Keyshia Cole and the One-Drop Rule

So apparently R&B artist Keyshia Cole started a s***-storm of controversy recently when she went on BET's 106 & Park and claimed that she wasn't initially sure how she felt about being on "Black Women Rock," because she's biracial. Madame Noire asked, "I think it's fine if she wants to point out that she's bi-racial, but one, where is this coming from, and two, are you not still black by all one drop rule standards? And are you really going to act like the rest of society doesn't still see you as a black woman and you can now no longer understand the need to celebrate black girls doing good things. C'mon now?". While I agree with M.N. in part, I can't go for the one-drop rule assessment.

For those unfamiliar, the one-drop rule is the U.S. law (and only the U.S.; no other country is so backwards), dating back to Jim Crow, which states that one-drop of negro blood makes someone black. As you can imagine, this law was invented largely to prevent miscegenation (that's "race mixing"). Not really sure how enforceable that was a hundred of years ago without discernible proof of one's lineage, as the one-drop rule resulted in lots of people "passing" for white in order to benefit from the more favorable status afforded by law and society in general.

Seeing as Jim Crow laws have been eradicated, and we live in an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic society, I don't really see a benefit to the one-drop rule in today's society. In fact, the one-drop rule seems to be invoked by black folks more than any other group. Yes, we generally tend to claim everyone and their grandmama as black. 

While there are many bi- or multi-racial/ethnic celebrities who are perceived as black merely because of their appearance--and to some degree because of their associations [Pres. Barack Obama, Halle Berry, Derek Jeter, Alicia Keys, Dwayne Johnson, Tracey Ellis-Ross, Tia and Tamara Mowrey, Bob Marley, Carmelo Anthony, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Bonet, Maya Rudolph, Faith Evans, Jimi Hendrix, Jordin Sparks, Kelis, Shemar Moore, and Stacy Dash just to name a few], there are also those bi-/multi-racial/ethnic whose appearances defy a label of just "black"--even to the point where many don't even know they are biracial until they come out of the color closet, so to speak [Mariah Carey, Rashida Jones, Jennifer Beals, Vin Diesel, Cash Warren, Wentworth Miller, Santino Rice and G&R's Slash are just a few who come to mind who have elicited the "OMG! I didn't know s/he was black!" response]. And what about the people who are (allegedly) "black" so far down the line that it shouldn't even matter, since no reasonable person would ever perceive them as multi-racial, let alone "black" [thinking of, for example, People's Sexiest Man 2012, Channing Tatum, who is reportedly 1/16 black on his father's side]?

I personally think it is pretty pointless to assign someone a mono-racial identity for the comfort of one group who thinks that celebrities should acknowledge their blackness and only their blackness. Look, I get why we would or should want to do it in some circumstances. Without the one-drop rule, instead of America having its first black president, we have our first half-black POTUS. Without the one-drop rule, there has never been a great black pro-golfer (not that we have a great one now, in either case, right?), just a half-black pro-golfer. However, self-identification--particularly when that self-identification is grounded in some reality--is important, and even if we allow someone their (right to a) half-black or quarter-black identity, we have still made cultural progress. President Obama self-identifies as black, because he is viewed as and treated as a black man [No worries! We still have our first "black" president--sixth if you still insist we go by the one-drop rule]. However, he acknowledges his biracial status, because to do so is an insult to the white mother and grandparents who raised him [as opposed to his African father who was largely non-present in his life]. Halle Berry was raised by her white mother, but that same mother raised her as a "black woman," because she realized that is how most of society would perceive her [And, similarly, Halle has insisted that her one-quarter black daughter is also a black woman by society's standards--despite her light hair and blue eyes]. Mariah Carey, for reasons unknown, self-identifies as black, and occasionally as "tri-racial." Dwayne Johnson self-identifies as both black and Samoan. Tiger Woods self-identifies as Cablanasian (seriously)--and that's his prerogative. The thing is, asking someone to self-identify as only one race--regardless of their life or familial experiences is not the business of the outside world.

My daughters are too young to understand the concept of race, let alone begin to self-identify. Pop Culture Preschooler only knows racial differences from a crayon-box perspective. She has declared before that she, daddy, and her sister have white faces, and mommy has a brown-face. Of course, even on the crayon-box perspective, she is incorrect, and we have corrected her that she and daddy have beige faces, while her little sister and mommy have brown faces (or, more accurately, Pop Culture Toddler2 has a tan face); but ultimately none of this will prove important as she grows up. People will put her into one box or another, and regardless of what box or boxes she checks for herself, someone will always question her choices. If PCP checks the "black" box with her pale skin, green eyes, and naturally highlighted hair (though with black features she received from me), there will be those who question whether she is "black enough." If she checks the "white" box, many will accuse her of being self-loathing [no lie, I may have that fear myself]. If she checks both boxes, then there will still be some people [including the State of Texas on the forms we filled out at the hospital!] who will consider that an unacceptable answer, and forcing her to choose only one--more often than not, the "black" box. In short, no matter what she chooses, she will lose before she's even began. Pop Culture Toddler2 has the opposite problem. Even though her features and hair came from her Caucasian, American Irish father, she undoubtedly has my coloring. Without seeing both parents present, most people don't even realize she's biracial, and when she is only with my husband, people are as confused as they were when I used to be alone with Pop Culture Preschooler as a baby--yes, I was actually confused as the nanny on several occasions. While few strangers would probably question if PCT2 self-identified as "black," any other classification may raise eyebrows and accusations. This would, of course, be unfair, because she, just like her older sister, is very much a product of both of her parents.

We will cross these bridges when we get to them. In any event, I don't think that the "one-drop rule" is the way to go, because it is not up to society to decide how a bi- or multi-racial person views him or herself (no matter how much it may irk us). Not to mention, it just gets into absurd and ridiculous results when you are talking about someone who can barely trace their black heritage, who would never be identified by society in general as a black person, and who will never know or experience any amount of discrimination as they would if they were actually a minority.

Now... as far as Keyshia Cole... though her answer was thought-provoking insofar as the general topic, it was quite a head-scratcher for me. Why? Well, because Keyshia Cole doesn't know who her daddy is. By every report, her mother was a drug addict, and didn't know who she was with during her crack-fueled binges. There has been a lot of speculation about who her father is, but no definitive answers. Maybe he was a black man, maybe he wasn't. But the bottom line is Keyshia neither knows who her father is nor has she had an experience of being raised in a multi-cultural household or society. She's an R&B artist who is largely unknown to anyone who doesn't follow R&B. Moreover, she gave this statement on Black Entertainment Television, which is... well... the only channel that plays her videos. So... you know.... Self-identification really only works when, as stated above, there's some basis in reality. I mean, I could call myself half-Vietnamese, but that doesn't make it true or reflective of my life experiences.

Ignoring the Keyshia Cole craziness, what about the rest of you? What do you think about the one-drop rule and self-identification? Should we leave it up to individuals to (within reason) identify themselves; or is there some societal value in forcing the "black" label on half-, quarter- and 1/16th black individuals, regardless of how they seem themselves?
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Porsha Picks Her Baby (RHOA)

After the AMAs last night, I started catching up on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Wow. The new chicks.... just... wow.

Kenya is clearly cray cray, and there isn't much to be said about her that hasn't been said already. But Porsha? Oh wow... This girl is a perky little something.

The whole time she was telling Kenya about her desire for children, I kept thinking to myself, Is she 12 years old?. Even beyond the peppy enthusiasm and rambling, I mean, really. You rarely hear grown women talk that way. She wants kids (okay). Sooner rather than later (fine). Preferably twins so she doesn't have to be pregnant multiple times (okie doke. Good luck with that). Her hubby wants a boy and she wants a girl (that's normal). So she's going to have the boy first and then a girl (wait, what now?). And when Kenya points out that usually one does not have control over these things, she responds that she's just going to use the Chinese gender predictor to plan her boy and girl. (alllllrighty then...).

I get saying things like, "Ideally, I would like a boy and a girl." But saying what sex she was going to have, and even going so far as to treat the Chinese gender prediction test as though it is honestly a reliable and proven gender prediction technique is just... I can't... Do grown people do this???

If you are not familiar with it, the Chinese Gender Prediction test is a real thing. Based on the mom's lunar age and lunar month in which the baby is conceived, the test tells you what gender it should be. That's right, Porsha Stewart is putting stock in the fact that every woman her lunar age who conceives the same month as her will have the same-gendered babies. Sounds legit .

This gender predictor claims to be 90% accurate. In reality, it is—like all methods of predicting gender in a single-birth or identical twin scenario—50% accurate.

According to the Chinese Gender Predictor, I should have one girl and one boy. In fact, Pop Culture Toddler 2 was conceived smack in the middle of a three-month period that should result in a boy. Guess she missed the memo?

Seriously, what is the logic here? Some ancient Chinese secret from the cosmos? It doesn't even make any sense statistically.

And what about fraternal twins [like the ones Porsha so desperately wants... I am assuming there must be some family history or she is planning on the aid of fertility drugs, since she is clearly not of such advanced maternal age that she has a heightened risk of fraternal twins] and other multiples? Where do they factor? By this theory, they should always be the same gender.

Look, I have no problem with gender prediction methods and old wives' takes when they are used for fun only, and not treated as a serious endeavor. I can even understand people trying things like the Shettles Method or anything that has at least some basis in science (whether or not it is actually accurate). But some random chart that you found online that says every 31-year old woman who conceives in "lunar" February in any given year will have a girl?? C'mon now!


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Ladies (and Some Men), I Have an Announcement I Would Like to Make

Set your DVRs. Now.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Joe Manganiello is going to be on How I Met Your Mother for a two-episode arc starting tonight. If you've never seen the show before or can't figure out how/why Joe fits in, he has a recurring role as Brad, Marshall's friend from law school [Columbia Law, represent!]. Although my favorite storyline involving Brad and Marshall is the Season 2 episode titled "World's Greatest Couple," where they each broke up with their respective lady-loves and embark on a hilarious and accidentally couple-like bromance, my favorite Brad moment is at the end of Marshall's bachelor party (also Season 2, in an episode appropriately titled "Bachelor Party"). While I haven't been able to find the video anywhere online, let's just say that after the party, the fellas find Brad on the side of the road in the state one would usually find Alcide right after he's transformed from wolf back to (sexy) man.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Brad is now "unkempt and chubby." While I certainly cannot imagine Yum-iniello that way, it should be pretty funny to watch. 

Per Manganiello, he decided to don the fat suit and bring Brad back to the screen, because the show "was one of those first jobs where things started rolling for me.... I owe a lot to those guys." It's great to see an actor giving props to one of the roles that helped jump start his career. And with True Blood on hiatus [and me trying to refrain from watching Magic Mike every week], it'll be nice to see a little Prime Time Joe.

How I Met Your Mother appears on CBS Monday nights at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. (So, yeah... TONIGHT. Get ready).

wtw-himym_175x175
photo courtesy EW.com
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Channing Tatum the Sexiest Man Alive? Not sure how I feel about this

So, as you've probably heard, People Magazine announced its Sexiest Man Alive for 2012, and it's Magic Mike's Channing Tatum. Er... Um... Yeah... I don't know.

Inline image 5
 
Look, he was sexy as all get out in Magic Mike, he has a fantastic body, can dance, and is sexy is his own way, but sexiest man alive? That's a bit of a stretch. 

I'm not going to go all crazy like some Ryan Gossling fans and claim that "Hey Girl" got robbed. [Sorry, ladies, but I don't get the Gossling love. He just doesn't do it for me.]. But surely there must have been some stronger contenders in 2012. People wouldn't even have to stretch too far to find them.

I mean, you know who else was in that movie?

This guy:
Inline image 1
And this one:
Inline image 2

And this one:

   

Annnnnnnnd this guy:
Inline image 4
 
I mean, that's some pretty heavy competition, and smooth dance moves notwithstanding, I don't think our boy Channing comes out number one. [For the record, in case there are any doubts: Joe Manganiello. No. Freaking. Contest. EVER].

What do you all (ladies and gents alike) think? Did people get it right? Would you have picked another MM co-star? Someone different altogether?
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A New Elmo?

In Kevin Clash's [permanent?] absence, might I suggest Community's Alison Brie?

Witness this performance in The Five-Year Engagement:



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I Hate VH1 for Devaluing the Word "Diva"



VH1 recently announced its lineup for "Divas 2012," and all I can say is Are you [pardon my French]fucking kidding me????

Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Rowland, Ciara, and Jordin Sparks. Only two of those ladies (Kelly and Jordin) can sing without auto-tune; and, let's face it, even with auto-tune, those chicks can't sing. Jordin and Kelly are okay, maybe even good(ish), but they are not divas!

Look, I get that Whitney and Donna dead, Chaka and Aretha are old, and Mariah and Christina have been on "Divas" already; but at least these ladies truly personify a "diva." Adam Lambert (the emcee) embodies a diva better than Miley Cyrus. Heck, at least he can sing.

Why doesn't VH1 just call it what it really is—"Pandering to the Teen and Young 20s Demographic 2012"???

I feel about VH1 the same way The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon feels about Apple's Genius Bar.

Just. Stop.


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A PSA to Those Non-New Yorkers Who Had Intended to Run the NY Marathon This Weekend

As you have probably heard by now, Mayor Bloomberg decided today to cancel the New York Marathon because of the post-Sandy controversy surrounding the idea of holding a marathon when so many New Yorkers are without power, and the City is very much still in the middle of relief efforts.

I was only a temporary New Yorker for three years, and that was more than a decade ago; but I still have many friends (and one family member) there and other areas affected by Sandy.

Imagine my surprise to turn in to a NYC-based, national radio show this afternoon and hearing a few marathon runners bitching and moaning about the cancelation, including one lady from Houston, who should certainly know better, since we get our own fair share of destructive weather. Many of those people got schooled on the air.

Consider this my Public Service Announcement to any disappointed runners who have not yet been so schooled:

If you flew into NYC this weekend to run the marathon and are now raving mad because you now have "nothing to do," how about you donate your downtime to the Red Cross or other hurricane recovery efforts?? If you didn't make it into the city before the marathon was canceled, then how about you feel happy about the fact that your hotel room can go to a displaced NY resident, many of whom were told they had to evacuate the rooms before Saturday? In any event, show some damn gratitude for your luxuries and some sympathy for people who suffered devastation this week. One day, it could be you or someone you love. Wouldn't you like some kindness, understanding, and sympathy? You've already done the training. You can run a later marathon. But NYC and its residents need some TLC right now—not 50,000 people running through the streets and redirecting medical personnel.


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