Interracial Relationships

A couple of weeks ago, I was covering an event for AfroToronto.com, where several well-known 'urban' artists performed for inner-city youth in Toronto. One of the artists, who is a well-known R&B singer showed up with her boyfriend, a tall, handsome....white man. My initial reaction was shock, and I thought, she's having trouble finding a brother? But does it really matter? But I found myself calling my girlfriend that night and gossiping about the statuesque songstress, whose natural beauty and popularity seemed to guarantee a line-up of brothas at her door every night. "Well what do you expect?" my friend said. "Otherwise, she's gonna be alone."

Quite honestly, I get tired of this topic. But in the last couple of weeks, quite a few bloggers have been discussing the complexities of these relationships. Writer Deborah Dikerson was roasted (figuratively, that is)when she wrote an article for Salon,entitled "I Want You To Want Me," about the absense of black characters in the hit movie, The Wedding Crashers there was backlash from angry bloggers who felt that because Dickerson was married to a white man, she had no 'right' to delve into the complexities of black female imagery(or lack thereof) in mainstream films.

Clare at Racial Realist has a interesting, yet contreversial take on the relationships between Black men and black women, and Free weighs in on the conversation. Also, check out the Thinking Black Man's perspective from the 'other side.'

Submitted by lainad (view blog

) on Mon, 07/17/2006 - 14:34

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Race, Ethnicity & Culture

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Have you read this?

If we're talking about the same Deborah Dickerson, then I wonder if you've read "Who Shot Johnny?" It infuriates and moves me to tears every single time.

Do you have the link to the Salon article? I'd love to read that before I let my mouth go off half-cocked about this issue.

Ok, I'll say one thing. As a mulatto, I've found it interesting that my own thoughts on the issue follow the thinking of many Blacks - that she (being the R&B singer) should be able to find a Black man. Then, I realize how ignorant that is of me to assume she must stay within her race. I'm always talking out of both sides of my mouth on this issue and it cannot be explained.

It's also upsetting that there is ALWAYS an absence of black characters in movies and I thought I was the only one complaining about that. My husband just nods and laughs at me, knowing all the while what I'm going to say about it because it's always the SAME. EXACT. THING.

I love that you brought it up.

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Submitted by Kelly Wickham on Mon, 07/17/2006 - 13:04

I started this comment a few

I started this comment a few different ways but I can only say this:

HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.
PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE
TELLING THE TIME.
HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.
TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.
AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.
HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.
KNOWING A SECRET.
CLIMBING A TREE.
HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.
CATCHING A FIREFLY.
SETTING HIM FREE.

HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.
SHARING A SANDWICH.
GETTING ALONG.
HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,
AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

From "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown"

Submitted by Alaiyo on Mon, 07/17/2006 - 14:52