US Census force biracials to choose
Race is a state of mind but for some people it’s a matter of color. Many people have been interviewed to talk about their opinions on the limited options for race on the census form. People with a white and black parent chose either one or both options. There are even some that with no black history in their family, choose black.
Tony Spearman, author of “Why Am I Black,” was born to two white parents. He grew up in a mostly black neighborhood and taught physics to predominantly black students. On every census since 1996, Spearman has marked one box: black.
“My wife got angry at me, my father got angry me,” said Spearman, 42. “They told me, ‘You gotta be truthful!’ I said, ‘I am!’
“Race is a foolish thing has nothing to do with our humanness. The system is breaking down, and I hope it continues to break down.Because we’ll start to measure people by the content of their hearts.” -Spearman via AP News
In my case I’m Puertorican, a race that’s already multiracial. My geneology consists of Spanish and Taino blood. My Spanish ancestors were blonde and blue eyed and they fell in love with the taino women of the island. From both my mother and father’s side I carry a mix of Spanish genes, what used to be called criollo, the offspring of Spanish with Taino. Puertoricans are a mix of Spanish, African slaves, and Taino. That’s why I have a sister white as paper and a cousin brown like coffee. But if you ask us if we’re black or white, we’re latino, a mix, Antillean.
To me, race doesn’t matter. Spearman is right to say that people should be measured by the content of their heart. My best friend is half Vietnamese and I’ve had friends from Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and more. Who cares about race? Would it really matter if I marked Chinese on a form?
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