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Originally Posted by usnamom  I always am amused when white people try to tell me what is racist and what is not. Not you, personally, Marilyn but just people in general.
I am biracial but in the eyes of the law I am AA. It doesn't matter how long ago my ancestors came to America from Africa I am still AA. I am also hispanic. I am also caucasian. But I look like I am AA so therefore I am called that.
Colored is what was on the bathroom doors and drinking fountains in the South to keep the black people from contaminating white people. When the civil rights movement began, the first thing black people did was not accept any more to be associated with this time in history. I am not sure if you are old enough to remember when it became important for black people to reclaim what was stolen from then by being dragged here in chains during slavery times. Hence, the pride in being African American. And the name AA.
If you want to be called -American, go right ahead. I will still say that colored is said by bigots or ignorant people or racist people. Unless you have been on the recieving end of the word, you cannot say it isn't harmful or hurtful. |
are you offended by the word "boy"? Depending on the context it's very offensive.
Would I be offended if my doctor said I was overweight? No, because of the context it was used in.
Would I be offended if the lady that took my picture for my driver's license said "you are overweight" Yep, you betcha--she had no business commenting on that.
Look, I have been called "bigot", "racist", "white supremacist"---all because I'm white, and the minute I open my mouth, my Southern drawl is evident (that and I always say ma'am and sir). Those words hurt, it made me angry that someone would judge me because of where I'm from and the color of my skin.
I've lost jobs because I was overweight and not blonde w/ big boobs. I lost out on a scholarship because the other finalist was black (yes, I know, I was told by a member of the selection committee).
You've never been asked how many slaves your family owned or how many lynchings you went to.
You've never had to defend the fact that you are white and Southern. Do you know that my sister nearly didn't get an upper level security clearance because one time in the 1800s there was a distant relative who was knonw to have associated with the KKK? And you want to talk stolen heritage? Let's discuss Native Americans. Let's discuss the Cherokee Nation. I'm sure you are familiar with The Trail of Tears....Not only was the Indians heritage stolen, so was their land, and "their" government engaged in acts of genocide. Even when they were freed--they didn't have anything to look forward to, except life on a reservation. Oh and did I mention that Indians were enslaved as well??
My point is--we've all had rough roads to travel throughout our lives. If you let that rough road define all of your life, then that's YOUR fault. If however, you learn and grow from the rough road and difficulties, then you are much the better for it, and you can go about trying to change the road for the next generation.