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I have posted this on the 'transracial board'.....and thought that it deserved a spot here to. I surely appreciate the responses I have received on the other board too.....
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I am the adoptive mom to six children (someday soon to be seven). Asian, caucasian, possibly native american and most recently, 'African American'. These are my children.
I appear to be 'white'.....and I say that because I know all too well that there is no 'race' on this planet that does not have a mixture of all 'blood' in it. (Suebeth, I liked your Heinz 57 line....I use that term myself.)
I have lived around the world and enjoyed the friendships of people of all skin types. I find that the 'cultural issues' of AA's are often not necessarily those of Africa.......but those of 'the city'.
I grew up in rural America. I had/have AA friends who have been critisized for 'not being black enough', or for 'having a 'white friend'. Somehow, I don't see these issues being 'African'......but coming from somewhere else. I have had a close friend (AA) who exclaimed to my dh and me, "WHERE is the black experience???" I thought I was "just living'. He was quite angry over having to be stereotyped into what others termed 'being black' was all about!
I can also relate in that I become quite irritated when people lump all 'country folks' into 'Ellie Mae's and Jethro's'. I am a college graduate. I'm not a 'redneck'. I find stockcar racing disgusting and cowboy boots, etc., just.... 'aren't my thing'. Because I am 'white'........does this mean I must behave as many of the 'country raised' people do?
Oh yes, I know AA's are sorely taken advantage of. I also know first hand that Koreans, Japanese and others are as well. But, I also know that 'being that race' is only as 'racial' as one makes it to be. People will treat you this way or that because of your skin color, and this must be dealt with, certainly. But.....to say that ALL AA's, ALL Koreans, All 'any race' should think and walk and talk and BE a certain way......seems to limit ANYONE in whatever they wish to achieve and be.
While we fully intend to expose our child to 'being black'......I'm not sure that our definition will be the same as someone who lives in the city. Just as we exposed our 'white' children into a different definition of what 'being white' is all about. Just as we exposed our Asian children into a definition of 'what being Asian was all about'. I'm sure that the Asian childrens' definition was different (growing up on a farm)....than being Asian and living in San Francisco!!! (Is either 'better or right'......I don't think so. At least this is what the grown children tell me. Each is just 'themselves'.)
And finally, we all come from ONE race anyway.....and it isn't 'pearly white'! For those who are Christians, Jesus was NOT white with the brown flowing hair, and that little nativity of the baby Jesus was not a tiny pink baby with blonde hair and blue eyes either!!!
If people would concentrate on this more, wonder if it would make a difference?
Sincerely,
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