When communities try to “claim” mixed people
CVK
As we’ve already discussed on MMW, Superbowl MVP Hines Ward has become something of a national hero in South Korea. There’s a great new article in the International Herald Tribune that really delves into the extraordinary hypocrisy that surrounds his new-found fame and popularity. Mixed people have historically been ostracized and discriminated against in that country, but all of a sudden Koreans are rushing to embrace Ward. This quote sums it up perfectly:
“I am proud of Ward,” said Lee James, a singer whose full name is Lee James Edward Shobe. “But people here have treated us as aliens. Now they are all chanting, ‘Ward is Korean, Ward is one of us.’ I see the two faces of Korean society. Since when have they shown so much interest in half-Koreans?”
Or as Mike Jones would say, “Back then…” You know how the song goes. 
This “claiming” phenomenon is something that has always bothered me. Uh-oh, I feel a mini-rant coming on. Get ready.
Dave Chappelle did a great job of satirizing the way mixed people are alternately claimed and rejected by various communities in his famous skit ” Racial Draft”. We see this kind of thing all the time–when a mixed person achieves some level of success, all of a sudden different communities want to claim that person as their own and in a way, share the credit for that person’s accomplishments.
In and of itself, this need to “claim” people is not problematic. In fact, one of the main messages we try to get out there through our work with ND, MMW and ATR, is that mixed people are a part of all the communities that comprise their heritage. We’re not trying to separate ourselves into some new group, we just want the right to identify with multiple communities at once and not be forced to choose one over the other.
The “claiming” thing does get problematic, however, when the mixed person in question always felt rejected by that community and therefore never really identified with that part of his/her heritage. Case in point, Halle Berry. When she won the Oscar, I can’t tell you how many white people came up to me and said something along the lines of: “I don’t understand why they’re constantly talking about her as the first “black” woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress. She’s mixed–she’s just as white as she is black. And she attended the Oscars with her white mother, who raised her. Why do black people insist on talking about her like she’s only black?” … Continue reading
the joy princess wrote:
The only person missing from Chappelle’s Racial Draft was Vin Diesel, LOL
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 10:17 am ¶
kyosuke75 wrote:
I totally loved how the WuTang wound up with the Asians. I totally agree with your article. I’m not half this or half that (at least not to my knowledge) but some of my half-white, half-korean friends do face that identity crisis.
It is total hypocrasy when a country (for example S. Korea) rejects mixed people but when they accomplish something amazing, they go gah-gah over them.
Since me being Korean, I feel that they should’ve embraced Ward earlier and I am proud that he has Korean heritage and this is probably the closest thing we koreans will ever get to having a Korean NFL star…hahah.
I am proud of all my half asian brothers and sisters… you are 100% alright in my book!
Posted 25 Feb 2006 at 5:50 am ¶
Waver wrote:
As for Hines Ward, most people in America didnt even know he was half Korean until this year let alone Koreans. So I dont know how they rejected him when didnt even know about him or the sport of football.
I’ve been watching football for over 15 years and only for the last two years have I known some of the half asian football players, such as Ward, Johnny and Chad Morton.
Posted 27 Feb 2006 at 11:10 am ¶
Leelee wrote:
Those same whites that act in your face like they are so in tuned to race issues ( as the ones questioning halle’s racial alliance in the article) would be the first ones to fall over dead if their son brought Halle’s behind home for dinner if she was not famous. Because a white person made that comment…then it must be sensible?? Halle Berry and any other mixed person can claim to be whatever the hell they want to be- that is their business!
Why are black people consistently insulted on this board? They are not running, skipping, falling over themselves to claim mixed people( 2 different race of parents- not that mulitgenerational stuff you all toss around). I think some of us mixed people are delusional. You are confusing the everyday black people with the poor so-called, self-appointed leaders ( Sharpton, Jackson,etc). Hell most black people I know don’t even like to give Halle props for that Oscar because they noted that she is mixed and they felt she and Denzel had to do degrading roles to get them.
Yeah, I am mixed, but I am sick of coming on here and seeing mixed people dissing Black people like they are so deseparate to have them on their teams. If you have a problem with them ( which is strange because you are mixed) then claim only your white and keep it moving, but beating a group over the head all the time is stupid. I hardly ever hear you all going
Posted 03 Mar 2006 at 12:19 pm ¶
kano wrote:
How much would a half breed mutt dog go for on the market? Mutt dogs aren’t celebrated? Why humans?
When was the last time that one of the bleeding heart liberals like a Kennedy dated or married an asian or a black?
Posted 06 Mar 2006 at 6:01 pm ¶