The Multiracial
Advocacy Blog: What’s in a Name?
Today was Gay Pride Day in California,
well at least in San Francisco
where a Gay Pride Parade was held, as it is every year. I was listening to the
radio after I read my Sunday San
Francisco Chronicle and I was surprised at the two different take-away
points each had from the same event.
The Chronicle gave
me information. I learned that over 15,000 gay people were targeted during the
Holocaust and made to wear pink triangles on their shirts. I had no idea. Many
of them met the same fate as Jewish people during that terrible time. I learned
that former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown has worked for gay rights. The Chronicle coverage was unbiased,
informational, educational, and positive.
The KGO radio show host tried to be unbiased by repeatedly
referring to gay pride like black pride and, of course, multiracial pride. I’m
not sure that’s helpful to anyone and my feelings were echoed by several
callers.
I’m tired of people comparing the
gay movement with the multiracial movement. The reason they are so often
compared because both seek legitimacy and equality. They are two definitely
different movements. But why are they so often compared?
I remember when I was at my son’s elementary school in the
early 1990’s and was standing in the hallway waiting for school to get out for
the day. His class happened to walk by and we waved at each other. A woman
standing next to me said, “Is that your child?!” I said, “Yes,” and her reply
was, “It must be so hard to be the mother of a son who likes other boys.” Huh?!
Ohhhhhhhhh, I finally got it. She had confused “biracial” and “bisexual.” Oh
boy.
But I keep hearing it and it makes me downright mad every
time. I’m hardly homophobic, but I’m also not seeing the connection. Is it that
both groups have been opposed? Are biracial and bisexual closer in language
than in reality? Am I supposed to ask biracial kids if they are also bisexual?
Of course not, and yet the comparison continues.
I am Jewish. The connection between being Jewish and the
history of the Holocaust is obvious—in your face—obvious. But I had never heard
the gay/Holocaust history before. I doubt many people have. They are
intrinsically different, but still let’s never forget either one.
I also hear multicultural interchanged with multiracial.
Nope. Culture and race are different things: multicultural is more about “how
we do things around here” while multiracial is “the DNA I was born with.”
It’s all very different and should not be all that confusing
if only we could all just get along.
Susan Graham
I understand what you are trying to say. Multiracial is being confused with just about everything that comes down the pike and it isn't like anything else out there so stop comparing. Right? In some ways we are seen as just another voice in the wilderness crying out that we have been mistreated, our people are dying, and we need help. That's what so many other groups or "movements" are saying of themselves. And, you're right - this would not be such a big problem for any of us if we'd stop thinking of "me first" and "to hell" with the other guy. Unfortunately, unless or until human nature changes, this is a problem we will face until the end of time. That, of course, doesn't mean we cannot continue or should not continue making as much noise as we can. Maybe, one day, someone will take notice.
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