biracial celebs being recognized by only one race=weird?

Question

i'm not biracial, therefore i have no idea what this is like. i get sort of ruffled when i hear things like "halle berry was the first african-american miss america (or whatever)" because she's not african-american... she's half. she's just as white as she is black. i guess i feel like the media shouldn't pick their race for them.

to biracial people: does this irk you too? and to whoever: am i just being crazy? does acknowledging biraciality normalize it or exoticize it/alienate bi/multiracial people?

Answer 1

actually, i agree with you.
i hate the fact that Halle Berry was called the first African American women to receive an oscar.
that's stupid.
she's only half.
out of all the good full-black actors.
don't get me wrong, i love halle berry
I just don't like the fact a biracial is the first black woman to win an oscar.

Answer 2

Well I'm not sure if it's really the media doing that, or if it's the individual person who chooses to be recognized in a certain manner. I suppose if it bothered any particular celeb that much to be identified with only half of their background, then they'd stand up and correct the media and general public. But since none of the biracial celebs that I've heard of have ever done that, then I'll have to assume that they identify the most with the race that they've chosen to be called. Other examples: Tiger Woods, Halle Berry, Dina Shore, Mariah Carey.

Answer 3

I think Halle Berry has chosen to identify herself as African American because of her experiences being a black woman in this country.

I think bi-racial people try to make themselves seem exotic or their parents try to make their children exotic. However, the bi-racial people usually end up having to identify with one race or the other. If the child looks ethnic, the white race will let that child know that she is not part of their race very early.

Answer 4

You are right when you say you have no idea...It is no mystery that most Black Americans are not pure African. It is comical that when Blacks who are bi or multiracial are successful; everyone wants credit for it. Yet when stereotypical negative images are assigned, then Non Blacks want nothing to do with us. For example, it is ludicrous for this moron who posted that we have "tainted" blood. It is also presumptive and ignorant to assume that we look at being Black as problematic; we do not. What is problematic is the ignorance we have to deal with on a constant basis.

Answer 5

It all has to do with how the person is viewed in society and how the person views him/herself. When the world looks at Halle Berry, they see a fair skinned black woman. She's subject to all of the struggle that goes with that. Therefore, she identifies with her black side more than her white side because she's been treated as a black woman her entire life. It's not meant to minimize her white mother's role in her life, but, unfortunately, you can't control how society treats you when so much is still based upon skin color.

Answer 6

Celebs,whether black or white brown or yellow are a bunch of arrogant,narcissistic,drug addicted air heads that think the world is theirs and the rest of the population is only here to adore their presence.many of them have the gall to tell us who to vote for or how the country should be run and in their miserable lives they can't even control their own family much less the country,

Answer 7

Celebrity is not about talent.

It's about fame for fame's sake.

With that in mind, it makes sense to speak about ppl in simplistic terms, black or white terms. Halle Berry included.

Answer 8

your not crazy, you are just curious. especially regarding the celebrity issue who is bi-racial, they are in the lime light so they need publicity and popularity. they can play both race, usually the one that will benefit them in the long run.

regarding bi-racial people, i feel sad for my daughter, she is half filipino and half african america, but with those mixture, she is not pure too, what i mean is im part chinese, spanish in my dad side and pure filipino in my mom side, my husband is part french/irish, indian (choctaw) and african american, so go figure what it meant to her. she do look exotic, tall and have both of our features. i know for sure when she complete the form on race, she check two african american and pacific islander or asian. and now, she married a white guy and he is irish and german. so im wondering what my first grand baby will check when its time to complete the form....

Answer 9

takes only one drop of black blood to make and taint white blood..so biracials are always outcasts and try to identify with the balck heritage since they know they are tainted...so bring it on and violate me.