Racism, Sexism, the War in Iraq (and generally our disasterous foreign policy), Immigration, Education, too many others to name right now...
Groups/Activities:
Students fo Barack Obama
Amnesty International
Student Wellness HIV Test Counselor
Habeeba's Dance of the Arts
Favorite Things:
Bellydancing, Viola Playing, Langauge Learning, Travel, Trivia, Games of Skill, Snowboarding, Knitting, Movies, Food, Stuff
Music: I'm limiting myself to 10, otherwise it could get out of hand: Mae, Prince, Corinne Baily Rae, Shakira, The Police, John Mayer, Motion City Soundtrack, Kanye West, Steve Miller Band, Pete Yorn
Will we ever live in an America that sees race as a continuum, instead of just black and white (or black and white and Asian and Latino)?
Gary Kamiya wrote an excellent article on Salon.com today that deals with race in America, especially as it pertains to Obama and his candidacy. Ironically, I was just having a conversation with a friend and I mentioned to her that I was a little disappointed in how Obama has self-identified as completely black in the public eye, instead of being proudly biracial. I understand, because I too am half-black and half-white just like Obama, but it upsets me that the Senator believes that America is too close minded to deal with biracialism. Is it? Here's an excellent quote from the article:
"Mixed-race people, particularly those of black and white ancestry, have long been forced to navigate this complicated terrain. Their experiences show just how inadequate our traditional ways of talking about race are. As their numbers grow and their perspectives become more familiar, they will inevitably erode the cornerstone of America's racial pathologies, the one-drop rule -- the idea, deeply rooted in white racism, that any amount of black blood defines you as black. And no one will do more to undercut that racist rule than Obama".
I hate that I live in a country where, when people see me, all they see is black, and I would hate it equally if all they saw was white. I believe that being multiracial is a huge blessing, and I try to identify equally with both sides of my family, but I definitely feel like it's a complicated societal balancing act. People seem to always expect me to "act black" or "act white". Admittedly, because of how and where I grew up (suburban white America, with my white mother), most people say that I "act white". This hurts me deeply, because I feel like sometimes people think that I think I'm "too good" for them. In reality, for social reasons, it's just been harder for me to meet as many black friends. However, according to Kamiya, the opposite is true for most mixed-race people. As a result of the fact that society defines them by their "non-whiteness", many seem to find it easier to identify with their minority ancestry. This is the case with Obama, and I completely undestand. He grew up in a predominately white community in the 1970's so he didn't really have the option to identify as white or even biracial, because of the historical "one-drop" rule (whose remnants still haunt us today) that states that if you're "one drop black", you're black. I know that I've had a much easier time with race issues in my life than he must have had in his, and I pray that my future children (who, mathematically, would have to be multiracial, simply because I am) will have an easier time than I've had. I hate the fact that in the 21st century we still have to fit neatly into racial and cultural boxes, and perhaps Obama's candidacy will start to bring some of these issues into the national dialogue, and break down some of our antiquated ideas about race.
If anyone has any insight or wants to share his/her own experiences (especially if you have some insight about being mixed-other than black and white), please reply. I'd love to hear what you think.
Now that Obama has effectively secured the Democratic nomination, many Clinton Supporters (and a few Obama supporters) are calling for a so-called "Dream Ticket" that would include Hillary Clinton as the vice-presidential nominee. Personally, I think this would be a complete disaster, for the following reasons:
1. The "white-working class voters" who said that they would not support Obama in the fall, will still not vote for him with Hillary as his vice-president. These people have such a deep hate for him, that it doesn't matter if Jesus himself for were the vice-presidential candidate, they couldn't get past an "elite, Muslim, black man" as the presidential candidate.
2. The women who are supporting Clinton are likely to defect to Obama anyway, as John McCain has a terrifying record on women's issues.
3. Obama's base of independents would most likely not support an Obama/Clinton ticket. Many independents loathe Hillary Clinton with a strong passion, and that might deter them even if they like Obama.
4. With his vice-presidential candidate, Obama has an opportunity to reach out to a new demographic. Hillary would bring New York and California (which would always be blue anyway). However, if he were to choose someone like Jim Webb, John Edwards, or Bill Richardson, he could carry a new blue state, and ward off some of the arguments about his "lack of experience".
The Obama/Clinton ticket would do nothing but alienate voters on both sides, and independents. I think if Obama chooses Hillary as his running mate, he would be committing a fatal political error.
Kathleen Parker, who was featured in the Washington Post yesterday, calling Obama and Edwards "girly boys", also wrote the appalling article above (alliteration!!!) apparently in defense of those who think that being a "real American" means having WHITE ancestors who arrived in the U.S. before some arbitrary date, 1800 perhaps? Seriously? She begins with a quote from a young West-Virginian who says that he dislikes Obama becasue he's not a "full blooded American". As some other bloggers out there have pointed out, Obama's grandfather fought in WWII. What about that is not American? What exactly is the qualification for being a "real American"? Is she proposing, by defending this opinion, that anyone that came to the U.S. after a certain date is a doesn't belong here?
In addition to that revelation, Ms. Parker points out that understanding America is "about blood equity, heritage and commitment to hard-won American values. And roots". I'd venture to say that the millions of people from around the world who apply for U.S. Visas every year, who have worked and saved for years to have enough money in their accounts to even apply to enter our country, understand commitment and the value of hard work. It is unacceptable to defend those who believe that the only true Americans are white people whose family came over on the Mayflower.
Ms. Parker also indicates that multiculturalism is evidently cause for concern for many "real Americans": "What they know is that their forefathers fought and died for an America that has worked pretty well for more than 200 years. What they sense is that their heritage is being swept under the carpet while multiculturalism becomes the new national narrative". I'm sorry, but I didn't realize that multiculturalism was the new damaging trend. The U.S. has always relied on "multiculturalism" for its success: it was immigrants who created some of the most important technological advances in American history. Also, our country was literally built on the backs of slaves who were stolen from Africa. Without that "free" labor, we would not have experienced the type of rapid economic growth that occurred in the 19th century. My black and white (I'm mixed) forefathers fought and died for the values of an America that still treats me like a second class citizen because I, like Obama, don't "look" American. Ms. Parker's post proves that racism is still alive and well. It is clear that even if Obama wins the presidency, we still have a lot of work to do to become united states, instead of the ones divided, along racial/social/cultural lines, that we have been for hundreds of years.
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