Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What is a 'multiracial' person supposed to identify as?
My family is multi-racial, and the first day in a new school, the teacher classified my son and six other students as "black". The home room teacher wanted a show of hands for all the white kids, and then for all black kids, and then "purple" kids. The class asked "Purple kids?". It was the teachers snarky and hurtful way of explaining that the inventory was short 7 kids, since the children who raised their hands was 7 less then the total in class. The teacher said "Well, since I have 40 children in class, and only 33 raised their hands, I must have 7 purple kids in class."
My family is multi-racial, and the first day in a new school, the teacher classified my son and six other students as "black". The home room teacher wanted a show of hands for all the white kids, and then for all black kids, and then "purple" kids. The class asked "Purple kids?". It was the teachers snarky and hurtful way of explaining that the inventory was short 7 kids, since the children who raised their hands was 7 less then the total in class. The teacher said "Well, since I have 40 children in class, and only 33 raised their hands, I must have 7 purple kids in class."
I'm a Tennessee redneck. My family background is Irish, Scotish, German, and American Indian. I like my families background, but I'm American, and about as redneck as they come.
To an extent. Honestly, how can you not? Because I am a Christian, I identify more,though, with the Body of Christ. That's where I have true kindredness!
Red and yellow, black and white they are precious in his sight !
I went to the principle and had that teacher apologize to the class for being an ass. It was not just for my son, but for the Hispanic, Indian and Asian children who made up the seven children.
I assumed that the school must have been getting subsidies from somewhere for the number of blacks in the school, otherwise why was there such insistence that any non-white child be classified as black.
I have always told my kids to check "other" because I have always been against classifying people by the most basic of observations and putting them in a box with a label on it. IMHO, that is not consistent with the principles of this country, Rev. King had it right.
My son's last high school did not have an other box, and when he asked if he could check white and asian they told him nope, only one category. This bugged him since he didn't want to upset one of his parents by claiming only one racial identity.
Shortly there after Obama came along and despite being multiracial was being called black, so I turned to my son and said "There you go, if he can pick and choose so can you, pick the minority box from now on".
I hate being called black american. I don't consider myself black. I consider myself African. So thus, I prefer being being African American, or Nigerian American. My south african friend should be considered African American as well, by definition, even though others consider him simply white.
My son's last high school did not have an other box, and when he asked if he could check white and asian they told him nope, only one category. This bugged him since he didn't want to upset one of his parents by claiming only one racial identity.
Shortly there after Obama came along and despite being multiracial was being called black, so I turned to my son and said "There you go, if he can pick and choose so can you, pick the minority box from now on".
But isn't multi-racial the true minority?
It has never mattered to me, but the racial bigots never truly accept mixed race people. As we saw this past election, a person like 0bama will be talked about as "not black enough" by some groups, but never allowed to be referred to as "white" without people rolling their eyes. Tiger Woods has to wrestle with this all the time, his being more Asian then white or black does not seem to matter because of the hue of his skin.
Last edited by Wapasha; 11-12-2009 at 09:03 AM..
Reason: deleted duplicated word
I hate being called black american. I don't consider myself black. I consider myself African. So thus, I prefer being being African American, or Nigerian American. My south african friend should be considered African American as well, by definition, even though others consider him simply white.
You came to America from Africa but are now a citizen here?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
