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I am a firm believer that people use the word 'race' incorrectly. It is commonly used to distinguish groups of people based on the color of their skin. The problem that I have with this is simply that, for every color you pick, there exists a multitude of groups that can identify with the color choice. Have you noticed how one group is insulted when they are mis-identified? There is a very simple solution. First and foremost, let us agree that there is only ONE race, the HUMAN race. From there, let's talk about culture and ethnicity. Culture is the ideas, symbols, behaviors, values and beliefs that are shared by a human group. We can go further and say that culture is a groups program or plan for survival and adaptations to its environment Ethnicity speaks to groups that share a common history and culture, common values, behaviors and other characteristics that cause members of the group to have a shared identity. Therefore, culture, not biology, is the key factor distinguishing ethnicity. Hopefully, you can immediately see that there are places that can, and do, overlap, and there should be. Each and every one of us can list characteristics that we identify who we are. Here is an example: Find the origin of your mother's and father's last name. What did you find out? Do you physically look like the people where the name originated? Compare your religious practices with those from where those names originated. Are they the same or different? (Note:These questions will require a little work on your part.) I say this because you will find that there are more similarities than differences. We all bleed red, cry when we are hurt, fight or run when frightened, laugh at things we find funny. We all are one family, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. We are the human family and its about time for a family reunion.
Posted By: George Milliken
Monday, November 10th 2008 at 8:53PM
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Brother Milliken I am all for a family reunion. I really enjoyed the blog and I totally think you are on to something good.
Monday, November 10th 2008 at 11:39PM
Jen Fad
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as we examine, who are the ones to meet us half way in our understanding or getting to this level of humanity? i'm often asked why "there are so many "black" stories on my blog" or "is there that much urban." in answering the queries, it boggles my mind because same can't see the absent of these stories in mainstream. so who's meeting who half way?
Tuesday, November 11th 2008 at 12:48AM
yalanda lattimore-DryerBuzz.com
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Irma, I am not implying that your choice of identity is compromised in any way. You and I will always be seen as Black or African-American and we take great pride in that fact. the truth of the matter is that we all, Black, White, Asian, Native, come from a common mother and she was African. Those who feel the need to be 'better' than another group suffers from denial, self-loathing, anger brought on by their own failures and need to blame others for what they lack in themselves.
I am aware of many of the accomplishments that our ancestors brought to the world; language, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, architecture, boating, metallurgy, education, language, and schools, just to name a few. Let those who choose to remain ignorant be ignorant, that doesn't change the facts. Just because we have a cousin that made bad choices doesn't change the fact that they are still our cousin. There is still the hope that they will one day wake up and realize that we will only make it with a united front. Remember, the failings are theirs, not yours. I am proud of who I am and where I come from, that is something that will never change. I will never stop trying to be better and do better, that is where we come from and its the best way I know how to honor them. Our uniqueness is not with our skin but by what lies beneath.
Tuesday, November 11th 2008 at 5:28PM
George Milliken
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Irma, with all due respect, you need to know that if we were of different races, Black, White, Hispanic, etc., when people of different ethnic groups, they could NOT have offspring. Now I agree that we are unique, and I, just as you, am proud to be Black, no doubt about it, for if no other reason than our history. But, as I stated earlier, our uniqueness is not our skin but with what lies beneath, the hearts and minds of warriors, kings and queens.
Thursday, November 13th 2008 at 8:06PM
George Milliken
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A few months ago I heard Mrs.Obama say in an interview that they would be Camolet in the White house with a tan. A play off Jackie and John Kennedy. but Michele Obama is going to be a fashion plate and so is Mrs Biden. They really look great in theri chothes, Any things they wear they were them fablious I do look forward to seeing thm often as they wil set a new fashion trend like Jackie Kennedy did in my day,
George, I guess by now you know I consider our race as being unique,end of story,
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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A few months ago I heard Mrs.Obama say in an interview that they would be Camolet in the White house with a tan. A play off Jackie and John Kennedy. but Michele Obama is going to be a fashion plate and so is Mrs Biden. They really look great in theri chothes, Any things they wear they were them fablious I do look forward to seeing thm often as they wil set a new fashion trend like Jackie Kennedy did in my day,
George, I guess by now you know I consider our race as being unique,end of story,
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Seriously George, how long before when people start taking about President Obama the word will be <"I don not see any color line at all" "I" identity "Black" as does our president and those White people who refused to vote for a Black may. Lets stay in the real world...no rational person has not seen thsi from the clintons at those all white towns to those all White rallys of McCain-Palin...
I have no problem, I can not say that people who do not like gays/lesbins, fat people, Muslims, buddhist, tall people, people on food stamps, blind, homeless, mentally ill,etc may have a problem, but not with me. I believe in treating others as thay treat me,PERIOD.Even my fellow NSA Buddhist member/friends as well as my Christian and my Morman friends....
Now George can you say the same? My culture is African/southern which is not the same as the other culture mentioned. Each culture, communiation, foods, behaviors,etc are different...Yet at the same time we all do have more in common than in different, survuve is the name of the game of life.It is a GENE THING!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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sorry, but I want the right to make my onw choices of who/whom I identify with as family(race) for example,I am of the Black race which is UNIQUE and for which the "White race" considers as unequal...
I identify as a member of the Black race/family/inferior human members of the "human race or in many parts not fit to be considered as belonging to the human species,etc(smile)I own this right as God/man ...given/demanded!
Please take not that I said "I".
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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Yalanda,I am not trying to disagree with what you just said, but what you just said about 'stories in mainstream' I though about is the TV stations and the majority of the media:TVto print owned by Jewish people?I believe that I see less people in these forms of media identifying Jewish that I do say South Africans(black/White)that's all.
And, are you blogging on a White blog to get these questions about so many Black stories? "I" am so proud to be Black that black only has one place to be:first and far most in all things.I even shout this out to the universe by way of prayers of thanks for my skin color and my Black community membership for life.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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