I recently read an article titled "Biracial, and also black" written by Martha Jones, a professor at the University of Michigan. The article can be found on Cnn.com along with a slideshow of 26 famous people who are also biracial such as Frederick Douglas, Bob Marley, and Slash of Guns and Roses. I will attempt to add a link. Keep your fingers crossed.
Biracial, and also black
In her article, Jones discusses the one-drop rule and what it had meant to her until she saw a change of self perception in her students. I feel that this article ties into our class discussions about white privilege, slavery, and racial discrimination in a relevent way. Since the majority rules, no one gets to dictate who they are, but the minority has no such luxury. I think that it can be hard for people to understand that a person of mixed heritage really belongs in a category all their own and that being pressured to make a choice constitutes giving up a part of yourself, or at the very least, hiding it. I have always checked 2 boxes, even when I was gotten onto for doing so. Gradually, I see changes in that I am more often offered a box that allows me to indicate who I truly am in a way that allows me to represent both sides of myself.
This is a changing society, and Jone's article serves as proof of that. Although negative attitudes in regards to race still persist, each generation is further educated to the detriment of those attitudes. I hope for the sake of my children and all those after us that discrimination will eventually be irradicated in our society. It would be quite an advancement if people were able to see more similarities than differences when they face one another.
Michelle I really enjoyed the article. After reading your reply it made me think back on an issue in high school while taking the ACT. A classmate of mine who is biracial check the white box which she thought was more fitting to her. After reviewing the test, the school addressed the issue with her parents so that she would know what to check the next time. My classmate was quite upset as she constantly stated that she was white. At this time the one drop rule, became more effective in my understanding. I am in total agreement with having an appropriate section to check for biracial people. The fact that it is not socially acceptable for a biracial person who appears lighter or feels more fitting toward their white identity able to identify racially as white is very problematic.
ReplyDelete