The Study of Racialism

zsana · Moderator Joined: 05 Feb 2005 {Posts: 1032 }

ACTRESS/DIRECTOR KARYN PARSONS ON BEING BIRACIAL IN AMERICA & HAVING A CHILD WITH BLONDE HAIR AND BLUE EYES.

http://realgossip101.blogspot.com/2008/08/actressdirector-karyn-parsons-on-being.html

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

Originally I thought her daughter was albino

Like Karen said she does look like the (grand)mother.
And the son is browner than Karen is.

At first when I saw the pictures I thought she had the children with a (black/black descendant) man. Because the boy was just like her in looks and the daughter looked just like Karen, yet the coloring reminded me of an albino.

It's interesting that Karen says her daughter doesn't look like her, when I think she looks exactly like her in facial features.

Karen acted in a movie calling Mixing Nia dealing with her biracial heritage.

http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/entertainment/articles/karynparsonsthefreshprincess

Karen played Hillary so very very well, she was just hilarious! I didn't know about the DVD's. I would love to introduce them to my children and those of family and friends. Thanks Essence.
Posted at 1/04/2009 12:53 AM by Samara

Very good interview. Glad to hear that Karyn continues to do work that she loves.
Posted at 1/02/2009 11:18 PM by FL Girl

While I am black not biracial, I grew up in a 'nice' hood alongside white and spanish cultures. As a result I listened to r&b, pop, even country because my father is a country boy. I am so happy that my parents exposed us to all of these varieties of peoples and music. In fact to be honest, I can honestly agree with Karyn about how hard some of my black friends can be if they see any part of my so-called 'whiteness' if they find out I listen to any other music besides what is considered black, or how intimidated they feel that I speak proper english - which to them they call sounding like a 'white girl'. Time to embrace without the hate ya'll!
Posted at 1/02/2009 1:38 PM by fan

FYI: Joseph Marcell who starred as Geoffrey the British butler in 'Fresh Prince', is in fact (originally) from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean.
Posted at 1/02/2009 12:56 PM by Dolly

Hilary Banks has always been one of my favorite TV characters. I've always loved reading any interviews Karyn has done. Congratulations on your family and best of luck on your Black history series!
Posted at 1/02/2009 10:26 AM by Abby

sagascend · Moderator-at-Large Joined: 17 Jun 2006 {Posts: 2418 }

I also think her little girl is her spitting image, but I guess that just means Karyn looks like her mom.

It also sounds like the contemplation of racialized appearance is something that mothers do across the spectrum. It sounds like Karyn had expectations about how her children would look that were thrown with her daughter. I wouldn't attribute these expectations to racial hatred. Maybe it is just that we expect the norm (a child that is a visible 50-50 blend of the parents with an intermediate skin tone) and are surprised by anything else.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

onlyhuman77 · Posted: Fri 06 Feb 2009 21:06 Post subject:

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

Powell · Guru Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2462 }

I don't see where the son is darker than the mother. The daughter does not look like an albino to me. Some people are just VERY blond or white. We haven't seen the four grandparents. It is likely that the Nordic genes come from both parents, so it doesn't matter that the father has darker coloring than the daughter.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

MisterLawyer · Posted: Sat 07 Feb 2009 18:32 Post subject:

It is also quite possible that her hair will darken as she gets older to a medium brown color and her skin will end up the same as her fathers or even a little darker. Really blond kids who get darker later are quite common even around the Mediterranean. There is a saying in Spanish to the effect of "when I was young and blond" (de pequeño y rubio) because it is very common for kids with blond hair color to change to brown, even dark brown, as they age. Personally I didn't think that she was albino because she clearly has some ability to tan as one can see in the photo where she is resting on her moms shoulder-note the contrast between her arm and her mom's white shirt.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2942 }

Ramzinski · Probationary Joined: 16 Feb 2009 {Posts: 7 }

pianoplayer111 · Wizard Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 429 }

I agree...her facial features are not that of a Caucasian child.

However, like OnlyHuman said, it is possible that her features might sharpen as she becomes older.

I also agree with Mister Lawyer...her hair and skin might become darker with time.

This happened to my fiance, who is white. He was very blond as a little boy. Now at 40 years old, his hair is dark brown...nearly black.

I'm biracial and my hair was blonder than hers in childhood. It was literally pure white all over. Now it is a rich dark brown.

Anyway, the kids are cute. Cool

Pink Lisa · Posted: Fri 19 Jun 2009 12:21 Post subject:

My brothers had light blonde high lights in their hair when they wore kids too. but started to darken as they got older. our skin stayed a light brown.

Being mutli racial can do that. It's hard to know what your kids will look like when you are racially mixed and have a husband/wife that is a differet racial mix as you are.

Creole GAL · Wizard Joined: 12 Mar 2007 {Posts: 433 }

"KARYN PARSONS ON HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS BEING BIRACIAL IN AMERICA:"Well, it's hard. When I saw Barack's speech on race, I cried and I felt like, there's the speech I've been wanting to write. I've been thinking about writing about race for a long time. It's very interesting how we feel about each other in terms of race. When I'm around Black or White people, I'm always in the middle. Especially when I am around Black people; they will really tell how they feel about White people regardless of the fact that I'm also White and have White relatives. It's very interesting and can be really hard."

KARYN ON BEING MARRIED TO A WHITE MAN AND HOW RACE IS SOMETHING THEY STILL HAVE TO FACE:" And I'm married to a White man, and then my daughter came out looking like the whitest White child with blonde hair and blue eyes. And I'm like, Omigosh, now what am I going to do? She has my mom's features and is lighter than my husband. And my boy is browner than I am. Brown eyes and really tan. The race thing is something we continue to deal with and just have to learn to love ourselves and others."

I can't argue how she feels or how she grew up. How can anyone argue or tell anyone about their life experience or feelings. I just don't get how these people say it was hard growing up,not fitting in and that ,wow,Obama can understand.The public takes you for what you look like whether it be Black,Latino,or White. You can't fight the world ,but one must be comfortable in one's skin.
You let people say and think whatever they want because you can't control that, but you have to accept they will and accept yourself.
To me Karyn P.looks Black. She grew up in CA and in show businesss and in her region of the world,I am sure it was not an issue like growing up in some very racial place.
I know I always say this,but it is just weird to me about these people.
I just don't get these biracial kids. We all have stories. So what! It and they are not a big deal or nothing new. I would like for one person to say that they were comfortable in their skin and with themselves and never let the outside opinions bother them. Oh,Lenny Kravitz did say that on Storytellers.
I understand they are allowed to have their feelings, but I tend to think it is a lot of self imposed drama.They make themselves feel different.They stress or bring up how their dad is Black,and mom is White,(usually the case)and they call attention to themselves.
You have to learn to just be.If you marry/have kids outside of your ethnic group,move someplace where it is not such an issue(N.Y.,CA, CO,TX,N.M.etc).

pianoplayer111 · Wizard Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 429 }

Hey, Creole...how are you? How is everyone? I haven't posted in a while. Smile

Anyway, I thought I'd offer my input on what you had to say about this. I completely agree with your statement that people should feel comfortable with who they are, no matter who they happen to be.

However, this is not a perfect world. You contradicted yourself by saying that no one has the right to tell anybody else that what they experience doesn't matter...but then you said that you tend to think it is "self-imposed drama" and that "they call attention to themselves".

In some instances, I'm sure that is true. But in most cases, it all comes down to the very real perceptions/experiences of an individual. The fact is that there are indeed many biracial and multiracial people out there who have experienced feelings of isolation and never quite fitting in anywhere, because other people perceive them as "different".

You might see Karyn P. as looking Black but I'm sure that she has probably had her racial identity questioned at some point in her life. I will assure you that as a biracial/multiracial woman with a mostly "white" phenotype, I've still experienced issues with people not accepting me and at times hating me because they are unable to look beyond my physical appearance. I have been called the "N" word at least four times in my life. I've also been called other derogatory and racist names by people of different colors for no reason at all. It is still too painful to remember.

What you need to realize is that it might not be a big deal to you, but it is a very big deal to people who can actually relate to her experiences somewhat. Being stared at constantly. The hateful racist comments that seem to come out of the blue. People being uncomfortable around you because you don't look or sound the way they believe you should. Having your relationships, attitudes, and family scrutinized by others. People making sly remarks with racial undertones. Constantly being asked, "what are you, anyway?"

All of this is very demeaning. Learning to be comfortable with who you are is difficult for those of us who never really had much self-confidence or a supportive network to start with. I know that in my case, it has been a really tough journey. The process of loving myself is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Not only do I feel "different" in a racial sense...I've been made to feel like I don't belong to the human race! Laughing

Believe me, I'm not some attention-seeking drama queen. I would love to be able to "just be". I would love to like what I see in the mirror. I would love to be accepted for all of who I am. People who are completely comfortable with themselves are incredibly lucky in my eyes. I'm still a work in progress.

Anyway, I apologize if this sounds rude...that wasn't my intention. I simply wanted to show you a different perspective and offer some insight on why this is still an issue with some people.

Cheers! Cool

Creole GAL · Wizard Joined: 12 Mar 2007 {Posts: 433 }

I do not think your comments are rude. Not at all.
I am trying to understand these people, where they are coming form. I just do not get these people. Everytime, they always have some dramatic story of how they were in two worlds...
I did not mean to sound contradictory. I am really sincere.
You have to look at yourself , accept, and let others opinions roll off. Don't call attention to yourself or keep a chip on your shoulder.
I know I am always picking on these people. Somebody here,I forgot who, really got angry at me last time for saying all this again about these people. How I grew up, and where, I just don't see these people as anything other than Black Amer looking like typical Black Creole people w/tan complexion,so-so hair.... These bi-racial called people ,their stories are so laughable to me when I look at them, their hair textures, complexion, facial features,etc. I do not see where they so different, odd or special like they describe themselves.
They look ordinary to me and people like Parsons, ordinary BA, so much so, I know Creole -White phenotype and I do not mean yellow, who,even in this day and age are passing and they do not dare look to date, be freinds with, be neighbors with anybody looking like Parsons and company . I do not down them for passing, even aunts ,uncles and first cousins of mine and others who I know who are Creole-White phenotype and the go STRICTLY WA. I also know some who are Creole-Whitte phenotype and they marry Black ,etc. They could have passed for White too, but did not. Whatever you want. Be White. Be Black.
I believe in accepting yourself ,don't carry a chip on your shoulder or be defensive or call attention to yourself. You just have to make yourself comfortable in your skin whether you look BA,WA or Spainish.I am BA. I go as BA. I am on the order of Soledad O'Brien. Depending on what state I am in, sometimes people asks if I am Spainish. I say I am BA.

HPChi · New User Joined: 10 Jun 2009 {Posts: 26 }

Creole GAL · Wizard Joined: 12 Mar 2007 {Posts: 433 }

Thank you Hp. I left a post explaining why I just do not get these people on another thread. My feelings on these people are based on my own recollection growing up being BA and being around people BA, but who really fall in the one-drop rule,and I do not look like them.

pianoplayer111 · Wizard Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 429 }

Creole...I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

Question

pianoplayer111 · Wizard Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 429 }

My thoughts?

It is very simple to dispense that kind of advice if you've never experienced certain things. It is very simple to say "be yourself".

Like I said, no one can speak to somebody else's experiences if they haven't actually been there.

Call yourself what you will, but don't be so quick to dismiss the experiences of others. Their voices deserve to be heard. They deserve the chance to share their perspectives.

Biracial/multiracial people who talk about it do so because it is meaningful to them. It is part of who they are. In some instances, it plays a role in their relationships with others on a societal level and how they view the world. It depends on the individual's environment and how they were socialized.

Remember...what looks "black" to one person might not appear "black" to others.