I Don't Date Outside of My Race...

[DSTCHAOS]

A black African and black American can have tension if they act is if being on different continents constitutes huge differences in the "type of black" that they are rather than seeing themselves as part of the African diaspora. And if this is fueled by ignorance of black African and black American experiences and culture, it can be intrusive.

I assume you are a "white Latino" (in layperson's terms ) so it makes sense that this would translate into "racial" differences (rather that just cultural and ethnic) in your family's eyes. In this country and in Latin American countries, there is a great social divide between groups of people based on the color of their skin, features, and hair texture. So things like attractiveness and social status (i.e. the white privilege that people of European background receive all over the world) will be based on that. If you date someone of the African diaspora, familiarity with each other's "culture" would have to include acknowledging and discussing this without being too consumed with it.

[TotallyWicked]

^^^^Actually I am a Mestizo (White/Indigenous), but folks mainly recognize the "White" side, my family is darker, has different hair texture, etc. a lot of Latinos still have the "White is superior" mentality that has been fed...regardless of one's own background (e.g. Black Latinos denying their African heritage or downplaying "Black" features and praising "White" ones).

I am very into other folks' cultures, race/ethnic discussions, especially Africana culture, the lady I am seeing right now actually have a lot of discussions on race, thus we are very open to talking and learning of each other's cultures, though I do understand there needs to be that level or respect in educating yourself about someone else's (e.g. if someone thinks that experience is the only way to understand things, then I can't say otherwise).

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by TotallyWicked

^^^^Actually I am a Mestizo (White/Indigenous), but folks mainly recognize the "White" side, my family is darker, has different hair texture, etc. a lot of Latinos still have the "White is superior" mentality that has been fed...regardless of one's own background (e.g. Black Latinos denying their African heritage or downplaying "Black" features and praising "White" ones).

I figured there had to be some reason your family saw dating people with more of a European background as dating "in group."


Thanks for the insight.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I assume you are a "white Latino" (in layperson's terms ) so it makes sense that this would translate into "racial" differences (rather that just cultural and ethnic) in your family's eyes. In this country and in Latin American countries, there is a great social divide between groups of people based on the color of their skin, features, and hair texture. So things like attractiveness and social status (i.e. the white privilege that people of European background receive all over the world) will be based on that. If you date someone of the African diaspora, familiarity with each other's "culture" would have to include acknowledging and discussing this without being too consumed with it.

There was a special on PBS recently about this issue in Brazil. Very sad state of affairs. If I find a link or article, I will post it.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

There was a special on PBS recently about this issue in Brazil. Very sad state of affairs. If I find a link or article, I will post it.

I hope you find it, I'd really be interested in reading that.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

I hope you find it, I'd really be interested in reading that.

Could this be it?
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/ro...l_cutting.html

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Could this be it?
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/ro...l_cutting.html

No, thats not it. It was PBS, though. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/brazil2/

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

No, thats not it. It was PBS, though. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/brazil2/

Thank you for finding this.

But with national surveys identifying over 130 different categories of skin color, including "cinnamon," "coffee with milk," and "toasted," who will be considered "black enough" to qualify for the new racial quotas?

Wow, just wow. A whole other level.

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Thank you for finding this.

Wow, just wow. A whole other level.

It sounds like the coffee menu at Starbucks.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

No, thats not it. It was PBS, though. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/brazil2/

Thanks for the link!

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

A black African and black American can have tension if they act is if being on different continents constitutes huge differences in the "type of black" that they are rather than seeing themselves as part of the African diaspora. And if this is fueled by ignorance of black African and black American experiences and culture, it can be intrusive.

I assume you are a "white Latino" (in layperson's terms ) so it makes sense that this would translate into "racial" differences (rather that just cultural and ethnic) in your family's eyes. In this country and in Latin American countries, there is a great social divide between groups of people based on the color of their skin, features, and hair texture. So things like attractiveness and social status (i.e. the white privilege that people of European background receive all over the world) will be based on that. If you date someone of the African diaspora, familiarity with each other's "culture" would have to include acknowledging and discussing this without being too consumed with it.

This is so true. My husband (who's from Ghana) and I used to bump heads all the time when we first got married because of our perceived differences but we've since gotten over that. Now we embrace our likenesses and we can't believe how very alike we are despite our different upbringing. As for his family, they embraced me right away and have never had a problem with me being American although they did warn my husband that they would not be happy if he married a White woman, no matter where she was from.