SheGaveherAngels said:

Your comment made me think...just out of honest curiousity--can one's background ever be so mixed that they are just plain ole' American?
My looks are average white girl--I grew up in a boring, homogenous, whitey-white bread town (800 people) and when I first moved to Chicago everyone kept asking me, "What are you?" I would say American, but that did not satisfy them. So then I would say, "4th generation Iowan." I mean, technically my great-grandparents were Irish-French-German blah blah blah, but I just feel like I'm so far removed from those cultures that I (personally) see no point in specifying each one.

Sorry, I know this is COMPLETELY off the thread topic, but just wondering what other's thoughts are...

blackguitaristz said:

I don't think there's anything exotic or overty unusual about my looks (there's a little pic of me in my profile)--maybe decidely average is the new exotic. But seriously, my theory is that people have an inherent need to "categorize" things to try to make sense of their environment/surroundings. (Once when I was reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a guy came up to me & said, "Let me guess, part Cherokee?" I was like, "Sorry dude, just plain old American." ) One could also apply this 'theory of categorization' to subjects such as art historical periods, musical genres, etc... Additionally, I think identifying with one or two groups/cultures could provide a sense of belonging or pride for some people (for example: social fraternities & sororities). The fact that my looks are perhaps not obviously "categorizable" could be why people ask I guess. Although, since living in New York it does not really happen--my theory for that is that it's b/c NY is MUCH more multicultural & not as obsessed with "what you are" like I found Chicagoans to be.

oh and on Halle Berry's website u can ask her questions and a person asked her why does she ignore her white side or not except it...something like that-and she responded saying that when she went 2 school nobody knew she was mixed ,they thought she was 100% black,white people would look at her as being black so she hung out with the people who she could identify with,black people...she than said that when she talked to her mother about it her mother told her that she was black and would be looked at in that way even tho they both knew she was mixed,so she embraced it.

PleasurePrinciple said:

Whats funny to me is that, if Halle or Alicia or whomever weren't famous people would just call them black and not give a fuck.

But if you have any "black" in you at all that is discernible by your appearances, you're kidding yourself by saying you're mixed or whatever. In the states, you are bascially what you look like. Maybe in Europe, people are more enlightened. But not here. Sorry. Wish I could say differrently...

Scary Spice half black, half Yorkshire.

jone70 said:

You're very insightful. That's cool to see on here. I hope u stick around for a little while.

are we really outta things to ask here?

As long as she's bent over.

yeah...shes pretty and talented at what she does...she is tall but when has that stopped Prince.

oh and another black girl 2 add 2 the list is:
Robin Power...just read the thread by artpal and bassdame they were pretty serious.

dearlybeloved said:

Vanity part Mexican and white, Scary Spice half black, half Yorkshire. Prince is the united nations of love.

Robin is not considered "light sknned" either...shes brown skinned,Prince is light skinned.

A fling is the best Prince could hope for with her. Anything more serious then that would'nt work out.

No Prince dosent go for African American babes, hes only ever had one black girlfriend and that was Susan Moonsie back in the early 80's. Hes always liked mixed race/Hispanic Girls.
Anyone noticed how Apollonia/Vanity/Mayte/Carmen Electra/Manuela all look alike?

tane1976 said:

Sorry to bust your bubble but that is not true. Prince has dated MANY african american women. And the last time i checked if you are mixed and your mother or father is black YOU STILL BLACK! But to answer your question, Tyra is waaaaayyyyy to tall for Prince. Most of his girlfriends are short like him. And her forhead is waaaaayyyyy to big.


Vanity-black
nona gaye-black
Ananda- black
scary spice- black
Just to name a few...

dearlybeloved said:

Some points are true, but, as an AFRICAN-AMERICAN woman who is not of mixed heritage, I do not think/believe/agree that "mixed" women (or indeividuals) should just be grouped as "Black." There is a DEFINATE difference! Sorry . . .

PurrfectKitty said:

I am not black but I do see alot of black people feeling this way. To most white people a mixed girl would look black but to alot of African-American people they looked mixed. I can see how being of mixed race as kinda becoming it's own subculture as of late. I have also seen alot of mixed race men going after alot of mixed race women. Hmmmm...

Krystal666 said:

That's just friggin' crazy I'm not mixed AT ALL and I've had other black people tell me that I'M not black. To me it seems that some people feel that if you're not dark skinned or if you're mixed you're not "really" black and thats complete B.S. If you look black then you're black bottom line and we come in all shades. Although, what you said about the mixed coupling is interesting, I have a few theroys.

Well, because some people find it difficult being bi-racial maybe they feel they have more in common with someone who's shared that experience.

Or it could be a thing where they are hung up on color (or hair) and think that light skin is better than dark skin.

Or they maybe identify with people who are the same complexion. I know that sounds weird but, it could be true. Like if everyone in your family is light skin or dark skin you might identify better with someone who looks like people in your family.

PleasurePrinciple said:

Robin Power was a hoe so she doesnt count

No Prince dosent go for African American babes, hes only ever had one black girlfriend and that was Susan Moonsie back in the early 80's. Hes always liked mixed race/Hispanic Girls.
Anyone noticed how Apollonia/Vanity/Mayte/Carmen Electra/Manuela all look alike?

PleasurePrinciple said:

What kind of ghetto science is that?

LOL @ Vanity's part mexican.

1. How is it culturally limiting for someone to identify themselves as they see fit? Can you dictate to another person how they should identify themselves? Sorry I opened a can of worms here, I didnt mmean that, it was like what u feel u r, if anyone is actually insecure about who they r. NZ may be more racially liberated than the states, but we have racism and race issues here 2.

2.You state that to identify yourself as "just black" is culturally limiting, then turn around and state that "If you are mixed and have white, you are white" please explain this contradiction? Well I don't know but just 2 identify a person by one ethnic group is limiting, what about someone who is only half or less African American, must they deny themselves their other heritages too. In NZ a person like me is seen as having the best of both worlds. Prince is a genius in the fact, he never let race be an issue, 2 Prince ur a person like everyone else.

3. You seem to mention the Maori quite frequently. Why not make a thread about your heritage in GD? I'd like to know more. Point taken man, give me a day


4. Regarding correct grammar, she was using what is known as a COLLOQUIALISM, which the last time I checked is a part of grammar and therefore not nonsense.
Sorry on a major Jerk trip here. My spelling and grammar isnt so great either.


On topic, regarding Prince and Tyra Banks, I'm sure he'd like her just fine. She seems nice, smart and down to earth. I think he'd be confortable talking to her on her show.
Yes I have a lot of love for Tyra, I just thought besides her skin, she might be 2 bold 4 Prince. Any man of Tyras would have 2 respect her as a person and her career.
on topic edit.
[Edited 11/12/05 17:06pm]