Black in America
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Being Black in America has a lot to do with if you’re perceived as or look "Black". One is treated better according to the proportion of your facial features, ********, dress, and mannerisms that are typically white (improves with similarity to middle class whites).
For instance, I look Black; Soledad does not. If we both engaged in the same outside activities in which we interacted with others (job application, retail store shopping, etc.) she would be treated differently than I. I would be treated in the typical manner that those who look like me would be treated and she, the typical way "non white" people would be treated.
I just heard her on Oprah’s XM channel talking about how a white (?) woman didn’t understand why people are not acknowledging Sen. Obama’s white side and instead of calling him Black why not call him bi racial. She responded by demeaning the woman’s point alluding to history and how, by law, the criteria for determining a Black person is the "one drop" rule. She also stated that Barack identifies himself as Black.
Well, first of all Ms. Obrien, I am a big fan of yours. Now, saying that, I would like to enlighten you as to what this woman was referring to.
The position of the woman was correct. The standard for being black was created long ago for purposes of slavery and its interest and as a subsequent tool to keep this race in check for the future. The standard is wrong and we should not live by it anymore.
Tiger Woods understands this, as with other bi racial individuals. They have the right attitude which honors both his mother and father’s race. People and the law will catch on. When this happens more then there will be less racial segregated issues.
My ex husband is white and we have a bi racial son. On forms that his dad fills out he puts our son down as white or bi racial. On the forms that I fill out, I put Black or bi racial.
Until things change, Lionel Richie’s adopted daughter Nicole understands the ramifications so she chooses not to [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] disclose the identity of her biological father as it might harm her career and life in some way because he might be of Afro Latin American decent which would then make her "Black".
Barack [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] Obama CAN relate to both Black and white people because it is in his DNA and his formative year’s environment. Plus Barack actually LOOKS of both races equally; white features, black color. I think of Barack as being just as much white as he is Black. I call him bi racial and honor his white heritage.
Note I don’t have time to proofread this so sorry for any syntax error. Got to go and interact with my son.
Good luck with your "Black in America" series. I personally hope it "falls flat on its face! I think I speak for the majority of America when I say that I am "up to my ears" in this "Obama" craze and now you have gone too far! I am not a racist, and some of my best friends are black, but CNN, like some other news channels, have been biased when it comes to John McCain.
First let me introduce myself.
I call my family and me global citizens. Having been a retired military officer I have had the opportunity to have lived and or visited 2 continents other than North America, and 20 US states.
Maternally, I am a 3rd generation free black. On my paternal side, my great, great, great grandfather was a white Canadian and my great, great, great grandmother was a Chattua Indian. Eight of my nine grand children are bi racial. With that said my culture, heritage, and lifestyle are diverse.
I still wonder what is it about me (a black person) that intrigue other cultures; that causes them to become fearful of my presence; to hate me so much that others want to murder, maim, lynch, burned, in slave, and commit other hideous acts against those that look like me. People have hated me so much that they hide the very essence of me my culturemy heritage. And the most importantis my freedom. Lord why me! Why [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] me Lord!
As Andrew Martin in Bicentennial Man (1999) states: One has studied in your history. Terrible wars have been fought [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] where millions have died for one idea, freedom. And it seems that something that means so much to so many people would be worth having.
My purpose driven life is:
To be acknowledged for who and what I am, no more, no less. Not for acclaim, not for approval, but, the simple truth of that recognition. This has been the elemental drive of my [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] existence, and it must be achieved, if I am to live or die with dignity. Andrew Martin
[عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا] [عزيزي الزائر يتوجب عليك التسجيل لمشاهدة الرابط للتسجيل اضغط هنا]