The Study of Racialism

Lolly · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2007 {Posts: 11 }

I see many people posting about being one dropped by blacks. Insisting that mulattoes identifing as black. I am a mulatto woman who looks mulatto and have never experienced that situation. In my experience I get one dropped by whites. Because of what I look like the blacks that I interact with acknowlege me as mixed. It is white people who when I tell them what I am mulatto one drop me as black. Regardless of the fact that I say that I am biracial. I'm just wondering if others experience this from white people.

MP mulattoprince · Wizard Joined: 10 Apr 2007 {Posts: 464 }

Do you show visible signs of black ancestry? Many African Americans have no problem accepting that you say you are mixed, but tell them you don't identify as African American as your first identity, and say to them you identify as mixed only (mulatto). If you have a quadroon or octoroon appearance then you may be able to get away with saying you identify as mixed only. Whites follow the ODR on average because there is no other option outside of being labeled black or white there is no mulatto category or mixed race category.

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

OTHER · Posted: Fri 30 Nov 2007 22:33 Post subject:

I've experienced blacks, whites, AND mulattos adhering to and furthering the one drop rule. However, the only time I had someone try to CONVINCE me that I am black, it was two black friends.

My assessment is that a good number of mulattos have had negative experiences with blacks trying to ENFORCE the one drop rule with them and passionately trying to persuade them to identify as "black". Realistically, what white person in their right mind would take the same approach with a mulatto? I think many whites still adhere to the one drop rule, in their minds, I just think that the "blacks"/African-Americans who feel strongly about it are more vocal.

Let us not forget that in the year 2007 there are still single white mothers raising their mulatto children to identify as "black". Confused

Lolly · New User Joined: 08 Aug 2007 {Posts: 11 }

I'm am confident in the fact that I am mulatto so what others say don't affect my self identification. I'm just trying to get others perspective on this issue as the flip side of this (blacks one dropping mulattoes) is often discussed.

In my opinion it seems to me that some people on this board villify blacks and how they how insist that biracial individuals indentify as black but the counter point to that arguement is rarely discussed. I wanted to promote dialogue on the other side of the spectrum.

Other I agree with you that whites one drop biracial people covertly.

OTHER · Posted: Sat 01 Dec 2007 01:57 Post subject:

clover32 · Probationary Joined: 30 Nov 2007 {Posts: 2 }

Hi i am new here and i am not a mulatto but i have a child who is.I get offended when some of my family tell my child she is black,which is a slap in her father face.I tell them that they are brain washed because slave masters had no morals by selling their own flesh and blood.I really enjoy your forum maybe it will help me help my child develope into a well balanced person

Powell · Guru Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2179 }

lsgh · Mentor Joined: 02 Oct 2007 {Posts: 226 } Location: Seattle

self-explanatory.

lsgh · Mentor Joined: 02 Oct 2007 {Posts: 226 } Location: Seattle

'nuff said.

Helena21 · New User Joined: 22 Jun 2007 {Posts: 44 }

pianoplayer111 · Mentor Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 384 }

I agree, Helena.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way most of the time.

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

fwsweet · Posted: Thu 06 Dec 2007 15:23 Post subject:

MP mulattoprince · Wizard Joined: 10 Apr 2007 {Posts: 464 }

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2695 }

pianoplayer111 · Mentor Joined: 16 May 2007 {Posts: 384 }

I have only had a handful of experiences with this.

1) There was a "white" American woman who occasionally looked after me in my childhood, when I was about 3 or 4 years old. Her husband was a white Cuban. She constantly told me I was black...I still wonder what her motives were, assigning racial ID to a child in her care. It's not like I asked her "what am I?" I didn't see this woman again until years later and it was a very uncomfortable situation. She insisted on calling me "black", insinuated that I had been dark-skinned as a child and bleached myself, and made loaded comments. Oh, and there was this black woman at the function whom she introduced me to. She made sure to tell the girl: "She's BLACK just like you!" The girl literally took my hand and held it beside hers, then said: "My Lord, she could pass for white!" Rolling Eyes

2) I discovered one-droppism also through being told by black women as a child that I was nothing but a "light-skinned girl". My science teacher in middle school was a Jamaican woman of Indian ancestry who was married to a black American man. I remember in class once when the black kids were disputing the number of white children in the room. They referred to me and a white boy, as well as my white blonde best friend, as being the only white kids there. My teacher (who knew that I was mixed) made it her business to say: "She is NOT white. I don't care how fair she is. She is as black as the rest of you". This teacher didn't realize that she was setting me up to be tormented by the AA children at my mostly black public school. This doesn't count as being one-dropped by a white person but it is noteworthy.

3) One-droppism showed itself when I first entered public school in the 4th grade. My Jewish drama teacher told me, when I asked why I had been classified as "black" on school forms, that it was part of the Census. Since I was not Hispanic, I was just "black". I was completely taken aback. This made no sense AT ALL.

4) At my high school prom, my date's white/Hispanic friend made a comment about "black girls in red lipstick". Mind you, my skin was whiter than his and his Hispanic girlfriend was dark compared to me...she had an olive complexion.

5) An ex-boyfriend's Hispanic acquaintance asking why I spoke "perfect" English, then saying: "Oh, you're a black girl then". WTF?! Rolling Eyes

5) A white "friend" in high school telling me that I should never call myself anything but black.

6) A white hair stylist accusing me of lying when I told her that my stepfather's very dark-skinned mother was not related to me by blood. Hint, hint...DENIAL of my supposed "blackness", right? She went on and on about "ethnic" women, ad nauseum.

Powell · Guru Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2179 }

Powell · Guru Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2179 }