Rachel's Tavern- Shakesville Comment on Whiteness and Racial Awareness
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Apr
2
A Multiracial Movement and a Multiracial Box Won’t Solve the Racism Problem
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, International Racism, Interracial Relationships, Original Essays and Analysis, Race and Racism, Sociology, Uncategorized by Rachel
In a comment on the last thread on Rachel’s Tavern about how biracial children affect family approval of black/white relationships Dave of mulatto.org, made the following comment:
Professor Rachel Sullivan here gives a good textbook example of propaganda that facilitates white/black biracial subordination, by making the case that white/black biracials shouldnt be considered a population with challenges distinct from blacks except for being more privileged.
The problem is that this is not what I said,? but I do think this is an opportunity to talk about some of the politics of multiracial identity.? For the record, my dissertation was not on how people? of mixed race identify.? It was about? family approval of black/white relationships, and the reason children? (biracial or not) were important was because? the most common reason given for opposing an interracial relationship was the idea that the children would suffer.? That belief was premised on the “tragic mulatto myth.”? In this study, all of the people I interviewed were couples in Black/White interracial relationships.? Only one of those people self identified as biracial.? I did not interview the children of these couples, so I did not get their opinions.
However, for the record I do not agree with? Dave’s position, which to me reads that “people who have one black parent and one white parent are a distinct racial group and should identify as biracial, mixed race, or mulatto, not? as black.”? (I’m not sure how he feels about people of mixed parentage identifying as white.)? Here’s a quote from his comment:
Its logically inconsistent to say (1) white/black biracials should be identified as black because most white people will only see and treat them as black, and (2) whites treat white/black biracials better than black people because they see them as different than dark-skinned black people. Although I dont think this makes logical sense, I think its crafted to be anti-white/black biracial propaganda. The first part implies that white/black biracials shouldnt have a distinct affinity identity to organize and advocate for ourselves, because we arent treated differently, and the second part implies that white/black biracials are less deserving of telescopic philanthropy (definition on wikipedia) than black people.
Dave’s belief is that? mixed race people mixed ancestry should organize their own groups, and they should see themselves as distinction from African Americans.? I have no objection to organizing some multiracial groups, but I also thinking that many of the needs, concerns, and issues overlap with those of other people of color.? Personally, I do not think it would be beneficial to try to create a new racial group akin to the “colored’ population in South Africa.?
I am tired of multiracial activists who say people should have an option to choose their race, and then these same people get mad if people do not choose “biracial” or “multiracial.”? People should have the choice, regardless of their color of phenotype, to define themselves racially.? I also feel that these choices may change over time or circumstances; making racial identities fluid in some cases.? I feel that both the one drop rule, and the assertion that people must choose biracial are racist because they encourage essentialist definitions of race and because they do not allow the freedom of self definition.
I also think that those in the multiracial movement who continuously attack African Americans in the name of asserting their own identity, as if it is completely distinct from the African American experience are joining a racist bandwagon.? It should be duly noted that some of the biggest supporters of multiracial categories have been conservative Republicans such as Newt Gingrich (Williams 2006).? To me this is a big red light–why would conservative Republicans, who are not generally proponents of racial Civil Rights support such a cause?? ? One possibility it that allowing people to check multiple boxes doesn’t really change the racial order much at all.? ? It doesn’t require a realignment of economic resources; it’s not an affirmative action program that could expand opportunities for groups traditionally left out.? Another more sinister theory is that Republicans’ support multiracial activists because they see it as an opportunity to promote the idea that the US is colorblind and racism is over.? For some of these Republicans? the next logical step is Proposition 54 in California, which would have put an end to all collection of racial data (Prop. 54 did not pass.).? This? is not? likely the end that many multiracial activists want, and it is my sense that multiracial activists are being used by the right in some of the cases to help prove that “racism is over.”
My other problem with Dave’s comment is that he down plays the? significance of? lighter skin color and colorism.? There is a long history in the US and most definitely in Latin America of people being advantaged because they are lighter.? Many of the first African Americans? allowed in to? the middle class were those people who were lighter (and presumably of mixed race).? Groups such as the blue vein societies? limited membership to lighter? and wealthier members.? Sociologist Edward Telles’ award winning? book Race in Another America: The Significance of Skin Color in Brazil highlights how colorism has shaped? social inequality in Brazil.? Brazil is not different from most Latin American countries where lighter people have greater prestige, power, privileges, and wealth.
My questions to Dave are– Why can’t their be an alliance between multiracial activists and African American Civil Rights groups?? Why do you think the “multiracial” experience is so utterly distinct from the black experience; are they not overlapping?? When a person spends an inordinate amount of time saying they are not in some group,? it makes me? wonder what their problem with that group is.? Why have some multiracial activists made it their personal business to distance themselves from African Americans (and vice versa)?? To me it seems that both groups are fighting the same problem–racism.? Or are they?? I’m not going to give my own anser to all of these questions, but I think these are the types of questions multiracial activists and Black American activists need to ask themselves.
I believe people at a personal level should be able to choose their racial identities, and should not be forced to choose a monoracial identity (black), a biracial identity, a protean identity,? or a multiracial identity.? At the personal and structural levels, I think the primary goal should be ending racism, and in my view this can best be done by building alliances, and not by trying to create more racial categories or groups.? One only need to look at a country like Haiti to see that creating a mixed race group (Creoles) does not lead to racial equality.? While there is no doubt in my mind, people should be given the option to choose a mixed race identity, if we are going to end racism, adding a mixed race category will not likely solve this problem.? The Latin American case shows us that getting rid of race and having a large mixed race population does not end racism, and I don’t think we can expect that here either. Economic restructuring, promoting anti-discrimination laws, providing equal opportunities, and engaging in other programs that help will destroy racism? will likely do more to end racism, so we have to do more than? add a? “mark all that apply option.”?
Finally, it is way past time to call a truce between multiracial activists and African American civil rights organizations. Dave’s comment continues to fan the flames of this argument.? Identifying as biracial does not have to mean a person is saying he or she is not black, and identifying as black does not have to mean that a person is saying he or she is not biracial.? People can have it both ways–they can be biracial and black or black and biracial, and if we can get beyond that sticking point we can go on to flesh out racism in its cultural and structural manifestations.
Williams, Kim M. Mark One or More: Civil Rights in Multiracial America. University of Michigan Press, 2006.
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35 Responses to “A Multiracial Movement and a Multiracial Box Won’t Solve the Racism Problem”
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I don’t have much to add because I thought this post said it all. Nice work.
[...] Posted by Jack Stephens on April 2nd, 2007 Rachel, in her blog Rachel’s Tavern, writes about her dissertation and arguments against her dissertation concerning racial identity and multi-racial people: Daves belief is that mixed race people mixed ancestry should organize their own groups, and they should see themselves as distinction from African Americans. I have no objection to organizing some multiracial groups, but I also thinking that many of the needs, concerns, and issues overlap with those of other people of color. Personally, I do not think it would be beneficial to try to create a new racial group akin to the colored population in South Africa. [...]
Hey Natalie,
I’m still thinking about your grandfather’s bad suit protest.
“I also think that those in the multiracial movement who continuously attack African Americans in the name of asserting their own identity, as if it is completely distinct from the African American experience are joining a racist bandwagon. ”
Yes, Rachel, I have noticed this insanity (and yes, that is what it is) especially at the time of the U.S. Census 2000. The lobbying for a separate category for biracial/mixed people (as if black Americans are not already mixed blood thanks to slavery/segregation rape) . There are biracial (or the “new biracials” as people like Dave like to think of himself as) as in, now, in 2007, they can claim all their heritage, whereas during my time, my parents time, my grandparent’s time, such a thing could not be done, as white people would have looked at a mixed blood black person as if they were insane to attempt to claim white/native/black blood combinations.
So, Dave, here are some questions to you.
I am convinced, by your comments, Dave, that you want so much to get away from black Americans, that you can taste it, you can smell it, you can feel it, and if it means stomping on black Americans, and not to mention currying favor and building yourself up in the eyes of white people, then you (from your comments) are more than happy to side with white America against black people. Of course when the “black” side is needed for programs such as Affirmative Action, I am sure that you, Dave, would be more than happy to avail yourself of such programs, since you never know when that good ‘ol black blood will come in handy. Especially since the continuance of AA and many other programs were fought for by us pure-black-blood-don’t-have-quite-as-much-superior-white-blood-in-us black Americans. Want to have your cake and eat it too, huh? Black today (AA), then white tomorrow, when the heat of living as a black person becomes too much? Jump across the fence to white America when white America wants to use you up, but, still want to be able to come crawling back to black America? Well, be sure of this, when white America gives you your category, and you need help from those ‘ol black people that you are trying so hard to get away from, I hope black people remember that you wanted to kick us to the curb in your mad dash to create your own little race category.
The swill you are talking is nothing new. It’s been perpetuated ever since the first white man climbed on top of a black woman slave, and the creation of the ODR to degrade and keep black people enslaved. But, remember this, Dave, when all those white men were impregnating black women during slavery, and segregation, guess who ended up keeping the half-white/half-black children, and raising them?
White daddy?
Hmm?
I don’t think so.
White daddy only thought of his sexualized/gendered hatred of black women and not a damn about his mixed blood children. And that is still the way the wise benevolent white world still thinks of black blood.
And those same biracial (yes, biracial, because you are nothing new, Dave, no matter how much you want to delude yourself, mixed bloods have existed in this country since its beginning), who tried to get a category of “mulatto” enacted were kicked down by those same white fathers. So, what you are asking for is nothing new, Dave. It’s pathetic, and divisive, but nothing new.
And why on Earth would a biracial organization want to call themselves “mulatto”? Do you think so little of yourselves as to consider yourselves sterile beasts of burden? Surely you must think better than that of yourselves.
You would rather attack black people instead of attacking the people who are running this country into the ground: white people.
White people have caused the institution of racism to turn this country into a cesspool, so why on Earth would you hold against black people something they have not done to this country? To you? And having a separate category, a brown paper bag category, would only put people like you into a buffer/scab position, and is that what you truly want, Dave? To be used like some lackey for Massa against black people? Why do you want so much to have this separate category? To show that you are better than black people? To show to Massa that you are nothing like those black people, so therefore, you most certainly should be treated better than black people?
Open your eyes. Pay attention and see how you are being used.
The enemy is not black America.
The enemy is white America .
That part of America that you so desparately want to align yourself with, when you should be seeking solidarity and alignment with black people to challenge and dismantle rascim/white supremacy in all the levels of life that affect us ALL:
-Banking
-Education
-Employment
-Criminal justice system
-Politics
-Business
Instead of trying to create more division (colorism [as if we do not have enough brown paper bag colorism in this country], separatism, a more vicious racial heirarchy), you should be forming coalitions, alliances and organizations with black Americans, instead of championing for a color caste system. As if the caste system in this country from America’s racist past was not enough to almost tear this country apart.
You have a problem with biracials claiming their black heritage, but, you stay *mum* on biracials who want to claim their white heritage. Pray tell, Dave, why is that? Can you answer me that question?
And why do you not challenge if mixed blood people identify as white? Is it because you consider the white race, with all the sick abombinations and depravities that they have done, as better than black people? Is it because you have capitulated to the worship of whiteness? And all that whiteness stands for, both past, and present:
-Massive genocide
-Massive raping and bastardization of races the world over
-Destruction of many cultures the world over
-Imperialism, colonialism
-Pornography
-High rates of child pedophilia
Dave.
People have the right now, in 2007, to claim any and all of their heritage.
They do not need some wedge driven, dividing and conquering category to claim what they consider themselves to be.
If a biracial person wants to consider herself/himself black, so be it.
If they want to consider themselves white, so be it.
If they want to consider themselves, “Black/white/native/Fulani/Hibernian, well then, so be it.
This ultimate decision is not yours, espcially with some misguided category that you want to have instituted. The decision will rest with the biracial person. And whatever their choice/decision is, you will have to learn to live with it.
Concentrate on bringing down white supremacy which harms and destroys all the lives of people of color: Black, Asian, Native American, Latino, and drumroll, please——————————————even “biracial” people, oh, excuse me, “mulatto” people like you.
Instead of looking in that mirror admiring your narcissistic love of yourself, try concentrating on fighting against racism with black people and other people of color as your allies.
You will find that you will change this country for the better working to dismantle racism, instead of concentrating on how much you can hug up on white America’s acceptance of you, which in the end will be conditional, the way it has always been for all people of color, especially when white people have had the final say-so over who is “Black”, and who is “White”.
Wow, you got a visit from a supporter of A.D. “blacks are the most racist so we are a new race” Powell.
Professor Rachel Sullivan,
In my opinion you’re mischaracterizing my position, so that you can argue against a strawman rather than my actual points.
1. I support racial/ethnic self-identification for all individuals including for individuals to self-identify as white/black biracial.
2. When a white-identified person attempts to advance a narrative that “whites have the power and blacks are the worst off” I think brown people who are racially ambiguous according to those two categories (including mulattos) should query whether that’s a rhetorical technique to subordinate the rest of our voices in the national discourse.
In my opinion, you Rachel Sullivan are an innovator and promoter of types of propagandas that subordinate the voices of brown people in America. In the end Latinos, Middle Easterners, Desis, and other brown middle phennotypes can make up their own determinations. I’ve been influenced by those who think the way you frame race in America has a subordinating effect on brown/racially ambiguous people.
I think Latinos should be skeptical of racial discourse that emphasizes whites and blacks. I think Middle Easterners should be skeptical of such a discourse. And I think white/black biracials should be skeptical of such a discourse too.
Although I think you misrepresented some aspects of my position in your post, thanks for giving attention to mulatto.org.
I do think it is better to be mischaracterized but noticed, than to be invisible -so thanks for not making us invisible on your blog.
Best,
Dave
Dave said,
“1. I support racial/ethnic self-identification for all individuals including for individuals to self-identify as white/black biracial.”
And if those same individuals choose to identify as black, how do you respond? It sounds to me like you have a problem with a person who has a black parent and a white parent identifying as black.
Dave said,
“2. When a white-identified person attempts to advance a narrative that whites have the power and blacks are the worst off I think brown people who are racially ambiguous according to those two categories (including mulattos) should query whether thats a rhetorical technique to subordinate the rest of our voices in the national discourse.”
Dave you need to allow for more complicated thinking. The social reality is that whites have more power than people of color broadly defined. The statement would also be true if I single out individual racial minority groups–whites have more power than Asians, white have more power than Latinos, etc. While I do think that Blacks (included mixed race black people) and Native Americans (including mixed race Native Americans) have the longest and most thorough history of being of the receiving end of systematic racism, I also think other racial and ethnic groups have and do face systemic racism as well.
Dave said, “In my opinion, you Rachel Sullivan are an innovator and promoter of types of propagandas that subordinate the voices of brown people in America. In the end Latinos, Middle Easterners, Desis, and other brown middle phennotypes can make up their own determinations.”
I’m dying to know where you put Asians and American Indians into your personal racial order?
I find it very interesting that you have combine these groups together because my own experience is that members of these groups frequently do not see themselves as aligned with each other.
It sounds to me like your are saying if we create a new racial group then we will end racism. Or do you even care about racism? Because you don’t really talk about racism–the above quote uses the term “racial determinations.” Sounds to me like you are reducing this to an issue of identity.
Dave said, “I think Latinos should be skeptical of racial discourse that emphasizes whites and blacks. I think Middle Easterners should be skeptical of such a discourse. And I think white/black biracials should be skeptical of such a discourse too.”
Have you been to Latin America? They have their own racist definitions of race and very large mixed race populations.
Dave said, “I do think it is better to be mischaracterized but noticed, than to be invisible -so thanks for not making us invisible on your blog.”
Feel free to clarify what and explain what you think is misrepresented.
You are the one who started the misrepresentation by attributing comments to me that were made by participants in a research study. The comments in this particular post represent my views, but the comments in the last post were included a discussion comments made by people in interracial relationships.
Sewere,
Yeah, Dave seems to be of that ilk. I sure he would find it the utmost insult to be called Black.
Professor Rachel Sullivan,
I’m not “of ilk”, I’m human being on planet Earth who wants a non-subordinated space for brown people.
I don’t consider it an insult to be called “black” and I don’t consider it an insult to be called “white”, any more than anyone should consider it an insult to be called “brown” or “racially ambiguous”.
I think it can be a tool of white supremacy for white people to attack brown people by claiming something we’re doing is bad for black people.
Rather than accept those types of criticisms from white people (or even both white people and black people) uncritically, I think brown/racially ambiguous people should remain skeptical, and be considered about nontransparent ways other affinity groups in America may try to subordinate us in the national discourse.
I’ve heard Middle Eastern, Latino, and Desi critical theorists discuss how elements of white/black racial construction may subordinate brown people in American society, and I think Multiracials should think critically about this too.
Best,
Dave
Professor Rachel Sulivan,
Unfortunately as a grad student I have homework to do, and I don’t have time to compose a thorough response to your Comment #7.
However, I’d like to clear up a few points.
First of all, you said my writings implied that I think white/black biracials should’t identify as black. That’s not the case, as I’ve stated repeatedly on our website for years. I welcome you to visit it and verify for yourself. I support self-identification for white/black biracials and for all people, incuding the ability to identify as white, to identify as black, to identify as w/b biracial, or to identify as something else.
Second of all, I think Native Americans are also racially ambiguous/brown in the white/black racial construct. Same with Desis, Southeast Asians, and Pacific Islanders. I think the Asian racial category subordinates these brown groups as well (to East Asians), and there’s been some good critical theory writing about that which is available through google searches.
I hope these responses clarify some of your questions and misunderstandings from Comment #7.
Finally, I’d like to welcome you to visit our website. You’re studying white/black biracials and our families as part of your research. We are probably now the largest message board focused on the white/black biracial-identified community in the United States and Europe, and perhaps globally, and it would be great if you could discuss your research with us as well as communicate with the members of our website directly and hear our voices.
Best,
Dave
I agree totally that multiracial identity in itself does not do anything serious to combat racism. I used to think it did, but changed my mind after traveling and studying in Latin America. Racism in Latin America is different than in the United States, and differs from country to country and region to region: in some ways it’s better and in other ways worse. But there’s still a huge amount of it.
On the other hand, I get upset that some black people overreact in a negative fashion to multiracial concerns. If a person decides to call themselves biracial, why attack them? Some people who call themselves biracial love their black heritage, others want to escape it. Why assume it is ALWAYS the second?
My niece is black/biracial. I use both terms because I don’t know if she will grow up to identify with one, the other, or both. She is going to have some issues that her other black relatives don’t have, and they will have some issues she doesn’t. Her mother (white) was worried recently because my niece has been saying that she isn’t dark enough, like her cousins, and so she needs to get a suntan so she can look more like them. I will always support her forming a healthy identity, will tell her she looks fine the way she is, that she is not too dark or too light or that she needs to act a certain way to make up for some deficiency in her color… and I don’t want ANYBODY telling her she has to be one thing or the other.
I would also like to add, I don’t mean at all to accuse black people in general of being oppressive… I just feel that some, in lashing out in reaction to colorism, end up hitting the wrong target.
“Wow, you got a visit from a supporter of A.D. blacks are the most racist so we are a new race Powell.”
Yes, Ms. BacknTyme Herself is well-known throughout the blogosphere for her hatred of all things black, and worship of all things white.
And with humans like her in the world, white people do not need to oppress, attack or vilify black people.
They have lackeys like AD Powell to do their dirty work for them.
“Yeah, Dave seems to be of that ilk. I sure he would find it the utmost insult to be called Black. ”
With the history of atrocities committed by white America against every race in this country, I can not see why any POC would want to glorify and identify with white blood.
If anything, white blood is something to be ashamed of, not celebrated.
Ann I agree with you first part, but don’t you think your last sentences is taking it too far. This one, “If anything, white blood is something to be ashamed of, not celebrated.”
I don’t think whiteness should be celebrated, but people also don’t need to be ashamed. Now white supremacy would be a different case, but having “white ancesters” is not anything I am ashamed of. I think some of their behaviors are shameful.
atlasien said, “On the other hand, I get upset that some black people overreact in a negative fashion to multiracial concerns. If a person decides to call themselves biracial, why attack them? Some people who call themselves biracial love their black heritage, others want to escape it. Why assume it is ALWAYS the second?”
I agree with you there. Nobody should assume that calling oneself biracial means a person hates blackness.
Unfortunately, in Dave’s case. He seems to have an anti-black ideology that surfaces nearly every time he posts. Personally, I think he represents a small minority of mixed race people, but unfortunately, his views get a lot of attention.
“dont think whiteness should be celebrated, but people also dont need to be ashamed. Now white supremacy would be a different case, but having white ancesters is not anything I am ashamed of. I think some of their behaviors are shameful.
Sorry Rachel.
I meant the white rapist blood of slavery and segregation.
Mnay black people in America have white blood in them due to rape, more than consent, via white men having sex with black women, often against their will.
That is what I meant.
And since many black people in this country owe their lighter color to this massive inhumanity of white men raping black women and girls, it is a thorn in our side.
That we owe our various colors to white men’s vice, instead of to any overwhelming virtue in their treatment of black women in the past, is what I meant about the shame done to blackk females in this country.
My black ancestors who were brought here against their will were as black as any African today.
But, now look at all the colors we come in.
And that was not the fault of some lascivious, ‘unrapeable’ black woman slave.
It was the fault white men who justified the massive rapes of black females for over 400 years.
Okay, I was a bit harsh in my comment.
But, it may be a long time before I can reconcile the white blood that flows in my veins.
One day I may.
But, for now, that white blood remains a bone of contention at least for me.
A response to Atlasein in comment 11.
Atlasein, I really like your comment 11. I think your neice is fortunate to have an aunt with your perspective, that encourages a healthy identity and comfort with having a mixture of white & black complexion, features, etc.
I hope you consider joining some of the white/black biracial message boards or communities on the internet, because we benefit greatly when people who aren’t biracial but are supportive of their w/b biracial family members share their inputs and insights with us.
Best,
Dave
Ann in comment 13,
I respectfully disagree with your comment, although I do think it represents a wide held point of view that white/black biracials have to contend with. I think there’s nothing wrong with having pride in an ethnic heritage such as being 1/2 or part irish, or 1/2 or part italian, even if one is also white/black biracial. I understand that other people like you feel differently than me though and believe “If anything, white blood is something to be ashamed of, not celebrated”. I think there is room for both your view and mine in America, and although we disagree, it’s interesting and informative to hear your perspective.
Sincerely,
Dave
Professor Rachel Sullivan,
I disagree with your characterization of me, when you write “Unfortunately, in Daves case. He seems to have an anti-black ideology that surfaces nearly every time he posts. Personally, I think he represents a small minority of mixed race people, but unfortunately, his views get a lot of attention. ”
I’m criticizing white supremacy and the ways it can subordinate racially ambiguous brown people. I point out one way white supremacy is advanced and brown people are subordinated is by claiming that advocating for racially ambiguous brown people is bad for black people. Thus I think it’s a bit ironic that you claim that my approach to criticizing white supremacy is bad for black people. I’m not surprised, but I think white/black biracials and racially ambiguous brown people with the time and inclination should read and study our exchanges and then draw their own conclusions as individuals.
Best,
Dave
I dont think whiteness should be celebrated, but people also dont need to be ashamed. Now white supremacy would be a different case, but having white ancesters is not anything I am ashamed of. I think some of their behaviors are shameful.
I’ve changed my mind about this. Whites have colonized since the 1600s but people of all colors have colonized countries and peoples. So the fight is against racism not just white racism.
Donna, I definitely agree with that. Some of my white, English-descended ancestors were almost certainly members of the Ku Klux Klan. Some of my Japanese ancestors fought in WWII on the wrong side… who knows what kind of atrocities they might have been involved with, I don’t know and I’m not particularly interested in finding out, although I wouldn’t hide my eyes either if someone dug it up. I’m still proud of all of them, in a very qualified way. I’m sure they all did good things at some points in their life, and loved their children, and so forth.
Every human being of any culture has the capacity for horrible evil. I was just reading an article interviewing the psychologist who did the Stanford Prison Experiment. He said that external factors shape our behavior much more than we like to believe! The structure of racism helps provide that environment that creates and promotes evil towards other human beings.
Someone whose ancestor X generations ago was an oppressor could be a victim of racism today… and vice versa.
Getting hung up on the past doesn’t help anything. And I intend “getting hung up on the past” to apply in large part to white people in America who keep putting up these ridiculous, convoluted defenses of their (our) ancestors. Just admit what they did was bad, and has consequences in the present, and in doing so, let go of any guilt or resentment about it. That sounds easy to me.
Professor Sullivan:
After reading this interesting blog there so much I want to respond to but I’m short for time so I’ll start by responding to the questions you posed to Dave. I myself am bi-racial, black and white, and do my own research, as an undergraduate, into multiracial movement and Americans.
The fist question you asked was, “why cant their be an alliance between multiracial activists and African American Civil Rights groups?” There can but most African American civil rights groups oppose the multiracial movement and fought hard not to get a multiracial box on the census.
The second question you asked was, “Why do you think the multiracial experience is so utterly distinct from the black experience; are they not overlapping?” No, there not overlapping. You’re already aware of colorism in the African American community and as someone who is bi-racial you really get the brunt end of that. Furthermore, bi-racial that I know of often complain of racism from African Americans as well as the other ethnicities they are mixed with. Being mixed one is often racially ambiguous and are more prone to be exposed to different cultures when it’s connected with race so the experience of a bi-racial person is different than of an African American.
When a person spends an inordinate amount of time saying they are not in some group, it makes me wonder what their problem with that group is. Why have some multiracial activists made it their personal business to distance themselves from African Americans (and vice versa)? As with any group, there tends to be extremist and what your talking about observing is just that; extremist wanting to separate themselves based on something as silly as race. To go back to the first sentence, I have a question of my own: why does a person who says they are not part of a group have to have a problem with it? It will be interesting to hear your answer because from my point of view they don’t have to have a problem with it. I think one explanation is that they feel that that group doesn’t describe them accurately.
To me it seems that both groups are fighting the same problemracism. Or are they? No matter the group or skin color when people fight racism we are all fighting the same problem.
I loved reading your blog, even if I don’t agree with all of it; it was fantastic and thought provoking.
Take care,
Curtis
Hmm…you all made some though-provoking comments. I have my feelings on this issue as well.
I will state that I support the multiracial/biracial movement 100%. Why? Because it helps people of different racial backgrounds, myself included, develop a healthy sense of identity when it comes to that subject called “race” in American society.
I believe that people who have a problem with the multiracial movement believe that we’re somehow “denying blackness”. This indicates resentment, hostility, and fear of anyone who refuses to conform to the notion of the one-drop rule…which was outlawed in 1967 but is still practiced by many in this country.
I respect Dave’s views and that of A.D. Powell, as extreme as she can be. I don’t see them as denying their black ancestry or worshipping whites. I see them as people who have very unique perspectives on an issue that affects those of mixed ancestry who want the option of acknowledging ALL of their heritage instead of simply being forced into a box. I never knew until a few years ago that I could identify myself as a person of mixed blood. Not that being called “black” is shameful, because it is not. However, I look like a white woman. Clearly there is an overwhelming amount of European blood in my veins…anyone who looks at me can see this. I say this to illustrate the point that when a person is obviously mixed or very ambiguous-looking, when they don’t identify with AA culture because of environment, and when outsiders have classified them as simply “black” when they don’t look it…this causes confusion and does little to resolve the problem of racism in America. I know I’m not “pure” white (like the one-drop folks would say), but I’m not simply “black”. I’ve been mocked by both whites and blacks for calling myself a black person. Why? Because it is not apparent in my phenotype, behavior, or cultural identity. I would never deny my black ancestry or those who made it possible. However, I would never deny my obvious white ancestry either to make other people more comfortable with putting me in a box.
People should be able to identify with whomever they see fit. Many biracials and multiracially mixed individuals have had the experience of not being fully accepted by both blacks and whites. The purpose of a multiracial movement is not to create further division or to “distance” ourselves from black people as if we’re better (this is commonly believed to be the case). No, the purpose of a multiracial movement is to make our voices heard. Our experiences have been denied by many people. In a sense, we are part of a separate existence because of our experiences. You wouldn’t believe the types of conversations I’ve been privy to or the experiences I’ve had as a white-looking mixed person. There are certain issues that you experience/encounter in life as a person of mixed heritage in America. It is often difficult to find a sense of community or shared beliefs, experiences, etc. It is difficult to know where you belong or fit in. I don’t feel “at home” around most black people because I know most of them will harbor judgements based on the whiteness of my skin and the blueness of my eyes and the straightness of my hair. I don’t feel “at home” around most American whites because of certain racist comments that might slip out in my presence because I look just like them.
I don’t know why some people object to the multiracial movement and view it as destructive, divisive, etc. Acknowledging that you’re not “black” but mixed is not tantamount to self-hate or denial…we all have the right to connect with those who have shared our experiences, who we can identify with. It doesn’t matter to me whether a biracial person identifies as black, white, or blue. I would never impose or force an identity on another person. This is the reason it bothers me when others are quick to do that to myself. I hope one day we will all accept people for who they are without judgements or false notions, but I don’t know if that will be in my lifetime.
M&M,
THe one drop rule is still perfectly legal. I think you are confusing it with interracial marriage. You can look up the case of Susie Gilroy Phipps from the mid 1980s as one example of how the one drop rule is still being enforced.
Nope…I’m not mixing anything up, no pun intended.
I’m familiar with the Phipps case. Like I said, the one-drop rule was outlawed in 1967. If you know about Loving vs. the state of VA (I believe), this will sound familiar. The Lovings were an interracial couple but all of that ties into the one-drop rule somehow, doesn’t it? The fear of “crossing over” the color line in America. Miscegenation between people of different races would blur the lines of who was “black” and who was “white”. This was the reason behind the one-drop rule, despite the fact that some mixed folks passed as white. I mentioned that while this law/rule is outdated there are still many who uphold the notion. Simply because it is still around doesn’t make it right.
Despite the fact that it is “enforced” by certain members of society doesn’t mean that it should be accepted. I know you didn’t say this, of course, but this is 2007. People have the right to define themselves on their own terms. Most whites today have never heard of the one-drop rule. The ones who have learned about it either through studying the history of black Americans, or by being exposed to racist beliefs that the smallest drop of African blood “corrupts” white purity.
M&M the Phiips case was upheld in 1986, which is way after 1967, so the one drop rule was NOT banned in 1967, and it has never been banned.
I’m certainly not advocating it, but it has not been banned by any law. You are confusing interracial marriage with the one drop rule. The one drop rule, AKA the rule of hypodescent, has existed in this country almost since it’s founding. In some places it has been coded into law, and some of those laws have changed over time, but in terms of any federal banning the practice of hypodescent people with African ancestry there is no such thing.
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People, don’t have mixed race mutts in the first place and they won’t face these problems.
That’s either reprehensibly tasteless humor or just reprehensible, “whatever”… oh, and BTW, the vast majority of black Americans, Latinos and the countless white Americans with an “Indian great-grandmother” story would qualify as “mixed race mutts”, so odds are, you’re one too.
Where’s the BAN deoderant? WHATEVER stinks here needs it badly….
It is literally only superficial, skin color, different shaped noses etc and a few mostly minor differences that make someone more disposed towards, or immune to, a few medical conditions and that is it.
[...] when it devolved into a common stereotype of mixed race people that I have discussed in the past (here and in papers I have presented at conferences).? The myth involves the belief that mixed race [...]
[...] Rachel’s Tavern: I also think that those in the multiracial movement who continuously attack African Americans in the name of asserting their own identity, as if it is completely distinct from the African American experience are joining a racist bandwagon. It should be duly noted that some of the biggest supporters of multiracial categories have been conservative Republicans such as Newt Gingrich (Williams 2006). To me this is a big red lightwhy would conservative Republicans, who are not generally proponents of racial Civil Rights support such a cause? One possibility it that allowing people to check multiple boxes doesnt really change the racial order much at all. It doesnt require a realignment of economic resources; its not an affirmative action program that could expand opportunities for groups traditionally left out. Another more sinister theory is that Republicans support multiracial activists because they see it as an opportunity to promote the idea that the US is colorblind and racism is over. For some of these Republicans the next logical step is Proposition 54 in California, which would have put an end to all collection of racial data (Prop. 54 did not pass.). This is not likely the end that many multiracial activists want, and it is my sense that multiracial activists are being used by the right in some of the cases to help prove that racism is over. [...]