I believe you are right. Of course, some of my "African American" friends will also have to drop their devotion to the one-drop rule as well. I believe that both of these identity belief systems can be dismantled. Whether or not I will see dramatic progress on these fronts in my lifetime remains to be seen.

Everyone needs to stop being a "race" and embrace their individuality. To claim that so-called "whites" (a falsely applied inaccurate junk science label) must stop being "white" while so-called "blacks" (another falsely applied inaccurate junk science label) will continue being "black" is a bit of hypocrisy. Any system which requires one "side" to cede something another "side" will not, is doomed to failure.

zenpoet2 said: "Stop excepting the priviledge and advantages you know society grants you for having white skin."

Given that I work in excess of 50 hours a week, I'm wondering exactly how much my privilege is worth in monetary terms. I can't seem to pay my bills with it. It doesn't put shoes on my "biracial" child's feet or food in his mouth. It doesn't allow my "black" wife to stay home eating bon-bons all day, instead of working 40+ hours a week herself.

When I get my "white skin privilege" check in the mail, I'll feel more privileged - and by the way, my "white" skin is a phenotype, but not my "racial" identification, as I am a multi-generational "multiracial" individual as these arbitrarily established "racial" classifications are used.

When I can walk through southeast DC while holding my "black" wife's hand and NOT get accosted, I'll feel more privileged. When someone can pull my grandfather's dead and rotting carcass from the ground, reconstruct the back of his skull and brain and breathe life back into him (victim in an "interracial" murder/armed robbery), I'll feel more privileged.

zenpoet2 said: "Blacks didn't make the one drop rule, whites did. There was no advantage for us to so."

Actually, political leaders who were so-called "white" according the inaccurate and arbitrarily created "racial" classifications created the one-drop rule - not "whites" as you stated in the collective. I don't believe in group guilt or group innocence, only individual responsibility for individual actions. "Whites" as a whole did nothing with regard to the one-drop rule. Specific "whites" in power, however, instituted the one-drop rule. That said, while "blacks" did not institute the one-drop rule, many so-called "blacks" revel in pushing this rule down the throats of self-identified "multiracial" individuals who happen to have partial African ancestry. "White" politicians created the rule, and today many hateful "whites" and many hateful "blacks" both use it as a weapon against "multiracial" individuals. This is not mere conjecture on my part, but my firsthand observations from a decade of direct advocacy on the issue.

__________________________________________________________________
James Landrith
james@jameslandrith.com
cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547
AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159
MSN: jlandrith * Yahoo!: jlandrith
Founder, Editor and Publisher, Pious Pagan Publishing
Taking The Gloves Off - http://jameslandrith.com/
The Multiracial Activist - http://multiracial.com/
The Abolitionist Examiner - http://multiracial.com/abolitionist/
__________________________________________________________________

Last Edited jlandrith on 28-Dec-2004 1:55 PM

Yes, it is almost like the tree falling in the forest, if no one is there, is there a sound made? If no one were black, would anyone be white? or vice versa...would there be 'race'?

Of course, all mankind would have to deny and negate the whole concept of a 'race' of man and accept each other as one.

It would indeed be a "hypocrisy' for one group of man to wish to remain known as a 'race' while denying another group of man the same opportunity to have something to 'cede', race wise. I believe that is the base of the problem, so to speak. To say that plainly, What is this thing called 'race'? Who makes the rules? What happens if one doesn't follow the rules? We know almost collectively the ansers to those questions , although admitted we may argue over semantics and nuances. i bet you and i would agree that there should be neither black nor white races. That there is no such thing as race.

Jl says:
"Given that I work in excess of 50 hours a week, I'm wondering exactly how much my privilege is worth in monetary terms. I can't seem to pay my bills with it..."

i understand the feeling as many of us have McJobs and we find ourselves working more and our dollar purchasing less. Blacks have a high unemplyment history. this is not your personal fault. Blacks are paid less than Whites for the same job. Your 'black' way MAY be recieveing 2/3rds less pay than white's for the same job. these statements are facts.

JL SAYS:
"When I get my "white skin privilege" check in the mail, I'll feel more privileged - and by the way, my "white" skin is a phenotype, but not my "racial" identification, ..."

The 'white skin priviledge' check can sometimes be cashed in unspoken but well understood redlined real eastate areas, bank loan rates, and numerous proven 'benefits' or 'bonus points' for life. Like having a high school degree for a certain job is a prerequist and understood as such. There are such 'checks' recieved when one applies for a job or clloege or for a club in a certain area and we all, collectively know such things exist and most won't deny them.

JL says
"When I can walk through southeast DC while holding my "black" wife's hand and NOT get accosted, I'll feel more privileged. When someone can pull my grandfather's dead and rotting carcass from the ground, reconstruct the back of his skull and brain and breathe life back into him (victim in an "interracial" murder/armed robbery), I'll feel more privileged."

There are many blacks with skin as white or lite as yours that face the same problem. People making assumptions based on skin color. There was a time when blacks would demand other blacks pass a paper bag pass to enter certain parties or attain membership in certain clubs. The skin color game is sick no matter who plays it.

When i can drive down Ventura Blvd. and not be pulled over by the police and asked for my id when i am just a passenger, when i can walk into Nordstroms et. al and not be followed, u get the picture....then we will know America is cahnging. I hope this happens soon for u and me the soldiers for this cause...and our children and our childrens children, etc.

JL says:
"Actually, political leaders who were so-called "white" according the inaccurate and arbitrarily created "racial" classifications created the one-drop rule - not "whites" as you stated in the collective. I don't believe in group guilt or group innocence, only individual responsibility for individual actions. "Whites" as a whole did nothing with regard to the one-drop rule. Specific "whites" in power, however, instituted the one-drop rule. That said, while "blacks" did not institute the one-drop rule, many so-called "blacks" revel in pushing this rule down the throats of self-identified "multiracial" individuals who happen to have partial African ancestry. "White" politicians created the rule, and today many hateful "whites" and many hateful "blacks" both use it as a weapon against "multiracial" individuals. This is not mere conjecture on my part, but my firsthand observations from a decade of direct advocacy on the issue."

No James, the "all" generalization perhaps implied in my words, is an error. You are correct, the 'leaders' made and enacted measures to enslave some men for the economic benefit for others. It is true that "multiracilism' is used by both 'races' to point to dilution or pollution and/or to inclusion or cleansing, whichever suits thier purpose. These terms are not meant to be definative or conclusive, but rather examples put in a this way for sake of conversation.

Regardless of who may have began the 'one drop' rule, the fact of the matter is we are all hard put to find the origin of our individful 'one drop' of any one race and therefore all of us are multiracial. It is a pleasure having this discussion.

----------
Xenpoet2
A soldier for the cause of freedom and justice...
There is no such thing as race!

Well said and it is indeed a pleasure to discuss such topics with you.

__________________________________________________________________
James Landrith
james@jameslandrith.com
cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547
AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159
MSN: jlandrith * Yahoo!: jlandrith
Founder, Editor and Publisher, Pious Pagan Publishing
Taking The Gloves Off - http://jameslandrith.com/
The Multiracial Activist - http://multiracial.com/
The Abolitionist Examiner - http://multiracial.com/abolitionist/
__________________________________________________________________

It seems like we are the only country that has to always determine "what are you?". If everyone would worry more about the issues that are seriously affecting US like healthcare, poverty, schools being closed down, AIDS, or our soldiers in Iraq, maybe the ignorance would diminish and people could accept their neighbors for who they are and not where their ancestors are from.

That is my one drop =)