Quote:
Originally Posted by RoyalEmpress33
I have a question though. I know this is suppose to be directed to people who are of African descent, but let's use a hypothetical situation. If a biracial or multiracial person (regardless of racial make-up) decided to claim one race over the other, could we still use the argument that they are not proud of where they came from because they don't claim this, that or the other? Would we even be sitting here discussing this? I'm just curious to know people's feelings on this particular matter. Or is it because they're of more than one racial background, they have that option? What makes it ok for them to claim whatever the hell they want, but because I'm predominately one race, as soon as I diverge and do something as trivial as claim one term over the other, people have an issue with it?
|
My guess is that many peoples reaction to the "hypothetical" situation that you mentioned would depend (in part) on why the person decided not to claim their heritage. And also what you mean by claim. Case in point, my Grandfather and Great Grandparents are Cape Verdean-American/Cape Verdean respectively, however my parents didn't grow up in that culture per say, as they were predominantly raised by their African-American parents. I have Cape Verdean ancestry, but I personally don't claim it as my ethnicity. Not because I pick and choose, not because I'm ashamed, but I was not raised in the Cape Verdean culture, and what I do know of it is from an "outsiders" perspective so to say. I don't know what it is like to live/grow up in a Cape Verdean household, or live in a Cape Verdean neighborhood, or even speak Cape Verdean Creole, have part of your family still on the island(s), etc. I've educated myself on my history and will continue to do so. If you ask me, I will tell you about my heritage/ethnicity (the many parts of it), but I "claim" African-American because it is what I know.