BlogHer - Race & Ethnicity - Comments

Push

Denise — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:03:12 -0600

I'm not sure when I first read Push. I know that TW and I bought it at Wild Iris so it would have been sometime after 2001. When we bought it, I did not know that it had been published at the same time as Deep End... I learned more about Push after reading it. I was compelled, after reading it, to find out more about Sapphire.

I think that might have been the moment when I got angry at Oprah and her book club. Why choose Deep End when she could have chosen Push? But, that's another story.

I don't think I am going to see the movie. I think I want to hang onto the way I feel about this story, based on my experience with the book.

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings

Precious Indeed...

Lovebabz — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:33:27 -0600

Great post Sister!

It is unlikely I will see this movie (too close to the bone) But it is a story that needs telling. We all ought to be haunted by the subject...not paralyzed by it.

It is nasty. And it fucks with our sensibilities, but we must push on and accept the awareness of abuse. And also revel in the fact that even in the most heinous of situations love can and often does prevail. I know the story of Precious... I am she. And I am forever grateful for the folks (angels) who stood in the gaps and rescued me.

No, I won't be seeing this movie, but I will read opinions and reviews. It is my hope that there will be a renewed interest in child abuse and exploitation of children...that we dedicate ribbons and bake sales to this effort to raise awareness. It is my hope that a Precious ceases to exist...

Be loving & Be in LOVE

I saw this a while back and

anaesthetic — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:06:47 -0600

I saw this a while back and think it's horrible. I didn't know about the case on Maryland. I'm shocked that this is going on in Afghanistan but even moreso that it's still viewed as such in my "backyard".

Your are so right and in

Vita lingus — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:52:40 -0600

Your are so right and in regard to all of it,,, As i said to you in my email to you you are not alone You actually sound exhausted and I am NOT surprised why ... I must say having spent time state side i was genuinely shocked in the USA at how aware of difference as opposed to sameness in the other was so prevelant and frankly exhausting to witness .... America is at stage of witnessing it's self and what it thinks the other is maybe !! We can but hope that the world will evolve

And thank you. Have you seen this ad 4 racial tension headaches?

Nordette — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:02:32 -0500

:-)

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

My Story

Myama Boone — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:21:48 -0500

I am a foster mother to my 16-year-old niece who is biracial and her two little sisters ages 5 and 2. One of her sisters is biracial as well, but her other sister is White. My story is a bit unique as I am not married and my mom and I are sharing the responsibility of caring for these precious children. I am black and am very proud of who I am, not simply because of my skin color, but because God made me who I am. So I am taking care of these children with the intention of helping them be proud of who they are. Adoption is a strong possibility. But for now we are happy.

It is unbelievable how people stare and act strange when we go places. But I am the type of person that really doesn't care what nosy people think. I wanted to be a mom to these girls and that is what I am going to be. None of the so-called concerned strangers that are trying to figure out why I have a white child in my home are putting food in her mouth or clothes on her back.

I have been challenged to be well-informed and concerned that each child remains a part of the culture they are accustomed to. And my white and black sister-friends have been key in helping me accomplish this. But more than anything else, I love these babies and my race doesn't keep me from extending the love God placed in my heart to them. I have to answer to Him for every decision I make and I choose to love...

Not a Brilliant Chess Move

Liberal Sista — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:48:02 -0500

I found the results of Prop 8 to be morbidly disgusting! Although I am a Black heterosexual female, nevertheless I have always supported gay marriages, same-sex adoptions, as well as upholding the Supreme Court decision of Roe V Wade. Unfortunately, Christianity has a played a vital role in many Black communities. Many African Americans are physically liberal, but socially conservative. What went wrong with Prop 8 and the Black vote? A.S.S.U.M.P.T.I.O.N and BAD MARKETING! There is a smaller percentage of Blacks living in California than any other ethnicity group. There are more faith-based televised sermons advertised on BET, than MTV or VH1. There were no grassroots campaign pushing the opposition agenda of Prop 8 in Black and Hispanic urban/suburban areas. Kanye West, a rapper who has openly expressed his support for gay marriages would have been a great spokesperson for the Black community. Politics is a game of chess, and Prop 8 is just one of the 16 pieces! The Mormans understood their religious constituents. If you want to forward a faith based agenda among minorities, then target the Black churches. President Bush did this during his Presidential campaign. Trying to push Prop 8 right after the Presidential victory of President Obama {without gaining a favorable amount of attention to this subject from Blacks and Hispanics} was infantile. You want Prop 8 eradicated? Then reach out to the Black community. It's NEVER too late! I still support same sex marriages.

Here is a great chess move. According to DADI, 69% of births among Black women were to unwed mothers. Black women are the least likely to be married (more than any other women of any different ethnicity). Call the Black churches out on their hypocrisy. The older pre-Civil Rights generation do not believe that Gay-Marriage is a civil rights issue, so don't make it one! It's a losing battle! Instead create this argument, "Why are so many African-Americans concerned about respecting the institution of marriage, when so many children in Black communities are being born out of wedlock?" This would be a great debate to take on with Black pastors. A widely publicized debate on BET with pastors {like Creflo A. Dollar and TD Jakes}, would push the issue among many young voters in HBCUs (historically Black Colleges and Universities). Target the Black Gay Elite in Atlanta, Georgia to pull further resources. They are well connected to many other Black organizations and learning institutions. I hate to admit this, but the failure of Prop 8 did not lie with the Mormans or religious Blacks. The failure lied with the upper-middle class gay elite who refused to form allies with the Black and Hispanic communities. The Morman churches CAME PREPARED!

wow!

mastergemini — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:02:38 -0500

i can't believe this is actually being read! thanks y'all!

off balance louisiana single mom

A guy my daughter is seeing...

Denise — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:21:50 -0500

is apparently working on a book that includes his status updates, random tweets, etc... I have no idea how he's pulling this together or what it's going to develop into, but I'm fascinated by it.

I often tweet and status update obscure stuff that only a few people really understand. It's intentional, I don't want to give the details behind that because there are consequences to that. Someday... five years from now, seven years from now - when all of the kids are really grown, then I'd consider spilling the beans (and giving the real dirt behind what I meant...)

~Denise BlogHer Community Manager
Flamingo House Happenings

I confess so much and yet

avflox — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:02:23 -0500

I confess so much and yet say so very, very little in my FB statuses. Spelling out the truth would be fascinating.

I think this is a really interesting idea

sassymonkey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:54:39 -0500

Very interesting. I often feel like I have a hard time actually blogging these days...but I update Chatter and Twitter almost daily. Every status has a story. Hmm NaBloPoMo is next month...this might be just the kind of idea I need to kick start personal blogging again. Hmmm...

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

Thanks for the nod. I

siditty — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:14:41 -0500

Thanks for the nod. I loved this article by the way. I remember growing up and having friends who would say things like "My grandparents say racist things, but they aren't racist, they're just a product of their time" As if grandma and grandpa aren't able to evolve and control their tongue.

I also love that the Justice of the Peace kindly lets black people use his bathroom as proof of him not being racist.

It is amazing at what "I'm not racist, but..." can be used in this day and age.

Thank you, Sage.

Nordette — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:21:50 -0500

I'm glad you dropped by.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

It's hard to compare since

Nordette — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:20:01 -0500

It's hard to compare since blacks in South Africa are actually the majority who were oppressed by the minority. I don't think America will change in quite the same ways. It appears eventually its majority will be people of color from many different ethnic groups, but unless these groups also wield great economic power, we wont' see a power shift that's anything more than window dressing. The power shift may be necessary, but it's not nearly as important to me as people treating each other with more respect whether rich or poor, black or white, majority or minority.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

That's funny.

Nordette — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:14:59 -0500

Thank you for the chuckle, for reading, and for commenting. I hope you got a chance to read Part 2. It's a little lighter, but some long quotes may be Excedrin worthy.

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.