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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

I Never BIG UP My Mixed Ancestry....




For many years, I can't tell you how many times I've had people look at me and literally say, "are you mixed?" I've been asked if I was Creole or mixed with American Indian by African Americans. Some Latinos assumed I was Puerto Rican or something. One Mexican guy insisted that I was mixed in a conversation with his wife.

But the question I ask: How can you know if someone has mixed ancestry by looking at them? Only DNA can verify that for sure...and really, for those of us who are of African descent; having this kind of background gives those within the culture a false sense of superiority--foolishly thinking it will give ingratiate them with whites.

For the record, I do have American Indian, European, and Latin in my ancestry, but I identify as African American. That's it. Other than here, I just don't talk about it. I'm completely indifferent about it. My mind is focused on social issues impacting African Americans and others of African descent. Not superficial hegemony and phenotype that in many regards, has been a curse to Black people than a blessing.

When President Obama's heritage was reported, all of a sudden, websites around the globe appeared to empower mixed race children to higher pursuits. Really? Isn't this an oxymoron, historically? It's well documented how white slave masters would educate their mullato offspring. These children were often treated better by whites. In America, it would shock people who call themselves Black (even those Blacks with only an 1/8 of African blood)--the one drop rule, but when the government changed the racial classification in 2000, allowing people to claim other racial/ethnic origins; it distorted this rule all together.

However, I'm very proud by nature and I resent anyone trying to pull the skin game when interacting or representing my community to whites.

The problem with many Black people is not that we were born of African origins; it's that so many still believe that we are inferior because of it.

I thank God every single day for blessing me to be a Black woman.

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

BIG QUESTION: If a person doesn't really know who they are; why then is it necessary to claim a heritage that you're not educated about?