Soledad Obrien is "not black enough"

DannieAS: Your daughter's adorable!! Racial identification is a problem in the black community. My mother identifies as a woman of color; my dad identified as black. But we're also Indian (Mohawk, Montaukett and Cherokee). I identify as a mixed black Indian. We can identify as one race but who are we leaving out? I've heard of European Spaniards not identifying with Latinas. I've also heard of darker-skinned CC's having a harder time. One way a show like that could be done would be to use 2 anchors: one light-skinned and a darker-toned one who faced more racism. than you'd get a wider picture.

Yea in NY the darker Italians were grandfathered in over time as being "White", that in it self is, even though they faced discrimination, there was a lot of tension if not still between certain CC ethnic groups (in my day to include the Irish, and Hasidic Jews) and Blacks in NY. However they were accepted in the club so to speak..Blacks were/are not. NY with its close quarters has a lot of tensions amongst the ethnic/races, non and new immigrants. We all complain, then stick it to the next group of outsiders, we never quit lol I have a couple of casual friends who are Black NA, fascinating conversations with them. One woman who I have known for years casually mentioned that her mother is a black NA of a NC tribe. I would have never known as she what, she looks Black. Good old phenotype..lol Anyhow I am guessing the region and certain racial cultural aspect is what she and/or her parents aligned to. Another told me how she was denied in public by a whiter looking NA member of her parent's family of that particular tribe.It is interesting on the history of the rolls, and the cultural aspect, it does not matter if one has actual NA DNA.. it makes my head spin. Guess I would look more into it if I find out DH or DD has NA lineage.I think racial identification is a social issue Millie. Many Blacks that I have met know they are mixed, but identify with the "cultural" commonality of being "Black in the US". NA as another minority and other minorities do have a cultural aspect and I do note more of a commonality (esp. history) amongst two minority admixtures. I fully know I am mixed as many are, but identify culturally with how I was raised. The activist side of me says I am Black because society wants to place being Black on the bottom rung. Now get this, how is it not okay to say AA comprises all of the above? as in in the US due to its history, an AA is a known mixed group of people? Unless one has that actual European parent to identify their culture as in Scottish etc; No immediate parent, but what gains do I have to go about embracing the Scottish culture.. when my Black side is still disenfranchised? To circumvent the complicated admixtures vs. biracial...I think I am getting the full concept through my oldest son who does look like an Asian mix, and being told he *is* biracial (as in today's definition of biracial) to say he is AA/Caribbean, of so and so ethnic mixtures.

Remembered to come back to this side bar conversation. In regards to the Egyptians and race, I came across some info that I will send you, seems like balanced info based on evidence vs rhetoric.

ITA, Nickchris! Racial identification is seriously a social issue. In regards to Natives, I've read both sides: that they were oppressed and would help blacks and the other side is identifying and helping the Europeans. Go figure!!

I know! history is a serious bits and pieces of a huge puzzle. :arrow:

I totally see DD doing this in the future. Sometimes with her play acting she'll gather some papers and sit in a chair and start off with her tag line...Welcome to the Local 8 News. It's so cute to see her do this. Katie Couric has nothing on this girl. ;)

As a biracial child's mom, I have been dealing with these comments since my daughter came out of the womb. I am AA she was a blonde baby with blue eyes. I was asked if I was babysitting and other misc. comments. From a very young age (3 or 4) my daughter's friends would ask her "how do you keep your tan year round". or make the comment "Is THAT your dad (or mom)?" She is now a teenager and is SO confident and comfortable in her own skin. I think it is because at a very young age..I told her she was so lucky to get to be TWO races when other people can only be one. She has been proud of and has celebrated both of her races. The other day we were talking about college and she said "Mom, you know what's cool? I am going to have so many options for scholarships because I can mark the race box which ever way I want" She got a huge kick out of that. Whenever anyone has made the comment about not being black enough...she is quick to come back with "Duh...its because I am white AND black" or when someone says wow, you are a good dancer..she will comment "you, know I am half black right?" or if they comment on her ability to save and invest lots of money she will joke " that's my white side kicking in" All in good fun of course. In all honesty,with all of the ignorant people in the world, we can't protect our kids from stupid comments and people. But we CAN help them feel proud of who they are and celebrate their differences. We talk about race a lot in my household. Even laugh at our own stereo types ...because of that we are a very hard family to offend.

That is awesome!

I had to dig up this old thread to give a few props to a very good newslady I saw on fox after Whitney Houston passed away. [url=http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/personalities/harris-faulkner/bio/#s=e-g]Harris Faulkner | Biography | Fox News[/url] She seems to be very accomplished. I hope she can take over for Brian Williams some day. :)

My favorite new news personality is Melissa Harris-Perry. She is *sharp*! I watch MHP every weekend. You know, I really hope my precious newborn is not disparaged with the "Not black enough" label. I know she's multiracial, but she does look light skinned AA. I really wish people wouldn't judge on lightness or darkness. I had one well meaning African American woman say, "Oh you are so lucky. She's got such beautiful light skin." Wah! I said, "She's 3 weeks old, her color is still coming in. I'm looking forward to it."

She's really pretty, most of the news anchors are. I want to know what makeup they use so my skin can look that perfect too!

Lol Marnie... if you find out let me know because I sure need it!!

When I first saw Soledad I pondered that well known question, "what is she?" She probably identifies more with the latin part since it seems anyone who is biracial puts "black" on the back burner as an afterthought. I do think there needs to be more real diversity in media. Dark skinned blacks are rarely if ever featured from movies to tv news to music videos. I've seen this become more pronounced. With changing demographics seems tv networks will put a latina on before they ever consider a dark skinned black woman because they can pat themselves on the back and say diversity is represented. Skin tone is the new way to discriminate against black people. As for Hoda Kotb I also asked that question and she has said her family is egyptian. Fine but last time I looked at a map Egypt is on the continent of Africa. Everyone wants to distance themselves from being black. So much for this post racial society in 2012!!!!

Most Egyptians aren't black, they look more Middle Eastern or Arabic. My brother-in-law is Egyptian & he always gets mistaken for Latino. I have noticed he doesn't like to be compared to blacks though, & he considers himself to be Caucasian, even though he doesn't look white. I disagree about biracial people wanting to distance themselves from blacks, I had a biracial friend who identified more with being black, & look at how everyone says President Obama is the 1st black president, not the 1st biracial president, even though it's more accurate to say he's biracial.

Hoda is showing externally what is in her family's DNA pool. Egypt is an African country. Big difference between those who conquered the *original* Egyptian, and the admixed, or Arabian based folks now-a-days. However, there is an "African" or those deemed phenotype Black base. There is also the present theory of the Up out of Africa theory. Migration from East Africa, some say South Africa..towards Asia, Europe etc;. In addition, purely from proximity there is admixture between those in Africa, and the Near East.