Bliss Broyard

Colour her confused: author Bliss Broyard on the secret life of her father, The New York Times literary critic Anatole Broyard.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Multiculturalism
• TVO
• TVOntario
• Canada

[REDDOG525]

@REDDOG525 didn't complete ** my great-great-great grandmother was aboard one of Jean Lafitte's ships. **

[REDDOG525]

@REDDOG525 Part III. Nor, great grandparents. I was born in 1964 and that 1800's white grandfather was born in like 1747 and is my great-great-great grandfather and my great-great-great grandmother was from Santo Domingo aboard one of Jean Lafitte's (the pirate/privateer/tobacco smuggler). My fore-mother's was a prized creole and her name is in a 1700's Last Will and Testament. I so relate to this Bliss Broyard and Anatole Broyard's interesting story. Creole folk know I'm black.

[REDDOG525]

@REDDOG525 Part II...The other side of my maternal lineage is French, British, Indian. Can't find those African records but they are there. My father's lineage is just as colorful. My surname comes from the UK. My dad's mother comes from a prominent German surname. Passing has been in my family for generations but my closest white forefather was in the 1800's/ Mom's- -1840's/Dad's. People assume that one of my parents are white and confused when they find out that neither were my grandparents.

[REDDOG525]

I've set here and read through all of these comments and no one has hit home: AFRICA. WE are all African and as Leakey discovered, all of our mitochondrial DNA links to the oldest woman fossil: Eve. Therefore, I have no problem claiming my American BLACK blood that was brought her enslaved from Santo Domingo that was mixed with Choctaw Indian, and French. That's one side of my maternal lineage. African records are inferior so, I can't complete the other side. I'm Creole but we are all AFRICAN!

[chsn09]

¡Another reason why the notion of race is stupid! Race does not exist.

[MultiSmartass1]

@gatheringleaves Interesting. You are one of the one few biracials who has talked about white racism against biracials.

Most tell me about black racism which isnt as known or ballyhooed in the media.

Sounds like what you went through is pretty de rigeur and is pretty much expected when you are a black/white biracial.

Based on what I have been told and my research thus far, it seems that whites simply dislike biracials whereas black feel threatened.

Where do you live? Are whitesthat way?

[gatheringleaves]

@MultiSmartass1

I agree with you, I'm a very light skinned biracial guy but I've still encountered racism from whites, been called a monkey once and been followed around in stores, and a bunch of white kids even told me once that I was black even though I tried to tell them I wasn't so you are very right

[MultiSmartass1]

@babiesboy1933 I understand that such incidents in your past elicit pain and if you do not wish to discuss specific incidents that is entirely up to you.

As you can see on this page and another-which name I forget at this time-some biracials (or people who say they are-no one can confirm this stuff online) have expressed their thoughts, feeling and incidents relating to their biraciality.

I don't like sunshine saccarine stuff but these forums confirm that people like you and me are not alone.

[babiesboy1933]

@MultiSmartass1 it's hard to verbalize especially to someone who I don't know if I completely trust. I remember being 8 yos. and going to school on the bus. I remember telling some kid, a white kid older than me, that I was Black and White. i remember him getting angry about it and attacking me and choking me. I was shocked, angry, and I had a feeling of shame.

[MultiSmartass1]

@babiesboy1933 I'm curious-what emotions are these that are awakening inside of you?