MWM,
Being adopted, I have no clue what I am. A few things have popped up over the years in medical discoveries that make me think "HUH, now what could make THAT happen IF I'm?" and yet for a moment you think about it and it's a shrug and then nothing more than that. I have Thalassemia, which is similar to Sickle Cell in some way and yet - when you mention Sickle cell - certain races seem to be aghast when you say "I have Thalassemia." Not really knowing that there is a large majority of German blonde haired blue eyed people who have Sickle Cell Anemia. So once again - as my doctor would say - ignorance abounds. Thalassemia is mostly a trait of Mediteranian descent yet my family has absolutely NO Mediteranian heritage at all.
Now I had three sons. One Native American who went for Blondes and wanted NOTHING to do with girls of color. Yet he was dark skinned, and black haired. Then my middle son was Black. He went for white girls and loved Asians. You know how hard it was to find Asian girls whose Fathers would let them date a Black kid in the South? We have a HUGE population of Korean people here but it's next to tabu for them to date outside their own race according to the girls. Then my last kid Dude? He loved Girls...but went for girls of color, and his first oh I dunno 12 or so girlfriends were either Black or Latino, or Mixed, or Dominican, or Puerto Rican or a combo of all the above. And while I sat back and said "I don't care who they love as love as someone loves them back and treats them nicely?" In the back of my mind I kept thinking about the last couple of girls he dated - I think I mentioned the one here NOT because she was Dominican, Mixed, Puerto Rican and Latino - But because she was 17, on her own, covered in tattoos, piercings, living a life fit for a 40 year old hooker....and had the morals of well - she had none. She was raw, ugly, brash, and basically did the "OH your Mother this, your Mother that." and well - Personally YEAH..His Mother - this and his Mother that. We're pretty close and you're a twit. I prayed he'd dump her. Not because of her skin but because of the skin she occupied. She was awful. I was so glad when she went back to NY....and did a part of me wonder what their babies would have been like? HECK yeah. Again was it color? Well ---honestly yeah. I mean - what a mess. She was Dominican, PUerto Rican, Black, WHite, Latino, Portugeese, POlynesian mean as a snake and he was a mentally ill kid with no job, no future, and hadn't a clue about children......and truth be told netiher did she. I just couldn't see her sharing a Grandchild with me.
So does it count? Yes it does. But not so much for spots with spots.....as Cruella Deville would say ------but when you start mixing 100 nationalities and personalities and backgrounds and stand up and say "OH I'm not prejudiced." ?????? I'm so sorry - I'd have to cut my tongue out and call myself a liar. I am prejudiced, but not against color -----or race.....and the majority of the world? Well they like spots with spots. There are a few people who have risen above that, and are color blind - but if you ever meet someone that tells you they have no prejudice they're either a liar or Jesus. Because ALL people like what they are FAMILIAR with and until you get to know what you are NOT familiar with? It's uncomfortable - to you.
As far as my family? I was raised by two white parents who grew up resepcting all people....but in a generation that raised them to be the kind of thinkers that remains spots with spots. HOWEVER -----they were never ugly about their thoughts nor did they have malice towards others - just a different time and place. Did they believe in equality and rights? ABSOLUTELY. Did they think things were unjust at times? OF COURSE. Did they do anything about it? Not to my knowledge, but they didn't lend to the problem either, and they didn't raise their children to be bitter, and prejudiced....they raised us to be better than they were raised - free thinkers...helpful and loving. Open minded. Because they knew how they were raised was narrow minded.
And I have two brothers - both told me they are not African American. They are Black. lol. My Brother Michael said "Ive never been to Africa, but I know enough to know that if I go there? I'm not African.....I'm American...and whoever started that was going for something that further divides us as a people. I liked that about him - Terrence told me he HAS been to Africa and while it was a nice place to visit? It wasn't the "Mother Land" - The Mother Land was where ever his Mothers House was......lol. I gotta hand it to both of them - they're very awesome men, and I care for both of them immensely. God couldn't have picked better brothers for me.
As far as sisters? Yup I got one......and she's as Aspie..and not so nice. Haven't talked to her in years. I have met better, nicer people here. Of ALL races, creeds, religions.....and while I don't agree with everything everyone here has to say, or believes.....I respect it and them. In doing so I hope to have expanded my understanding - and like Jumper......well I think it's a time in her life where she's just getting to know everyone she can. That's not such a bad thing. At this point in her life ........she's investigating caucasian lifestyles......and maybe next week it will be Mexican.....and after that? Afghanistans......who knows. Point is ......she's well rounded...and learning......and lovely ------and that makes her beautiful in any skin.
If she's going to have prejudices? I hope it's against bad attitudes. Its something that everyone could change if they had a mind to. That's basically what mine has ended up to be......because there are good and bad, in every race I have ever met......and I've met a lot......melanin has nothing to do with intelligence. And everyones heart beats about the same.