February 16th, 2007
OMG, That Color Thing Again
I was shopping at Borders and the sales lady had an attitude that almost said,”Nigger what do you want,” Sometimes as black Americans you develop a 6th sense that will help determine whom the racists are. I could tell this bronzed colored young woman did not like me asking questions. So I went there,” what nationality are you?” I said sweetly. This young woman sneered, American!
“America is a country made up of many nationalities and tell me it is none of my business or that you rather not say but to say American is to say nothing.!I understand if you are ashame of your hertiage.” was my retort. She said biracial. ” I asked,”Biracial what?” She answered, my mom is white and my dad is black. She was hoping this conversation was ending but I trying to be helpful, mentioned, “that makes you black, are you aware of the 1 drop rule?”
This exchange lead me to wonder are biracial people confused? If you marry outside your race are you confused or in love? Some would ask are you nuts? One of my brothers is married to a white woman and we have difficulity discussing this topic because of his marriage. More confusion.
OK, how dose this relate to black in business? Hopefully, barriers will come down to make business opportunties more accessible for all blacks and not just those that describe their nationality as anything but black. Say what you want about Barrack Obama, and the disscusion, is he black enough, in his words he is a black man, not biracial, not american but black.
We are diluting our power as a race by not sticking with the 1 drop of black blood rule. I think this 3rd category of race can give us less business opportunity for blacks.
The link below is what started this post. I found it compelling and would like to hear your thoughts. Is Mrs Dickerson confused?
February 16th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Hmmmmm…I am bi-racial and very proud of it. When asked I say that I am bi-racial more specifically multi-racial. My father is African and Native American on his father’s side and African and French on his mother’s side. My mother was Irish and German. I don’t say that I am simply black because that does not encompass all of who I am. I am not and have never been ashamed of who I am. I am proud that God created me the way He did. I am proud to say that love had to cross a lot of boundaries before it got to me. I also am not, nor have I ever been confused about who I am. I am Madena. I am a child of God and heir to the thrown of the kingdom of glory.
February 16th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
What’s the 1 drop rule? Excuse my ignorance.
I noticed that you discussed nationality as being separate but you discussed race and color as if they were the same. Aren’t each independent of one another?
February 17th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Grace to You and Peace, Be Blessed Always! Thanks for reading “A Lad’s Lunch with Favor” Blog and joining our Community “FaithWorks” at MyBlogLog.Favor of Our God’s grace working in Business Online.Our God is love, granting us His grace through faith in His Word that brings us in the love of God Our Father In His Son, Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Really I could mention many mankind solutions here but I choose the good part as In John 1:1-5 by His grace {NASB}
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This kind of favor can only come from Our Lord God Almighty, Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. This is the day in which the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!
Our Motto: “Together We Stand Blessed” Hallelujah!
February 18th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Doug - The one drop rule was a rule used to disparage us blacks in the past — if you have one drop of black blood in you, even if you look white, you were considered black.
Nowadays people are embracing all parts of themselves ethnically.
But like folks like Halle Berry realized, if you look black, society is going to treat you that way.
And yes, Jim, thank God for His favor that transcends all colors!
Amen!
February 19th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Madena, who could argue with such an wonderful statement and confidence exhibiting strong self esteme. Many people are forced to chose sides and it is hard for me to understand the biracial aspect. I grew up in a world of black and white with no in the middle. Your insights are very helpful toward my growth and understanding. As I mentioned my brother married white and now has 2 young children. This is an issue I will need to understand better.
February 19th, 2007 at 11:12 am
1 drop rule was instituted during salvery when the white salvemasters, after raping young black female salves would need to understand if the baby was black or white. The baby was black if 1 drop of black blood was linked. There was no place for biracial or multiracial. Most black people have some linkage to the wite slavemasters.Color and race can be seperate, you have races of both light skinned and dark skinned people, IE, Africans, Indians, Asians, Latins. Most Europeans are one color. I grew up in a world of black and white with no middle ground. Contributions of black Americans to this world have been significant. To dulute that by having a seperate category of race is not right
February 19th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Jim, I wish I had your deep understanding of the word of the Lord. There are times I do have have the Lord’s understanding.The people I care the most about, outside of family, are of different races. The difference is these are people I truly know and they know me. The barriers of race and color are torn down by building respect and trust.
February 19th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Paula, thanks for your comment. I think in society eyes the 1 drop rule still commands attention.We must make black something to be proud of. That is my concern that multiple labels for race will inspire a any thing but black race status mentality. I noticed you also did a post on color, it is a compelling topic
February 20th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Hello,
I’m a 1st time visitor. But I couldn’t stand silently by any longer.
Imagine how much more the human race could accomplish if something as thin as our skin lacked the power to emotionally divide the blended, extended family members of humanity’s culturally diverse global village.
It empowered me to know that Gos is not a respecter of persons. Matters not the colour of that person’s skin. Nevertheless, God is not “colour blind.” Our Creator just doesn’t see one person as superior, or inferior, to another.
What would we all do with our time if we didn’t waste it debating about something will never reveal whether we have the strength of character to not faint in the face of Adversity.
February 20th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Manchild, well put and thanks for the passion. In business we need to fully understand the needs of our customers. If being black is an issue that can hurt our business growth we must seek a deep understanding of why and then how to make it a non issue. Debate is healthy, and any one black in the states must have the strength of character to overcome race barriers each and every day.Thank you for your valuable comments
February 20th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Jim,
Thank you for your willingness to be open to discuss the tough questions. You original post really ruffled my feathers, but I am so glad we had an opportunity to share our perspectives so we have a better understanding of one another. This type of dialog is how we learn and grow.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:16 am
Madena, your outlook on life is something with God’s help, I may grow toward. I have scars from oppression due to skin color. I am proud to have over come barriers in a racist society. I used the sterotypes of race as a postive drive toward success. I am sorry to have ruffed your feathers, you are not the first, but you responded with dignity and honor not anger. We all grow when that is the under current.I have issues in my own family over issues of race and the I am learning to be more open minded.