African American
Related: About this forumTavis Smiley: LOL—Who’d Sign Up To Be Black?
When I first heard the story about the black NAACP head in Spokane, Washington, Rachel Dolezal, being outed as a white woman, honestly, I laughed. Out loud.
LOL.
Because I knew how this story would land in Black America, I tuned into urban radio and perused black Twitter to get a sampling of the jokes that I knew would be flying.
As expected, the jokes were plentiful, ranging from versions of She actually signed up for this?! to Why would you ruin a good credit score!
In truth, the closest that most white folk want to get to the black experience in America, is tanning at the pool to get that look. But thats as far they want to go.
Okay, possibly some collagen in the lips. But thats as far as they want to go.
Okay, perhaps an injection in the behind. But thats as far they want to go.
Okay, maybe theyll sport street-smart black fashion, borrow a hairstyle or two and call it a mini bun when its really a bantu knot. But thats as far as they want to go.
In other words, Ill take the look, but you can keep the life.
http://time.com/3919899/tavis-smiley-lol-whod-sign-up-to-be-black/
enough
(13,270 posts)snip from the article>
The real question this sordid matter raised for me is simply this: Assuming again that her intentions were noble, is there a better way for Ms. Dolezal to have advocated for the rights of marginalized fellow citizens without fronting as somebody shes not?
Of course there is.
What we need in America are fellow citizens not in black face, but ones who have the courage, conviction and commitment to unapologetically use their white face and their white voice, hands, feet, head and heart to make America a nation as good as its promise.
end>
Journeyman
(15,044 posts)and when his experiment was over -- Black Like Me (1961) -- he found it necessary for the safety of his family to move from Texas to Mexico. There they stayed for a number of years. So there's little value in doing this, though Griffin helped somewhat to enlighten white people. Black people? Nothing new for them.
Louis CK had it right on this score . . .
yurbud
(39,405 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Number23
(24,544 posts)What we need in America are fellow citizens not in black face, but ones who have the courage, conviction and commitment to unapologetically use their white face and their white voice, hands, feet, head and heart to make America a nation as good as its promise.
Yep.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Number23
(24,544 posts)What he's doing here is a good way to get back into the good graces of the folks who made him what he is (black folks) but if this is just a stopover on the All Hate Express, then he can just keep right on.
JustAnotherGen
(32,046 posts)Any moment now -
3-2-1 ----> Obama sucks and has done nothing for black people! It's coming.
He dug himself too far into a hole with me.
Number23
(24,544 posts)reconnect with black people will be overshadowed any minute now with more admonitions for why we're all stupid to support that sell out Obama! The man who stole ALLLLL of his and Corny's thunder.
Tavis is deep in that hole but he's still in the shallow end compared to Corny. That man is 42 miles below and from what I understand is STILL digging.
JustAnotherGen
(32,046 posts)3 days to blame Rachel Dolezales behavior on Obama.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)They still have the support of white liberals ... that, also, hate President Obama ... er, President Obama's policies.
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)BumRushDaShow
(130,043 posts)Who would want the baggage?
Although I wouldn't be surprised if doing such allowed someone to be "the big fish in the little pond" as it were... as long as they stay in that pond. It's a role on a stage and by playing the part long enough, they can become an expert at it, without need to internalize any of the negativity that is associated with being black. And that's because they believe that it's not really against them personally but against the part they are playing.
BainsBane
(53,137 posts)It just leaves my head spinning.