What does it mean to be black in America? Who is black? Watch the CNN special on Sunday, December 9th and discuss.
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I can certainly relate to this subject matter. My oldest 3 kids are 1/2 me and 1/2 black. My 4th child is white. My oldest is more about her black culture, and doesn't really relate to the white. Her personality and mannerism is more like a black person. My other two kids relate more to the white than the black. Their personalities and mannerisms are more of a white person. Then there is my youngest, who is not biracial, who grew up in the same house......and she takes on a black persons personality and mannerism at times! I think it's a sad world that we have to categorize a person by their race! I mean, after all.....with my different nationalities mixed in me......why am I not considered to be ''multi-racial''?
No matter how far we come as a culture and how much progress we make socially, we not only want to place others into groups but also to define ourselves into a group. We want to identify and be part of a group of like people. I do not think there is anything wrong with self identification as long as we are not ostrasizing others for not being like us. It is important for our psychies to know where we come from and with this comes our development into who we are. I have experienced this with my own family. My father is Italian and I do not know any of my family on that side. There is no interaction or any way of getting to know this part of my ancestrial past, but in my mind it is who I am and the side of my heritage that I fixate on the most. Others do not see me as Italian as I got more of my mothers genes from her British/ German ancestry. Because I look more like her, Italians that I meet do not believe that I am Italian. But in the end it is never about others but about the truths you hold for yourself.
After speaking with my psychology professor about this subject last year,i have come to the conclusion that as a species we will Always find some way to seperate ourselves from others.I can relate to this Article and others.Even just barely visiting Europe i saw how vastly differently i was treated by people who thought they looked like me.I saw for the first time what it was like outside of my home country and i liked to know it was not just the U.S. who acts strangely.Hopefully someday we can get past the Human species made subject or thought of race and accept that Genetically we are almost to similiar to tell the difference between.Although it is cool to know we all came from Africa,And even more specifically Bacteria,Which then became Neanderthals,And then modern day Humans.I still think as long as race exist we will remain only this evolved.
I do believe race is a social construct but with this country's past and treatment of black Americans, identity is a huge component. Labeling yourself can be ok, because it can be empowering to identify yourself as whatever it may be and tie yourself to a movement or stance that you believe in. I'm not black so I don't have that insight of what it must be like to come to grips with the past treatment, and encountering racism. I think the moment Barack Obama came on to the scene, the discussions, debates and fights that occured and almost an obsession with identifying him as one or the other. It's rough to encounter racism, and than questions yourself or some aspect of your life, it's exhausting. I don't know what's going to happen in the future but I think with issues such as global warming, food shortages and health care etc... I think we'll have no choice but to rely on each other more and more.
It's not just black who are figuring out who they are in america. Being navajo and living off the reservation we are told we are suburban natives because we don't know the traditional ways. And if were around the elders they to get upset with us because we don't speak our navajo language. The CNN special was interesting, those who were dark skinned don't think light skin were black enough but who is to define who we are, the one that got me was the egyptian female who states she's black because she's from north of africa. It's just not "white" who are saying what race we are and it's sad to hear our own, dark,light,half this and half that try to define us. Inside we are all the same.
I think the meaning of black in America is more now becoming questionable, because we have a Black President and he signifies that in this country by the color of his skin. Whenever someone hears the name Barack Obama, he is automatically identified as Black through the eyes of all. As far as who is black, should be more based on their self identity and culture and not by their external appearance. For example, there could be a dark, haired black girl who identifies herself as an American Indian lady, because she was raised traditionally by only her native culture. Parents should inform their children about factors and mix race at a young age, insomuch that the color of light or dark skin won't become an issue later in life.
As we know children face prejudice and grow a lower self esteem, rather than building their self esteem.
Evan Redburrow said...
I think the meaning of black in America is more now becoming questionable, because we have a Black President and he signifies that in this country by the color of his skin. Whenever someone hears the name Barack Obama, he is automatically identified as Black through the eyes of all. As far as who is black, should be more based on their self identity and culture and not by their external appearance. For example, there could be a dark, haired black girl who identifies herself as an American Indian lady, because she was raised traditionally by only her native culture. Parents should inform their children about factors and mix race at a young age, insomuch that the color of light or dark skin won't become an issue later in life.
As we know children face prejudice and grow a lower self esteem, rather than building their self esteem.
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