Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Isolation of Being Rejected by Your Own Race

Prejudice exists within minority groups towards their own races.  The most famous person to experience such discrimination is Whitney Huston.  She was rejected by many African-Americans because they viewed as "not black enough" during the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards.  Ironically this is the year she met her future husband Bobby Brown.  I speculate that Whitney felt she needed Bobby to get her soul card validated.  This event is a great example of the pressure felt to be accepted within one's own race.

A person can become offended by their own nationality based on stereotypes, wanting acceptance from other race groups and personal insecurities.  I often ask myself would Whitney have taken such a drastic turn if she felt love from within her own race. 

Things are becoming more complicated within The African-American race.  As more generations of African-Americans experience lifestyles within suburban communities the self-definition of blackness is blurring.  The same events are happening within Arabic and Indian families.  As multiple generations are raised in the American culture, traditions are becoming less important. 

What is the right amount of culture a minority needs to be accepted as genuine?  Who defines blackness or the real meaning of being a Latino?  These are important questions that need to be answered within individual nationalities, families and individuals.  Without solid answers or the relinquishing of these restrictive boundaries people will continue to feel this pressure. 


As a minority I feel rejecting others based on cultural difference within a race is detrimental.  There are numerous obstacles minorities face based on race.  Why create another one from within?  This is a form of internal genocide and eternal stagnation.  A person cannot excel if they are forced to conform to society's standard.  It is even more crippling to feel torn between self (singular) and self (plural group identity).  It is a stifling blow to one's Empowerment when a denial of one's self is inflicted for fear of group rejection. 

Minorities have predominately been subjected to the mentality of majority race(s).  The typical majority views a minority as subservient and themselves as superior.  The desire of minorities wanting to be accepted by the majority race has led to self-hated.  Even worse when a minority is accepted by the majority it causes jealously and rejection towards that individual.  The only problem with this illusion is the racism that individual experiences from both sides.  The majority and the minority refuse to fully accept this individual and they are left isolated and unsure in the middle. 

Biracial people feel the same dualism.  They are penalized for embracing part of their identity.  To live an Empowered Life it is crucial to fully accept yourself despite the acceptance or rejection of one's own race. 
photos via: theaterboy.typepad.com, gracegram.com, britishblogs.co.uk via Google images.

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