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adthomas · 05-26-2012, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curlyhoneyb

Quote:

Originally Posted by adthomas

It seems to me some biracial people who dont want to choose one race or the other (which I dont think they should have to) have created a backlash against biracial people who CHOOSE to identify themselves as one race. I have many friends who are black and something else but they consider themselves black. And i have many filipino and white friends who say they are filipino. It is their perogative and nothing to do with denying their heritage.
I had a coworker who is black say something about my race recently and I said I am black. He said I must be mixed with something because of my hair. I said nothing but was offended. If I say im black then Im black. Just because I have light skin and freckles doesnt compel me to have to self identify as mixed race as some people on here suggest.

This is an interesting perspective. I agree with everyone's right to identify as they see fit. I am of mixed race and that is how I see myself, although I'm often assumed to be white or Latina or even Asian, depending on who is looking at me. Nope, I'm just black and white with a bit of Indian thrown into the mix. I embrace both sides of my heritage.

But I disagree with you on something...your coworker most likely is going by what he sees. I'm not sure why you would be offended if somebody thinks you might be biracial or multiracial. It's not an insult. Obviously he can tell that you are mixed with something besides black. I am VERY proud of my black heritage, but I also know that my appearance is not what people typically think of when they think of a Black woman. I'm very fair-skinned with "white" features, but my hair is kinky...that is the only feature that makes people question my ethnicity. The questions/comments/stares are annoying, but it is part of being mixed.

Some people can tell I'm mixed, some can't. It is what it is. You have the right to be who you are and to identify as you see fit, but some people will wonder if you are mixed because of your phenotype. It kind of comes with the territory. As long as you are secure in your identity, it doesn't matter what others think.

And I'm not sure how some biracials have created a backlash against other mixed-race people because it comes down to the fact that identity is a very personal thing. No one can define it for you. They can try, but only you know who you are. When somebody asks what my race is (I hate that question), I tell them I'm mixed and keep it moving. Saying that you are mixed doesn't mean that you are denying your black heritage or negating that part of yourself.

I wasnt offended he "asked" me about being mixed. Im not biracial. I have Choctaw blood but it was my great great grandmother. To be honest what person is 100 anything if their family has been in the US a long time. I choose to identify as black. I was offended that i told him Im black and he insisted Im not which I think is disrespectful. I dont think being taken for mixed or for black is an insult. However, Just like if you told me you're mixed and I argued with you that you were just black that would be wrong.
BTW i went to Africa a few years ago and saw lots of people my complexion.