Kathryn
It was on fire when I laid down on it.
I think this is a very 19th century position. Barack Obama is half African American and half white (probably European American). Why do most people insist on labeling him African American? Why doesn't he himself make the distinction that he is multiracial and refuse to be labeled one particular "color?"
My kids are multiracial. I will never forget an event that happened when I registered my youngest son in a new elementary school. I didn't check any box when they asked what his race was. Nothing applied - the choices stated, "Check ONE." Why would I check one box? My son wasn't one race, so I just left the area blank.
There was a redneck secretary who was processing his paperwork. She had seen me in there with my son earlier, and she actually called me and said, "Hey, you dint check off anythang in the race section - whut race is yore boy?" I said, "Hes multiracial." She said, "Whale, you hafta mark one of these races." I said, "No, I don't." She said, "Yes you shore do, m'am. Which one is yore boy - black or white?" I said, "He's both -what's the problem?" She said, "You gotta choose one or the other, m'am." I said, "I'll tell you what - I'm not going to fill in that section of the form. What are you going to do - hate me? Kick him out of school? Have a great day." And I hung up on her.
My kids always refused (and still do refuse) to identify themselves by race. I am very proud of them for that. I think it's unnecessary to make that distinction.
When you insist on making that distinction, I believe you are limiting options.
We will truly have progressed when race make absolutely NO difference and is a complete non issue - in politics and life in general. We have absolutely no control over our own genetic heritage and it shouldn't be a source of pride OR shame.
It is what it is. Just be a good person and derive your sense of identity from your beliefs and life choices, not the color of your skin.
My kids are multiracial. I will never forget an event that happened when I registered my youngest son in a new elementary school. I didn't check any box when they asked what his race was. Nothing applied - the choices stated, "Check ONE." Why would I check one box? My son wasn't one race, so I just left the area blank.
There was a redneck secretary who was processing his paperwork. She had seen me in there with my son earlier, and she actually called me and said, "Hey, you dint check off anythang in the race section - whut race is yore boy?" I said, "Hes multiracial." She said, "Whale, you hafta mark one of these races." I said, "No, I don't." She said, "Yes you shore do, m'am. Which one is yore boy - black or white?" I said, "He's both -what's the problem?" She said, "You gotta choose one or the other, m'am." I said, "I'll tell you what - I'm not going to fill in that section of the form. What are you going to do - hate me? Kick him out of school? Have a great day." And I hung up on her.
My kids always refused (and still do refuse) to identify themselves by race. I am very proud of them for that. I think it's unnecessary to make that distinction.
When you insist on making that distinction, I believe you are limiting options.
We will truly have progressed when race make absolutely NO difference and is a complete non issue - in politics and life in general. We have absolutely no control over our own genetic heritage and it shouldn't be a source of pride OR shame.
It is what it is. Just be a good person and derive your sense of identity from your beliefs and life choices, not the color of your skin.