Week
of
7/11/97:		 Should African Americans feel politically threatened by the potential change in the census which would permit mixed race individuals the option to select multiple racial census categories?



Name: DANIELA
Email: schatze2@webtv.net
Response: RALPH RANDALL'S COMMENTS WERE GREAT! As an African-American/German, born in Germany, and raised in the States by MY adopted Black parents, in MY Black community, I learned at a very young age not to discuss my German/White Heritage. It was always amusing to me that it was OK for someone to say "they had "Indian blood", but when I would try to discuss my German heritage I was told, "Chile, you Black just like the rest of us", something I had NEVER denied. It was always Ok for "them" to bring up the subject of my being bi-racial, but dare I bring it up, I was immediately put down and told I was trying to "be" "something" other than what I was...Black. (Some of the comments listed proves this point). It's OK people...Having grown up in a Black environment, I understand the need to claim our own; but PLEASE UNDERSTAND OUR "NEED" AND A RIGHT TO CLAIM OUR OWN. It's OK to be Black and STILL acknowledge our other heritage. It does not mean we are trying to deny our Blackness. There is a very "basic" human factor here; a child wanting to acknowledge the biological and genetic connection to their parents, BOTH Mother and Father, two people who happen to be racially different. AND IT'S OK. IT IS OUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO DO SO, without being made to feel that we have to choose one over the other. I proudly proclaim I am AFRO-GERMAN, (Yes, that's right...and I fill out the "other" on forms requesting race as AFRO-GERMAN). If "they" can ask me for my race, I have the human right to tell it. The United States claims to be the MELTING POT OF THE WORLD... well it is; get the Census Dept. and all other agencies in order and DEAL WITH IT!


Name: Karrie Reno
Email: kdreno@hotcity.com
Response: In the USA, when my daughter who is part of her father who is Creol, Black, and half of me which is Cherokee, Chotaw, German...put on her birth certificate "Black" I think she should be known then as what is on her birth certificate. I believe that by making a new group helps those who are mixed to indentify that they are. But in all reality we all are mixed, and white doesn't correctly describe anyone, as does Black, and I think if the USA feels that if someone is 10% black then they are Black, is beneficial to the voting of the Black percentage. If we put yet another category we are taking away from that future generation of strength in political voice. My daughter needs to know moreso about her Black culture, because it is not so emphacized as is white history. I think that by changing the percentages, it is overlooking the main problem. There is no "pure" race, we are all a little bit of everything, some just don't know it. I am proud my daughter chooses to see herself as a beautiful black young lady, and also can identify with me. Never EVER think that the Govt has any good intension with this change. Not this one.........


Name: D.Jordan
Email: WhiteNikes@aol.com
Response: A country without racial pejudice will exist when we all decide to join the same community. If the laws that govern the universe exist in 250 years, we won't have African-Americans to count and we won't have White-Americans to count. We will have 1Billion Multiracial- Americans to count. Sooner or later the gene pool will be so mixed up that all of us will have similar physical characteristics and similar skin tone. It is always a good thing to prepare for the future. Why not start now?I am all for a Multiracial category.


Name: kyle
Email: eyork29273@aol.com
Response: i feel that the census is merely a measure of the number individuals of individuals that are black, white, hispanic, asian, arabian, etc. i don't feel that the census is trying to discriminate against anyone in any way.


Name: helenoftroy
Email: interaction@usa.net
Response: In response to Brother Akindele...Gee, tell that to the hundreds of black children who have ridiculed, joshed, insulted and criticized me for being half-black, half-white. And the hundreds of adults who have shaken their heads as they watched my parents and I walk down the street. The truth of the matter is that you get a lot of flak when you are of mixed race that you don't have to deal with if you're darker. I'm not gonna lie- I have had more opportunities. But if I simply have the opportunity to sit closer to the white man as he rapes, robs and pillages, how much of an advantage is that? I can't compare my experience to that of a person not of mixed race- that would be hypocritical. But I can say that being biracial carries with it stigmas which being of one race just does not make you have to deal with. Being biracial has affected my development, as a person and as an American. I am insulted to think that anybody- ANYBODY- would ask me to relinquish that experience because they, for whatever bigoted reason, happen to think that it's not important enough to note. Speak for yourself, Brother Akindele. Not for me.


Name: Brother Akindele of MAD Writer Productions
Email: akinyemi@online.emich.edu
Response: Raahubaat usra. A change in the census will not really have a effect on Nubian-Americans. The problem comes in when you are trying to separate people into categories. One ounce of black inside your blood and guess what..you're Nubian. Wadu


Name: MStap722
Email: MStap722.@aol.com
Response: The US Census has never accurately counted Afro-Americans in this country.In my opinion this change would just waterdown the Afro-American count further.


Name: Nnamdi Nzingha
Email:
Response: No, I don't think we should be concerned about the possible change in the census. I know there are possible financial ramifications, but we as a community will overcome another of the obstacles in our sojourn in america.


Name: K. Leonard
Email: k8wra1@juno.com
Response: African-Americans should always feel threatened by changes in the way the population is catagorized. It could cause a deluting of our voting power. Some changes are necessary, however, and we must be alert to them. The children of mixed marriages deserved to be called what they wish and should not be denied a catagory that more clearly defines them.


Name: kim
Email: khodges@unccvms.uncc.edu
Response: It is very hard to say whether blacks should be worried about such change because a large majority of blacks in one way or another can consider themselves biracial. I think the real question is will it really matter because in the eyes of the dominate society if a person is not white they are not equal. It makes no difference what you are, or what portion you are-you are still considered 3/5 of a man. just imagine what a half Indian and Black child went through 300 years ago. Best guess they were a slave. So consider this if nothing esle, no matter what you select on a race or ethnic catorgory, you are still inferior in some way or another.


Name: pete banner-haley
Email: cbannerhaley@center.colgate.edu
Response: The census should not be a definer of race. in fact african americans are already "mixed". what should be questioned is why the government uses groups or racvial classifications to distribute resources and political powerAdding the mixed race category should make asll Americans confront and deal with the fact of race and racism in the society.


Name: Antonio
Email:
Response: Should Afro-Americans feel POLITICALLY threaten? Has our involvement in politics (past 30 yars) been of any concrete benefit? The indulgence in either political parties (Dem./Rep.) has done others more good than ourselves. Political ambitions have only enriched the lives of those few African-Americans who had a substainable income prior to 1960. The masses of African- americans (particulary in urban areas) life have remain the same. The questions should not be posed as a political threat, but more so an ECONOMIC threat. For example, lets assume you apply for a corporate job. A multi-racial category ( as well as Black, Hispanic, White, Asian, etc) is included. This category may exclude African-americans from those corporate jobs. The corporate ladder gets brighter (whiter) as you continue to climb. This category may be another example to exclude African-americans in hiring practices. CEO's feel more comfortable with people who look similar, to say the least, to themselves.


Name: CAD
Email: blkcat411@aol.com
Response: I think it is a diversionary exercise for African Americans to get caught up in this proposed new category on the census. The main purpose of the census in my humble view is to measure the ratio of whites to non-whites, it is about maintaining white hegemony. Since this country is still based on white supremacy, it doesn't matter in terms of power what race you are classified as if it is other than 'white'. In a caste system based primarily on race,where white is at the top, you will have a dispersement of power and priviledge based upon where you fit in on the scale from white to black. There has always been a social and sometimes economic priviledge accorded to those who come closer to the white aesthetic in our own community light skin and straight hair(brown paper bag & fine toothe comb test). We need to pick our fights wisely and I think we need to fight our own inter-racial prejudices and self-hatred for our dark skin, full lips & noses and natural hair textures. Besides I don't believe that the powers that be will ever allow a multi-racial category due to the nature of the american population, because realistically who couldn't make a legitimate claim to such a wide reaching category?, especially African Americans with a valid claim of 99% having one or more Native American ancestors among other racial groups. A more valid question is, why are racial catagories necessary? *check the article in JET, where the nubian brotha from Egypt is fight america's classification of him as 'white'. PEACE & LOVE


Name: Solomon Landers
Email: Numberup@worldnet.att.net
Response: No, no need to feel politically threatened. People should be able to define themselves as they wish, and honor all their racial heritages. Besides, this might show the whole silliness of racial categorization in the first place. What makes a child of mixed race any more one race than the other? The "one drop" rule and other racial identities in this country had one purpose: to restrict black people and keep us down. Why should we buy into this? People who take pride in their African heritage will continue to so identify themselves. That is as it should be: a voluntary desire, not any matter of law or obligation.