why are blacks so quick to claim white or native american heritage?

Question

I have been wondering for so long as to why blacks are always so quick to claim white and native american heritage. Most of my black friends claim that they are biracial when both parents are black. I understand most blacks have more than one racial heritage, but don;t you think it's kind of riduculous to see a person who is as black as can be in skin and features and say they are white?. I get offended because it means that they are trying to diown their african heritage and ancestry. I am considered light skinned...i dont think so...but anywho...people constantly as me...what are you? and I say, look at me..what do you think? They say chinese or white...I dont get it. It makes me so sad. It's like people do not want to be black anymore. What's wrong with being black?

Answer 1

That is an excellent question, because the same thing once happened to me i was walking around campus when a girl named melissa goes "is your dad like white or indain" and when i said no why would you ask that she goes "your hair is very pretty" that answer upset and astounded me all at the same time, it was an answer of ignorance and i couldnt belive someone would actually think that i was mixed as dark as i am (more like a nice chocolate color) and i have noticed even the most kinky haird girls (i mean no harm) will claim "yeah im 1/3 indain" "im half spanish" (the new trend) and i will just shake my head, they think its cute and makes them more attractive to guys. I also have heard some say when given a compliment like "your very pretty" they quickly say "yeah my dads half asain" "im half indian" and so on, wich just puts our culture down more and hyping up the steryotype that black women are only beautiful when mixed, which is not true. there is nothing wrong with being black but society has brainwashed everyone to beliveing that there is, and you would think going on past things like slavery and other wars ppl would see its not all that great to be white (no offense to my boyfriend) becuase they always seem to be thinking evil things and doing evil things (hitler anyone) and they are quick to seed away anyone who isnt "pure white" i think black women need to come together and realize balck is beautiful and you could go anywhere else in the world and be praised for your black beauty only in america will we be continuously put down and told when all black you cant be beautiful but thats not true in other countires the darker the better "mixed..thats ok" "black..your gorgeous"

Answer 2

Yes I think it's a trend, it comes and goes out of style. Many people don't know the whole story of native people in america. They assume that they were all rounded up and put on reservations. Wrong. Any time you have a dominate culture, it will absorb or over whelm other cultures it encounters. It happened in Africa, Asia, Australia, the Americas, and in Europe and the middle east. Natives in the US and canada choose sides, south american natives did too . Some loved the idea of a european life style and blended in. Some liked the old ways and found that to be a problem long term. You can't live as a nomad, when people are making claims on land and setting up permanent housing. The US government wanted to grow from coast to coast. One thing that would help make their claim, is their people living coast to coast.

Answer 3

That's just like whites that I have seen who claim American Indian heritage. I claim it from both sides of my family, the black genes are dominate and tend to over shadow all other genes, but the fact still remains that my father before he worked for the government received a check from the government for being part native American, and it is clear to see that my mother is part white, Irish and Scottish to be exact. I have a lot of black features, but my skin is light and I am kind of hairy, I hate that, but I can not deny it. Why is this so upsetting to you? At the same time the government says that if you are black but have some type of Hispanic heritage then you have to claim it on government documents, what does that tell you? I am very proud of the black part of my heritage, it comes from Suddan on my dad's side, not sure about my mom's side, they were slaves on that side, which is one of the reasons my mom is mixed with white.

Answer 4

It's not blacks, it's whites who do this for the most part. blacks are already minority & have no need to claim anything. whites on the other hand are trying to profit from faked Native Heritage. If they don't have documentation, they're not Native. End of story.

Answer 5

I don't know; I've notice some do that, yes. But I am weary of the generalization of the question; I also know many other black people who don't care/search for/believe in other races in their background.

I think it could be used to prove themselves just as worthy of non-blacks, or as a means of connection ("How can I be inferior, if we got the same grandaddy?"). Some use it as a note of interest and nothing more. Some, hey, just don't like being black. It happens. There are easily as many reasons as there are African American people.

There is also an interesting disconnect from how dark/African looking you are and how recently your mixed heritage is. I at least notice 50% people look normal in black populations and others who are 4th something or less and it's still really apparent. It'd have to be a bit frustrating to really be half/quarter white/other and no one would believe you because you don't look it.

Answer 6

My mother is the complete opposite she is a redbone with green eyes looks as white as day. My grandmother was black and indian (great grandfather is 100% Cherokee indian not by myth or down the bloodline but my grandmothers father was a pure blood!!) Anywho my mother's father was white and black. So my mother is mixed with white, black, and indian but if you ask my mother what she is green eyes and all she'll tell you BLACK point blank.

Ignorant people use to ask me why my hair isn't like other "black" people's and why does it take so long for other black people's hair to grow. When I would start to explain my heriatage then my mother gets offended and makes it a point to let them know that we are BLACK and all black people are beautiful come in all shades, tones, and textures and the texture of our hair doesn't define us!! She told me that Black is dominant it doesn't matter if you are mixed with any other cultures the world will still see you as Black and Black is beautiful so embrace it!! That was when I was younger I no longer have a reason to explain myself if asked I'M BLACK!! =)

Answer 7

Because society is constantly telling us that we are ugly, heathen people and that White is beautiful. I love being Black, yet I know that I do have other ethnicity's way back when in my family I never claim any other heritage. Black people are very diverse and not just African American but Africans in general come in different complexions and have different hair textures. I think most Americans in general aren't aware of our diversity so they think that you have to be mixed to look a certain way.

Answer 8

There's nothing with being black At least not in my eyes. Both of my parents look black but my mom IS half native american and my dad IS half chinese. Even though they may not look it it's what they are, well actually you'll be able to see it in my parents, me, and my siblings, thank you very much. Besides a lot of black people wanna be white, because that's their own racial insecurities.

Answer 9

We are all mixed. Unless you have a line # any Native American you have won't get you a scholarship so I would doubt that that person grew up in the culture either. I always ask people why they are asking, what does it mean to them if the answer is one or the other anyway. Most people are surprised when they hear me speak that I don't have a foreign accent. Oh well, sorry to disappoint.

Answer 10

In the past, it was considered good to be black in mainstream America. Black was considered ugly in the old days. We didn't like being dark with kinky. We would go to extremes to at least look less black and more white.

Times have changed, thank goodness. We are proud now of what we are.