9/19/09

"Psychological confusion is caused by the inability to reconcile different elements in my own personality..."

http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/atlas/censr01-110.pdf

"About 42 percent of those who have checked more than one race on the US Census forms are under age 18."

Your mother is Bengali and your father is Czech. You are presented with a form that asks you to choose one out of the four racial categories listed: Asian; African American/ Black; Caucasian; and Latino/ Hispanic. Which do you choose? Which side of your family do you honor and which one do you brush to the side?

One of EIRIC™'s founding principles is the belief that a well-rounded multiracial child is one that is encouraged to explore, celebrate, and connect the colorful dots that make him a whole person. We have a kindred spirit in Project RACE. We support their mission "for a multiracial classification on all school, employment, state, federal, local, census and medical forms requiring racial data." We wouldn't ask a child to choose between his right and left hand so why are we forcing him to choose one ancestry line over the other?

Your thoughts are invaluable to us.

Where do you stand on this subject? Are you a multiracial individual who has had to choose? How do you self-identify? How does the world identify you? If you have children, how do they self-identify? How does the world identify them? What conversations (if any) have you had with them regarding this topic?


9/18/09

"Hey, wake up Martin Luther...Welcome to the future"

Racism:
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

We were up to our necks yesterday reading articles about the current battle of words (or word, in this case) taking place on the political circuit. Today we discovered Brad Paisley's Welcome to the Future video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JAH_V3gb5c.

Although discussed from two very different perspectives, they have the same underlying message of "race and racial harmony or disharmony is vastly different than in the past."

We of course are curious about your thoughts behind racism as it is today.

How do you see that racism has changed over the years?

Does racism still carry the same social stigma?

Are people still offended and hurt at the thought of being labeled a racist?

Please share some stories about your personal experience with this subject.



Source: Racial Harmony Forum

"Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before - it takes something from him."

http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/Racial_violence_brought_to_public_focus_20090908

We are grateful that they're both alive and able to talk about it. It takes a lot of frustration, anger, and self-hate to almost take a human life because you are uncomfortable with a person's choice for a partner.

Please share your experience.

Has someone's dislike or hatred of your interracial relationship ever gotten physical?

How did you handle the situation?

What was the aftermath for you as a couple?

PSA: If you know anything about this vicious attack, please speak up. Let us remind these attackers that we live in what is supposed to be a civilized society.

"Why not go out on a limb? Isn't that where the fruit is?"


We initially intended to remain a passerby on the blogging express train. We were to sit silently while others shared their dysfunctions, knowledge of cheese, love of all things Telletubbies, and sincere dislike of everything Bush. While we wanted to refrain from overwhelming the online public with yet another blog, our desire to cultivate and nurture interactive online friendships quickly changed our minds. As such, we have folded into uneven pieces and tucked away our blogging reservations in a secure pouch. We welcome you to come along while we explore the world of interracial and intercultural as it plays out in the world and in our heads. We value your words just as much as we value what we write. Your feedback will keep us motivated. Keep chatting!

Yours,

EIRIC™






Photo Source: Informed Voters