Is B-Racial the New Black?

Our new president is bi-racial. We're bi-racial (been holding it down for years) and every time I go to the store I see a little blondish brown curly haired kid straight out of a Gap ad running down the aisle. So, have we broken down the barriers or is it just cool to have a bi-racial child? Not sure. Celebrities love to adopt African children, but aren't quite on the bandwagon with mating with Africans. :-) Except Heidi Klum and David Bowie, of course.

I also wonder how this will change the "Black" cultural identity over time. Will it "whiten" our race? Can we even say "our" race?! Either way, how will this effect us since the overwhelming majority of bi-racial children are being raised by single white women? In 20 years, will there be a massively confused race of curly haired young adults who aren't sure whether to wear their hair ashy or flat iron it? Who don't know how to cook greens but inherently have rhythm? Who love hip hop but aren't sure where it came from?

I'm full of questions today.

Have the Expectations Changed?

Are things really different? Are we, as black people, mixed people, etc.--expected to act differently? Do white people look at black people differently now that we have a black president? I just wonder because it seems like we're in the middle of "making" history -- where will we be in 50 years? It's exciting but also a little daunting. As a person of mixed race, I think I also feel responsible to be a beacon of success more so now than ever. Could be worse.

The Issue of Children

I was always taught by my parents that I had "the best of the both worlds" when it came to my racial background. But I often wonder how other bi-racial families deal with this issue. Especially for single parents who only represent one side of the racial spectrum - how do you teach your mixed child (or "mutt" as President Obama says - LOL) about a racial heritage of which you know only secondhand information? I had (have) a white and black parent in my life, so I am constantly exposed to two divergent cultures. But I suppose we're so inundated with white culture that it's really the kids without access to their black heritage that suffer the most. But how does a white parent handle this on his/her own? Take the kids to the African-American history museum? That is not a substitute for soul food, beauty shops, flea markets, the "hood," rap concerts, Sade concerts, Prince concerts, Jack and Jill, cotillions, NAACP meetings (I'm spanning the entire Black Socio-economic spectrum here)....all things considered "black." Can black culture be absorbed through the television or are these biracial children bound to simply miss out?

Real Change

Not only did Barack (a bi-racial American) get elected this week, but so did my mother, Phyllis Thede. She is now the State House Representative for Iowa District 81. What a special time. I feel like I can't stop smiling. Even now, as I fight off a bad flu, I can't help but think that my whole life is changing and that our world will never be the same. Yes, I have had the kool-aid, and it tastes delicious. :-)