CurlTalk - View Single Post - Biracial and Multiracial black people: Are those considered a race?

Amneris · 08-06-2009, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by love yourself first

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amneris

I agree - if you are biracial, then that includes the Black parent.... so why is it a problem to say you are Black or for someone else to say you are? You ARE... and you are also white, or Asian, or whatever other ancestry you have. And you can also say you are those things. However, unlike Black people, THOSE groups are unlikely to accept you as belonging to them unless you offer a qualifier. You can still try but likely won't have success.

If you live in Latin America and you are "biracial" but look white, you CAN say you are white and have people accept that. It's all about perspective and where you are.

I agree that a lot of it depends on what you look like, where you live, and who you know as to when and where you are accepted.

As for "the qualifier" in non-black communities, that "qualifier" is the black parent in terms of explaining how you fit in (which is consistent with claiming both parents in a bi-racial and bi-cultural identity). In my experience, it is easier to have both sides of my background seen and recognized in non-black communities where there is less pressure to "just be black" or "be black first." Other groups don't impose that kind of thinking which is actually rather freeing and nice.

I agree that they don't... which to me shows why they don't fully accept me as "one of them."