Racism in families??

Question

Arabs are the most ethnically mixed people on the planet, because of the location of the Middle East. It’s a crossroads between three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. So Arabs came into existence when people from Europe, Africa, and Asia intermingled. This has caused variation in how Arabs look, even within families. For example, I have a grandmother with green eyes and dark blonde hair. And I have a great- grandfather who was black. However, Arabs don’t value their African ancestry as much as they value their European or white heritage. They like light hair better than dark hair, straight hair better than curly hair, light skin better than dark, and blue or green eyes over dark brown eyes. I have light brown skin, dark brown eyes, and curly black hair…and I’ve been called things like “darkie” because of it…this by people in my own family! They like to boast about if one of their children has blue or green eyes, or looks white or something…I guess racism exists even within families!

The question is does racism exist even within families? And I think it does because I have experienced it in mine, so I used that as an example.

I didn't say that Arabs are the only people with mixed ancestry. Most of the human population has mixed ancestry. I just used my own experience as an example. I'm sure there are many people in this world who have had similar experiences.

Answer 1

yeah it's sick. my friend's parents divorced when she was little, because she was darker than both of her parents, and her father didn't believe she was his, and this was truly is only reason for assuming his wife was unfaithful, he was very vocal about it (she's really not that dark skinned either). She took a DNA test recently just as a "screw you" to him, and she is of course his daughter. she looks just like his mother I've seen pictures, except she's darker.

My family comes in every shade of the rainbow, and we love it. makes for very striking pictures. i always felt very sad for those who hated themselves so much they would take it out on their children. and then i wonder- if you really hate yourself so much, why didn't you just intermarry? why make your children suffer for something they can't control?

Answer 2

Racism certainly does exist in families. Why wouldn't it given that families exist within larger societies?

And given that most of the Arab world was conquered by European countries which brought with them their racial views and preferences, it's not surprising that the populations were inculcated with the same ideals of physical beauty that the Europeans brought with them.

The truth is that physical biases of all kinds exist within all families. How often have we seen families favoring the slim, pretty daughter over the fat, dumpy one. Or the tall, handsome son over the skinny, sensitive one? And studies have shown that parents actually hold and cuddle their "attractive" babies more than their less "attractive" ones.

If your society is organized such that fair skinned people are at the top and darker skinned people are at the bottom, people will come to value or devalue those attributes, even if they know that they're morally wrong or irrational. We see these values at play all over the world.

The preference for white skin and light eyes and hair has been a feature of European countries seemingly since before the existed and they have brought those preferences everywhere they and their decedents have gone. Including the Middle East.

Answer 3

Yes it does, unfortunately.. I remember being made fun of by my darker skinned cousins and my aunts making comments about my lighter complexion. Even going so far as treating me badly, calling me names ,imagine grown people calling a child nasty names just because I was lighter than most of my mother's side of the family. In the African-American community a lot of that happens. We call it being "color-struck".

My mother told me that there even was something called the "paper bag test" were if your skin tone was darker than a paper bag, you were considered inferior. Crazy, stupid, shameful and TRUE. Its a shame that the hatred of racism can seep into a family and cause one to turn on the other.

Can anyone tell me what positive things have happened as a result of racism? I guess that's something that I am going to have to ask here very soon and check out what everyone has to say.

Answer 4

yea my mom and grandma used to be, but not no more, and i go with a white boy, the like him a lot!!!!

its sad but their are black people in america, who dont even wanna be proud of their african ancestry. when u hear africa or african it has a bad stigma, the people and the continemt itself is seen as bad, so people are gonna think it, europe and europeans are seen as better so of course people are gonna be proud they have that ancestry.

i am proud of my african ancestry!!!!!!

besides a lot of people like dark, otherwise they wouldnt be tanning and all that

Answer 5

well light skin ppl and white ppl expericence things like this to.im indian and i get called darkie by indians and my family im so upset especially wit indians who support aishwariya rai because she looks like a white women. i have a black friend wit kiny nappy hair and her family always tell her to marry my brother are a indian men to get indian hair i think its racist and so pathethic they way ppl think ppl should love themselves their are many ppl out their who say racist comments and dont even think they are a racist. because of racism this is why ppl date out their race or stay in their race for the wrong reasons. im only a brown skin tan indian whos been called darkie all my black american friends dont understand why im called dark its really sad

Answer 6

unfortunately mate, a lot(and i mean a lot) of dumb asians subscribe to the western media, and given half a chance would turn themselves into caucasian skins. nevermind the quality of the person inside. u unfortunately were born into a family of them. the world is full of them, ignorant and stupid. but u can only change urself, and try to educate the others.
ur intelligence is a start. when u actually start seeing many different kinds of ppl and their characters, u actually start not giving a s'hit about skin rather than the content of that character.

Answer 7

Well I am south american and many other south americans I met have different mixes in their family as well ..producing different colours etc ...Arabs are not the only ones in the world like that

Answer 8

pondering you're of blended race, your loved ones would desire to reconize that it is going to not be race that identifies human beings.... its their character. on account which you're saying you have not have been given a " organic bread" race it is going to instruct your loved ones that folk who're of blended race have surprising personailities and could be absolutley eye-catching. organic bread race or blended race could be amazingly eye-catching interior and out. White, Black, Asian, center jap, community American, Latino or any type of race could be eye-catching. handle that alongside with your loved ones. they'd desire to understand that. Darker pores and skin??? So what??? all and sundry of each race is eye-catching. In hard situations, bear in mind that... even in the adventure that your loved ones can not see that. Racism is this manner of shame. i actually am of blended race as properly. i'm a mix of Spanish and local american indian from South u . s . a .. My pores and skin is darkish and individuals of my race are eye-catching and SO ARE YOUR human beings. I certainly have a buddy who's additionally Indian and black and she or he's astounding. Love, character, and kindness is what concerns. alongside with your loved ones, handle the way you sense approximately it. tell them this considered necessary message that would influence them for something of their lives " all and sundry of each race could be and ARE eye-catching. it would desire to take a super form of time for this to alter yet take one step at a time and wait and notice. be the better one. it can be a stable occasion. I wish you the better of success.

Answer 9

Thats is so sad but true.