Looking Forward To A Bi-Cultural 2009

With 2008 coming to a close, thankfully so for many reasons, the main being the disaster that has become our economy with so many people having such a hard time. We can only hope that 2009 is going to be much better for all of us. In fact, it is hard to imagine it being any worse. Here's to a great 2009 for all of you.

On the "racial" front, I am particularly excited about what the new year will hold. After all, we will have the first Mixed President in our country's history taking office within weeks of the start of 2009. Not only do I suspect he will do wonders for our economy (though I don't for a minute think he's a miracle worker) but I also think he will make a huge difference in our standing in the world.

But as it relates to the focus of this blog, Obama will be a constant reminder to all of us on just how far we have indeed progressed. Oh I know there is a big debate out there right now in some circles about whether Obama is "black" or if it is more appropriate to call him "bi-racial." While I think this is an important distinction, I also am thrilled that his standing has forced this semantical issue to the forefront, regardless of which side one argues. The fact that we are talking about it all is simply wonderful. One way or another, Mixed people (and therefore Mixed relationships) will get more prominence. And that is a good thing. The more those of us who are either Mixed or involved in bi, or multicultural, relationships are in the limelight the more it is an opportunity for the message to get out that we are the way to the future and to a world that spends less time focused on skin color and differences and more time focused on simply being and loving one another.

So here's to 2009 and a world that gets us closer to the title of this blog, no more race. Let's keep taking the steps to get us there, for us and our kids, as I consider all kids to be "our" kids because we are responsible for all of them, not just the ones we brought into the world directly. Thanks for reading and for sharing.

The Magic of Racism

I've been thinking today about something I read on another blog about Mixed kids, particularly those mixed with anything and Black, and how for most people that old one drop thing is the most important thing in the world. Black and anything is simply black.

Reminds me of something else I read that says the reality in America is this - a white woman can give birth to a black baby, but a black woman cannot ever give birth to a white baby.

Ain't that the darnest thing? What a stupid world this can be sometimes.

Another Mixed Woman Raises The Beauty Standard

I am always happy to see Mixed people shine in the public arena since it brings the future (and present I suppose) of ethnic relations to the forefront where people cannot ignore how the world is changing.

The new Miss France, Chloe Mortaud, is also multi-ethnic, with an African-American mother and a white French father, and apparently, is darn proud of it, as she seems to like talking about her make-up. Good for her.

And it is yet another example to our 10 year old daughter of how the standards of beauty are adapting more and more for girls and women who are not the typical beauty ideal of so many years of blonde hair and blue eyes.

Being Mixed In Texas

We just got back this past weekend from a trip to Texas (Austin and Port Arthur) to visit family for Thanksgiving. It was a good trip, though we drove all the way there from L.A., some 22 hours straight one way. Hey times are hard and flying was out of the question. It was well worth it seeing all the family, on both Dianna's and my side.

But what was particularly interesting to me on the trip, which hadn't happened in three years, was noticing again the reactions or looks we got from people when they saw our Mixed family. We get so used to be in L.A. where we hardly get noticed at all, that I completely forgot about the fact that in many parts of the country, like Arizona, New Mexico and especially Texas, seeing a Black and Mexican-American couple, and their bi-ethnic offspring, are not the norm. While we did not get any reactions that were overt or negative, I certainly noticed there were plenty of times when people gave the family the double-take and that long, slow glance at all of our family. If only I could have read their minds. That is the only thing that would have made it more interesting. And needless to say, the looks of curiosity were definitely more noticeable in the small towns we would stop in to gas up or to use the restroom facilities.

Ah, life in America. I had to hold myself back from saying to these people, "Get used to it, more like us are coming soon." But I think driving through these towns and red states with the "Obama '08" sticker plastered on the back of the car was enough tweaking of their noses we needed to do.

Blacks Embrace "One Drop Rule" The Most

I know I have been delinquent with my posts this last month but it has been a really busy time for the family and business. Trip to Texas, holiday stress, etc. So forgive my infrequency. I'm endeavoring to be better.

I came across this interesting article in The Washington Post and the subsequent storm brewing over it. I have written before that Barack Obama presents a great opportunity for us to move forward on the issue of Mixed ethnicity people. And I have also written extensively about the fact that I hate that people so easily comply with the racist "one drop rule," none more so than black people themselves. Well read the article for a good piece about this whole issue. I found the article on the Jack And Jill Politics blog where the writer was clearly bothered by the idea that there was something wrong in simply accepting the notion that Obama is the first "black" President. The opinion of the writer on "Jack and Jill" is the type of response I think we can expect from many in the black community who think making issue of Obama being Mixed or "bi-racial" is a slap at black people. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is simply more accurate. President-elect Obama is in fact 50% white. Though many do not want to pay attention to this reality, that is not our fault for pointing out the reality. And I, for one, refuse to accept the racist notion that we should ignore his 50% white make-up and act like he is all black.

But in the end, this discussion is part of the mess we'll have to go through to get to where we need to be.