I have never had any issues about my skin color. I don't try to put myself in the "brown" category, because I know I'm not "brown". I'm light skinned(ed). My oldest sister and I are both light skinned, though she is lighter than I am (as in..she's been mistaken for white before..whereas, I have not). I needed to start this out clear that I have no issues with my skin color.
Today, on the way back from lunch, one of my Ethiopian colleagues asked me if one of my parents was white. I said no and inquired as to why he asked. He said because I am very fair. Now, before arriving here, I never lied to myself that I looked Ethiopian. I don't have the eyes, the forehead, the hair, etc. It is well with my soul. But why can't I be just black? And this particular coworker lived in the states for a while. He said "I know some of the sisters and brothers in the states are light skinned"...and you just assumed we were all mixed? Do you really see that many older interracial couples to have spawned all of us light skinned folks? That's when I need to have a handy copy of "The Souls of Black Folks" or "Up from Slavery" and Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" on an ipod, ready to recount the history of Black people in the US and how our people died for even LOOKING at a white person wrong. I really don't think it comes together for non-Americans. And this is maybe a month after a friend of a friend in Kenya asked me if I was mulatto. MULATTO? First of all, sir...please update your vocabulary. No one post-reconstruction uses that word. Second of all, what? I had just finished explaining marriage on the front of the Black woman and you ask me if I'm mulatto? Sigh. He then proceeded to ask me about my parents, grandparents and great grandparents. I am really going to have to ask my mom about the folks in her family tree (cause its OBVIOUSLY her family tree where this fair-skinned(ed)ness came from). I know my maternal grandparents were both light skinned and I think both of them were mixed but I'm not for sure, for sure. There's some speculation about my grandfather being Black, Portuguese and Cherokee (cause we all know...we all got a lil Native American in our family). It's just very interesting that people even ask--like...why do you care? And it surprises me because I cannot remember a time when I was asked this in the states. Wait wait...people have questioned my mom before. But that's from having seen her...not just looking at me and being like, "Black + Black =/= you". Mulatto, octaroon, quadroon...nah the kid! Daughter of a field negro...y'all know how I do.
LOL I don't know what's up with that one Spam. One of the things I've heard about Africa (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that even there our people have issues with skin color and the perception is that the fairer you are, the better....which to me, indicates an underlying assumption of superiority and a still latent affinity for all things white. I know you've said Ethiopia considers itself to be separate from Africa, but I wouldn't be surprised if this notion is true in Ethiopia as well, b/c I really think it is a worldwide issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why your lineage would matter. Maybe they're just trying to find a way to justify your fair skin - you're not Ethiopian, so you must be half-white. Even now that they've learned you're not "mulatto" they're probably still trying to figure it out.
Sometimes we're the student and sometimes we're the teacher. I'm sure while you're learning from them, they will be learning from you. And I know we all tire of explaining ourselves and our history to the world, but it's a story worth telling over and again. I can think of no one better to share it.
So proud of you, luv
xoxoxo