If Given the Chance. . .
 

Being honest, if you were given the chance today to change your racial identity or ethnicity or skin color or the box you check on the application, would you? Would you make the change for just one day? one week? one year? for life? Why or why not?

Do you believe that if this change could be made, be it temporarily or permanently, would it decrease or heal racial tension and division in our world?

What race would you change to? This is not necessarily just from Black to white?


All ignorant responses will be deleted.

Ex: I would be white with good credit but leave me with my huge Black _____.

There has been a lot of discussion in the Greek Life section of GC lately about race.

Black Woman Contemplating Joining a White Sorority

Integration of Predominantly White Fraternities and Sororities


I am hoping for intelligent discussion and will not hesitate to delete ignorant responses.

I am very happy with my race and ethnicity. I think that being a young, educated Black woman has made me more aware of certain things. I think that I am more conscious of other people's feelings because I know how it feels to have someone say something ignorant to or about you and not even realize that you have been offended.

I think if anything, I would be white maybe for one day, just to see what it's like. Just to sit in on private conversations and hear what other people say about me and Blacks as a whole, when we are not around.

What an excellent question!

You asked for honesty, and here it is. . .

I would change for a week, just to see how much of a difference it would be. Not only would I change my skin color, I would change my gender (to become a white male)! I would be able to see that there is no glass ceiling for me, and I could get someone else's job based on not what I know, but who I know, all the while putting someone else out of a job that they had to train me for! Wouldn't that be fun! I would also get to see what it is that many Black people blame me, "the man", for. I would see how many of my white counterparts really felt about "those Blacks".

Would that change anything? Unfortunately, I don't think so. I feel that being Black, particularly one that was reared in the South, has given me more compassion for others that suffered some of the same things as I have - being raised by "uneducated" people, not seeing "professional" people around you except teachers, but still being richer because of my experience of being reared by my grandparents.

There is a movie that came out in 1964 titled Black Like Me starring James Whitmore as a white writer that decided to become Black to experience prejudice. After a short time, he wanted out. Very interesting movie.

Gosh, I must say that in my GC experience so far, this is the first time a question actually stumped me. But I have to agree this is an excellent question.

Well I guess I would say, I would say maybe a woman from the middle eastern race. Gosh i'm still stumped........

I'd never set aside my blackness because it's all-encompassing --the cultural vibrancy, style, and ability to persevere, it's all in there. But it might be ok to spend a week w/out having to (or watch others you know have to) navigate racism, or its attendant biases/effects. And this isn't to suggest that the dominant culture doesn't have issues to deal with also.

As a boy I was taught, "Prepare yourself because you have to be twice as good to get half the chance. There will be people who don't like you because of who you are. Let that always be their problem, not yours."

The statement has been true, but I've been blessed so it's all good.

...and I do think we could spend some real time in each others' shoes, some of this foolishness would cease.

I dont think I would change my race. Not sure why though. I'll be back later to expound on that.. lol.

I'm taking a class called "Critical Race Feminisms" and we talked about identity last night. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE being a Black woman and I couldn't see myself changing it for anything in the world. I honestly can't fathom walking into a machine to make myself a [insert another race/ethnicity/color] woman,lol

Please read "killing rage" by bell hooks and/or "The Color of Privilege" by Aida Hurtado.;)

I love being Black, especially in my geographic area. I feel empowered and proud.

However, given a choice, I would chose to look as multinational as possible, to keep people guessing and see how they would react. I mean, tan skin, thin lips, round eyes, curvaceous figure, light hair, full nose, midwestern accent...just a combination that gives no definite ethnic distinction. I think that would be an interesting life to live for a little while.

Good topic.
 

I honestly don't think I would like to change my race.

What I would like to do is live in a culture where people with African genetic material are the majority, but I would honestly want to be part of that country's educated class. My frame of reference is middle-class, if not upper-middle-class. I don't know if I could handle poverty. I'm a spoiled brat of sorts, LOL.


When I saw this topic, I thought about college friends of mine who were from Nigeria.:cool:

First, CTFU @ CT4's example... :D

Second, I didn't know there was a movie to the book Black Like Me. That is a good book.
Third,

I have never wanted to change my race permanently, but I wouldn't mind being Asian for a week. Just to see what's up and how differently (if any) I would be treated. :)

I think Canada has the right solution. The "check box" doesn't appear on any applications for employment, education, or any other public services. The only place you'll encounter it is if you're applying for aboriginal status, or on the Census.

Race, to me, is a slippery, nebulous, indistinct concept. I might have the same amount of melanin as someone who looks like me, but that person's experiences/worldview can be completely different from mine. Race is as much about culture as it is about skin color IMO.

God made me African-American for a reason and I'm going to use that to my advantage in every area of my life through which He takes me. Although I've grown up in predominantly white schools, from elementary through college, I still feel empowered to look past all color and realize one's potential. So, I dare not mess with the beauty God created!! :)

Nope NEVER. I know they say never say never, but never. When I was a young child I would imagine myself a white little girl with long blond hair. As I grew old and wiser, I found that I absolutely loved being BLACK. I agree with what ClassyLady said in that being black has helped me have compassion, and understanding for other people from other races, and has also taught me tolerance. I'm proud to be BLACK, and I have damn good credit....:D

Seriously I can't really explain but not even for a day would I want to change races for any reason. I was put on this earth in the gender and race for a reason.

I have read the book Black Like Me and have also seen the movie, and both are very good.

Actually, yes I would...
 

...if I was living in America. Otherwise, no I wouldn't

Lemme tell you why. From personal experience, I think being black and male in America is in itself a very stressful experience. And I'm not just talking about dealing with hidden racism and other oppressive factors in America (thankfully, my experiences with racism has been few and far between).

I am more concerned with my own people trying to "weigh" how black I am, that I like this but don't like that. That I don't conform to the average brother (whoever the ________ that is), be it tastes in music, dress, speech, HAIR, etc. Whereas if I was a white guy, my personality would be taken at face value, without having to subscribe to any silly preconceived notions of how allegiant I am to "my people"

Yes, I love black people and I wholeheartedly applaud the acheivements they have done, are doing, and will continue to do.
But frankly, I am sick and tired of being reminded that I am black, and quite honestly, I get that more from black people than I do from white people. I just want to be ME!

So to answer the question, yes. I would do a 30 day trial, with an option to buy.

H*LL YES
 

Yes I would. I feel every other race of women have it easier then black women. I'm tired of having it hard....

Hmm, at first I was going to say that I would like to experience being something different, but then I wondered what I would feel if I did enjoy the "preceived" relief or benefits of being another race? I would have to come back to being Black and I would never want to have to dread coming back to Black (lol). So, I think I will continue to enjoy being a beautiful Black woman, someone who others can look at and be reminded of a people who have suffered and overcome. I would prefer to spend my time finding ways to combat the aspects of our society and culture that make me feel like I would ever want to be something else.


It's funny, sometimes insecurities creep up on me and make me question why God made me the way He did. Then I go to my sorority's convention where there are thousands and thousands of beautiful women who look like me, or I go to church and there are such strong and wise Black women and I feel a sense of pride and obligation that I don't think I could ever feel as a woman of any other color.

Re: Actually, yes I would...
 

I agree. Back in my grandparents and great-grandparents day, I would say racism is the worst thing about being black. Nothing else coming in second worst, if so, a far second. However, in our days as blacks have more oppurtunity, I think this is the second worst thing if not tying with the first. Not only you have to put up with ignorance from whites, you also have to put up with ignorance from other blacks. If you don't fit into this perfect cookie-cutter ideal of a black person, then you are accused of being a sell-out or having self-hatred and treated that way.

My interests, beliefs, and tastes are about half and half. Half "black" and half "white". It is not because I hate myself, it is because where I grew up. I grew up in an area at least 95% white. It is normal for your environment to rub off on you, regardless if it is of your "own kind" or not.

Wonderful question.


Since we are all in agreeance that race is a social construction even if one chooses to opt out of their current skin tone, the "race" attached to that person may not change.

However, I'll say no. Simply because I love everything about me. There is so much history attached to my complexion, people died for me to have a at least comparable life to those who's tone was lighter than mine. It would be disrespectful in my opinion to change something that shaped who you are. Your experiences are shaped by your complexion, that's the honest to goodness truth.

My friend and I actually had a similar conversation once, she's Euro American as a point of reference. We came to the conclusion that no race actually has an all good life. True, there are advantages to being Euro American in this country, but there are disadvantages as well. Whether or not one chooses to acknowledge that fact is up to them, but no one has it better or worse.

The entire idea of wanting to be someone else is the assumption that this other person has it better than you. But with every positive comes a negative, otherwise there would be no positive.

All of the grief aside, I love being a Black woman.

Would things change if we could change our ethnicities/race?? No, we would find another way to divide ourselves. It's human nature.

**raising my BAPTIST finger**
 

I notice that only the Black folks have contributed to this thread.



Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


**Baptist finger still raised**

Re: **raising my BAPTIST finger**
 

**Holding up Church finger**

I wonder if Black folks are the only ones who are reading this post, maybe the assumption is that you are only asking Black folks this question.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

**Church finger still raised**

I don't think that I would want to experience being of another race. I like who I am - a beautiful Black Woman.

Re: **raising my BAPTIST finger**
 

Well, I'll be...Chris Rock was right!!

Being white is just that good!

I'll bite.

I'm a white Jewish woman. I'd absolutely sign up to be a man for a week or two, and I'd absolutely sign up to be a black woman for a week or two. You'd learn more in seven days than you would in four years of college.

A permanent change is too difficult to imagine...I like being what I am, but who's to say whether I might not like something else even better? But the only time I've ever really wished I could make a change is that when I have gotten very frustrated with men, I have sometimes wished I were a lesbian instead of straight.

INTERESTING TOPIC! I think I would like to try out every different race (AND different culture) to see what it is like, at least for a little while. But the race that I would like to try out the most is Black. I would like to see what its like, to see how employers (or potential employers) treat me, if cab drivers would stop so fast for me, how shop keepers treat me, how Black men treat me, White men, Black women, White women, etc.

I'm sure I have a very different perspective on this topic than a lot of people because I grew up in the DC/PG County MD area, which has a very large Black population. Once my family moved from DC to Maryland, I was ALWAYS in the minority. It was always "Oh you're cool, for a WHITE girl" "She can dress for a white girl" "She can dance for a white girl" "She's white on the outside but black on the inside." When I was in middle school, I ALWAYS thought it would be easier to be Black because the only racism I ever saw was against White people. Of course, that idea is LONG gone now that I am a member of the real world, but in my middle school world BLACK PEOPLE were the majority, the dominant culture who set styles, trends, the way to speak, the way to act, etc. and I didn't know anything other than that.

A couple people have talked about being judged by your own race, having to conform and having Black people judge how "Black" you are. Believe it or not, that exists in other races as well, and you may not think it exists for White people, but it definitely does. People have LONG questioned me about every aspect of my life--my choice in music, clothes, friends, boyfriends, the way I dance, the way I act, my choice in SORORITY--evvvverything. What ALWAYS annoyed me was that if I was Black, many of these things would not be questioned (or if I looked like a typical Latina I wouldn't be questioned), but because I'm "White," people look, stare, do double takes, and/or ask the DUMBEST questions. Anyone who knows me knows that I am what I am (as my mother likes to say I dance to the beat of my own drummer) and I never try to be anything that I am not, but unfortunately many people from my own race cannot grasp the concept of being an individual and therefore love to judge people (i.e. ME) who they know nothing about.

I just thought of a question relating to this that I would like to pose to the Black women (and men) in this thread. Skin tone/complexion is a big issue amongst Black people, so if you could stay Black but change your complexion, would you?

Good question. Imma come back and answer it all fully later on tonight during the AI results show.

To answer SIA's question -- I would change my complexion, but only because it would be easier for me to find makeup where I live.

I would never change my complexion, it's definitely one of the things about myself that I consider to be my best features.

I WOULD change my hair texture though. Some wash and go hair would be nice.

No. I'm happy with the way I look. I'm proud to be a African-American male.

hell....NO. shoot, everyone should want to be me.

:D :p

No, I think that one who even considers changing something they never had anything to do with in the first place, is rather...hmm disturbed.
Yes, complexionism is a serious problem in our community; but that's because small minds think small.

There was a point in history where Franklin was afraid the Germans couldn't assimilate because of their "darker complexion." I know, you're thinking the sammme thing I was when I learned that. tehetehe

That goes to show you, times change, ignorance does eventually fade. And the way to combat ignorance is NOT by assimilation, disowning who you are, and becoming part of the problem. :)

Instead of being a while male I'd like to see what it would be like to be a black male for a short time. I don't know if I could do a permanent thing though. I'd want to experience the main differences and see how much different life was.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by damasa
[B] I don't know if I could do a permanent thing though.


you scurred?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Phasad1913
[B]No, but I'm not ashamed of being white so I wouldn't see a point to make a change that was permanent unless there were significant differences that made me want to...

But as it is, I have no problem being the person that I am and I'd miss my life...

Trust me, having near wash-and-go hair isn't all that. I'd want thicker hair. This fine mess is just, err, messy at times. :p

My sentiments exactly.

I'd want to be a male when I go camping, or on long road trips, just for the ease of peeing standing up. Other than that, I LUVVVVVVV being a girl.

As for complexion, mine changes with the seasons already:rolleyes:


In terms of race, b/c people aren't always sure what I am, until I tell 'em, I've already "test driven" a couple in the eyes of other people. I think I would miss it too much. Some of my white pals have a very narrow perspective on certain things. I don't want to give up my unique world view.

Just to clarify, if we try another race or gender, would we be doing it with all of our current knowledge, or would it be just *pow* wake up and you're a white baby??????

Nope, I love my complexion:D

Nope. I love my complexion too. :cool:

i think for everyone to be better people, you should experience at least one, if not all, of these things:

1. being a minority
2. being in poverty
3. being ugly in a societal sense (not "my chest is so flat and my nose is weird" ugly, but facial scars and maybe a deformity)
4. being disabled (an extension of my reasoning from # 3).
5. be fat (even if its maybe 10-20 pounds more than if you were "normal" size)

i have attested to all except # 4 (which i am thankful for), and i think its made me a greater, stronger person than say, my roommate, who has recently lost about 50 pounds, now a rich, white, thin female. i think her being overweight "forced" her into being really booksmart (the whole "beauty or brains" thing, you cna agree or disagree), which is why she's graduating summa cum laude.

[defense]now nobody come after me now. she is just one person i'm applying the reasoning to, and im not generalizing it to a group of anyone, nor am i saying that a girl who is smart is probably not the most aesthetically pleasing. you can just as well be both, or neither.[/defense]