Quote:
Originally posted by dpen6
Missy, I undrstand your quesion but don't have an answer
But I have another question for you.....Why does everyone call all people with black skin AA....when in fact they may be haitian american, jamician american, ect. ?
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Thanks to both of you for attempting to answer; I guess I should have been clearer with my question but I got a delivery call while I posted it and had to run....(I run / own a birthing center and we delivered 7 babies today including a set of twins.) Lets see if I can make myself clear. I understand the slavery angle and I know thats what it was about long ago, but my question is based on a more recent assessment.
BTW: I am an AA female married to a Cc male and together we have 3 adult kids. IMO my kids are biracial (of 2 races.) The actress Halle Berry when given the academy award accepted as a *Black* woman on behalf of Black women everywhere. Since her Mom is Cc and her dad AA I think she is biracial.... the media hearlds her as AA and to me it does a disservice to AA women, not to mention her mother... Her hair is not my hair, her lips are not my lips. I also think that if she'd decided to accept that award on behalf of "white women all over the nation" the outcry would have drowned out the laughter. Therein lies my question, what would be said if she decides to identify herself as white since she is as much white as she is black? Why is AA the "catch-all"? Anything less than obvious white becomes black.
My kids were never considered AA or Cc. Mom is AA, Dad is Cc; they are a wonderful uniquely blended combination of both of us. In the state of Texas the race of the kids is based on the race of the father! That means that despite being the color of Oprah I walked into preschool and enrolled these kids with birth certificates proclaiming them as Cc! Go figure.
To dpen6: usually we (AA)'s don't classify everyone as AA; WE make the distinction. In conversation you'll often hear "that Jamaican guy that lives near the park" etc. No one would ever think my daughters are only "black", and AA's wouldn't describe them as such. My oldest is a green eyed blonde, the 2nd daughter is a hazel eyed brunette, and our son is Bruce Willis bald by choice with brown eyes...they are constantly asked what they are "mixed with."
Just thought I'd ask since I heard Jay Leno introduce both Halle and Lisa Bonet as AA.....Missy M