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vent - choosing a race?
Lovin_my_babies posted:
Hello everyone! this is my first post in this new exchange. Anyway, i am a mother of 3 bi-racial children (black & white), (well technically i guess they would be multiracial, since i am irish, german and cajun, lol ..anyway, i have 2 DD's that are 3 and 4 and a DS whom is 6 weeks old. I went a few weeks ago to sign my DD's up for preschool and i had to 'choose a race' for them for their school. They are not allowed to be listed as biracial, they actually made me choose a race for each child (they also had me give them a race for my newborn).. I don't know if this is done everywhere in the United States, and if this is common, but this pissed me off! Why should i have to choose a race for my children, why can't they be allowed to embrace both races that they are a part of. My children are not just 1 race.. Has anyone else gone through this before? Since they made me choose, I told them my DD's were white and my DS is black. (mostly i did this because my 2 DD's have a different father than my DS, so my DD's have my last name, whereas my DS has his fathers name).. anyway, i was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this, and if this is common. I feel like in 2010 this should no longer be an issue!
12 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?Hello everyone! this is my first post in this new exchange. Anyway, i am a mother of 3 bi-racial children (black & white), (well technically i guess they would be multiracial, since i am irish, german and cajun, lol ..anyway, i have 2 DD's that are 3 and 4 and a DS whom is 6 weeks old. I went a few weeks ago to sign my DD's up for preschool and i had to 'choose a race' for them for their school. They are not allowed to be listed as biracial, they actually made me choose a race for each child (they also had me give them a race for my newborn).. I don't know if this is done everywhere in the United States, and if this is common, but this pissed me off! Why should i have to choose a race for my children, why can't they be allowed to embrace both races that they are a part of. My children are not just 1 race.. Has anyone else gone through this before? Since they made me choose, I told them my DD's were white and my DS is black. (mostly i did this because my 2 DD's have a different father than my DS, so my DD's have my last name, whereas my DS has his fathers name).. anyway, i was just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this, and if this is common. I feel like in 2010 this should no longer be an issue!
Baby1at35 responded:
I had to do this for my son's kindergarten registration. However it said chose one but I refused to and marked 2 (african american, white) ...My boys actually have Native American in there as well.
Anyway it made me mad too. They haven't gotten back to me to say chose one though. I felt I couldn't choose one. IF I chose white than that would be denying their african american and if I chose african american it would deny them being white. It was terribly frustrating.
I am with you on this one. I can't believe in 2010 they still have this as an issue..
Anyway it made me mad too. They haven't gotten back to me to say chose one though. I felt I couldn't choose one. IF I chose white than that would be denying their african american and if I chose african american it would deny them being white. It was terribly frustrating.
I am with you on this one. I can't believe in 2010 they still have this as an issue..
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?I had to do this for my son's kindergarten registration. However it said chose one but I refused to and marked 2 (african american, white) ...My boys actually have Native American in there as well. <br />Anyway it made me mad too. They haven't gotten back to me to say chose one though. I felt I couldn't choose one. IF I chose white than that would be denying their african american and if I chose african american it would deny them being white. It was terribly frustrating. <br />I am with you on this one. I can't believe in 2010 they still have this as an issue..
Maggie574 responded:
This has bugged me but then I start to wonder how much of it comes from the gov't &/or other entities that provide funding for programs than have such and such percentages of racial diversity. Not saying it's right or wrong, just wondering if that's where some of it comes from. It seems like I have seen more and more options lately though (like offering different multi-racial or other options...)
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?This has bugged me but then I start to wonder how much of it comes from the gov't &/or other entities that provide funding for programs than have such and such percentages of racial diversity. Not saying it's right or wrong, just wondering if that's where some of it comes from. It seems like I have seen more and more options lately though (like offering different multi-racial or other options...)
Anmar22 responded:
I was asked this for the first time when I went to WIC they asked me her race and I didn't know what to tell them, I haven't really thought about it. The lady was nice enough to let me chose 2, hispanic/white. I agree, why does it even matter these days??
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?I was asked this for the first time when I went to WIC they asked me her race and I didn't know what to tell them, I haven't really thought about it. The lady was nice enough to let me chose 2, hispanic/white. I agree, why does it even matter these days??
wantingbaby123 responded:
My son is half white and half Pakistani. I usually just check the box that says "other".
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?My son is half white and half Pakistani. I usually just check the box that says "other".
Baby1at35 replied to wantingbaby123's response:
Yes I usually do other as well. However on the kindergarten school form there was no "other" it totally made me pick one as it said. I don't mind saying other but when it isn't there that is frustrating. I wonder as pp said it is due to some type of funding by schools ect.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?Yes I usually do other as well. However on the kindergarten school form there was no "other" it totally made me pick one as it said. I don't mind saying other but when it isn't there that is frustrating. I wonder as pp said it is due to some type of funding by schools ect.
Lovin_my_babies replied to Baby1at35's response:
Baby1at35, this is exactly what happened with me. the school made me choose, there was no 'other' option that I could choose! It was (is) very frustrating to say the least!
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?Baby1at35, this is exactly what happened with me. the school made me choose, there was no 'other' option that I could choose! It was (is) very frustrating to say the least!
wwilson89 replied to Lovin_my_babies's response:
I think it's for statistics. They compile information and that way they can come out with reports regarding who is using public services, educational testing, etc. etc. I always just checked black, but now since they offer multiracial, I check that. I doesn't bother me b/c a box doesn't fully define me anyway and checking one or the other doesn't make me any less Korean.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?I think it's for statistics. They compile information and that way they can come out with reports regarding who is using public services, educational testing, etc. etc. I always just checked black, but now since they offer multiracial, I check that. I doesn't bother me b/c a box doesn't fully define me anyway and checking one or the other doesn't make me any less Korean.
jamhi75 responded:
I realize you posted a while ago, but I started a discussion on this new to the community. I saw your post after, but the same question still applies. This should not be an issue, funding be darned. Give the same to each community regardless of race percentages. As I said in my new discussion of this , I do believe that very soon we will have many mixed families of two or three or more races and the government should keep this in their minds when trying to define us as a people.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?I realize you posted a while ago, but I started a discussion on this new to the community. I saw your post after, but the same question still applies. This should not be an issue, funding be darned. Give the same to each community regardless of race percentages. As I said in my new discussion of this , I do believe that very soon we will have many mixed families of two or three or more races and the government should keep this in their minds when trying to define us as a people.
JMomma1 responded:
i usually mark black and white both, even if it says choose one- i just cant do it! or if the option is available i choose other. DH says if i have to pick one i should choose black. i dont really know why, im guessing cause they came out of me (im white, and hes yellowbone) he wants to be part too, like they kinda look white, but theyre half black and he wants it known- theyre black! come on people, get with the times!! they should just have a box to mark with a line to fill in since everybodys pretty much mixed with something now a days.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?i usually mark black and white both, even if it says choose one- i just cant do it! or if the option is available i choose other. DH says if i have to pick one i should choose black. i dont really know why, im guessing cause they came out of me (im white, and hes yellowbone) he wants to be part too, like they kinda look white, but theyre half black and he wants it known- theyre black! come on people, get with the times!! they should just have a box to mark with a line to fill in since everybodys pretty much mixed with something now a days.
You know what I dont get?
Why is it if someone is mixed with black, esp black/white..they automatically get pinned as being "black"?
Anyone know?
Ive seen this even with the President Obama. He is mixed , but for some reason he is "black". Or Halle Berry...she is considered a "black woman"?
Why is it if someone is mixed with black, esp black/white..they automatically get pinned as being "black"?
Anyone know?
Ive seen this even with the President Obama. He is mixed , but for some reason he is "black". Or Halle Berry...she is considered a "black woman"?
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?You know what I dont get?<br /> <br />Why is it if someone is mixed with black, esp black/white..they automatically get pinned as being "black"?<br /> <br />Anyone know?<br /> <br />Ive seen this even with the President Obama. He is mixed , but for some reason he is "black". Or Halle Berry...she is considered a "black woman"?
I think most mixed kids white/black, generally get shifted to the "black" category because it is more accepted by that community. I am white and my fiancee is black, my family has no issue and the younger generations in his family doesn't but sometimes his Mom has a bit of an issue with the interracial relationship. I think it is sad that in 2010 we are still battling this but it will forever be there unless we as a people stand up and demand that it changes.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?I think most mixed kids white/black, generally get shifted to the "black" category because it is more accepted by that community. I am white and my fiancee is black, my family has no issue and the younger generations in his family doesn't but sometimes his Mom has a bit of an issue with the interracial relationship. I think it is sad that in 2010 we are still battling this but it will forever be there unless we as a people stand up and demand that it changes.
mrsjmsr responded:
This is done for statistical and funding purposes. Some of government funding is allocated for minorities, so they use school information to know which counties, cities, towns, ect, need the most funding. It can be upsetting but until another method is developed, this will continue to be needed information. I do not necessarily agree, but I do understand.
To whom it may interest,
come join "mothers with stair-stepped children". a new parenting community.
To whom it may interest,
come join "mothers with stair-stepped children". a new parenting community.
Report This| Share this:vent - choosing a race?This is done for statistical and funding purposes. Some of government funding is allocated for minorities, so they use school information to know which counties, cities, towns, ect, need the most funding. It can be upsetting but until another method is developed, this will continue to be needed information. I do not necessarily agree, but I do understand. <br /> <br />To whom it may interest,<br /> <br />come join <b>"mothers with stair-stepped children".</b> a new parenting community.
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