Black Identified, White Skinned Women

As I have mentioned in other posts I am a white skinned Australian Aboriginal woman who identifies as a black woman.

I recognise I have priveleges in this society due to the lack of melanin in my skin.
While I was often teased at school for being openly Koorie, I have never been an actual victim of racism.

I consider myself to be a black woman because of my deep respect for my ancestors and my culture which I feel deeply connected to.
My community refers to me as a black woman also.

I am not looking for validation or permission, my community and ancestors have given me that.

I was just wondering how other black women, especially those who are not Australian Aboriginal perceive this identity of mine?

Posted: 30-Jun-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

If someone tells me they're aboriginal, I assume they are.

The days of 'full blood' aboriginals having more credibility than 'half bloods' etc are, thankfully gone.

Posted: 30-Jun-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

I think you deserve respect especially since you strongly identify with the black community and your ancestrial roots.

I have Native Ancestry dating back to my great great grandmother. She was a full blooded BlackFoot Native woman who married a "freed slave" who came to Canada thru the underground railroad.

I identify as a Black Canadian lesbian with Native Ancestry. I grew up in Montreal and spent some of my time getting sober on the reserve. I have met many Mohawk people with blond hair.They are Native people also.

There is a tribe in Africa that has a so called genetic disorder in which the dark black people have blue eyes.The Masii(not sure of spelling) have some with blue eyes. They African aboriginal.

You would be surprised if one was to go back to their roots what you will find. I am proud of whom I am and so should you be and I think you are.

Your also quite goodlooking and your honesty rings through in your posts.

LoversTwist

Posted: 30-Jun-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Hey Purple

I'm a ditto with Greendog. If someone tells me they have indigenous heritage and identify as indigenous I respect and believe that.

I know its not an unproblematic concept, but I like to trust.

I saw a young indigenous women's rap group perform at Ceres one day and there was a line in one song about how people accepted the girl while they thought she was African American (because she rapped and had dark skin) but how she loved to shock them by saying she is an Aboriginal woman. I thought it was a telling statement about Australian society.

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

My question isn't so much in regard to people accepting that I am Indigenous.

It's more about how people feel about a white skinned person declaring themselves black?

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Purple I feel fine about a white skinned person declaring themselves black.  I think that comes from my acceptance of how you identify.  I too say ditto to greendog, except I don't think that in the general community the days of "full bloods", "half bloods" are gone and racism is alive and well.

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Hi. I am a white skinned koori. I have tried to relate to my koori side but I found the relos not accepting it at all...the vibe was just so.....full of mistrust and closed. Although it could have been family stuff going on....I felt very strongly it was my whiteness and city ways and it wasn't appreciated. Also I get asked a lot what nationality I am. I have been spat at when I am honest. So I just stick to being a white anglo who looks ethnic and I will leave my history to the never never.

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

That's pretty sad static..

You can find your info from sources other than family...it does make it harder though.

Spit at me, punch me, threaten to kill me, I'd never deny who I am.

I hope you can find the strength to reclaim your past!

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Not sad.

I am sharing my stories with you of trying to reach acceptance within both communities and for whatever reason I have not had pleasant episodes on either side.

I admire your strength and courage to be who you are -Purple- my journey started a long long time ago and it reached a conclusion also a long time ago.

My conclusion is not one of bitterness or regret or anything really. It is one of...well that is how it is.

I can't imagine that the people who have been negative towards me would ever give their reasons on a forum to explain why a white skinned black woman upset them. They didn't deny my identity of being a white skinned black woman. They reacted to it. Each for their own reasons. There are as many reasons for lashing out or acceptance as there are people.

Posted: 1-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

I'm a little irritated right now - I periodically run into a situation where someone has decided that I am not "claiming" some part of my ethnicity because of my hair texture, or eye color, or my base skin color. And I just want to shake folks who are determined that each ethnic group has one cookie cutter for its members.

Racial characterization for lack of a better phrase, based solely on skin color is completely arbitrary and ultimately useless.

I'd like to see our world society reach the point where culture, and not color, are the sole determinants of identity.

Purple, I am impressed by your determination to claim your heritage, even in the face of negativity.

Posted: 2-Jul-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

static....i sooo can relate eh...i have uncovered some family skeletons that have been long hidden in the closet...
i am a fair skinned aboriginal too....some of my family identify and some dont....some of my own kids dont identify ...my grand kids do...
i take great pride in naming myself BLACK when i know it will get a rise out of a stuck up conservative redneck eh... they say oh how much percentage...i say i am!!!!100%
hang on to your blackness girl.....

Posted: 23-Aug-2006

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Hey, Purple! I think I know you on LiveJournal.

Hooray for us light skinned Wiradjuri women.

Posted: 29-May-2007

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Hey Purple,

I would percieve you as an Aboriginal women because you identify as such and are obviously proud of your culture and identity. Me I'm a pale skin Kamilaroi woman so I knows where ya comin from!

Viv

Posted: 9-Jul-2007

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

I am sorry, but please forgive me in what i am saying. I could be wrong?

There is no white skinned Aboriginal woman??

You are either white or black?

Posted: 15-Jul-2007

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

A lot of whites here in the US and other places are claiming to be Blak because it's popular. The white gene is not the dominant gene. If you're white than be white. When a white person says I have black in my heritage but are living a life of privilege due to the value put on skin than no you are not.

Posted: 17-Jul-2008

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Im not sad to say that desertflower has left the sofa with this sort of ignorance around.............

I am indigenous Australian, with a family history of Aboriginal people on both sides. I am white skinned, but identify as an Aboriginal, an Australian, a lesbian and many other things. I work with Aboriginal people on a daily basis and am proud to work with them and alongside them to help retain a diverse, rich and varied culture flourish in an evidently racist world.

Truvirgo, are you saying that dark skinned people should remain living in a life of impoverished conditions, reduced unemployment, increased mental illness, disadvantaged housing, reduced life expectancies etc, just because they are black, and that if they identify as being aboriginal, yet have fair skin, they are merely taking advantage of what white people have offered them???

Posted: 17-Jul-2008

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Tru Virgo...

Who are you to say who can identify with their heritage and who can't??

My heritage and culture are a large part of my everyday life and always have been.

I may not have physical features that quickly identify me as an Aboriginal woman, but then neither do say Albino people of any particular dark skinned race...

If that's how things are in the US then I'm sorry...

But here in Australia, after 220 years or so of forced intergration and our culture being violently stamped upon...I am more than happy to stand up in ANY situation and proclaim my joy and pride in who I am.

We are close enough here as a people to recognise that those of us with light skin are still members of the community...in fact if it weren't for certain government policies there'd probably be a few more of us who were black rather than white.

Skin is merely the organ that protects what we have inside....and for me....that is a 100% Aboriginal (black) spirit

Posted: 17-Jul-2008

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

I am a Hebrew, I am Kemet, I am Blackfoot, I am an African American, I am Blak! I'm tired of white women and pseudo-science claiming we all came from africa. I'm tired of people thinking words like Black are better said from a white mouth.
I am the one that is invisible. I'm the one that is deconstructed and culturally poached. I'm the one that is denied my identity because white supremacists all over the globe STILL consider us to be demons. I am a genius forced by force and isolation to dumb herself down to give the master an illusion of superiority. I'm the one you copy and then treat as if I have no rights.
Who are you to be so arrogant as to think just because you ID as Black means that you are? Do you know what the Aboriginals have gone through? We of melanin have the common experiences and stories about survial. Of course whites can claim color, it's called rape.
I'm sorry you are upset because most of the responses have co-signed this statement but, I don't agree. It's my right.

Posted: 17-Jul-2008

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Its not "pseudoscience" that demonstrates that Homo sapiens arose as a species in Africa, its actual science, and just so likely as to be the closest we as a species can come to an absolute certainty. Are you saying that it isn't the case?


Please don't confuse good science with it's misuse by people trying to justify racism or avoid feelings of guilt.

Posted: 18-Jul-2008

Re: Black Identified, White Skinned Women

Ah my god, supposedly and that's been head by the Khazarians. It's the same science that claimed slaves who were running away had mental issues, it's the same science that also claims most of us are bipolar but says that whites who really have mental problems are just "having a bad day" Science isn't law. Science is theories that have not been proven but everybody (white) goes to when they want to end a discussion because they lack the maturity to have a constructive dialogue. IF you new history and done the research you'd know that. There is no proof EVERYONE orignated from Kemet. History says otherwise actually. Read up instead of regurjating what you've learned in a white supremacist institution.

Posted: 19-Jul-2008