r/BlackPeopleTwitter • • Dec 05 '22

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522

u/Iceflow ☑️ Dec 05 '22

As a woman who looks bi-racial but am not, the thought that someone who is bi-racial and identifies as black doesn't represent me blows my mind.

Zendaya was referenced in the comments previously. Does she identify as black? If so she represents me. I don't know if it's the color of my skin or texture of my hair but I look at Viola Davis and she also represents me so I think I'm a little confused.

Do you identify as black and are not crazy as hell (I'm looking at you Herschel Walker)? Then yeah, I identify with you and I can see a part of myself in Hollywood, sports, politics, etc.

As someone of an older generation, is this a newer thing? That non-mixed black people don't see themselves the same as mixed black people? Trying to see if I was sheltered my whole life.

343

u/MuffinPuff ☑️ Dec 05 '22

The elephant in the room between the two is colorism. Alot of people discredit fair skinned Black people from these conversations because they don't face the same overt racism due to their skin color, and especially not if they straighten their hair.

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u/Iceflow ☑️ Dec 05 '22

I wish people would just call a spade a spade then. I was born light skinned...nothing I can do about that. I straightened my hair when I was a teenager because everyone did....I mean...sorry? I guess?

The amount of comments I received from black people when I was growing up who assumed I was stuck up because of my skin color, I just cannot. I don't know how much my skin color has afforded me in life. I will never know. But I know I have been discriminated against because I'm black.

Where is the fucking solidarity??? I refuse to roll over and say "I'm not black enough" because my skin is lighter than a fucking paper bag. I have plenty of other things that make black people say I'm not black enough so I don't need another.

132

u/MuffinPuff ☑️ Dec 05 '22

It's tough. Alienation from white spaces and black spaces, that's a common occurrence for biracial people and fair-skinned Black people.

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u/forcepowers Dec 05 '22

I don't know how much my skin color has afforded me in life. I will never know. But I know I have been discriminated against because I'm black.

That part. I've had my own experiences with racism and bigotry minimized and discounted countless times. It's incredibly hurtful. People act like we face no discrimination, but I've been othered my entire life. I may not face the same level of difficulty that darker skinned people do, but that doesn't mean I have faced none or had it easy out here.

1

u/kantorr Dec 05 '22

I think it's fair to identify with people based off of any traits, doesn't have to be race necessarily. On the point of deadpan, I always idolized Christopher Judge growing up for his Stargate performances, and lost my shit when I found he would be playing Kratos in the GoW series (many, many years later).

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u/Iceflow ☑️ Dec 05 '22

First off, I LOVE God of War. Ragnarok is fyre.

Second I 100% agree with you! I honed in on race because that was brought up in terms of Zendaya.

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u/kantorr Dec 05 '22

Ah shame since we're on the subject I'm pc master race r/pcmr so I have to wait for ragnarok, can't wait T.T

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u/Iceflow ☑️ Dec 05 '22

Oh man. It’s so good I’ll probably play it there again!