Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
I agree with pixell. This kind of question is quite baffling in a "will they know what I am in order to exclude me" kind of way.
Speaking of college-level sororities, I know two college students who many consider to be white. They have talked about their heritages and how they are "physically white" but racially and ethnically nonwhite. They wouldn't even have to wonder whether they would be excluded from anything on the basis of race. They "are white" until they tell people otherwise.
That's always been the case for a percentage of racial and ethnic minorities in this country. The difference is that they KNOW that and wouldn't need to pose this kind of question if they believe that most people don't know they are nonwhite.
Even the "one drop rule" was intended to not only shape how people self-identify but to give Blacks, who could pass, a permanent "Black card" so people couldn't solely go based on how they look. However, the "one drop rule" didn't keep many racial and ethnic minorities from passing in settings where people didn't know they had the "one drop."
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Dr.Phil, I really like how you explained this. It makes a lot of sense so, thank you for explaining it to those of us who are not minorities. I will say that, even though I am half-PR, I don't look latina. My spanish-speaking skills are horrible. It's sad but, true. In fact, my bio father (who was never around while growing up) is the parent who is full-blooded PR. Unfortunately, I never fully embraced my heritage-for many reasons. Maybe that's how this girl is feeling. I'm not sure. I know that if I would have told some of my friends in a 99% white town about my background, they probably would have looked at me different. It wasn't until college until I began understanding the pride that comes along with being different. Who knows if this young woman is feeling the same way.
As far as Pika2001, I think the new Que with the 6 posts needs to stop freaking out on him and the OP. As I said, we don't know where this OP is coming from (maturity level-wise, background, etc.). To sit here and curse out a seasoned GCer because you are upset is completely unacceptable, in my opinion. I feel like if any other new person would come on GC and start acting that way towards people who have been on here for a while, they would get told to go elsewhere. Because this is a topic of race, it's okay? As I stated, Dr. Phil, thank you for sharing because (as you already know) I really appreciate the insight you have and are willing to share. As for this Que guy-well, I've said all I need to say about him. Way to make a point without sounding like a jackass.