I haven't read the other posts, and my ass is about as white as they come, so sometimes I feel like I'm not allowed to have an opinion on race-related things, because anything I think or say or do will be wrong, to someone. It's a sticky wicket.
But I think you're ahead of a lot of people, and you should speak up. Most people can't really think about the other side; most of us can't change color, or change culture's perspective of us.
For instance, you differentiate your slavic background from white; even when you're passing as white, you're not really white. But a lot of lily-white people have that same kind of experience. Is a person italian enough? Irish enough? In the part of germany I lived as an exchange student, my host-aunt was othered her entire married life because she came from a different village from her husband; they mocked her accent. The villages are like 10 miles apart. And there's the whole north/south thing. Is it just me Not Getting It to think that all these things are related and that we might get further by looking for a general solution?
Also, you're way ahead of the curve, demographically speaking; the numbers of mixed people who identify that way (instead of passing) are growing rapidly. That's a lot of people who aren't served well by the current dialogue.
I think the best solution is to stop thinking about race as a thing, and start viewing everyone as mutts with their own history. It's true enough anyway, and if everyone is a mutt, then who's to draw the lines between people?
but then I stumble up against the people who think I'm disrespecting their heritage or something and I'm wrong and clueless again. But I still think you should speak up when you feel you have something to say.
no subject
But I think you're ahead of a lot of people, and you should speak up. Most people can't really think about the other side; most of us can't change color, or change culture's perspective of us.
For instance, you differentiate your slavic background from white; even when you're passing as white, you're not really white. But a lot of lily-white people have that same kind of experience. Is a person italian enough? Irish enough? In the part of germany I lived as an exchange student, my host-aunt was othered her entire married life because she came from a different village from her husband; they mocked her accent. The villages are like 10 miles apart. And there's the whole north/south thing. Is it just me Not Getting It to think that all these things are related and that we might get further by looking for a general solution?
Also, you're way ahead of the curve, demographically speaking; the numbers of mixed people who identify that way (instead of passing) are growing rapidly. That's a lot of people who aren't served well by the current dialogue.
I think the best solution is to stop thinking about race as a thing, and start viewing everyone as mutts with their own history. It's true enough anyway, and if everyone is a mutt, then who's to draw the lines between people?
but then I stumble up against the people who think I'm disrespecting their heritage or something and I'm wrong and clueless again. But I still think you should speak up when you feel you have something to say.