Race/Ethnicity
Questions 391-400
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THE
QUESTION:
R400: Do white people believe that all of the discussions
about race make people of color feel bad about living in the United
States?
POSTED AUG. 7, 1998
Mafusa, African American
<wawardjr@pacbell.net>,
Rocklin, CA
ANSWER 1:
I don't believe discussion of race issues makes people of
color feel bad or uncomfortable - I think racism makes people
feel bad. In my experience, talking about a "ticklish" issue may be
difficult for people, but that's what helps us grow.
POSTED SEPT. 23, 1998
Darbma, white
<darbymom@hotmail.com>,
New York, NY
FURTHER NOTICE:
Your question makes me think about what it is that makes
me feel so nervous about the race issue. I'm a white female. I have
been trying to understand how it must feel to have been part of an
oppressed group of people for generations, and how this treatment
must color the way one sees the world and especially how one feels
toward the oppressor. I think I'm profoundly embarrassed by the way
white people have treated minorities. I'm also very ashamed. I have a
guilty conscience, and I'll probably be involved in equity issues for
the rest of my life trying to make amends for my ancestors'
intolerance.
POSTED FEB. 9, 1999
Barbara S., white female
<sudek@worldnet.att.net>,
Las Vegas, NV
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R399: Why do we still address people using the words "black"
and "white," as though we are crayons in a box, when most of us are
brown and fleshtone?
POSTED AUG. 6, 1998
J. Reynolds
<Jamest1@juno.com>,
Sacramento, CA
ANSWER 1:
A thousand years ago, Europeans referred to dark-haired
people as "black," even though they were all "white" by current
definition. White-European hegemony has polarized the issue of color,
and black and white are the polarities. It reflects our
white-dominated social construct and our ancient connection of
darkness to evil. It's more complex and insidious than your question
suggests. And by the way, brown, too, is a fleshtone.
POSTED AUG. 7, 1998
Max , white queer male, Oakland , CA
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R398: I am curious to find out what white people think of the
multiracial movement and people such as Tiger Woods who are unwilling
to identify solely as African American. Would whites be willing to
let biracial people identify themselves as white?
POSTED AUG. 5, 1998
S.T., African American (biracial)
<salteee@aol.com>,
Milwaukee, WI
ANSWER 1:
I am a 30-year-old black woman who thinks it's great Tiger
Woods acknowledges both his parents. One of my pet peeves is biracial
people who acknowledge only one side. If both parents are mostly
black (no other races in the gene pool for many generations), the kid
is black. If the kid has a Chinese father and a black mother, the kid
is Chinese and black. You can't be half one race and half
another.
POSTED AUG. 6, 1998
C. M. Hunt, St. Louis, MO
FURTHER NOTICE:
I think the multicultural movement is a good thing because
it allows people like Tiger Woods to acknowledge both their parents
instead of just one. People who are say, half-white and half-white
are biracial; they are not black and not white, they are both. I
think biracial people are a group to themselves because they receive
flak from both sides. Someone who is white/black may be told by a
white person that they're black, while a black person may tell this
same person they're not black enough. This is a shame. People should
be allowed to be themselves without anyone telling them what or who
they should be.
POSTED AUG. 6, 1998
Hayley, 28, white, Chicago, IL
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I am a white woman with multiracial children. My husband's
father is Chinese and African, and his mother is Mestizo. My husband
grew up ignoring the question "What are you?" and my kids get asked
that all the time, also. I am glad there is a multiracial "movement"
so that people can become more knowledgable about mixed-ethnicity and
its associated issues. However, I have told my kids they can call
themselves anything they want (I call them American) but that they
should not use their heritage to get anything (scholorships, etc.)
because they are not financially disadvantaged. Also, when a cop or
judge or hiring manager sees them, they probably pass for
"white-enough."
POSTED AUG. 6, 1998
S.Y., Oakland, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I think the more important question is "Would white people
be willing to identify themselves as multiracial?" White people think
of themselves as purely "white" and then speculate on the "what are
they?" of people of color as if it were office gossip. But the myth
of pure whiteness is a great lie. My "white" Klansman father was
Irish, Portuguese, Native American and black. White folks need to
come to terms with their own murky racial identities before we try to
lay out definitions for people of color.
POSTED AUG. 7, 1998
Max H., white Melungeon , Oakland, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I think white society has established an unwritten rule:
If one does not "look the part," one cannot "claim the part."
Therefore, if one does not look the part, one is automatically
"judged" by this rule as a "minority." If enough
biracial-multicultural Americans stand the same ground concerning
this issue as Tiger Woods, white society will be forced to reexamine
this rule. I believe one reason why white society is so adamant about
"what are you" is biracial-multicultural stands conflict with
demographic procedures. Even so, I feel this does not justify white
society to retain this biased rule. Which is more important,
individual rights or census procedures? I almost apologized for not
fitting the ethnic description posed in the question, but should I
apologize for being black?
POSTED NOV. 2, 1998
Alonzo C., 32, African American, Jacksonville, FL
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
What seems strange to me is that many white-looking people
introduce themselves as Native Indians because maybe they have an
Indian grandmother or something. This is considered quite OK. But I
wonder why, on the other hand, totally black-looking people wouldn't
also introduce themselves as "white," based on say, having a white
grandmother. Also, I wonder if the reaction would be the same. And if
not, why not?
POSTED FEB. 4, 1999
Justina <jkatel@aol.com>,
female, Alaska
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THE QUESTION:
R397: What is the difference between the words Hispanic,
Latina/o and Chicano? My lover identifies as Hispanic, more political
friends as Latino/a, and now I've heard some people who don't like
either word and use Chicano. Can someone tell me the different
histories/implications of these words?
POSTED AUG. 5, 1998
N.A., 27, queer Arab American
<nadyalec@erols.com>,
Washington, DC
ANSWER 1:
"Hispanic" means a person or his ascendants are from any
of the former Spanish (Hispania) colonies in America. "Latino" is the
same thing - it means they come from Latin America (by the way, the
true Latins are the Italians; we simply took over the name).
"Chicano" means strictly a person born in the United States of
Mexican parents (which makes him also, of course, Latino and
Hispanic). Some say the name comes from the mix of Chicago and
Mexicano, because many came from that city. All this has nothing to
do with skin color. We can be as black as a Nigerian, as white as a
Dutchman or as brown as a a pure Aztec descendant, but we are all
Hispanic and Latino. It's a culture, not a color.
POSTED AUG. 9, 1998
Nelson A., 29, Latino (white)
<nelsoneas@hotmail.com>,
Caracas, Venezuela
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R396: While shopping in malls, I have noticed that African
Americans tend to walk extremely slow. Can anyone tell me if there is
a reason why?
POSTED AUG. 5, 1998
Kristina, MD
ANSWER 1:
Kristina, have you ever noticed that when you're running
late, the traffic lights seem to take longer to turn green? It is
human nature to allow preconceived notions to affect our judgment and
perception. I am well aware that many black people tend to walk
slowly in public. My wife is one of them. However, I tend to walk
rather swiftly, as do many of the black people with whom I'm
acquainted. Perhaps on your next trip to the shopping mall you can be
more scientific and objective in your observation. Look for white
people who walk slowly, and those who walk swiftly. Do the same with
blacks that you see and I think you'll begin to see more similarities
than differences.
POSTED AUG. 31, 1998
Samuel H., 30, brown American;
<samalex67@aol.com>,
Chicago, IL
FURTHER NOTICE:
Conerning fast-paced walkers, I feel it is a
subconsciously embedded psycho-neurophysical action as opposed to
ethnicity, which originates from occupational training, i.e. "do this
quickly, do that quickly." Both fast and slow walkers are trained to
perform tasks quickly, but the difference between the two is that
fast walkers keep on walking fast evne when they're "off the clock"
(ingrained action), while slow walkers differentiate between a
"required" pace and leisurely walking. I also feel that fast walkers
tend to think too many steps ahead, which causes their feet to try to
catch up with their minds. Moreover, in a mall situation, leisurely
walkers are able to enjoy themselves much more than fast walkers
because they can (figuratively) smell the roses as they walk. Fast
walkers walk quickly right on by them.
POSTED NOV. 2, 1998
Alonzo C., 32, African American, Jacksonville, FL
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R395: Why is it that everything from European culture (i.e.
folklore, history, literature, language) seems to be considered fair
game for any American who wants to create their own version of it,
while Americans insist that cultures of other groups be protected and
kept exclusive? I'm talking about things like the recent movies
The Three Musketeers, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and
The Man in the Iron Mask, all made with no regard for the
original literature, true history or original culture; Doctor
Doolittle made with Eddie Murphy; and versions of European
folk stories and legends filmed or illustrated with multi-cultural
characters, etc.
POSTED AUG. 5, 1998
Colette
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>,
Seymour, WI
ANSWER 1:
Just an inquiry: Were you aware that The Three
Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask were both written
by Alexander Dumas, a black man?
POSTED SEPT. 4, 1998
Black female, Los Angles, CA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I had no idea Dumas was black. Thanks for the info ... but
he was still part of European culture in any case (African-French?),
and his work is considered French literature. I am surprised to learn
he's black, though, since I read his book Adventures with my
Animals, in which he included his black servants along with the
cats and dogs. Anyway, this wasn't meant to be a question about race
(it's probably safe to say these movies and books are made mainly by
whites), but about culture, and why some seem protected while others
are regularly ripped-off. For example, would anyone publish a book of
Native American legends and feel they had to illustrate it with
Europeans and Africans included? Why is that idea any more ridiculous
than the idea of giving Robin Hood a multicultural band?
POSTED SEPT. 9, 1998
Colette
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>,
Seymour, WI
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To Black female: Where did you get the idea that Alexandre
Dumas was black? I'm French and have studied French literature, and
my mother is a French professor. I can guarantee you that Alexandre
Dumas was not black. Besides, it does not answer Collette's question.
I think that Americans do this because as America is still a new
country by European standards, it has not had time to produce enough
cultural material of its own, so it tries to make some by importing
raw material and adapting it to U.S. standards to satisfy the needs
of its inhabitants. Thus the transformation of bad endings to happy
endings and inserting multicultural differences to be politically
correct and not hurt any feelings. I must point out that we Europeans
smile at the attempts made by Americans to remake original European
cultural creations. We feel Americans try to simplify everything and
make everything seem shallow and commercial, and that in America,
everything has a price tag on it - even culture.
POSTED OCT. 24, 1998
Zobe La Mouche, 25, Paris, France
FURTHER NOTICE 3:
Zobe's reaction to the idea of Alexander Dumas being black
inspired me to go have a look. Check out this site for confirmation:
http://www.africaonline.co.zw/AfricaOnline/kidsonly/people/index.html.
(DIRECTOR'S NOTE: This page states that Alexander Dumas was black;
another link addressing this subject can be found at
http://www.cadytech.com/dumas.)
Zobe, try to be more open to new knowledge. That is the spirit of
Y? Forum. Just because you didn't already know it doesn't mean
something is not true.
POSTED OCT. 26, 1998
Iteki, 22, Irish lesbian
<iteki@chickmail.com>,
Stockholm, Sweden
FURTHER NOTICE 4:
To Zobe: I checked it out before I responded, and Dumas
had a grandmother who was black. Here in the United States, there's
apparently something called the "one-drop rule," which dictates that
anybody with a black ancestor is also black. To be honest, I have
never heard of this rule except from black people. By this rule we
are all probably black, so why should we even bother trying to label
people by race?
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Colette,
<inkwolf@earthlink.net>,
Seymour, WI
FURTHER NOTICE 5:
As a French citizen I am actually proud that a
French person (as most European people) did not know Alexander Dumas
had a black grandmother (what about the other three-quarters?). I
think it could prove that French people are less racist - or at least
less race-concerned - than U.S. citizens. I thought the value of a
person and of his or her deeds did not depend on his or her
ancestry.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
French republican, 60
<fdondon@club-internet.fr>,
Paris, France
FURTHER NOTICE 6:
Just a point of clarification: Dumas was the son of a
Frenchman and a former African slave. For more information, click on
http://24.1.81.71/dumas/biographie.asp.
Zobe's guarantee that Dumas wasn't black and his question of
"Where did you get the idea..." is indicative of a serious problem in
this country (by the vehemence of his answer I would say it's a
French problem, too): Namely, contributions by minorities are
constantly overlooked or diminished by the majority.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Tony
<tonyway@yahoo.com>, San
Francisco, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Dumas had a black grandmother (Marie-Céssette
Dumas, a slave from the West Indies) and a white grandfather (Marquis
Antoine-Alexandre Davy de la Pailleterie). Other interesting notes:
In his time, Dumas was more famous for his plays than his novels; his
father rose to the rank of general under Napoleon; his son wrote
several novels including La Dame aux Camélias, the
basis of Verdi's opera La Traviata. Relating (somewhat) back
to the original question, Dumas wrote many historically based novels,
but was not above changing things to make a good story. He did not,
however, claim them as historically accurate.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Gene
<geneand@ix.netcom.com>,
Oakland, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 8:
There were of course two Dumases, father and son, both
writers. Dumas senior had one black grandmother, and so junior had
one black great-grandmother. Maybe a separate question needs to be
asked: What percentage of a race, whatever race it may be, must a
person have to be considered "of" that race? This is something I've
never really understood. Maybe someone can clarify it here. I know
that in some Asian countries, being a quarter Caucasian counts a
person as "white." Of course, none of this explains why Robin Hood's
band of 13th Century Merrie (English) Men should be "multicultural,"
which was the original question, wasn't it?
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Steve H, 49, European mix, Redondo Beach, CA
FURTHER NOTICE 9:
White American popular culture comes from so many
different countries that we don't know what's what anymore. Most
people don't speak up enough when culture gets trashed. Look at
Disney - their "Hercules" was a complete butchering of the Greek
myths, but very few people spoke up. The general population accepts
such garbage because they either are not aware of the original source
material or don't care. If minority citizens and groups speak up for
their heritage and culture, they should be applauded for fighting to
keep the integrity of their arts. Let's see more white people speak
up for the heritages and cultures of the countries they and their
ancestors are from.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Alan N.
<chowfoon@iname.com>,
Boston, MA
FURTHER NOTICE 10:
I find myself scratching my head, not knowing who to agree
with, or how. But I will say this: Zobe, despite her anti-American
cheap shots, is onto something. America is a nation of many disparate
cultures and cultural influences, as it has been since its infancy.
Because of this, America may never have been able to make a serious
claim to having a monolithic, primary culture, as Zobe seems to imply
that France has. Both our language and popular culture are so rife
with cultural mixture that almost anything produced to appeal to the
masses will reflect this inherent diversity. While the dark side of
America's brief history (and present) is colored with hatred and
intolerance, the beauty of our diversity is undeniable. In fact, many
Europeans clamor for the simplified cultural knock-offs we produce.
And, before you attempt to deny that Zobe, I've got two words for
you: Jerry Lewis.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
Sam; 30, male, brown American
<SamAlex67@aol.com>,
Chicago, IL
FURTHER NOTICE 11:
Dumas' grandfather was the Marquis Antoine-Alexandre Davy
de la Pailleterie,who married Marie-Céssette Dumas, a black
slave on the West Indies island of Santo Domingo. She gave birth to
Thomas-Alexandre and died when he was young. So, Dumas is one-quarter
black. By today's rules, he's black.
POSTED JAN. 27, 1999
K.R., French minor, English major, , AL
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R394: It's my perception that many white Hispanics
discriminate against black Hispanics in the Latin community,
especially in Puerto Rico. Why is this?
POSTED AUG. 3, 1998
Alan J., 32, black
<pabsys@idt.net>, Long
Beach, CA
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R393: Where did the notion come from that black men are
considered "taboo" by Asian women? Many of us are well-educated,
interesting and successful, yet this stereotype seems prevalent. Are
many negative images of black men presented in Asian countries?
POSTED AUG. 3, 1998
Jim, African American, Boston, MA
ANSWER 1:
With the "PR" image we (black males) have in this country,
it takes guts and effort to be with a black man. It is not only
Asians who have a negative image of black men. European, Latin
American, Middle Eastern - everyone knows that blacks are at the
bottom of the socio-economic ladder in this country. Being with a
black man means, in many cases, less money, lower social status,
dirty looks, poor service at restaurants, less desirable housing
options and a host of other "inconveniences." There are lots of
contributing factors: Our portrayal in the news, our own hip-hop
videos, "boyz in the hood"-type movies and the actions of many of our
own in society. All presenting negative images. We truly do have an
image problem.
POSTED NOV. 9, 1998
Steve H., 39, black male
<hubebu@aol.com>, Foster
City, CA
FURTHER NOTICE:
I'm not sure if I would be too concerned over what other
cultures think about myself or other African-American males. If the
women of these other cultures cannot think (and act) for themselves,
I can surely say that that's not the kind of partner I would want
anyway.
POSTED FEB. 4, 1999
Alan J., 32, African-American, male
<pabsys@idt.net>, Long
Beach , CA
FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Coming from a Filipino household, my experience is that
there's no negative stereotyping about black men instilled in the
children, though I cannot speak for all Asians.
POSTED MARCH 19,1999
S.E., 15, Asian, Ontario, Canada
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R392: Why does it seem that black comedians always portray
white Americans as "goody two-shoes" and "cheerful" in an almost
goofy way in their comedy acts? It's funny, but I am curious about
why they see white Americans that way.
POSTED AUG. 3, 1998
C Adkins, Lynchburg , VA
ANSWER 1:
This happens because for so long, black folks were
stereotyped as lazy, ignorant buffoons. Now that some black folks
have an opportunity to do it, they stereotype white folks as
happy-go-lucky idiots. You know, tit for tat.
POSTED AUG. 31, 1998
Black Female
<weezie@kc.net>, Kansas
City, MO
To respond
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THE QUESTION:
R391: I live in a neighborhood that is half white and half
black. I've noticed a lack of consideration for others, or society at
large, by my black neighbors. This is evident by loud music from cars
and excessive littering when walking down the street. Is this because
my neighbors are rebelling against society at large because they are
a minority?
POSTED AUG. 1, 1998
David, 33, white, Columbia, SC
ANSWER 1:
I have also noticed the loud music and seemingly lack of
regard for society among some blacks. I believe it has more to do
with the so-called "black experience" rather than outright rebellion,
though the two are likely connected. Many blacks, because of
socio-economic inequities and the long-term psychological effects of
minority status, often "reside" within a community but do not feel
connected in any significant way to it. Their experiences as the
"plagues of society" tend to play out in ways such as unkempt
dwellings and blatant disregard for their surroundings. However, the
music issue is moreso a youth culture issue rather than an "all black
folk" one. The media has successfully shaped the young black person
as monolithic in terms of interests, i.e. loud-, hip- and popular
culture-engrossed. So, like all of us, we master our culture.
Unfortunately, youth culture in general dictates there be some degree
of social opposition. In much of black youth culture music is a form
of expressing their visibility and identity. So many of today's young
people feel invisible and maligned, and this form of territoriality
sends a clear message that they are here! Perhaps it's up to us to
connect the young people and to use their energy to build our
neighborhoods. What a challenge!
POSTED SEPT. 4, 1998
Dee, black
<westde@hiram.edu>,
Cleveland, OH
To respond
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