1. Have you and The Rover talked about what raising multi-racial kids will be like? She meant TM...she'd had some red wine as she wrote these.
Surprisingly no. We've talked about the values we want to impart to them and who will be the disciplinarian, but we haven't talked about the racial/cultural component. I think - without knowing it - that my dad and stepmom...who's white...are my guides. As far as I see, they don't "prep" my brother to be biracial. They face problems from without as they come up with no shame, and they have taught him about his family his entire life. Of course, they are very fortunate to live in a tolerant community, but race has never been a "thing."
So I'm hoping to adopt that philosophy. I am not so naive to think that race won't be an issue by the time my child comes into the world. As I write this, I'm realizing I believe that biracial people...of any combination...are more accepted by society that straight black people. Huh. I have to think about this.
2. If you could have any occupation in the world (other than the one you have), what would it be?
I have two answers. I would either:
- run a small theatre company of quality in a community that really values theatre, or
- be a camp counselor in Maine.
3. If you could spend a night with one celebrity, who would it be?
So many are coming to mind! Wait a minute! I'm ashamed it took me this long...Channing Tatum, of course! God, that would be good stuff!
4. What is your biggest regret?
I had one answer for this for years, but writing it doesn't seem right. Huh...again. I think I may have forgiven myself for that one. I think my biggest regret is not going through with breaking up with Ex during our trip to Miami 7 months into our relationship. I actually told him that I wanted to break up because he didn't seem to accept me as I was. But then we made up...sort of. I should have kept walking.
5. What's your favorite movie?
There are SO many. But I guess I would have to say Dirty Dancing. That one has the strongest emotional tie for me. I can remember that film in a way I remember no other.
3 comments:
Good answers. I have to say that I disagree with the biracial people being more accepted statement. If you had asked me that as a teenager, I would have said yes. I always thought the biracial girl got all the guys and they did, when they were hot (see Halle Berry). When they weren't though, they took a lot of crap, more than I did.
I actually think that biracial people (and I am not one so this is speculation) have a difficult challenge because they are not just one thing. They do not belong to just one group and they feel like outsiders a lot. The conflict is more internal but not less real. Your brother is lucky because your parents are so well adjusted and open. But the internal conflict is there I am positive especially because your brother such a smart kid.
We are still a segreated country and the black folk tend to go to one side, the white to the other. It will be interesting to see what your kid looks like becaue that effects a lot as well. Plus your kid is going to have the Mexican component as well. Will he/she learn Spanish? If they don't, will they encounter issues around it? (Not to stress you out or anything.)
I am in the middle of Rebecca Walker's Black, White and Jewish so this is more in my mind than ever. Growing up, I thought she was so beautiful. I knew her through friends of my Mom and I thought she did not have a problem in the world. I was totally wrong.
You bring up a lot of good points, angela. I think I have that romantized view of biracial people that you had.
What's also interesting is that TM talks about race and culture with a different language than I do. This is too nuanced to explain in a comment, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that he grew up in the West and I grew up on the East Coast. The terminology, the connections to class are different, though the issues are similar. We do a lot of translation when we talk about race. So it will be interesting to see how we talk about and to our kids regarding race.
And even though TM is biracial, it's his Hipanic side that is by far the strongest in his family. So yes, our children will definitely be bilingual.
For now, all I know is that there will be a lot of open, honest, respectful communication because that's how we roll.
Definately the most shocking answer to all these questions was "Dirty Dancing"
I agree 100% with Angela and I love that book BTW!
I'm glad your kids will speak Spanish. Its super important.
Lastly, I would have loved to have been a camper in Maine with you as my counselor. You can still in the summers!
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