Biracial by birth, Black by choice
Kimberly,
Detroit, MI.
I was just listening to Talk of the Nation with Celeste Headlee discussing Navigating The Lines Between Ethnicity And Identity and I could relate to notion of being biracial and adopted into a white family and having to explore my identity through education and exposure to other black people. I’ve learned that black is not a monolith that the diaspora is vast and there is so much to learn. I’ve learned not to be afraid of black people because I don’t meet some standard set by Hollywood or Madison Avenue on what black is. I recognize my light skin, mixed race privilege, but I won’t deny my connection to black culture and history.
Good hair is well maintained hair.
Jessica Elaine Burks,
San Diego, CA.
I am Black, Irish, and Native American. My paternal grandmother had straight long hair. My maternal grandmother had 4c textured hair. All my life I believed the myth that “good hair and long hair” do not belong to black women with 4C textured hair. My friends and even family members of non-black origins had no clue that actresses wore weave- even when they were white. None of my friends in grade school understood what a “kitchen” was. So I said I did it with a toothpick- and the next day five blonde haired blue eyed girls brought toothpicks to school so that I could curl their hair. It was a long time before I would realize any woman of any race can have bad hair. Overprocessed, dry, brittle, color damaged hair can happen to any race or ethnicity. But Good hair is well-maintained hair. Hair is not meant to be divisive pitting one woman against another. Hair is in fact, a woman’s individuality, her expression of glory. I had to cut my hair off after finding out I had Systemic Lupus. I am growing my daughter’s hair. As I was detangling her hair I told her she has GOOD HAIR. My mother was laid to rest before she could see the natural hair awakening. I wish she were alive to hear my say she has beautiful good hair.
Ugly, Invisible, Accused of Insanity
Molly Katerson,
Atlanta, GA.
I’m a black woman and I feel ugly and invisible most of the time. When I talk about it – the white washing of Hollywood or how that Adria girl’s twitter blew up with racist sexist shi*, I am told I’m crazy. It hurts. Everything hurts.
Not a tool against Black Women.
Betty Rosenda Green,
Chino Hills, CA.
With the recent controversies of Zoe Saldana playing Nina Simone in blackface and Zendaya Coleman having been cast originally to play Aaliyah, I believe it is important to see how deep mainstream media like Hollywood work to erase Black Women, particularly with darker complexions specifically in this case, by casting either white Women in the past or having light-skinned Black Women play other Black Women who were of a darker skin tone. It is important to acknowledge this; it is political and there is a colonial history within it. We as Black Women of all complexions must realize and act accordingly to this history to make sure we are ALL seen. I REFUSE TO BE USED AGAINST MY FELLOW BLACK WOMEN.
“Protect” sister from favorite childhood movies.
Emmy Corey,
Harrisburg, PA.
I’m a white Alabama native from an all-white town with a black sister who is 17 years younger than I. I love passing down the things that I enjoyed at her age- dolls, movies, books. For the most part, she likes receiving them too. The problem is that before she came along, my world was incredibly white. My childhood relics are images that don’t include her. From my white American Girl Dolls to Little Women, I have so much anxiety about what or how to pass down my treasured belongings to her. And then, I have anxiety about my anxiety. Isn’t that another form of controlling her story? But I think my own story was controlled, too. It lacks the complicated beauty of the story she and I now create together.
I’m not prettier because I’m white.
Rhiannon Watkins,
Centennial, CO.
Why are magazines always filled with white and light-skinned women? I have never in my life had a shortage of skinny, white girls to look up to in the media, but where are all the black and brown models? Why am I automatically considered prettier than any other girl because I have lighter skin than her? Why do people feel the need to put down girls of color to make me feel better about myself? And why is it that when I get a tan, it makes me ‘even prettier’, but when a black girl is naturally dark-skinned, she’s ‘too dark’? Why do I get pushed to keep going out to tan more and more, but when that’s someone’s natural skin tone, it’s undesirable? When do we draw the line on what is considered ‘too dark’? When she doesn’t have ‘White’ features? When her hair isn’t blonde and her eyes aren’t blue or green? Girls with dark skin is just as beautiful as me with my white skin, and they always will be.
Hollywood reminds me everyday. I’m different.
Seema,
Chicago, IL.
Women already have identity issues because of an extreme and over-sexed image of women in Hollywood. Additionally, women of color are marginalized because of their under-representation in TV, movies, magazines and advertising. As an Asian-American woman, I see very few Asian men and women and when I do see them, we are often cloaked in a silly accent aimed at cheap laughs. Thanks to Mindy Kaling for showing Hollywood what we’ve got!
You people weren’t the first Americans
Ilene Santoyo,
Hollywood, CA.
White people always think that they were the first people in America those whom are racist are always say to Mexicans, “Go back to your country.” and to be honest it was our country and now it is being shared between us all we are united and it’s what wouldn’t change.
White supremacy is alive and well.
Paolo Parent
Hollywood, FL
Not hung on race, but very well aware of what’s going on in the world.
