Date: Mon, Tue, 09 Jan 2001 22:41:25 -0600
From: A.D. Powell
Subject: U.S. News: John Leo on black conservatives and victimology (1/15/01)
John Leo ought to consider not just the threats against "black conservatives" but the threats made against anyone who dissents on the issue of multiracial identity and free choice.
It's all there. Learn how racism was created as a means to sustain an underclass. Read about how racism got out of hands in Nazi's Germany. Read how eugenics still exist today and it's progress into the 21th century they call it "genetic engineering." It's ugly! It's evil! It's immoral! Pretty soon everyone will be wanting designer babies born with blonde hair and
blue eyes.
There is no "race." There is no "multiracial." We're just plain HUMANS all descended from the same wound. Why not do the world a favor and change your organization's name from "the multiracial activist" into "the human activist." What good will a "caucasian" phenotype do you when human rights violation persists throughout the world?
Editor: You say: "There is no "race." There is no "multiracial." I say, "Correct, race is purely a disgusting sociological construct." If there is no "race" and no "multiracial" then there is also no "black." Are you comfortable with that? If the concept of "race" is to be given the burial it deserves then everyone, including those who consider themselves to be "black" will have to abandon the concept of racial identification. You go on to say, "What good will a "caucasian" phenotype do you when human rights violation persists throughout the world?" I say, "I don't understand the question or it's origin, please elaborate."
Date: Mon, Wed, 17 Jan 2001 09:55:09 -0600
From: A.D. Powell
Subject: interesting articles
Tiger Woods listed among "The 25 Most Influential Asians in America." A MAGAZINE: INSIDE ASIAN AMERICA (December 2000/January 2001).
Samantha Mumba, biracial (Irish/Zambian) Irish pop star, "Mumba Beat: With a Top 10 Single, Samantha Mumba becomes Ireland's hottest pop export since U2," PEOPLE MAGAZINE (1/15/01).
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 17:55:39 -0800 (PST)
From: "Akin Jeje"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
You Americans! Up here in Canada, this one-drop rule does give us something to have a good laugh over. I myself am a Canadian of direct African descent, with a Yoruba father from Nigeria and a mother from Kenya with mixed African, Arab and European ancestry. Having said all that, I see myself as an African, and as a black man because of the CULTURAL AND ETHNIC identifications that I have been raised in and chosen. There are a fair number of people I know up here of mixed ancestry that I cannot judge as being of one race or another because of their purported ancestry, but who identify themselves as black, white, Cape Colored, mixed, biracial, multiracial, or just plain Canadian. Why the hell can't there be whites that have black ancestry, or mixed-race folks, end of story? The one drop rule is foolish to me, but that's because I have just a little trouble accepting a white-looking person as "black", just because of a great-grandma that was probably herself mixed. I think America's problem is really that they need someone as the perennial whipping boy to justify their so-called greatness in the world. The sad thing I find is that many of the brothers and sisters down in the States have started thinking like Massa as well. To hell with trying to find folks that will fit the part-black celebrity list as an attempt to prove your humanity to white people!
As for all the white supremacists out there, stop wailing about so-called mongrelization and the "death of the white race"-I feel that this paranoia was brought on like little things such as slavery, colonialism and other cruelties that were concocted by your ancestors to get other people doing your dirty work while you sat around reaping the rewards. What makes this entire debate so laughable in the U.S is that it remains the only country in the world to be so
paranoid about an archaic one-drop rule that was instituted as a cynical way for the masters to breed themselves more property, and have fun doing so. I know, my tirade has taken a considerable tangent, but here's my advice to solve the so-called controversy-let people decide for themselves what they want to be! For those who love their ideas of racial
purity-form your own communities and leave everyone else alone (this is for all those Nazis out there).For the people trying to get in touch with their multi-raciality, just remember two things: in that white supremacist society you live in, it's still a second class position to be anything else, so a little strategic unity might be in order every once in a while. As for the black folks, well, be proud of your heritage, but please allow for some freedom of
identification for those of partial African descent, and to hell with anybody
else's definition of what you're supposed you're supposed to be.
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 07:04:32 -0800 (PST)
From: "Martin"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
First of all....I come in peace lol. I wrote this letter to a NATIRAH
website. Seemed to be Multiracial activists like yourself so I give to you also-
Hello! My name is Martin. I am a 21 year old Afro-American. I use Afro cause
I am not on the continent of Africa but I want my racial identity. So I choose "Afro-American" rather than "African American" or especially the rather bland and degrading "Black American." Not just American cause diversity is interesting.
I find your site to be rather interesting. Actually I encourage it. I encourage your organization largely cause it will hopefully indirectly be beneficial for the black community. You becoming "Tan Nationalists" would probably result in the black community becoming black nationalist and putting our own interest first rather than being all so all inclusive and lovey dovey of other people that we amalgamate ourselves into extinction. So people who cross color lines have to admit they are no longer helping their former communities.
Because......as I hope we agree.....preferring ones own race does not equate
hating another race. Preference does not equate Racism. I say this realizing
that I myself are considered a "light skinned black." I identify with being a black person. Not a Mulatto. Both of my parents are considered black. The last interracial instances in my family tree were at least 200 years ago or more. Even though I am light skinned, I realize it is in the best interests of the black community to stay mostly.....well......black. I don't need permission nor acceptance of other people, black or white, to know that I am black. So don't try to recruit me -)
First a few quick suggestions.
1. Please don't continue to claim cultural icons of the black community for your own. At least not your absolute own. If they considered themselves black so should you. Please cease doing this. It will only cause violence and is completely unfair to black people. Many of the famous light blacks became famous precisely cause they were light and had access to better education. This was to suppress the black community.
Ironically if you do claim light blacks in history in America, you also take
some of the responsibility of dividing and suppressing the black Community.
Differences in color were intentionally created by whites to divide and conquer blacks. To get us fighting amongst ourselves. Some light blacks acted bougie, some did not. For you to steal light blacks in history is just plain dirty. Don't speak for light blacks who are identified as blacks in history just to serve your own agenda. I dunno maybe we can share.....
2. Please don't claim to be superior or more enlightened cause you supposedly don't worry about race and just call yourself a human. Nobody wants to be colorblind to the point that their race/culture no longer exist. Except certain black people. Thus the problem. In reality you are creating a new race, the NATIRAH race as I believe you call it. Being unambiguous is boring. That's why u made this site. The fact that you have this website proves that you want to have your own racial identity. You want to be "a people." Its a new race. The American NATIRAH. Or is that Natirah-American lol.
3. "One-dropping" was invented by white people to keep them in power. Get mad at them about it
Im not saying for you to not gather biracial people who want to identify as
biracial. Im just saying don't try to...well....recruit people who don't wanna be recruited...and never thought of being recruited. Let them come to you. ADVERTISE DON'T COLONIALISE!!!I say this because it seems to be the way people operate nowadays. Sorry just wanted to say that lol....
Anyways, in the best interests of both the black and tan communities.......I
propose to you some suggestions to keep this as peaceful between us as possible
DO NOT TRY TO GET MEMBERS OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT "IMMEDIATELY BIRACIAL" In other words race mixing was not their parents but their older ancestors (great great great granny was white). Only try to get the ones where one of their parents considers themselves black and the other not. Only when they are young and only in front of their parents. And be careful with those also.
Much of the black community has a certain amount of "mixing" in it. People who consider themselves to be light skinned blacks, and have been all their life, are not about to change for your goals. I wouldn't try to go around recruiting people by embarrassing them in front of other blacks (or whites) by saying "Your not black so join me." Violence will follow. I know it would from me. Is your goal to strengthen the Tan community or destroy the black community. I know some of you are bitter from past experiences with blacks these feelings will only serve to harm u. Fight for love of your people not hate of others. Just as I tell blacks.
By these standards you are pretty much limited to people who are in new
interracial families. Approach them since they have been outcasted for selling their race out for their love. Yes, they did sell their race out....the most important thing to the black community is to keep having black decedents.....black children. Black people not having black children chips away at a community that is already a struggling minority to begin with.
But it is their choice. Love is all powerful. It can make people make good choices and bad. You know what is in your hearts not I.
I imagine you guys are gonna be making yourselves known across America pretty
soon and I wish you luck. Few more things though!!!!!!!
DON'T GO TO THE BLACK UNCLE TOMS FOR HELP!!! (Clarence Thomas, Larry Elder,
Shelby Steele, etc.) You can usually find uncle toms by their common traits.
- Believes in economic progress at the cost of the loss racial/ethnic
identity/unification (assimilation)
- Claim they want diversity but try to downplay the importance of
racial/cultrual/ ethnic identity. (Assimilation)
- Disassociate themselves with their culture/ethnicity on the basis of being
"colorblind" (if they ever had any).
- Can be found saying things like "Racism disappeared" Poof! Just like that!
- Generally gives the impression of never having been around, or preferring
not to be around a lot of black people.
- Doesn't socialize amongst blacks in general.
- Wants blacks to be completely unambiguous and not exist as a people with
their own culture.
Only approach famous blacks/leaders who are trusted within the black community because they socialize among black people and value black identity. (Jesse Jackson, Tavis Smiley, Michael Eric Dyson, Maxine Waters, etc.).
This may be difficult because the Uncle Toms will adore you!! While the black leaders may firstly reject you. Its all in how you approach it. If you go to the uncle toms it will only confirm the belief that people are in Biracial relationships only because they hate their own race and for social status (Which is what a tom would do). If you do like I suggested and only go for the new biracial families (who aren't toms and fetishes with a color complex).....you may avoid a lot of unnecessary conflict. Try for the healthy interracial families...not the unhealthy ones. If thats at all possible.
I want black communities to exist just like you want tan ones to exist. And yes I realize this was only concerning black and white relationships but you can follow the same principals for other combinations accordingly.
I send you these suggestion in peace. And wish you luck.....you'll need it
Peace
Martin
Editor: What a scary little letter. Martin says, "I
propose to you some suggestions to keep this as peaceful between us as possible." In other words, do as I say or there will be trouble. I, for one am not impressed. The fact that young Martin felt the need to write it at all is a sign that the tide is turning. Read, "The Dam is Breaking" at INTERRACIAL VOICE. Martin says: "One-dropping" was invented by white people to keep them in power. Get mad at them about it". FYI, I know about the origins of the one-drop rule, thank you. I could care less about who invented it, what I care about now is who is wielding it a tool of oppression. Martin's statement is akin to a child saying, "but he started it." I don't care who started it, it is far past time to grow up and stop doing it. The time for childish excuses and name-calling is over.
Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 20:36:44 -0800 (PST)
From: "Maximus Lyricus"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Concerning the July 24th letter from A.D. Powell regading "'black' Americans are almost totally defined by their emotional insecurity."
This is a very ignorant remark. Blacks are no different than anyone else. I am black (and, yes I do have Irish, white American, and native American ancestry). I, like many "blacks," believe in self-determination. In short, I define myself. Like any human, I am sure that I have some "emotional insecurity," but there is a myriad of other emotions, inherited characteristics, environmental factors, life happenings, religios beliefs, etc., that are the sum of who I am, and who I define myself to be--racially, or otherwise. Moreover, I could care less if Tiger Woods considers himself to be a rainbow man. Basically Woods (and others like him) try and distance (if not downright disassociate)themselves from their black ancestry because of all the connotaitons, myths, lies, and other negatives that are cast upon black people. It takes a strong black man to take pride in his "blackness," and apparently Tiger Woods does not have the mettle and/or willingness to deal with the baggage.
Editor:You first say: "I could care less if Tiger Woods considers himself to be a rainbow man." Fine, but you go on to say, "Basically Woods (and others like him) try and distance (if not downright disassociate) themselves from their black ancestry.." Woods has never disassociated himself in the manner you describe. You know that. You let the cat out of the bag with that remark. Saying you don't care and then saying that he's running from his "blackness" is truly silly. Decide. Are you a guilt-tripping "one-dropper" or do you truly not care? Honesty is admirable, deceit is not.
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 09:18:59 -0800 (PST)
From: "Maribel"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Although I'm real late on this.
I would like to respond to the post from <<<<Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2000 13:36:05 -0800 (PST)
From: "Ron" ejr48@aol.com
To: "James A. Landrith, Jr." racial_politics@hotmail.com
Subject: Letter to the Editor>>>>
Ron wrote <<<Hollywood will promote Latino actress like Jennifer Lopez and Salma Hayek rather than there more Ethnic looking Latin actresses cause Jennifer and Salma look more mixed with maybe white than looking like most other Latinos who look more Ethnic.>>>
Funny thing is how people confuse nationality and race..
Now Salma who "Hollywood" claims as a Latina..
Was born in Mexico which makes her Mexican do to birth.
Salma has No Spanish blood..
No Aztec blood..
No Mayan blood..
Her parents are Lebonese as is the singer Shakira..
These people are light skin because they are of a totally different race.
It is true Hollywood will use the lighter skin Latins..but it is much
More on Spanish television who uses white skin blonde hair Latinos as they are seen as more attractive.
I grew up being told I was special because my skin is brown..
And that Morenas are "more" than the blanqitas
But now as everyone starts to worship the european look,
I wonder if it's Hollywood or us.
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 10:15:00 -0800 (PST)
From: "Ted Hill"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
This was my first reading of editorials from this site. I have had
it on my homepage for many months, and haven't opened it because I feared
my sisters and brothers here, would engage in the same type of "preaching,
bitching and moaning" that I have found on other list-servers. I was
pleasantly surprised to find a minimal amount of that here. However, as with
most complex issues (and being "mixed" is a very complex issue) we have a
tendency to do with this issue what many here report being done with ethnicity
we compartmentalize our thinking about it into discrete camps, i.e., either
you are hiding your Blackness or flaunting what little you have your either
feeling inferior because of it or hate that part of yourself. This
tendency to compartmentalize our cognitions into "neat packages" is embedded
in the human condition. It is the way cognitive processing works, so no one
should feel criticized by this observation. However, I have found that God has
placed within each of us a piece of Himself to guide us, which, if allowed, will
break the log=jam of mental categorization and allow us glimpses of reality.
Everyone who takes the time to write to this forum, has something
"legitimate" to say, if based in their experience. It may not sound like what you would say, or what you have experienced, and it may easily fit within one of "your" theoretical categories, and thus dismissed. What we each have that is of supreme value to one another is our differing experiences, lived by us alone, as a "mixed" person (I use "mixed" because
I try to keep things simple and avoid the ever expansive politically correct
terminology that fluctuates with time). That experience cannot be taken from us, devalued by rhetoric, changed by differential conceptualizations of how we must have interpreted that experience or made any more "acceptable" if understood (usually by the person who lived it) in the "correct"
(usually defined by someone "judging" it) manner. We are our experience good or bad, correct or incorrect (if there is such a thing). It is our most valuable possession.
When I originally saved this site on my homepage I was hoping that a
sharing of our different experiences was what I would find, fully realizing that, as with mental categorization, promoting "our" understanding of things is a process of the human condition, too. It makes us feel secure and safe (like we have the "right" handle on life, when actually there is no handle
at all). I find a lot of "promoting" on this forum, with an incredible amount of judgement being freely dispersed. Let me see if I can model what I am suggesting.
I was born a Black man in America, who happened to have a white mother. I internalized this understanding (initially) because in the early 1950s, both my parents and society taught me that I would be identified, and hence treated, as a Black man in America. Why did my Blackness become the predominent core of my identity formation? Because my parents taught
me that that's what I was, and when I became old enough to begin deciding for myself, two things were obvious.
One, I was proud of my people. Black people. Any group of people that can endure what has/is being done to Black folks in this country (and around the world, by this country and others) and maintain their sense of integrity, spirituality, goodness, is worthy of pride (not to mention Jazz, blues,
"American" music in general, the contributions of people like W. E. B. DuBois, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Maya Angelo, James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Gordon Parks, Huey P. Newton). Two, society responded to me as a Black man in America. My hair is straight, my skin light. Most people identify me as Hispanic, Iranian, Mid-Eastern (or whoever the US happens to be bombing). But the powers that be, schools, police, courts, employers responded to me as a Black man. Black men know what I mean, i.e., not being able to drive on an interstate without getting pulled over...judges talking about burying you under the jail for a minor offense...schools tracking you on anything BUT a college bound tract...employers not even offering an application.
I must, however, own my end of it. I was raised for the first 11 years in the projects of a small New Jersey town. I ran the streets of Harlem for many years during late adolescence and early adulthood.
I was a member of the Black Panther Party in 1969-70. I carry myself like I am at odds with the predominant culture, and that gets read as much as my racial appearance.
[Let me share an aside about the projects. I saw a young ladies story in this
forum about mixed folks
having anymosity towards Blacks for being treated badly by them...and then a
gentlemen's reply comparing what Black people could have done to her vs the white powers that be. My mom was the only white person in
the projects. In my elementary school, there was one white kid. He caught hell, and next in line was...me. I have two older brothers, and they taught me how to fight because they knew the time would come that I too would be greeted by my young classmates wanting to beat up on the mixed kid. We fought regularly, were chased home frequently by crowds of kids, got beat and did some beating. On the other hand, I had very good friends that have left rich memories of fantastic times we had together, in the projects. There was good...there was bad. I think we call that life. But believe me, white folks do not have a monopoly on viciousness or meanness. And, the sister that wrote this, was simply sharing "her" experience. If you think Black folks can't precipitate sufficient personal agony to warrant anymosity, you haven't lived with us.]
I could go on (and reserve the right to in the future), but this little
story is not a story. It was/is my life. Can it be judged? If you get something out of doing that. It won't change anything. Can my motives or
internal psychological workings be questioned and judged? Yea, if you get
something out of that. It doesn't change a thing. My point is threefold. One, my life was my life and how I experienced it was my experience. Two, life is a process, hopefully a growing process, where we change, adjust, let go of the old and embrace the new. I tell people today, when asked, that "I am mixed, Black and white" (I know that still means I am a Black man in America). And three, we are all God's children...or none of us are! Rejoice in the sharing of our different experiences, which can best be done simply by investing the time to listen. When personal judgment/evaluation steps in, listening stops and sharing is lost. I have one supreme thing of value and that is the life God has walked me through. Sharing that may help someone, possibly make someone feel less alone, less alienated. Sharing that may bring me closer to someone, and that is the name of the game...relationships. Not too many people on their death bed...(as a psychologist I know) not too many suicidal people, consider anything BUT the relationships they are either currently involved in, or have been. Share yourself...without fear of judgment...I, for one, am thirsting for it. God bless.
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2001 20:59:54 -0800 (PST)
From: "Wayne Musa Barboza"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
I'm A Cape verdean American And would like to let The Pople in your circle that A very informative site has open the can of worms that this site is all about (Brown people Will Rule all those racist Minorities sooner then they think and there is nothing they can do But If You don't Know about the Cape vrdean american then a good chunk of this cause is missing visit www.webnow.com/newbdefordicc or Http://capeverdean.seeyouonline.net
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 14:03:01 -0500
From: "Morris King, Jr."
Subject: Expose' on Racism/Genocide in Tennis
Hello:
Thought that you might be interested in reading the world renowned Tennis Expose' on racism & genocidal practices in tennis located at www.angelfire.com/zine/tennisexpose/index.html. Any and all support and publicity will be appreciated.
With kindest regards,
Morris King, Jr.
Director
MAGIAN World Class Tennis magian10s.com
HI, I WAS LISTENING TO TAVIS SMILEY DISCUSSING THE SWEARING IN OF THE
NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL BY JUSTICE THOMAS. AND I FELT INSPIRED. FEEL FREE
TO CONTACT ME AT JAYDOLPH@YAHOO.COM
SELL OUTS (DOING GODS’S WORK)
ENTERING THE FIRST YEARS OF THE NEW MILLENIUM, I WOULD BE REMENSE IF I
DIDN’T MAKE THIS POINT DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AS WE EMBARK ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH ALL THE BLACK RADIO PLAYING
DR.MARTIN LUTHER KINGS HISTORICAL SPEECH “I HAVE A DREAM.” EVERY SCHOOL
BILLBOARD HAS PICTURES OF GREAT BLACK HISTORY MAKER AND HEROES. LET ME
SAY, THEY ARE WELL EARNED. MOST OF THOSE BILLBOARDS ARE ABSENT OF ONE
GREAT AMERICAN. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CLEARENCE THOMAS ONLY THE SECOND
BLACK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. OFTEN CALLED A “SELL
OUT” BY OUR SO CALLED BLACK LEADERS. I DON’T BELIEVE MY RACE HAS ANY
TRUE LEADER. JUST A BUNCH OF WANNABEES, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN ENTIRE
DIFFERENT STORY.
SINCE BLACK AMERICA IS SO BENT ON CALLING JUSTICE THOMAS A “SELL OUT “,
LET ME PUT THIS OUT FOR THE MIND TO PONDER. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN GOD.
AND BELIEVE HE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS YOU MUST AGREE WITH THIS. (WELL
MAYBE)
IN AFRICA THE WHITE SLAVETRADERS BOUGHT A SELECT FEW BLACK TRIBE MEMBERS
TO SHOW THEM THE WAY TO INTRAP POTENTIAL SLAVES.( TODAY THEY WOULD BE
KNOWN AS SCOUTS) THEIR MISSION WAS TO CATCH NATIVE AFRICANS FOR THEY
COULD BRING THEM BACK TO AMERICA, TO BE SOLD AS SLAVES. (EVERYONE TO
INCLUDE THE SLAVETRADERS BELIEVE IT WAS FOR MONEY.) THOSE FEW SCOUTS
THAT HELP TRAP BLACKS INTO SLAVERY WERE KNOWN AND PRESENTLY KNOWN AS
“SELL OUTS” OF THERE OWN RACE . IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD YOU MUST AGREE
THAT THEY WERE DOING GODS WORK. WITHOUT THOSE SCOUTS SLAVERY IN AMERICA
OF THE BLACK RACE WOULD HAVE NEVER OCCURRED. THEY WERE MESSENGERS FROM
GOD ALTHOUGH POPULAR OPINON WOULD NOT AGREE. I SUBMIT TO YOU THIS. IT
WAS GODS WILL TO HAVE THE BLACK MAN COME TO AMERICA, IN SUCH LARGE
NUMBERS. WITHOUT THESE FEW “SELL OUT”,AMERICA WOULD NOT HAVE THE LARGE
PROPORTION OF BLACKS IT HAS.( CURRENTLY ABOUT 14% OF THE POPULATION.)
THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A HARRIET TUBMAN OR MARCUS GARVEY OR DARE I
SAY A DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING. ALL OF WHO I BELIEVE WERE MESSENGERS FROM
GOD. YES BLACK PEOPLE HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO AMERICA BECOME
THE STRONGEST NATION IN THE WORLD,WITH NO CLOSE CHALLENGERS. THIS WAS
GODS WILL. THE “SELL OUTS” THAT SOLD THEIR TRIBESMEN INTO SLAVERY ARE
MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS. DOING GOD’S WORK. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE NEVER HEARED ONE
BLACK PERSON EVER ADDRESS THIS . THEY DID NOT GO WITH POPULAR OPINON OF
WHAT’S RIGHT OR WRONG. CLEARLY THEY WERE IN THE MINORITY WITH THAT “SELL
OUT “ THINKING. I POSE THIS QUESTION TO THE CHRISTIANS, REVERENDS,AND
ANYBODY WHO BELIEVES IN GOD. WHEN JESUS WAS ON EARTH WASN’T HE IN THE
MINORITY? CLARENCE THOMAS, IS HE STILL A SELL OUT? I DON’T KNOW.DOES IT
MATTER ? A MAN GOOD SHOULD OUTWEIGH THE BAD. RIGHT? I DO KNOW, HE IS
ONLY THE SECOND BLACK SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. MAKING ANOTHER DOOR EASIER FOR ANOTHER BLACK TO ENTER. MAYBE
GOD SENDS US WHAT WE NEED NOT WHAT WE WANT. NO, I AM NOT A FAN OF
JUSTICE THOMAS OR AGREE WITH HIS VIEW ON HARDLY ANYTHING. I AM INCLINE
TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON, AND CALL HIM A “SELL OUT”. I MUST LOOK PAST
WHAT SOCIETY, OUR COMMUNITY AND THE MEDIA TELLS US, AND SEE THE GOOD HE
IS DOING FOR THE WORLD.NOT JUST THIS NATION. JUST AS THOSE SLAVES THAT
ACTED AS SCOUTS FOR THE SLAVETRADERS.HE IS DOING SOMETHING TO ADVANCE
HIS RACE WEATHER IN IS INTENTIONAL OR NOT, AS IN THE CASE OF THE SLAVE
SCOUTS. DOES IT REALLY MATTER WHY? I SUBMIT THAT AMERICA WOULD NOT BE
THE GREAT NATION IT IS. NOR WOULD BLACKS AMERICA BE THE FORCE IT IS
WITHOUT THESE SOME “SELL OUTS”.
ARTHUR BENDOLPH
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:48:48 -0800 (PST)
From: "Andreas Cooke"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
i was wondering do ya'll give scholarships to biracial students attending universities
Editor: I'm sorry, but TMA does not award scholarships.
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 13:38:31 -0800 (PST)
From: "Quintan McCullough"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Hi,
first off i would like to say thank you for creating TMA it is a very important
thing that you are doing. Now let me go onto saying a couple of things. I'm
irish, black, and blackfoot native american. I grew up being called everything
in the book being told i'm this or that. I was told that the society we live in
will view me as a black man because my father was black "the one drop theory."
I've gone through almost every name as far as an i.d. bi-racial, multi-racial,
mulatto, At one time I believed these names were fine, over the past couple of
years i've come across a word that describes exactly who i am, and i believe we
all are. The word is AMALGAMATED it's a word generally used in science, but it
has taken on a a different meaning a more personal one, please bear with me as i
explain, all the other catagories we've been place in in some form or another
expresses parts or seperations (bi=2, multi=many)and i have a problem with that
because that's not who we are we are something new, the meaning of the word is this
"2 or more elements or mixtures coming together to create a new entity or body"
i use it in the this way "2 or more ethnic cultures coming together to create a
new culture" can you see the difference in the meanings.
I've been wanting to create a web site and even start up a co-alition for
amalgamated people, but so many of us have been told that we are this or we are
that. It's such an injustice to us, for society to say what and who we are, we a
re lacking a voice there are so many of us that are hear but we are sleeping,
and we don't even know it. I try to explain to friends but they don't understand
they think that nothing can be done, i told them if that was the case, blacks
would still be slaves in this country, because at that time in the u.s., that's
all they were. Don't get me wronr i love the different ethnic cultures that make
up my past, i love the black side of my family for excepting me with open arms
and embrasing me and teaching me their culture, this is meant in no disrespect
to them, the same goes for my irsh side, though not as widely accepted. I regret
not growing up and knowing anything about the blackfoot nation, but i have done
research and studies about that nation,!
to get a better understanding about them and see some of them in myself. I just
feel that we need to know all of ourself to become truly one with ourself,
because to let society deny us of our god given right, is to deny our on
existance, if i've offended you in any way i'm sorry, but this means enough to
me that i have the word amalgamated tattooed on my left forearm. I would love to
hear from you. thank you for your time. If there is anything i can do please let
me know
Sincerely,
Quintan (Quincy) McCullough
U.N.I.T.Y. MAYBE SOMEDAY WE'LL KNOW WHAT IT MEANS
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2001 13:09:07 -0800 (PST)
From: "Kentucky Fried Chicken when Tanned"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
I would like to commend the Editor on the response he gave to the Jan 27 letter
on Tiger Woods.
Any one that is part white that speaks with hatred about white people, and with
hatred about people of mixed ancestry that are part white, are doing so because
they are ashamed of their part-whiteness. They are ashamed of the reason why
they are part white, and typically in America the reasons for them being part
white is at some time in history their ancestor was a slave that was raped by a
white person, or they were born an illegitimate child from such a union, or
their parents thought they couldn't get married for various personal and/or
social reasons, or the parent that was left to raise the child, indoctrinated
the child to believe that white people are horrible. These experiences are
nothing to be proud of. Any one that has a history of slavery would naturally be
ashamed of it, but they shouldn't be, because there is nothing you can do about
it. Until you accept the past for what it was and stop blaming white people for
it, you will always be resentful towards white and mixed people that are proud of their heritage.
I am a first generation person of mixed origin, and I have never felt this
hatred that black people here in America have for white people. Why? It's
simple. I am not the product of a raping. My parents have been married for
decades. My ancestors were never slaves. Because I know where I come from, I am
proud of what I am. You hate because you don't know where you come from/who your
relatives were/which part of Africa you came from.
I lived in the US for 6 years prior to now, and I have to tell you my truth.
Every black American that I have met, in all the years that I have lived
here,has constantly made reference to their being black and has made racist
comments about whites, including those that were part white, but not first
generation mixed. Why? I believe it is because they sadly have an inferiority
complex about themselves. In all the years that I have lived in Africa, I have
rarely met an African that hasn't also made constant reference to their being
"black". Why? Because they also typically have an inferiority complex about
their color. It is very difficult to relate to anyone that has a complex of any
kind and I refuse to associate with anyone that makes racist comments about
white people.
For those of you that say we are black because of cultural and social issues,
you are very wrong. In fact stupidly wrong. You refuse to accept that we
interact with all Nationalities so does that mean that we belong to all
Nationalities? The reasons behind your explanations for us being black just
don't make any logical sense, which brings into question why you want to force
us to be something we're not. It is for your own personal reasons that you do
this. You see us as having advantages over you and the reality is we do. We
have 2 and sometimes more cultures that we can identify with. We speak two or
more languages because of our heritage. We don't see color. We can pass for
several different nationalities and/or color eg white. We have superior
genetics. These are the facts and this is not the end of the list.
Many people refuse to listen to us when we tell them we are mixed, and rudely
dismiss our statements and experiences. It's them that suffer, yet they accuse
others of not making this a better place to live, when they refuse to listen to
the truth and understand us.
In reference to the bastard that wrote on Jan 27th, the Multiracial activist is
a forum for mixed people to share their experiences we have unique experiences
that are unique only to us, and you can't take that away from us. We are unique,
physically beautiful and have the power to pass for any Nationality. This is
the power that we have. You simply can't tell exactly what our racial makeup is
because we could be any combination of genetics. Our existence destroys the
capacity for people to classify us racially, and you detest us for that.
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 04:58:44 -0800 (PST)
From: "Captn_God"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Hey we are not making any mistakes here.
God made people different races and forbid them to intermarry.
For a good reason.
The future of the world depends on it.
Save yourself.
Before it's too late.
IT'S also downright disgusting.
Editor: Ummm, I don't think you're going find any converts here buddy. Take your sheets and travel on.
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 10:42:47 -0800 (PST)
From: "Monique Antoine"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
I hope you read this dad if you happen to click on this website. My
father is Creole and my mother is African American and a third of Native
American.So I am a fourth of Indian,and half African American half Creole. I
guess yu can consider that multiracial or biracial. But I honestly don't know I
like saying what my races are but now I am 19 years old and the only race I've
ever been acepted in is my African American side I've never met anyone on my
Creole side I don't even know how they look (creole people)The only picture I
can see of a creole woman is myself it's been hard growing up trying to figure
out who I really am or what I really am. My father never told me anything about
myself like what kind of Creole is he.And my mom never told me what kind of
Indian I'm mixed of.I wish I knew more about my multiracial roots.
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2001 00:14:20 -0800 (PST)
From: "George Winkel"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
TMA reader Quintan McCullough (02/15/01) described his "AMALGAMATED" tattoo on
his arm, and he urged everyone multiracial to self-identity "amalgamated," too.
I am all for Mr. McCullough’s freedom to self-identify any way he wishes. But I
am not charmed by his selecting the name, "AMALGAMATED."
Partly the reason is historical. The tap root of "white" racism from 1619
onwards was precisely the dominant "white" community’s irrational fear of
"amalgamation" with the "black race." The very phrase "amalgamation of the
races" long referred disparagingly to the interracially blended community.
The reason "amalgamation" is a bad, disparaging term, I feel, is its
connoting combination, not blending. (E.g., compare dental amalgam, used to
fill teeth.) "Amalgamate," in interracial parlance is a word, to me, clearly
implying the indestructibility of "race." I think it originally imbued "race"
with eternal elemental reality (i.e., "germ plasm"?), which never ever will
truly fuse into a new humanity. Coiners hundreds of years ago of the
mixed-"race" labels -- "mulatto," "quadroon," "griffe," etc. -- probably sensed
on some level that accepting the indivisibility of blended humanity contradicts
the "race" concept. Eventually they hit on the "one-drop rule" as a way to get
around this contradiction in "race," the arbitrary division of the indivisible.
The impossibility of naming all the racial combinations ("amalgamations"?) led
to the "one-drop rule." It restored "race’s" original 18th century function --
elevating Caucasian "whiteness" to dominion over all others by divine right.
"Black" was made society’s bottom -- truly its cesspool -- with three other
"races" competing to be next to "white." (Oddly, none wish to be found anywhere
near "black," not even Hispanic sharing richly in the African "blood.")
Actually, the most objectionable aspect of the indestructible "germ plasm"
connotation in "amalgamate," for me, is its implying that "eternal race" is
real.
"Race" is not real. It does not exist in the real world. "Race" is a thing of
language and imagination. Its only existence is literary, verbal, social
(mental, & hypnotic) -- words. Therefore, children of different-"race"
people are not "amalgams." Multiracial children, such as Mr. McCullough, are
unique human beings, the same as everyone else. Not surprisingly, people tend
to resemble both their parents. That is all.
There are no "race lines" creating or marking off any distinct differences
between any human populations. Therefore, there is no way of containing or even
defining separate "breeding populations" implied by the word "race." Conclusive
proof there are no "race lines" is the fact we all breed easily and well with
one another. Moreover, this interfertility obviously has gone on since Man’s
first appearance as a species, hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Children often amuse themselves imagining they can see faces in the clouds.
"Race" is similar, but it is sinister. "Race" is a mental game of arbitrarily
picking out peoples’ complexions, noses, hair, or something, and then
hypnotizing ourselves into believing it means real difference. I think a better
project for young Mr. McCullough is helping us go about waking up the people
sleepwalking under the spell of this damned "race" hypnosis.
George Winkel
Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2001 16:28:19 -0500 (EST)
From: "Harvard HAPA (Half-Asian Person's Association)"
Subject: 5th Pan Collegiate Conference on the Mixed Race Experience
Harvard HAPA is hosting the 5th Pan Collegiate Conference on the Mixed Race Experience on the weekend of April 20-22, 2001. For more information about the conference, check out: http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hapa.
Date: Mon, Sat, 03 Mar 2001 23:38:27 -0600
From: A.D. Powell
Subject: New York Times Article about Jefferson Descendants
In a March 3 New York Times article ["Accepting an Extended Family"] , Reporter Madison J. Gray quotes the "white" Thomas Jefferson/Sally Hemings descendant Julia Jefferson
Westerinen as saying that "white members of the Monticello Association would eventually admit that Thomas Jefferson fathered black children." BLACK children? We are talking about
the offspring of a three-fourths European mother and a father of "pure" European descent. That equals "white" in my book if anyone is "white" at all. It was also "white" to the laws of Virginia at the time the unofficial (not "black") Jefferson offspring were manumitted. Every Puerto Rican in New York City has more "black blood" in one finger than any one of Sally Hemings' children had in his entire body. Is Mrs. Westerinen, a resident of Staten Island, too dense to notice this? Evidently she is being miseducated into hypodescent ideology by her newfound "black" (actually mulatto and mixed-white with few "blacks") cousins who also claim descent from Hemings and Jefferson (even though the "white" Hemings descendants are the only ones who've passed a DNA test). Mrs. Westerinen accepts the myth that her ancestor Eston Hemings Jefferson was "passing for white," but she does not say when the line separating "passing" from "true" whiteness was crossed. Oh, how do we know that the Monticello Association has "white" members? Has anyone traced ALL their ancestry?
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 09:39:59 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christina"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
I happened to stumble onto this site from my research for a paper I am writing for school on "Hate Crimes." I am so glad that I did. I just want to applaud you for what you are doing. It takes a lot of guts and courage to do the right thing and I commend you for that.
Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2001 11:11:16 +0000
From: "Major Michael Kelley, CSA"
Subject: Regarding Marie Roberts' article on "Black reparations"...
...as expressed at "The Multiracial Activist" web site ("White Woman Embraces
Black Reparations" - http://www.multiracial.com/readers/roberts.html), the examples of U.S.-supported reparations you cited all have one common thread
that negates your use of them as supporting any sort of precedent. All of the incidents of reparations you cite are those reparations paid to _living victims_ of acts against them. There is no precedent in history for reparations being paid to the _descendants_ of victims.
Do you passionately support reparations for Native Americans from ALL non-Native peoples who have benefited from the wholesale theft of a country and the attempted racial genocide? Black Americans have received recognition and honor for their role as "Buffalo Soldiers" in helping in this thievery and attempted genocide and, therefore, must share in this financial burden.
I am 1/32nd Seminole and Federally-classified as a Native American...what share will I receive? My sons are half Filipino...whom do they pay and who pays them?
What share will Black Americans descended from Black slave owners have to pay? What about those Black Americans who are multiracial and part caucasian? Will the descendants of African empires, the Arabs, the Portugese, and the Dutch also throw money into the pot for reparations, since they not only owned African slaves but also participated deeply in creating and supplying the American slave trade? Will descendants of New England slaveship owners pay
more heavily for being responsible for the deaths of a million or more Africans who died or were killed during the Atlantic passages on those ships?
Do you support the payment of reparations to the descendants of the Southern victims of the unconstitutional war waged against the civilian population of the South and the ensuing economic devastation of that region as perpetrated under the Federal Reconstruction Act from 1865 to 1877?
Do you support reparations for the descendants of the Irish, Welsh, Scots, African slaves and citizens of former nations of the British Empire from the English? For the descendants of Biblical Jews from the descendants of the Egyptian Empire? For descendants of numerous enslaved nations from the descendants of the Roman Empire? All of these nations and empires benefited from the servitude of other populations...these are all claims which are at least as supportable and legitimate as the concept of reparations for Black Americans.
Additionally, you are fundamentally misinformed about the arrival date and status of those Africans who originally arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. Jamestown was first _settled_ in 1607 and the first Africans arrived in 1619. I offer you the following quote of properly-researched _history_ as performed under the Federal WPA Act of Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
Virginia, Guide to The Old Dominion, WPA Writers' Program, Oxford University Press, NY, 1940, p. 378
"In 1650 there were only 300 negroes in Virginia, about one percent of the population. They weren't slaves any more than the approximately 4,000 white indentured servants working out their loans for passage money to Virginia, and who were granted 50 acres each when freed from their indentures, so they could raise their own tobacco.
Slavery was established in 1654 when Anthony Johnson, Northampton County, convinced the court that he was entitled to the lifetime services of John Casor, a negro. This was the first judicial approval of life servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
But who was Anthony Johnson, winner of this epoch-making decision? Anthony Johnson was a negro himself, one of the original 20 brought to Jamestown (1619) and 'sold' to the colonists. By 1623 he had earned his freedom and by 1651, was prosperous enough to import five 'servants' of his own, for which he received a grant of 250 acres as 'headrights.'
Anthony Johnson ought to be in a 'Book of Firsts.' As the most ambitious of the first 20, he could have been the first negro to set foot on Virginia soil. He was Virginia's first free negro and first to establish a negro community, first negro landowner, first negro slave owner and as the first, white or black, to secure slave status for a servant, he was actually the founder of slavery in Virginia.
A remarkable man."
Good intentions are commendable, but according to an old axiom they also pave the road to Hell.
Think before you speak and research before you write.
Your Obedient Servant,
Major Michael Kelley, CSA
Commanding, 37th Texas Cavalry (Terrell's) http://www.37thtexas.org
"We are a band of brothers!"
"I feel that you are free men, I am a free man, and we can do as we please. I came here as a friend and whenever I can serve any of you I will do so...therefore, let us stand together. Although we differ in color, we should not differ in sentiment." - Confederate General N.B. Forrest, Memphis, Tennessee - July, 1875
"There are few, I believe, in this enlightened age, who will not acknowledge that slavery as an institution is a moral and political evil." - Robert E. Lee (December 27, 1856)
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 13:14:51 -0800 (PST)
From: "Sherry"
Subject: Interracial Dating
Hello, I was looking at the interracial voices webpage. I am doing some research on interracial dating. Could you put this mess on your web page.
Is there any readers who may know (1) any White male celebrities who are either dating or married to
African American Females, (2) any African American female celebrities who are either dating or married to
White male, and (3) any media coverage that exist on the Prince Maximillian of Leichtenstein and Angela
Brown marriage.
Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 17:44:05 -0800 (PST)
From: "Brandy Riley"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Whatz up ,i came across this site while lookin for Interracial descrimination I am a very light color of black and i have trouble proving my "so-called " blackness to people . In class my assignment was to find info about interracial descrimination and to do a presentaion.
thanx for some info ,i have recieved opoins from many races.
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 07:33:59 -0800 (PST)
From: "George Winkel"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
In the 1990’s Project R.A.C.E.,
Interracial Voice (IV), and The
Multiracial Activist (TMA); worked closely together trying to bring about the
inclusion of a "multiracial" category on the approaching 2000 census. As James
Landrith, the editor of TMA explains in his latest editorial, Mrs. Susan
Graham, president of Project R.A.C.E. seems by way of two successive nasty
proclamations posted approximately a year apart, the latest one just having gone
up, to have severed her organization from IV and TMA. Why? Mrs. Graham seems
to exhibit jealousy of Ward Connerly -- did he steal IV and TMA away from her?
Is there such incompatibility with the possibility of trying again for a
"multiracial box" on a future census, and Connerly’s American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI) agenda that a nasty, public break is appropriate?
I am not sure what is Connerly’s take on the census "multiracial" box issue, or
his views if any re Project R.A.C.E. However, Connerly is a proven effective
crusher of Affirmative Action (AA) "race"-based preferences. His ACRI voter
initiatives in California (Prop. 209) and in Washington State (I-200) ended
state AA in those states. Connerly’s organizing brought about drastic AA
reductions in Texas and Florida, too. Importantly, Connerly, ACRI, is planning
a California voter ballot Racial Privacy
Initiative, to block almost all state "race" identity data collecting. The
hope is this initiative will go before the California voters in 2002.
Indications are this is likely to pass, too, and it would constitute a momentous
step forward in our efforts to get "race" questions completely off the U.S. census. And this, by the way -- I am convinced -- is the meaning of "deconstructing" "race" in the USA. What is Project R.A.C.E.’s problem? (Mrs. Graham wasn’t trying to win
AA-type govt. entitlements for the multiracial was she?)
George Winkel
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 11:26:12 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christina"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
I am writing in response to this post about Samntha Mumba:
Date: Mon, Wed, 17 Jan 2001 09:55:09 -0600
From: A.D. Powell
Subject: interesting articles
Samantha Mumba, biracial (Irish/Zambian) Irish pop star, "Mumba Beat: With a Top
10 Single, Samantha Mumba becomes Ireland's hottest pop export since U2," PEOPLE
MAGAZINE (1/15/01).
I was surprised to find that Samantha Mumba dosen't consider herself bi-racial.
Here is a quote from her website: http://www.samanthamumbausa.com/
"I'm black and I'm from Ireland," smiles Samantha. "It's kinda like, uh-oh…but
it means I'm something totally different. There are a lot of female artists my
age around at the moment, but they're all American and blonde and blue-eyed and
smiley. I'm totally the opposite of that. I want to show a bit more attitude and
I have an opinion…"
I and twelve (12) "apostles" across America fought hard on the bloody frontlines to make this ALL happen, "check-all-that-apply"! Yet, the media, in particular, television, hands the "glory" to the undeserved "stars" of Hollywood CHEAPSKATES! Thank Goodness for print media, at least, they've gotten a sniff of most of the truth about us underdogs who are fighting passionately to cure our Nations self-inflicted illness.
Soon the banality of mass confusion on race on the horizon will be just what Doctor Multiracial "Charles M. Bryd" and many other leaders ordered!
Valerie A. Wilkins-Godbee
an interracial lady warrior!
Native New Yorker
founder and president of
The Ameurofian Heritage Foundation since 1989. Immediate past chief national
director of A PLACE FOR US/National 501 (c) (3) since 1984!
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 16:15:46 EST
From: "Anuinette M."
Subject: skin color
For years since I've been learning about the Multiracial group, I have
been hear the same old stereotype that all multiracial people are light
skinned. that is not true!
I am 1/2 black, 1/2 Native American,and 1/4 Irish so I count as multiracial.
And my skin is as brown as chocolate. But I did not inherit any physical
African features, like that my hair only curls into spanish waves,and I don't
chemically straighten my hair.
plus I have a small nose and thin lips. So most people (especially other
blacks) have figured that I was Indonesian, East Indian, or any other
non-african dark-skinned racial group. So sometimes its not always skincolor
that shows racial mixture.
And All those people who said blacks are the only ones that will get
along with black multiracials because of their physical appearance need to
hear my story.
In my life the only group of people that tormented me because of my
looks and behavior were Blacks. Because of my family's middle-class lifestyle
and my Standard ("proper") dialect, people assumed I was a "Whitley
Gilbert"(i.e a mixed black bougie from a well-off family) when they didn't
even know where I lived. So far my longest lasting and most trusting best
friend is a White Jewish girl who never brought Race in the middle of our
frendship.
Those people (black or white) who think I am choosing to stray away from black people I just have to say this: SOME OF US TRIED VERY HARD TO BLEND AND IDENTIFY WITH YOU, BUT MOST OF YOU WERE JUST TO NARROW-MINDED TO GIVE US A CHANCE!!!!!!
Second, no, nothing is ideal/perfect... But, should that be the determining
factor for our mosaic-appreciating community's cause, fight for
self-expression, for embracing our heritage?
Third, getting closer to that "ideal" or near perfection; can't we all just
dream, along? Lighten up a little. It will do us all some good. I know you
mean well...
At least for me, on the bloody battle lines these past ten 10+ years along
with at the very least the nations twelve (12) "disciples" of the
multiracial category debate, need to take it easy, but not a longgg
vacation. A shame, ugh?
CONGRATULATIONS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ON THE FRONTLINES!!!
Back to the front,
Valerie A. Wilkins-Godbee
founder and president
The AMEUROFIAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
since 1989; and immediate past Chief National
Dir. of A PLACE FOR US/National 501 (c) (3)
non-profit since, 1984
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2001 16:54:20 -0800 (PST)
From: "Anuinette M."
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Hello, After a year of searching I finally found a site that shares my views. So I am new to this group. So anyway, I'd like to respond to "Martin" if that's your real name on your comment on only including *Immediately* biracial people and that your interacial relatives are as far away as 200 years ago. Pal, If you think the majority of brown skinned "blacks" share the same chronological backround on race, you are WRONG MY "BROTHA'"! Both my maternal grandparents had a Native American mother and a Black Father. And my Paternal Grandfather had an Irish/Native American mother. My Parents turnedout looking just as racially mixed as their "immediately Biracial" parents. Some how the only african features that were passed down the family were Mohogany wood-colored skin and wavy to ringlet hair. Even Though I have that so called "undesired" brown skin, I had other physical evidence of non black blood in my features. I have genetically inherited a thin bridged nose, Almond shaped eyes,high cheekbones, thin-sized lips, and naturally wavy hair (And I haven't used relaxer since I turned 16!), obviously traits not common among many black people. Since I was a little girl, people have asked if I was adopted( because of my anglo-saxon surname), East Indians, Hispanics, Etgiopians, and Indonesians have asked me if I was from there home country or have o parent from there (I lived in D.C.). Even My Cousin always said I looked like a "dark chinese person" when I smile. Now That I wear glasses, some of my classmates say I look like a "female and younger Mohandas Ghandi". anyways, my point is, Some "blacks" may have interracial relatives a generation passed their own parents(but closer than yours!) but they still carry the same physical traits and the social reactions from "Obvious" racial groups as any "immediate" biracial person. I understand all the crap the people get from the "stay black" lunatics like you. So tell me "Martin", During "cultural awareness week" its so easy for you to simply throw on a dashiki, but What should I do when I'm soon forced to choose between the dashiki or my Cherokee Ribbon dress Or my Irish Tartan ? think about that question in terms of making pilgrimage to the "motherland", I have three of those too.
Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 13:02:34 -0500 (EST)
From: "krsing"
Subject: There's No Box To Account For Our History
Here's some info for you. This tired mantra just won't seem to go away. I worry about the child she is adopting.
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 06:00:40 -0800
From: "George Winkel"
Subject: Letter to the editor Afrocentric vs. Eurocentric
A vigorous debate board is buzzing at the little Eurocentric "Racial Myths" site. The burning issue seems to be the racial makeup of Egyptians (the folks on the Saharan "front line"?)? Were the pyramids built by "one-drop" "blacks" (i.e., "mixed," Mulatto?); or is an antique "one-drop white" "rule" applicable throughout Blumenbach Near Eastern and Mediterranean civilization, making Mulatto Moors and other North Africans, as well as all "mixed" classical Greeks and Romans into "just check white" Caucasians? Tough questions all, requiring people with way too much time on their hands to burn midnight oil researching "primary sources." How to prove up the "race" of ancients who had no such paradigm, and only rarely described people by color in their medieval and classical writings?
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 21:23:00 -0800 (PST)
From: "Jon Wu"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
On the reparations issue and some other stuff:
If this is approved, then the government would be paying, yes? I pay taxes to
the government, so some of that money would come from me, no? How about we have
a big checklist (like Lewontin's from "Evolutionary Biology" or somesuch) and I
can truly check off "all that apply". The bigger the checklist the better, so we
can make a fair appraisal of how reparations are to be distributed, including
racial, societal, cultural, what have you, parameters.
I'm 1/2 Chinese (7/16 Han & 1/16 Mongolian), 1/4 Swedish, 1/8 German, 1/16 Irish
& 1/16 Scots. Irish & Scots came to America (Michigan) in the late 1800's,
married and had a daughter, who married the freshly immigrated German and had a
daughter, who married my grandfather, who had just immigrated from Sweden. Their
daughter married my father when he immigrated from China.
Let's see. I'll owe a certain amount of reparations to decendants of slaves,
though I wonder if I can get a 50% reduction on this payment for my Chinese
side...maybe not, as my father came to the US and worked his way through college
and medical school in a society that hadn't yet paid reparations. The
reparations my Chinese side deserves due to exploitation of Asian labor in
railroad building and the like is evenly offset by those same due from my white
side.
Those due from the English for past treatment of my Scots and Irish ancestors
are offset by what my German eighth did to them (or did Weimar set a bad
precedent for demanding reparations from Germans?). My Japanese wife is gonna
owe me for what her people did to the Chinese, but she doesn't have to file an
American return. Gonna have to designate part to native Americans, too,
unhelped, as they were, by my ancestors. We're going to need a big computer.
Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 21:46:04 -0800 (PST)
From: "Artrese"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Hi,
I'm a "black" 21-year-old female with a genius-level IQ, a Hispanic
great-grandfather, and medium brown skin. My ancestry also includes African,
Irish, and Native-American. Because of these mixtures, I have two very
dark-skinned siblings and one very light-skinned sibling. (I fall somewhere in
between).
I've read quite a few of the comments posted by members of this forum. Much of
what I've read seems to have "blacks" pitted against "tans". Those who feel
that they have been targeted for cruelty by "blacks" because of their lighter
skin really need to understand that hatred and violence comes in all forms. Who
hasn't heard of the Hutus and Tutsis of Africa or the animosity between Serbs
and Croats? To outsiders, they appear identical. Yet, these two groups find it
imperative to hate and murder each other.
Why? Because people with very little in the way of self-esteem, intelligence,
or personal worth will generaly find ways to make someone else feel that they
have or are worth even less. To those who feel that they have been ostracized
by "blacks", why not return good for evil? And no, I don't mean sponsoring a
"black" family. Develop a sense of compassion towards all people. Realize that "blacks" in this country, whether descendants of slaves or African immigrants,
have had to turn back centuries of hate and oppression, and are still working on
not being seen as "second class". Understand that this is not an excuse for
hate of any kind. It is merely an explanation for behavior that may leave some
confused and hateful in turn.
Personally, I have been ridiculed by every “race”, age, and gender because of my
intelligence alone. I don't know how many times I've heard, "You think you're
so smart." "Race" often took a distant, but ever-present, second.
Though I despise classifications of any kind when they are used to raise or
lower the value of groups of individuals, I feel that the issues of "race" are
far too complex to be decided with something as simple as an extra box to check
for "mixed" individuals or no boxes at all.
Eliminating hate is a matter of the heart. When parents foster in their
children a love for all beings, we've made progress. If not, then we are headed
to a downward spiral with every group placing boundaries against those who have
even infinitesimal differences from themselves.
Obviously, with the growing number of "mixed" individuals, this will not be the
case. Who can truly believe that he or she is "monoracial" when we all come
from Adam and Eve? Or should we argue about what race they were?
Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2001 03:20:12 -0800 (PST)
From: "RBC magazine"
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Raising Black and Biracial Children (RBC) magazine has received critical acclaim
from parents and educators. Created in 1995 by an African-American mother, RBC
is edited for parents of African-American and biracial children from 0 to 16
with the main focus on ages 0 to 12 years. Each issue contains pro-active
articles on parenting skills and techniques, health, fitness, nutrition,
discipline, education and self-esteem along with vibrant color photos and
illustrations of African-American babies, children and families. Special
features include: New product reviews, book/video reviews, and articles on
transracial adoption. Please feel free to announce RBC to your internet family.
Single copy samples are available for $3.00 (includes shipping and handling). A
one-year subscription is $13.95.
