I understand that I am not allowed to write about racism given the fact that I was born with what they consider "white" skin to a middle class set of parents in the Midwestern United States. But I want to write about it all the same, and since the same constitution that gives me the right to be treated equally and to own my beautiful little Beretta also gives me the right to express my opinions without being guillotined, I think I shall take this opportunity.
Several things about racism in the US really tick me off.
A. One being that everyone likes to refer to Barack Obama as a "black" president because his skin is dark. He is, in fact, biracial which no one seems to understand or care about. As someone who been one half of a biracial couple in the past and contemplated planning a biracial family, this really irks me. What I see is that my nation is going to be more concentrated on a tone of someone's skin than the content of their character. Dr. King would be so disappointed.
B. I am required to fill out, on entry forms to college, medical forms, and other paperwork, my "racial and ethnic" background. Does no one realize that by asking me that you are already essentially racial profiling me? I know that some people have set up private scholarships for their minority groups as far as education goes, but the very fact that we still separate people into "minority groups" means that we are already judging them by the color of their skin! Lets be real here folks! In the United States of America each and every person is supposed to have the same exact chances at getting ahead in life. You work hard and you take chances, grab opportunities, and you can succeed. Don't play a race card with me, or against me. Given the option I will always pick 'biracial' (technically I have a lot of mixed blood in my system), 'other', or 'prefer not to respond' on any and all forms.
C. And I know that I may hit a very sensitive nerve here... but I have friends with dark colored skin that act like the evil people who captured and sold their ancestors as slaves are still alive and kicking today ready to take them back into slavery if they don't stand up and usurp their "rights". I'm like, 'gurl... sit your butt down, aint nobody up in here tryna do nothin' to you.' First of all, I don't know of anyone in my family tree that even owned or traded slaves, and second, even if I did... that wasn't me. Are you going to keep judging me for some slight that happened to your family back in the day? I wasn't a part of it. In fact, neither were you. Yes, all our lives get impacted by our pasts. Part of my family fled religious persecution in Holland to come to the U.S.. Another of my family was an unwanted little girl shipped out on an orphan train bound west to serve as servants for pioneer families who needed extra farm hands. We all have a story and a history and the more we learn about our ancestors stories the more we learn how we came to be ourselves. But don't let it stop at hatred or bitterness for a past that neither you nor I can change. Instead let it be a stepping stone towards a new and brighter future. Lets quit making portraits in honor of Dr. King and actually listen to what his speeches were about. Lets actually change our lives to reflect a society where each and every person is treated with the same kind of deference.
D. I have "white" friends who are what most people would consider slightly racist. Do they have black friends? Yes, they do. Are they still afraid that they will get mugged in the "black" parts of town after hours? Yes, they are. I was actually told by one of my friends that it could actually be unsafe for me to hang out with my black boyfriend in their town. They live in the freakin' "Bible belt". That upsets me to no end. But I see very little I can do to change that other than to be unafraid to act as if with impunity and to never allow racist comments in my presence. My friends know that about me and respect me for it.
E. One of my very bestest friends in the whole wide world is darker than a midnight sky. This is largely due to the fact that she is from actual Africa itself. She admitted to me once that before she got to know me she was racist. She hated white people and I see why. In Africa especially I see racism taken to a whole new level as outsiders come in and act like the native residents don't know anything. Sadly I've met more and more people who have had this exact same experience. My friend is a very intelligent woman, and she deserves to be treated like that. By anyone. If I catch you treating one my friends badly... oh, buddy...
That's my rant for the day. Sorry if its offensive to anyone. I really just wish more than (most) anything in the world that people would just look at one another and see them for who they really are and not for any predisposed notion of who or what they are based on looks.
Also... as a complete side note, I'm pretty sure that facebook thinks I am have dark skin... they keep giving me adds to "meet faithful black men in your area looking for Christian black women."
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