I would imagine it is probably difficult to be multiracial, especially as someone who is part black. I would imagine that however the individual chooses to identify themselves as, would be met with some resistance from certain people. I’ve seen bi-racial people talk about their experience and how they might’ve been too dark to be associated with one group and be perceived as being too light to be associated with people of darker skin tones. For some, it creates an identity crisis.
I found this article very interesting, especially the facts about the racial choices people were given before the year 2000. Mixed people have been in this country for a very long time largely due to colonization. It is interesting to see that people who have a mixed background identify with the culture that they grew up in. It’s also great to see that mixed people are open to different cultures, this is probably due to the fact that they want people to be accepting of them. Colorism is a big problem for mixed people because they tend to fall under the lighter shade of the melanin scale and are treated differently than darker skin folks. For example in the music industry a lot of the popular black artists are technically mixed race like Drake and Chris Brown. It’s very rare that you actually see a popular/mainstream dark skin artist. Everyone should be able to freely identify as how they want but we all should be cautious of the way we treat each other.
It is incredibly disheartening learning about how much colorist still has an impact of peoples lives today. Now knowing that it wasn't until 2000 until Americans were allowed to put more than one race it makes sense that in prison they separate but race and if you are multicultural they force you to choose. "Most adults with a background that includes more than one race do not consider themselves multiracial.” I believe this is because society judges based off of first impressions which is the color of someones skin. We have to work together as a society in order to stop this discrimination against those of different races.
Something that I found incredibly saddening in this article is the racial discrimination that many multiracial individuals face. Two individuals of the same racial background will be treated differently solely on the color of their skin. Darker individuals are always met with much more discrimination than lighter multiracial individuals. It really speaks volumes about the racial ignorance of those same oppressors.
According to a statistic by today.yougov.com, 51% of darker Black Americans experience racism frequently, and that number goes down to about 26-34% for lighter Black Americans.
We must do better and combat racial discrimination against any race, no matter what spectrum of skin color they may have.
I am shocked to know that it wasn't until 2000 that Americans could check off a box(es) that allows them to identify as more than one race. Compared to when interracial marriage was legalized in 1967, one would think those interracial relationships would produce multiracial children.
"About one-in-five adults with a multiracial background (21%) said they have felt pressure from friends, family or society in general to choose one of the races in their background over another. Multiracial adults with a Black background were among the most likely to say they had felt such pressure to identify as single race." This wasn't surprising at all given the history of black and white people in the US. I would assume the pressure to pick the black side comes with the accepting and being proud of being black vs the pressure to pick the white side has white supremacy energy.
This article largely correlates to colorist views in society. Races that come in different shades often praise those of lighter complexion. Not only does it happen in a social setting, but it happens in the "real world" as well. "Multiracial adults who said most people would describe them as White if they passed them on the street were also the least likely to say they had received poor service in restaurants, hotels and other businesses; had been treated unfairly by an employer in hiring, pay or promotion; or had been unfairly stopped by police because of their racial background." It is another form of oppression, setting systematic standards in a conspiracy to turn ourselves against each other. Racial divides already stand strong, but when there is a divide in an ethnic group, it makes it easier to control minorities. Creating more obstacles for people of color to overcome before becoming "equal."
I would imagine it is probably difficult to be multiracial, especially as someone who is part black. I would imagine that however the individual chooses to identify themselves as, would be met with some resistance from certain people. I’ve seen bi-racial people talk about their experience and how they might’ve been too dark to be associated with one group and be perceived as being too light to be associated with people of darker skin tones. For some, it creates an identity crisis.
I found this article very interesting, especially the facts about the racial choices people were given before the year 2000. Mixed people have been in this country for a very long time largely due to colonization. It is interesting to see that people who have a mixed background identify with the culture that they grew up in. It’s also great to see that mixed people are open to different cultures, this is probably due to the fact that they want people to be accepting of them. Colorism is a big problem for mixed people because they tend to fall under the lighter shade of the melanin scale and are treated differently than darker skin folks. For example in the music industry a lot of the popular black artists are technically mixed race like Drake and Chris Brown. It’s very rare that you actually see a popular/mainstream dark skin artist. Everyone should be able to freely identify as how they want but we all should be cautious of the way we treat each other.
It is incredibly disheartening learning about how much colorist still has an impact of peoples lives today. Now knowing that it wasn't until 2000 until Americans were allowed to put more than one race it makes sense that in prison they separate but race and if you are multicultural they force you to choose. "Most adults with a background that includes more than one race do not consider themselves multiracial.” I believe this is because society judges based off of first impressions which is the color of someones skin. We have to work together as a society in order to stop this discrimination against those of different races.
Something that I found incredibly saddening in this article is the racial discrimination that many multiracial individuals face. Two individuals of the same racial background will be treated differently solely on the color of their skin. Darker individuals are always met with much more discrimination than lighter multiracial individuals. It really speaks volumes about the racial ignorance of those same oppressors.
According to a statistic by today.yougov.com, 51% of darker Black Americans experience racism frequently, and that number goes down to about 26-34% for lighter Black Americans.
We must do better and combat racial discrimination against any race, no matter what spectrum of skin color they may have.
I am shocked to know that it wasn't until 2000 that Americans could check off a box(es) that allows them to identify as more than one race. Compared to when interracial marriage was legalized in 1967, one would think those interracial relationships would produce multiracial children.
"About one-in-five adults with a multiracial background (21%) said they have felt pressure from friends, family or society in general to choose one of the races in their background over another. Multiracial adults with a Black background were among the most likely to say they had felt such pressure to identify as single race." This wasn't surprising at all given the history of black and white people in the US. I would assume the pressure to pick the black side comes with the accepting and being proud of being black vs the pressure to pick the white side has white supremacy energy.
This article largely correlates to colorist views in society. Races that come in different shades often praise those of lighter complexion. Not only does it happen in a social setting, but it happens in the "real world" as well. "Multiracial adults who said most people would describe them as White if they passed them on the street were also the least likely to say they had received poor service in restaurants, hotels and other businesses; had been treated unfairly by an employer in hiring, pay or promotion; or had been unfairly stopped by police because of their racial background." It is another form of oppression, setting systematic standards in a conspiracy to turn ourselves against each other. Racial divides already stand strong, but when there is a divide in an ethnic group, it makes it easier to control minorities. Creating more obstacles for people of color to overcome before becoming "equal."