BY M. K. I've tried to avoid it however, I have been asked to speak my piece on the white woman who identifies as African American. I'll say my piece and leave it at that. This is my opinion and my opinion only. If you're offended by my opinion well then know that from the bottom of my heart, I live to be the harbinger of your displeasure. Personally. Anyway, this generates so many mixed feelings on the subject of race relations. For years, we've always argued that "everybody wants to be black, but when it's time to be black, Nobody wants to be black." However on a grand level we have a white woman who identifies as black serving as the president of the NAACP. She's also accomplished much while working there. First thing that comes to mind for me is, "does she stand to undermine the climate of systemic racism and take responsibility for her white guilt by showing what we can accomplish despite the road blocks left by the legacy of our former slave masters? " or "is she trying to make the plight of African Americans out to be self imposed, in particular African American women. That anybody can be successful and there are no cultural limitations." Is it more that she simply felt that uncomfortable as a white woman truly felt she was herself as a black woman? That there is truth to this newly coined phrase "transracial". In a world where people struggle with identity everyday to the point where a man who switches gender affects strangers more than those close to him, identity has become a strange thing. A portion of my black friends take certain issues with homosexuality and the associated identifications. So when Bruce Jenner became Caitlyn Jenner, it was no surprise that the reaction was less than accepting. The most popular statement I seen reflected was "no matter what he does to his body, he was still born a man." My response was always the same, "why do people care?" I wish people were more honest man. Say what you really mean, you don't like gay people or people switching genders cause it makes you feel icky inside and you don't want to think about those things. When the matrix of your perspective meets a glitch, your first response is to send out the agents. I don't judge. Everybody has one life and should be free to live however they feel comfortable. So when people take the time out of their day to call the people who made the decision to dress and appear as they wish, "liars" It's kind of foul. Jenner was honest with not just her family, but with the whole world. Bruce said she wanted to be a girl so she can be happy. What could be more honest than that. I hate suits. I know I wear them well but I hates them. I like being comfy at all times. Loose jeans and a tee. F*** ties lol. Soon as I get dressed up I can't wait to take that crap off. I imagine Jenner felt this way about his image as a male, so she did something about it. I believe Jenner was honest with himself, whoever he prays to, and the world. If you wonder why they call him brave, it's cause people who argue from some imposing view of what's right that they're wrong and evil for doing what makes them happy. As for Rachel Dolezal, this isn't the same case. I don't know how I feel about the term transracial. I'll take the time to learn about it though. What I do understand about it, that's not what happened here though. Dolezal lied to people about being African American for quite a while. She was dishonest with friends, family, and the people she works with. For me, "transracialism" (facepalm) doesn't exist in the same level of understanding as being transsexual. My opinion, transracial is more of a superficial concept, but that could be due to my limited current understanding. In any case, I imagine the steps would be somewhat similar. They would sit with loved ones and those who would be in immediate contact and tell them that they wish to identify as a different race. That's not what Dolezal did. She assumed an identity and was a character. This would tarnish her own legitimacy, wouldn't it? If she went to these legnths, why not go the whole 9 yards and tell people? So that's the thing I took away from it, no issue with mind you, just an observation. I don't know her or her circumstances. All cultures blend on superficial levels anyway, which is why a lot of white women have silicone asses and black women have long straight European looking wigs... I mean hair. 👀 My point is generally these things are accepted. Why do fairer skin people seek tans and not get any beef for it? Why do some darker tone folks apply make up and other extremes to appear lighter?(though there's controversy concerning this) We don't because it's assumed on basic levels that they're being true to themselves. Nobody forsakes their cultural identity, these are things that people do so they feel ok about themselves. I don't know why Dolezal felt the need to lie or omit truths and for that she's wrong. But as far as how she identifies, maybe we can learn as a species to try to mindful that people will do things for psychological appeasement, and on a general level learn to mind our own f***in business. Thanks for your time. |
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