Trust me something would be wrong if black people didn’t embrace people of black mixed race. People on here are almost acting like black people are calling a person who is 1/2 asian and 1/2 white, black. If you are half black why does it matter, why would you not want a part of you to claim you. I know mixed girls especially where I am from who would say they wish it wasn’t always, “That girl is not black she is mixed”. If and when black people don’t except black-mixed people as their people we are only hating something in ourselves, right….
October 18th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Maybe this is just me, but I normally don’t care what a person is. And honestly I don’t think this should be about the bi-racial people being called black or white or what have you. I think someone should do something about every person who has had this problem. I am a light skin black female and I have even had teachers tell me I was bi-racial, Americans always look at the skin, which in turn have all the other countries look at our skin and classify us. I have even had a friend (she had known me for 3 yrs at the time) finally ask me one day “what I was” and she was white. I have been the outcast with all backgrounds and yet no one makes a doc about that. The bigger issue is the fact that people; black, white, asian, middle eastern, etc can’t move pass the skin and that is something that is really going to hurt us in the end.
October 18th, 2009 at 1:27 am
The only person who had some sense was the little boy at the end, bottom line if someone doesn’t accept you, then eff them because someone always will. That’s how I made my friends who are every race, ethnicity, and background. I found people who classify me as my personality not my skin tone. Because I have been like I said classified as bi-racial which I’m not. My sister is always asked if she is from the middle east, people think my dad is “more than black” because he has dark skin but wavy jet black hair. They decided my mother was bi-racial because she has light skin, freckles, and what people consider a “good” grade of hair. My family has members who have blonde hair and blue eyes, sandy hair and hazel eyes, dark brown hair and hazel eyes, black hair with brown eyes, black hair with really dark brown eyes and everything in between. My family always told us that in this world no matter what we will be viewed as something different than what we are and the only way to solve it is to not do it to the next person we meet.