It's the content of the character, not the shade of the skin. I don't think President Obama and First Lady Michele would discriminate against very dark black individuals like Mike Tyson and Michael Crawford. It is good sign that brown (black and white mixed) is the future. This includes Asian, Hispanics and anyone with brown eyes and olive skin like me.

Charles

Even with the expert evidence and the documented history I've been presenting throughout this series, you still are just not getting it.

Now, let me leave you with this: if it were truly and only about the content of one's character, and not the color of one's skin, there would be no racism.

Charles, you really need to ponder that.

Charles

Thanks. Currently, my management and I are developing a national project to address this issue, as well as racism within the GLBTI community as a whole. I'll keep everyone updated. Also, future installments of this series delve even deeper into the subject of internal racism.

Question: I'm engaged in a research project for underserved straight spouses whose husbands or wives have come out. Many of the underserved are African American, Hispanic/Latino/Latina, Asian, Pacific Island, Native American, etc. A problem is finding an appropriate title for the project and survey that won't turn off prospective respondents.
We've rejected "Spouses of color" since many people don't want to identify themselves as belonging to a group subject to discrimination or in a minority status. Therefore, our current title is "Spouses of Diverse Cultural Backgrounds".

Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks.
Amity P. Buxton, Ph.D.

Dr. Buxton

Thanks so much for reaching out! Your research project is substantive and much needed. You'll be giving this group a stronger voice, which sorely needs to be heard.

Now, about your working title. Actually, I like it.

However, I would include the words "ethnicities" and "races," to truly be reflective of the participants in your study. Including these two words are particularly essential in order to capture the full flavor and texture of the Latino/Hispanic participants.

So, my choice for a title is:
"Spouses of Diverse Ethnicites, Races and Cultural Backgrounds."

If you would, do keep me apprised of the project's progress. Much luck to you.

Wyatt:

It's nice to see that more and more people are bringing this issue to light. To someone such as myself, however, it's DEFINITELY not a new issue. I remember being ostracized and put down when I was a kid by my darker-skinned friends, and yes, even my own family members. Comments like "house nigger", "high-yellow", and "zebra" were often muttered in my presence - if not used directly against me. My mom, a darker-skinned black (dad's white), used to say that it was because I spoke and presented myself much differently than those other people, and that it either threatened them or they were jealous. Being that she was well-educated herself (and presented herself as such), she too experienced more than a few snide remarks and glares - from other blacks.

Later in life, of course, I learned much more about black-on-black racism and its origins in the pre-Civil War era, but it didn't ease the sting of harsh words I heard as a kid. Wisely, my mom, the only person in her family (before myself) to graduate from high school AND college, ALWAYS encouraged a strong sense of self-fulfillment through reading and education, so I found that books and libraries were much better friends than the people I was supposed to be able to identify (and form bonds) with; this held true throughout high school, college, and graduate school. I admit that I have met a better quality of black people in my college experiences, and they range in shade from "passable" (love THAT term...) to ebony. What made the difference was the mentality they each displayed; the values their families brought them up to believe, coupled with exposure to diverse groups of people affected them in a profound way that people I grew up around could probably never understand - and it was a refreshing experience.

I've recently found out that many of the same people that used pick on how I talked and acted have been saddled with the kind of lives that fit an uneducated, small-minded, antiquated way of thinking. In that respect, I've come to realize, living well really IS the best revenge...

P.S. To this day, I still don't feel comfortable around most (not all) darker skinned blacks. Does that mean I'm practicing colorism as well?

Ron

First, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. You certainly bring value to my series.

Secondly, sharing your heartfelt comments in such an eloquent is so moving. And I know it ain't easy to do.

Your pain is very legitimate--and valid.

Of course, I cannot presume to tell you how to feel, what to feel. However Ron, what I can tell you is that forgiveness is an awesome cleansing force. And, try not to have preconceived notions about people. Give each individual a chance.

Actually, forgiveness is crafted for the "forgiver"--forgiveness affords the forgiver peace of mind, and frees the heart.

I can relate to what you've been through--I've gotten crap from both "sides of the racial aisle," so to speak. And it doesn't feel good.

Please keep reading this series. I continue to explore internal racism, and racism within our Community as a whole.

The best to you.

Good analysis. It is so noteworthy that fair skinned blacks who were closer to their masters enjoyed finer things in life that their peers couldn't. Same holds true in white gay orgs today. They pick one person from each ethnic background who is to be used as a "token" and is also asked to shun their own community. Many times this "token" is in an interracial relationship with a white person which makes them appealing and less threatening to white gay organizations. Ofcourse in order to survive and to be near the "master" and to gain their trust that "token" has to show their loyalty to master rather than their own community. This analysis holds true even in 2009 and will continue for a few more decades until racial issues becomes neutral. We have seen how it operates in the gay rights movement.

Wayne, I hope your chapter on racism in the LGBT rights movement includes a survey of "leaders" and their rise to those positions. How race/class played a role in appointing those leaders even though many have no qualifications? I know that would be very bold since it may expose you to criticism and make you a target of some orgs but that would be a meaningful way to make these white orgs address their implicit and explicit racism and would benefit the larger gay community and other minorities.

Coloredqueer

Welcome back! Thanks again for commenting.

Keep on reading. I think you'll find answers to at least some of what you've written about.

Also, as I stated earlier, my management and I are developing a national project addressing racism within our Community, and the horrible ramifications of this disease of the mind, character and soul.

Many achievers in America were "light skinned" blacks not to be dismissed as priviledged. Being an innovative business leader takes intelligence, foresight and dedicated purpose no matter the shade of "black". Pam Spaulding's (www.pamshouseblend.com} grandfather was a great humanitarian and civil rights leader, and at one time the wealthiest African American in the U.S. Below is a biography of Charles Clinton Spauding. Very black men have also made a mark on American society, Nat King Cole for example.

http://www.answers.com/topic/charles-clinton-spaulding-1

Wyatt,

You continue to amaze the readers with your well written ideas and thoughts on such a catastrophic plague that has swept our country and world. Black-on-Black racism is so sad, as one would criticize and discriminate against their own race.

Everyone needs to stop and think about this plague and what they can do in their OWN lives, their communities and in this great country to try to keep it from growing. It will never cease, but we need to do our part in helping control it.

Thanks again, Wyatt, YOU ROCK!!!