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.

"One Drop Rule" On Its Final Leg?

There is (or was) an excellent piece in the news section to the right on this blog. In case it is gone, here is a link to it. You really should read it. It delves into what I have been saying in my last few blogs, that Obama's prominence is going to mean a lot for moving Mixed people to the forefront of our consciousness. What the article also delves into though is how complicated the whole "one drop rule" is, while it asks, whether we have finally gotten past it.

One of the most interesting things about the idea that a person like Obama, or Tiger Woods, or Halle Berry, or any number of other Mixed individuals, is the fact that the people who most accept the inherent racism of the idea are Blacks. I have always felt that this is borne more out of a sense from many Blacks that anyone who dared call themselves Mixed or "bi-racial" was really ashamed of being Black, or was turning their back on the Black community. Part of it also of course is simply wanting to claim as theirs a person who has made it to the top of their field.

Whatever the reason, it is certainly understandable, even if inaccurate. Which of course is different from some Whites who subscribe to the "one drop rule" out of racial superiority or the notion that Whites are more pure. But whatever the reasoning, I will certainly do my part to help us all get past this outdated and limiting notion of what "racial" identity is. And thanks to Obama, I will have many opportunities to bring this matter to light along with the many others in the Mixed and inter-ethnic relationship communities.

Interestingly, it will no doubt get quite complicated on this issue before it gets altogether better. I suspect there will be a backlash of sorts from some segments when and if Obama brings up his Mixed heritage. We'll see how it plays out. But however it does, it is a discussion we have to have.

Mixed People Have Much To Cheer

I have to say I still haven't come down from the feeling I had on Tuesday night. And as I think ahead to what is in store for President Obama (doesn't that sound nice?) I also can't help but be tremendously excited about what his prominence will mean for the acceptance of mixed ethnicity individuals and relationships. I even predict that there will be an even greater increase in the number of mixed relationships and children as a result of people more and more coming to see Obama and his family as a "normal" part of life, even an attribute to desire.

I know right now most people are going on and on about his being "black" or African-American (which he actually is since his Dad is African and his mother American). But give it time, we'll be able to draw more attention to his mixed heritage as time goes on.

Already, our kids are proud to see someone who they know is like them, in the highest office in the land. It helps them have pride in their African-American side, and it also helps them know that being Mixed is not only o.k., but can also be an attribute, something that this country should have always celebrated, and certainly this year, proved that is accepted, in the biggest way.

What A Day!

Well busy as I am, I had to jump in here and say "Oh. My. God!" What a night it was last night and how truly excited I am at what Obama's election means for our country in terms of "race" relations.

I do have to say though, I am still a bit disturbed at all the headlines that refer to him as simply "African-American" when that is only half of what he is.

But oh well, one thing at a time. I am so excited about his victory. Thank you America!