2008 Woodie Awards
Still Dealing With That Color Thing
MCT Campus
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 2 next >
NOTE: This column is for black people only.
No white people nor those of any other race or ethnic group are permitted to read beyond this point.
On this day, during the celebrated Black History Month, I need to talk to my African-American brothers and sisters, and, believe
me, this is just between us bloods.
Did I just say "bloods"?
Well, I'm from the old school, but I believe you know what I'm talking 'bout.
Listen up, my brothers and sisters _ and again, this is just between us.
Twice this week, I have been reminded by some "African-Americans" that many of us still have a hangup with this color thing.
A friend of mine from Dallas called just to check up on me, but the conversation evolved into a rant about his late grandmother.
According to him, this woman, known throughout the community for her benevolence, lavished praise and presents on most of her other grandchildren, including his two half-brothers, but my friend thought he always came up a little short when she was handing out love.
All during his childhood, he knew he was different, he said, but he thought it was because he was the "illegitimate" one in the
group.
As he got older, he told me, other children were born into the family out of wedlock, yet they were favored by this grandma who liked to have her grandchildren around on weekends, and especially at Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions.
The other kids were always welcome, he said, but he felt he was simply tolerated at best.
Then he overheard some of the adults talking and realized that all the privileged grandchildren were "light-skinned."
He happened to be the "darkest" of the bunch, taking more after his mother than his Creolelooking daddy.
It really hit home, he said, when he learned that he was the only grandchild not included in his grandmother's will. He assumed that it was because he was indeed the "black sheep" _ or would it be white sheep _ in this
No white people nor those of any other race or ethnic group are permitted to read beyond this point.
On this day, during the celebrated Black History Month, I need to talk to my African-American brothers and sisters, and, believe
me, this is just between us bloods.
Did I just say "bloods"?
Well, I'm from the old school, but I believe you know what I'm talking 'bout.
Listen up, my brothers and sisters _ and again, this is just between us.
Twice this week, I have been reminded by some "African-Americans" that many of us still have a hangup with this color thing.
A friend of mine from Dallas called just to check up on me, but the conversation evolved into a rant about his late grandmother.
According to him, this woman, known throughout the community for her benevolence, lavished praise and presents on most of her other grandchildren, including his two half-brothers, but my friend thought he always came up a little short when she was handing out love.
All during his childhood, he knew he was different, he said, but he thought it was because he was the "illegitimate" one in the
group.
As he got older, he told me, other children were born into the family out of wedlock, yet they were favored by this grandma who liked to have her grandchildren around on weekends, and especially at Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions.
The other kids were always welcome, he said, but he felt he was simply tolerated at best.
Then he overheard some of the adults talking and realized that all the privileged grandchildren were "light-skinned."
He happened to be the "darkest" of the bunch, taking more after his mother than his Creolelooking daddy.
It really hit home, he said, when he learned that he was the only grandchild not included in his grandmother's will. He assumed that it was because he was indeed the "black sheep" _ or would it be white sheep _ in this
Be the first to comment on this story