Comments on: What happens to multiracial people?

By: shawndawn

shawndawn — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:42:03 +0000

I agree that everyone is a person of color in their own way because everyone has different cultures in their genes. In the 2010 census reflects how diverse our country is today and the fact that we can’t be defined as black, white or brown anymore. On the census there are more than 37 options for race to fill in from which goes to show that there aren't many people who identify themselves with only one race anymore. So how could you honestly call races colored but exclude all whites when white is definitely a well known in the color spectrum. I honestly believe that the term colored was a word to just make whites Americans at those time more unique and features closer to the lord. Something in the past was taking the wrong way or read or interpreted in a wrongful manner. For example the bible states that Jesus had hair like wool and eyes the color of amber. The only races that is most likely to have colored eyes and hair of wool. But not understanding or neglecting the fact that also it states that the lord has the skin color of the earth’s dirt. That to me seems like a person of color, to have the color of dirt means that person is not white. That idea of being better than one another is just some made up idea, just to keep other cultures in a lower social class in our country and all over the world.
The white American society has made the world so blind and confused of who is more superior to the other. That whatever they say or promote that is good or bad or the right way or the wrong way the whole country believes it and things like these aren’t good because it has affected our beautiful cultures into believe white is right. In class we watched a short video clip of some young African American children. They were ask what doll is the better doll and what doll is the bad doll. The first test was a little girl probably no older than 4 years old. And the tester asked her which doll was better, she hesitated and looked at both dolls and she picked up the white doll and smiled. Then the next question came up and was what doll was the bad doll, she quickly grabbed the black doll and frowned. I honestly believe the only way our society is going to be fixed is by not only trying but making our social classes more equal by giving everyone a chance to be on top. Just by making one minority capable of succeeding in our world will open up doors for the world to become a better place of living.

By: RaverAngel77

RaverAngel77 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:52:35 +0000

I like this question. I also thought about this throughout the semester how I feel odd about how Samm just goes ahead uses white, brown, or black to identify people. If your both how would you identify yourself. In my case, I am 100% colombian however I get identified as asian or white even by Sam Richards funny enough. My father is very light skinned and mistaken for caucasian all the time, where as my mom is easily identified as spanish since she has darker skin however both were born in Colombia. With my lighter skin, it annoys me to be identified as not spanish. In highschool, I was separated from all my "brown" friends just because I was taking higher level classes which were full with a majority of white students and maybe 1 or 2 token black students, and it became just me and my friend who were the only spanish kids in those classes. We tried to establish that we were Spanish but we easily got associated as white or in my case asian. We later found out that there were some others in our classes who had Spanish blood but did not identify themselves as Spanish at all. They did everything a stereotypical white person from our town would be like. This means preppy, polo-shirts, Uggs, spending 300 on just a pair of sunglasses and flaunting it, being ignorant about the world, spoiled to the point of death, and then crying if they get put down by someone whose more in reality. I wish I was exaggerating about this stereotype but if I saw it with most of the white people in my classes. I hung out with plenty of white kids but only ones who did not meet this stereotype, but thats a side track. Anyway it just exemplifies how someone who is supposed to be brown completely denies that identity and see themselves as white. But is this alright or is this wrong. Is it like the video we saw in class where the little girls said that they identify the black doll as ugly however they recognize that they look more like the black doll. Do people with whiter skin who are actually spanish or a part of them spanish or black feel more comfortable to associate themselves as white if they can get away with it? In my case I feel as though people should associate themselve with whatever culture they are familiar with. In my case, being separated from spanish kids in highschool, started a confusion in me, where the only times I could come back to my spanish identify is when I go home and talk to my mother who acted more latina than my father who hardly acts Spanish or speaks it. I would start getting separated from my Spanish identity. I immediately became friends with the only other Spanish girl in my classes because we both felt the same way. The only problem with trying to establish that I'm spanish and was more likely to hang out with whoever was a minority in the class, was it back fired when my guidance councelor met me for the first time and was really surprised that I got accepted to University park or even had a 4.0 gpa, because the only times he saw me was when I came into school with minority students who weren't associated as the "smart kids." But anyway I just think it depends on how you were raised. If you were raised in Spanish culture then you are more prone to identify yourself as spanish and if you were raised in a white culture, you are more likely to identify yourself as white. When I came to this college surrounded once again by even larger population of white kids, I once again felt annoyed when people thought I was white or asian, and established I was spanish also even amongst my friends who are hispanic who always make fun of me for looking asian or make fun of the hispanic kids who look more white. Its jokingly but I think its a good thing if you're from another culture to accept your color and not avoid it out of convenience or out of comfort.

By: MeghanYingling

MeghanYingling — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:02:55 +0000

I think this is a really good point that you made here. I never thought about it like that. If I were him I would be confused too. I think in his situation, I would probably respond to both. At first, I was going to say respond to the colored side because he can tie his background and heritage with that and most people feel very strongly about their heritage. However, being white comes with a background too. I think what Sam means is predominantly skin color, how others make their first physical observation about you. At the same time, being white or being colored means more than that. I would go what you are comfortable with.

By: csd147

csd147 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:57:45 +0000

I am really happy that the commentator asked this question about individuals of multiple races and how they tend to be excluded or not accounted for equally. During class last week, I was wondering why Sam did not have a question for multi-racial people to give their opinion on. It seems that get overlooked in situations like the one in class and even in situations like the census. How is that fair? We are at a point in our society where people of different races are getting married and having multi-racial children. I also liked the point he brought up about how we are all people of color. Whether we are white, black, brown, or red, we all carry a pigment in our skin. I really appreciated his insight.

By: las5545

las5545 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:44:51 +0000

first off I would like to say that I feel in Sams class Asians are neglected a good amount of time. The question is always “white people” or “black and brown” and I know that from talking to my Asian friends they feel as if they do not fit into either of those categories.

As well I agree that everyone is a color, since it is nearly impossible to define white. Some people say that Jewish people are not white and some say they are. Everyone defines what they believe, if they are a mixed race and associate with white more then they are on the “white team”, if the same person grew up in a multicultural area and associate more with people of color then I guess they are on the “black and brown” team. I feel in class you should answer the question depending on what you feel on the inside and what you have felt growing up your whole life, not what other tell you to feel….January 29

By: DNgai

DNgai — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:38:30 +0000

This was an interesting question that I found myself asking several times in class. I understand that Dr. Sam uses the terms: “white, black, and brown” in class to be more efficient with discussions and aid with the categorization of the lectures, but in some ways I feel excluded from his groupings. I am Asian, specifically Chinese, so therefore, I don’t consider myself as either one of those groups. It’s difficult when he uses such broad terms to define the different race in class. His lectures feel at times to be “more” concentrated and centered on race relations with white and black people rather than all races at large. I’m not sure if this is only done to better understand the majority population make-up of the United States and because it is easier for students to see the inequality that still exists. This leads me to wonder if in fact they are more important or relevant to the discussion than say someone of a different race.
The student proposed a good point that when an individual is considered mixed, how would they identify themselves in Dr. Sam’s questions and lectures? Do you answer to both sides of the question or do you just answer to the side that you are more comfortable with?
Should Dr. Sam clarify his groupings in the future, it would probably be a better decision for the class in general. First, it would allow all students who are not in his groupings of black, brown, and white to understand that they are also contributors to the race relation discussion, but second it would also create a sense of belonging to the discussion. At times, I feel his categorization has left me isolated and almost distant from his lectures and in-class participation. It has almost allowed me to not apply the “white guilt” attitude because the problem isn’t even mine to begin with, or at least this is the way these questions leave me feeling. I know this may seem a bit selfish, but I just feel since he categorizes his lectures based around blacks, browns, and whites, then I shouldn’t be as worried about something that doesn’t include my race. I find it hard to relate in class, when the issues he discusses are generally between the white and black race. It’s almost like it’s not my battle to fight and leaves me with no choice but to just sit back and listen, rather than partake in the conversation. It’s this constant emphasis of the terms black and white that are being renewed in my brain again and again that other races are not as crucial in the dialogue that should happen across the world. It’s only a problem when one thinks it is. How then are multiracial and minorities able to change or converse with one another about issues when they can’t experience the issue at large?

By: igg5003

igg5003 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:46:15 +0000

I think this is a really interesting point to make because it is not one we really ever thin about. With the case of multiracial people, I think it can either be a positive for negative thing for them. Race is basically judged upon the color of your skin. For example, President Obama is technically not black, but he is known as a black man and the fact that he is the president of the United States is very symbolic to our country and people who are black. It is hard for people who are multiracial because technically, there is not such thing as race;it is only political.

By: NLFT5048

NLFT5048 — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 06:05:13 +0000

I absolutely know what your friend means! I'm half white and half Japanese. So when Sam put up the question about how white people refer to themselves, I couldn't decide whether or not that question applied to me. I'm just as Japanese, (or Asian, rather,) by blood as I am white– so I'm not dominated by either race.
I was talking to my friend Tom about this question when it came up, actually. I looked at the board and went, "So am I supposed to answer now, or no? Because I totally identify as 'white' when I'm back home in Hawaii or in Japan, but whenever I'm around all of my white friends, I'm ALWAYS 'The Little Asian Girl,' and 'The Asian Friend.'" I love getting to be the "Asian Friend" in my group of friends here at Penn State, mostly because it's something unique– (in the group, not at the school. ) I am fluent in Japanese and can somewhat read and write enough to get me around in the country. Do I answer as a person of color? Then again, there is no doubt that I am far mroe proficient in speaking English, and reading and writing in English. If I had to choose which country I'd rather live in, I'd undoubtedly say America because I know that I could function as a competent individual here in The United States, whereas, in Japan, I could not.
In the end, I figured I'd answer the question anyway, because it occurred to me that I'd be comfortable referring to myself as "White" around pretty much every group of people, whereas I would be relatively uncomfortable about referring to myself as "Japanese" or "Asian," around other Japanese nationals when it is so painfully obvious that I am a foreigner.
I suppose that I don't really have an answer for you, as far as giving you a black-and-white answer about which race multi-cultural people identify with. But, speaking from personal experience, I say that multi-cultural individuals should simply answer with the race that they are most comfortable with identifying with. I suppose there will always be people who are equally immersed in all of their cultures and constantly flip flop between their "Race Label," if you will, kind of like myself. In that case, I guess….. Eeny Meeny Miney Mo?
I think this is a great way to illustrate how race labels aren't really as black and white as people make them out to be. Not everyone is just black, brown, or white. At one point during the class, it actually occurred to me that maybe I could vote during the White poll and simply answer with "Other," because I'll admit to being white in any group, but I label myself as Asian pretty frequently. Long story short, I didn't, though, because, well, when I talk about my caucasian heritage, I refer to myself as "White," and, you know, that's what the question was asking about and I figured I wouldn't bias data.
Anyway, bottom line: Go with what fits best in every situation.

By: TDactyl

TDactyl — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:12:33 +0000

This is an interesting point that this person brings up and one that probably does not have a definitive answer to it. I think when it comes down to it a person who is multiracial would just side with whatever they felt more comfortable with. Who is to say there right or wrong if they decide to be classified as white or “colored.” It should be a personal choice and just be left as that. I do however like the statement he made about how everyone is a person of color because white its self is a color. I think if everyone could look at race relations in this way we would have less inequalities and discrimination among everyone.

By: ask5089

ask5089 — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:17:07 +0000

I just asked the same question in a previous blog entry I just posted. How do 'brown' people feel about these issues? What's their stand on this issue between black and white people. I think we should start polling the brown people and see what their responses are. I would find it interesting to see what they would have to say. Would they side more with the black race or the white race? I don't even know what 'brown' people consider themselves in these polls, do they answer under white or black or do they not even answer? I never really thought of this topic before, but I find it strange how we leave them out on posing their opinion on these intense topics. They obviously must have an opinion about these topics because they're in on this too. Somehow we should figure out a way to incorporate their feelings into the class as well as everyone else.