Posted: Wed 05 Dec 2007 15:07 Post subject: BET: LS vs. DS, David Matthews, Soledad
On Sunday, December 9, Dr. Ian Smith talks with celebrity panelists about an age-old debate of light skin vs. dark skin blacks.
The show focuses on what it means to be a "Black" person in 21st century America. Are there different levels of blackness, does the "one-drop" rule still apply, does having light skin guarantee an easier life?
BET explores the life of bi-racial author David Matthews, who "passed" as white for 20 years of his life. His story is a lifelong struggle with his racial identity that briefly led him into drugs and crime and eventually to "coming out" as a black man and is chronicled in the book, Ace of Spades.
In addition, BET News provides exclusive footage of Senator Barack Obama commenting on race and being attacked for his level of "blackness."
"Nobody questioned my 'blackness' before I announced I was running for President," says the Illinois Senator.
Guest panelists Larry Whitmore, writer/producer and creator of "The Bernie Mac Show," Elizabeth Atkins, author of the books White Chocolate and Dark Secret, and Bintell Powell, author of the book Betrayed discuss what it means to be black and if light-skinned blacks have an easier life. Later, CNN Correspondent Soledad O'Brien sits down with Dr. Ian Smith to discuss growing up multiracial and challenges she has encountered in her career. O'Brien also reveals how her childhood affects the way she raises her children now.
The show must have been a good show but I tend not to pay them any attention because people of mixed ancestry are treated as if they are from another planet!
I couldn't help but notice that Soledad's contribution to this piece does not include her description of what it's like to be "black", but instead, multiracial. In fact, I've never seen Ms. O'Brien "one-dropped" ever by the media (black or white media).
The show must have been a good show but I tend not to pay them any attention because people of mixed ancestry are treated as if they are from another planet!
I couldn't help but notice that Soledad's contribution to this piece does not include her description of what it's like to be "black", but instead, multiracial. In fact, I've never seen Ms. O'Brien "one-dropped" ever by the media (black or white media).
Early on she did identify as black, her consciousness has moved to a multiracial identity.
We did a profile on her, that had a lot of information on her.
The thing I like about her and can identify with is her multiracial or biracial identity (at least the way she presents it) is not about 'pain' or 'rejection'. It seems to be more about growing into it. I don't know who else has done this, but I've naturally blended my life... to the point of sounding like certain segments of multiracial America... I'm human. And being triracial and everything else that makes me is no burden, everything is equal and accepted.
I agree I've never noticed any kind of One Dropping going on in her case though. I don't think most people knew much about her Latin heritage until more recently in interviews.
I do think she was probably made to look 'differently' 'more acceptable'
She used to wear her hair closer to natural, it was obviously kinky. In the last few years it's been straightened out.
Last edited by gemini072 on Wed 05 Dec 2007 19:09; edited 1 time in total
I couldn't help but notice that Soledad's contribution to this piece does not include her description of what it's like to be "black", but instead, multiracial. In fact, I've never seen Ms. O'Brien "one-dropped" ever by the media (black or white media).
CNN: What's the most important lesson your mother taught you?
O'BRIEN: My mom is black and my dad is white, and they were dating and got married when interracial dating was illegal in the state they were living in at the time, and I think from that, her personal life experience has taught me that you really have to live the life you want to, and you can't sit around and have your life dictated to you by other people who probably don't care. That was a very helpful lesson to me, in my work, in my life, at all levels.
After getting an autograph from Soledad O'Brien
Soledad entertained the crowd at the pasta dinner, later that evening, with her description of how she recently became a runner. Soledad trained for her first 10-K under the guidance of RW's Adam Bean. See the June issue of the Runner's World magazine for the complete story.
Do some Blacks still feel the need to pass for White? Should bi-racial people be considered a separate race? Those are just some of the provocative questions raised on this week’s "Meet the Faith."
Smith’s guest include CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, Elizabeth Atkins, who is bi-racial and author of “Dark Secret,” Bintell Powell, author of the book “Betrayed” and Larry Wilmore, creator of the Bernie Mac Show and Senior Correspondent on “The Daily Show.”
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The touchy subject of what it means to be a Black person was highlighted by the story of David Matthews. Matthews is the author of “Ace of Spades,” a book about his 20-year life of passing as White, although his father was Black. Matthews, whose mother was Jewish, says his denial of being Black led him to participate in a cross burning of another Black person’s home. Now, Matthews believes his “spying” on White America allows him to speak from a position of authority about race and racism in America. “I have an understanding I think of how racist White America is, and how complicit black America is in its failure to follow through on some of the promises of the civil rights movement.”
However, Powell said Matthews’ experience has nothing to do with how most dark Black people are forced to live. “His story is very touching,” Powell said “but there are millions of dark skin black people in the ghettos of American and through the world who have far more difficult trials and tribulations than him, I’m not really moved.”
Smith also asked if there should be two races of black people, dark skin versus light skin? “Absolutely not,” said Larry Wilmore. “That’s ridiculous that reduces who we are to color, which is so superficial in my mind. Black culture is so much deeper than that, it transcends the skin tone.”
Later in the program Smith interviews CNN news anchor and correspondent Soledad O’Brien. O’Brien’s father is Australian and her mother is a Black Cuban. She tells Smith growing up in a mixed race family on Long Island wasn’t always easy, “Sometimes it was tough. Other times it was great, but my mother was always very clear. You’re a Black girl!”
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