I find it incredibly ironic and hypocritical that some people think Barack Obama‘s skin color has something to do with me, and others like me, not voting for him. Yes, there are racists around, but they don’t make up the majority of white people. Race relations have come so far and the proof is all the interracial couples, multiracial families, biracial/multiracial individuals and transracial adoptions that are commonplace today.
Barack Obama himself is biracial, although he seems to only consider himself as black. The reason I say that is because it’s all he ever talks about and he has never corrected the media when they refer to him as black or African American. So be it. If that’s how he defines himself, that’s his right.
But there are many others who are proud to be the product of two races and define themselves as biracial.
I have two children who are among that group. 
To the people who say that those of us who don’t vote for Obama are racist, I have some questions for you?
What are you doing to promote positive race relations?
What are you doing to help the overload of black youth in foster care?
What are you doing to uplift and empower poor blacks in their community?
If you’re so concerned about the black community, open your home to a black foster child and help make their life better. If you really want to make a life lasting difference, adopt them and give them the love and guidance they desperately need. Your help and home are needed, so put your money where your big mouth is.
Did you know that during the civil rights movement, transracial adoptions in the United States increased dramatically, more than tripling from 733 cases in 1968 to 2,574 cases in 1971. Currently, there are about 8,500 cases a year where white families have adopted black children.
My husband & I (we’re both white) adopted three older children through foster care, about five years ago. Two of them are brown skinned and biracial. Being the white parent of two brown skinned children is not always easy because we get stared at often and my children and I have been on the receiving end of very rude comments, from both black and white people.
We have dealt with REAL racism….not the watered down kind you Obama supporters drone on about. So before you open your mouth about us being racist for not voting for Obama, look at yourself. Instead of spreading hate, spread some love and become a foster parent. Or better yet, adopt some of the black youth that are wasting away in the system.
Otherwise, get out of my face.
grahic by:Optix
Andre Says:
I’m sorry that you’ve been on the receiving end of stares and rude comments. But if you think that’s the sum of racism in this country, then there’s a little more you need to realize about the state of race relations.
Andres last blog post..Caveat Emptor
Posted on September 25th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Joanne Says:
Andre, please don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t say that was the sum of racism. Maybe I should have been more specific in my post, but I’ve talked about them before and I don’t want to sound like a broken record.
1. My son and my daughter have both been called niggers to their face. My daughter was only eight when it happened the first time. My son was ten at the time.
2. My daughter has had two friends tell her that they can’t play with her because their parents don’t want them being friends with a “darky”.
3. My white daughter lost a friend because her father wouldn’t let her come over because of my son’s skin color. (And the father actually told us this to our face).
4. I’ve been told that I don’t raise my children “black enough”.
Like I said in my post, we’ve been on the receiving end of racist comments for a long time. These four examples are just a sample. Maybe I should have stated them in my post, but honestly I hate to keep repeating them because they’re quite hurtful.
Posted on September 28th, 2008 at 5:24 pm