I have THREE Black grandparents & one non white/non black (mixed) grandparent…. But I’m not Black enough to speak on Black issues?
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How Black do you have to be to be black enough?
“Are mixed people black?”
So I was having a weird conversation with a dark skinned “full black” Jamaican brother who proceeded to tell me that I have no right to talk about black issues, black culture or black injustices and that I should stop making videos uplifting black women as it’s not my place….. Because I’m light skinned and “only half black”.
“You’re mixed”
People love to tell me what I am. Even when they have no idea.
I listened to this very annoying brother talk at me for a lot longer than I really wanted to. He then said “You should only uplift hispanic women, since you look more hispanic than black”.
At that point I tried to explain to him that hispanic is not a race, it’s a culture so there are Black hispanics and I am not just “half black”. Yes my mother is mixed. She is half Black and my father is Black.
He then told me that I have no right to the black culture.
So here’s the thing. As a son of a proud black Jamaican father and a strong mixed black and Taino Puerto Rican mother with light skin and very curly hair, raised in the projects of Marcy Houses in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn NY. I now have to question…If being black is more than just skin tone, a way of life, culture, heritage, blood and experience, then how black do you have to be, to be black enough? But how can you tell me that because I’m half Puerto Rican that I have no right to embrace my Jamaican side?
“Team light skin” and “Team dark skin” is bullshit. Having our identity questioned by our own people is the craziest thing to me. Whether we’re “full black”, mixed majority black or biracial, Puerto rican or Dominican we are all impacted by the effects of racism AND still judged as being BLACK.
Our experiences as Black people may differ due to our skin tone… But in reality, we ALL share the same struggle. This division amongst Black people makes us less effective in the work towards eradicating racism. You can’t destroy colorism by creating your own colorism.
Angel, this Black Women Black Queen appreciates you. Most people that make remarks like that are making little to no contribution to society.
Unfortunately, we still live in a society of ignorance, lack of insight, education and understanding. That man is no different.
As we know, the pathway to being in the Caribbean often meant that our ancestors became mixed during slavery, so therefore it’s very common for our DNA to be ‘mixed’…. and apparently you being too fair to be black and me being too dark to be Jamaican (but I must add that as dark as I am I still get are you mixed because of my hair????) Leaves us kind of floating in an abyss a.k.a pure confusion.
As a community we tie ourselves in these ridiculous knots because ultimately regardless of complexion, other racial groups see us as one ‘BLACK’ and the black experience remains the same.
I am from the UK and once asked a police officer the racial identification code for black people Vs mixed heritage people and he admitted that they came under the same code!
Sadly that Jamaican man is confused and will probably vibe and meditate to Bob Marley and relate to his struggle, even though Bob too is mixed!
No one can have the power to define your identity and Angel, as a black woman, I see you as a handsome, empowering black king! And I follow you because you use your platform to spread love and positivity and uplift the black women! You also address the black experience and I love that too!
Some people are stuck in their confusion and ultimately people are entitled to think whatever they want, they must just learn to keep their foolish, nonsensical mess to themselves!!!
Very good strong points. There are many phenotypes in Africa – it’s massive. People just need to get educated.
Angel don’t let no one define weather your black or not .you know what you are and you have done more for the black community than the ones who’s claiming your not black enough
My opinion is that, a black person is a black person no matter the color, language, culture, etc. If, your father is a black man and got married to a White woman or a white man who is married to a black woman your origin is black . Many Africans have light skin with straight nos. In Jamaica, Majority of them are Africans with mixed colors, mixed parents and so on. In the cause of blacks freedom , it’s a collective fight and a fight for all .
I had a conversation with another light skinned woman the other day that told me light skinned women should recognize their privilege and do better with understanding why dark skinned people have a problem with them. I explained to her that we have enough outside issues with us as a whole to go against each other over skin tone. Not being black enough shouldn’t even be a thing. This video came just when I needed to hear it.
how is pointing out light skin privilege is “going against each other” ?
I see a lot of people making comments about it being about skin color and it’s not just skin color. Skin color is symbolic of your genetics. Having light skin doesn’t mean you’re not partially Black but it does often times indicate you’re not as Black (genetically) as others. And as for the light skinned Africans they are still visibly Black and have a darker hue than a mixed genetics or some bi-racial people. Bi-racial people are just that part/part and mixed are just that mix/mix/mix. I remember seeing the video of Angel’s genetics and I believe he had around %62 African genetics. Genetically he wouldn’t be considered as Black as someone with %75 or %80 African genetics. However, based on the fact that he has a substantial (based on logic) amount of African genetics that ties time to Blackness/African bloodlines, his mentality of being dedicated to Blackness, and his actions of being loyal to Blackness I would consider him Black man. On the other hand there was this woman who had the phenotype, and skin color of a white woman but her parents I believe were both Bi-racial people who looked Bi-racial. I would never call her a Black woman though because it’s evident that genetically she inherited more white genes than anything else. Nothing about this woman was remotely Black in terms of looks, hair texture, skin color, mentality, dedication, loyalty, etc. So while many of you are making claims it’s division to nit pick over skin color (related to genetics) it’s actually nature that divided us and it’s actually necessary (if we wish to get anywhere as Black people) that we make it known what we will and won’t accept as a Black person. For if you accept everything you’re accepting nothing at all. If anyone can be Black no matter how little they resemble original Black peoples, or how little they represent Black culture/mindsets (and there is a such thing) then this will lead to a future where people without any dark hue to their skin (very dark, very brown, lighter browns) i.e. pink/pale skinned people, representing Blackness and true Blackness being wiped out. Even though there are different phenotypes, hair textures, skin tones, throughout Africa we need never forget that even they had to spring from an original source.
Accepting biracial ppl as black isn’t accepting everyone. They are the limit. Most biracial ppl with black phenotypes identify as black while the exception you mentioned doesn’t bc she just doesn’t have the black phenotype. Obviously if a biracial person has offspring with a non black person that child can’t identify as black. How you look basically determines your race and experiences. Tia and Tamara are biracial women, Tamara’s daughter looks just like Tia’s even though Tia’s daughter has a black dad while Tamara’s daughter has a white one. Even though her kids are only a quarter black Tamara is teaching them to identify as black so I see the issue with accepting biracial ppl as black. But at the same time biracial ppl can choose to have black children with a black partner, products of half black biracial and black parents are Chris Brown, Ryan Destiny and Tisha Campbell.
Thanks Angel. I’m mixed but really identify as black. “I’m black to whites and white to blacks”, as my ex girlfriend put it. I’m going to refer people to this video the next time someone asks my race. Peace.
Thank u, I’m so glad u reposted this video! I’m so sick of ppl saying that mixed/biracial blacks that they’re “Not black or not black enough”.
Once my white art teacher said that “Obama isn’t black”. Ok I mean if he isn’t black than what’s the other half besides him being half white?