Well…in an effort to turn a highly unproductive day into a less of a waste I have started this blog. I have been meaning to do this for some time now, as I have realized that some things are better written and read than spoken and heard in a video. Every time I try to make a video about some “biracial revelation” I’ve written in a journal, it just doesn’t sound right. So this is where I’ll be posting those things I guess. I also guess that I should not assume that this blog will be automatically linked in the reader’s mind (or on the internet) to my Vlog on YouTube. My name is Tiffany. I am biracial. Specifically I have a Black mother and a White father. For years I bought into the idea that this meant that I was black. Then I came to my senses some twenty years later. Now I’m on a crusade to spread the word. The word that “Black” is not a taint that cancels out all other. The word that because my father (grandmother, grandfather, cousins, uncles) is white, then so am I. And even if I don’t look white, I still have a right to claim my heritage without shame or even hesitation. I am not on a crusade to create a separate race. There is already separation enough amongst us. For the most part I am not concerned with having a special box to check. I want to get rid of the boxes. The only thing I can think of doing to start us on that path is talking about race openly, honestly, kindly, compassionately, and with sensitivity to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of others. My goodness this is wordy. I suppose that’s what this is all about though. Hopefully I’ll get used to it. I think I will. Stay tuned….
mulatto diaries
creating a bye-racial world
mulatto diaries 
Hi Tiff. I see you’re branching out! I really enjoy watching and commenting on your videos. I may eventually end up subscribing. All the best! Peace!
“realistsoul”
Hey Tiff,
Found it, as you can see. lol. Lovely. Yes, I agree, it is sometimes better for someone to read than hear. It gives a chance to not interupt and actually, “listen”. Sorry not to wordy today, just wanted to pop over and take a look. More next time, and keep it up. Kisses
“msleenline”
so glad you found it 🙂
Wow Tiffany all these years and now you have brought something to my realization. You are right. The race of the father is the dominant race of the child. So you are white and look black or you are white with black features.
I aplogize to you because i thought in the beginning you were just ashamed to be black. But your blog has cleared that up to me. I now understand!
thanks for sharing that danny boy! just out of curiosity, is that something you assumed about biracial people in general or just me?
some people really push that race of the father thing, while others push the race of the mother. before the america’s and slavery, over in Europe it was the race of the father that determined the child’s race. but either way, race is just a made up thing in my opinion. we’re all just people and our dna determines how we look. i’m gonna get back to you on my 2009 goals. i haven’t forgotten. i hope you get your funding for afrence and have a successful year with your products!
No, the father is not what determines race. We all inherit 50% of our DNA from each parent, regardless of race. When you combine two races you get a new race, not a continuance of one of those two races. Black does not dominate. People from all races resemble people of others (I once met a Latino man I thought was black until he told me otherwise), so “looks” cannot constitute claim to a race. I don’t care what someone thinks I look like. How does that change what I am? “Looks” are not the only genetic material races pass on. Even little things like personality traits are inherited. Different from blacks with a little bit of white blood in them; biracial children are the direct offspring of a white parent and are not black.
This is a serious issue for me that saddens and angers me, and here’s why:
There are serious issues that can arise from the misclassification of a biracial person as black, including medical issues.
There are laws on the books that say a biracial child in foster care *must* be placed with a black family? Doesn’t matter what family they came from, they *must* be placed with a black family.
An overlooked and very serious tragedy in all of this is the fact that there is not a single history book a biracial little boy or little girl can sit down to and open up and see the achievements of their race. Everything that biracial people have accomplished is credited to blacks. And now, possibly the greatest achievement by biracial peoples, is being, once again, credited to the black race right before our eyes. I am sickened every time I hear first “black” President. If Obama wants to be this “race uniter”, he needs to start within himself.
If I had the gumption and support to get legislation passed to change the last two issues I listed, I would. It is not right. I am reminded of an 8-year-old biracial boy featured on Montell Williams several years ago who hanged himself because of racial teasing by his white brother. If society had told him the truth-he is part of that white family and can embrace *all* of himself-he may still be with us today. There are millions of biracial people who struggle with identity issues that may not meet the tragic fate of this little boy, but even one tragedy over this is enough to acknowledge this is an issue that should not be taken lightly.
I agree race should not matter and I often write in “H” for human. But races are there and labels are still there, so why not use them correctly? Biracial people are their own unique and beautiful race, who experience-better yet, live-a unique life different from blacks and whites. And, like all other races, they should be respected too. But that starts with acknowledging them and all of the achievements they’ve made.
BTW, I applaud you, Tiffany, for embracing and loving *all* of you, despite the opposition you may encounter. No one race is more important than another, and I thank you for acknowledging that by not giving precedence to one part of what makes you you. 🙂
Concerned Citizen:
Sounds like you have “issues” with the African part of someone’s genetic make-up. For the record, the majority of “mixed-raced” blacks identify as”black”, there’s no shame of being of African ancestry; most mixed-race people look “full-blooded” AA anyway-so why the shame? President Obama, Hallie Barry Lenny Kravis- they all look like full blooded black folks and they identiy as black too. Why is it “some” mixed blacks try to make themselves “different”? The Eurasian identifies himself as Asian; they don’t have the same “issues” some mixed blacks do. If you are so sure about your heritage, go into a room of white people and proclaim you’re “half/part” white-let’s see how fast you will be laughed out of the room!
ETA:
Why is it the only people to disagree with Obama identifying as black, are some mixed-race blacks? As if you belong to a”different/elite” class from the slavery era? Please do yourself a favor, embrace your African side and have pride!
Slavery is over. It’s 2009. Quit living in the past. People can embrace ALL of themselves.
There are biracial people awaiting bone marrow transplants whose best match is another BIRACIAL person. They cannot find them because they’re all classified as black. Do YOURSELF a favor and visit one on their death bed and tell them too bad they can’t find a donor because you need satisify yourself with a black label only.
Who cares about a reaction when walking into a room of whites? I’m sorry racists dictate how you classify others. How your treated doesn’t change your genes. Neither does which parent you happen to look like. Many whites have been and are still involved in new multiracial classifications. Seen your census? You can check more than one race now. Guess what, some whites were involved with that. A WHITE mother of a biracial son started this site: http://projectrace.com/aboutprojectrace/ Seems the only one clinging to racist “one dropping” is you.
One day we’ll all be mixed and there will be no differentiating who’s black. But sadly, you’ll still be searching for that one drop. Move on.
Excellent introduction, I look forward to reading the rest of the blog.