My little sister just came up to me and said "am I not black?"

And obviously I was like um yes you are, you know you are lol. And she said "Mr. Steven (our neighbor) said it's called biracial and I'm not actually black". Like girl, the old white man doesn't tell us what we can or cannot be😂 just a friendly PSA that black and biracial (or biracial and ANY culture) is not mutually exclusive lol. Biracial literally just means "more than one race"- so both. I thought more people were aware of that, but it's come up multiple times in my life and apperantly is already coming up for my kid sister 🤦

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bijouxbroussard · F

When I was growing up, to white kids I was always black; they called me the same nasty names and beat me up the way they would’ve if both my parents had been black.
But I‘ve seen some whites making the distinction with Obama, and I’ve come to understand something: it’s a divisive measure, a way of keeping you from feeling like you’re a part of a group. The one-drop rule backfired—anyone who couldn’t “pass” as white was basically considered (and largely accepted) as black.
They certainly don’t consider Barack Obama white but some deeply resent the fact that a majority of African Americans have embraced him.
I identify as black, I don’t have to say so, it’s obvious. But occasionally someone will argue the point. It doesn’t matter, that’s what’s on my birth certificate. And as I told someone yesterday, it’s not a club—one can‘t be kicked out.

Lucyy · 22-25, F

@bijouxbroussard there is definitely colorism in the USA, as well. There is discrimination against black people AMONGST other black people. Too often you hear people say "I don't date dark" or something along those lines.

Loretta78 · 46-50, F

@bijouxbroussard I am sorry for what you have gone through during your childhood. "Humans" can be so nasty and mean. 🥺

bijouxbroussard · F

@Lucyy Yes. That’s part of the self-hatred we’ve been taught. It’s not unique to us, either. One byproduct of colonialism in Asian and African countries is the purchase of skin lightening creams.

Lucyy · 22-25, F

@bijouxbroussard tbh I grew up in such a predominantly white area that it took me a long long time to realize that there was oppression against POC within their own community as well. I grew up having kids throw rocks at me and stuff because I was black (that's actually how I learned what black was- race had never even crossed my mind before that) so when I got to a fairly diverse community, I overlooked most of the abuse other POC were suffering because it seemed so tame in comparison I thought it was just normal. But it's a huge issue too for sure.

bijouxbroussard · F

@Lucyy I integrated one of my elementary schools in the 60s and saw a lot of prejudice from the kids, some of the nuns and lay teachers (non-clergy teachers).

Lucyy · 22-25, F

@bijouxbroussard I never formally integrated (obviously I guess given my age lol) but growing up I was in what was literally an ALL white school. There was one kid who was maybe like a quarter Mexican ( but you couldn't tell) and then there was me. So when I moved schools it was my very first experience with other people of color. My cousin in that area was like "God I've never seen so little black people In a school" while I was like "wow I've never seen so MANY black people in one school" haha. My grandma remembers integrating schools though. Their area was ordered to mix schools (idk all the details of how it works- I had assumed it was optional but I guess not In her area?) And nobody did it. And the next summer is what her and my great uncle called "the summer of the bulldozers" because they came in and just tore down all the black schools, so they'd have to attend a white school.