"How I Found Out I Was Black" profile by Mike Shum

This video is a profile documentary shot by Mike Shum about my performance piece, "How I Found Out I Was Black". For more information please visit www.vanessaroberts.com and www.mikeshum.com, your comments are highly welcomed.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• race
• black
• humor
• performance art
• diversity
• education

[Africanstar6]

The half breeds like this one in the video. Have to realized biracials are more white than blacks so we should called them white or cracker

[CheezInspector]

@chsn09, I'll ask again: How am I "one dropping" this biracial woman? That's your accusation so please describe how I've done that. Thank you.

[chsn09]

@CheezInspector You're contradicting YOURSELF! You have a fit when people one drop mixed people including YOURSELF especially. This girl in the video does in fact look biracial. I would not be suprised if you look or have similar features to her. I hate it when someone tries to one drop me or put the one drop rule on others. I come from mixed ancestry.

You've also said that you were more white! And YOU have issues w/ yourself if you do to others what YOU don't like done to yourself!

[WhereYaBoss]

@CheezInspector See there you are telling me again how hard biracials have it. This is part of the reason why I am against it. If people are having mixed children for hair and skin texture I am adamantly opposed to it. But if an interracial couple is willing to think about the kind of life their child is going to have and is going to take the time to make sure they are bringing them up in a biracial friendly environment with the proper coping skills than I wish them all the best.

[CheezInspector]

@chsn09, what led you to interpret what I said as One Dropping anyone? I never stated this woman isn't mulatto. I never said she's "just Black" either. Nor did I state whether or not she's "mixed enough" (whatever that means). I've stated a mere fact: it's harder for some of us "mulattoes" to be accepted as mixed when we have a phenotype that more closely leans toward Black. If you find my stating that FACT to be judgmental, or an indictment somehow, your issue is with yourself, not me.

[CheezInspector]

@WhereYaBoss, there's nothing derisive about acknowledging/commiserating w/the FACT that some of us (biracial people) have it harder than others due to more seemingly obvious Black features. I'm empathic about it and it's too bad if you confuse that with hate.

It's society's fault for such ill treatment. We can't just pretend phenotype (physical appearance) doesn't have a real impact on how much (or little) racism we endure as "mixed" ppl. And this lady beautifully articulated this issue.

[chsn09]

Anyway, the girl in this video is mixed race. She's NOT black. One drop rule died in 1967! Stop holding onto it!

[WhereYaBoss]

@CheezInspector You are the reason I am against further race mixing. You and the troubles that this person in the video is speaking to, are the prime reasons why I think race mixing creates more division and hate. It was suppose to be the answer to racial healing, instead all it does is exasperate already existing issues between the races. Instead of trying to create harmony you all point out ridiculous microscopic differences in skintone & hair texture and perpetuate biracial stereotypes!

[WhereYaBoss]

@chsn09 TELL IT!!! Word. People like @CheezInspector are the problem. I prefer if they breed out of the race completely.

[chsn09]

@CheezInspector Pot meet kettle? This girl looks mixed-mulatto. This is why people have such a hard time distinguishing between biracial and black. You say that you are biracial and mixed etc but yet you go around calling other fellow mixed people black or saying that they look so black? And yet if others did the same to you wouldn't YOU be offended? I would not be suprised if you looked the same or similar! If mixed people are suppose to be unified why go around stating who is mixed enough?