Crossing Lines: A Black Women Asian Man Documentary Wants Stories

Be in an Asian Man/Black Women Documentary!

CROSSING LINES: A Real View Into AM/BW

“Crossing Lines” takes a look into REAL relationships in the modern age – where cross-cultural love between Asian Men and Black Women blossoms and ignites both on and off-screen.

We are looking for:

• Video Interviews from Couples & Families, and Singles & Seekers
• Photos of Couples & Families, and Social Groups
• Original AM/BW Artwork
• Donations (in exchange for film credit)

Submit your info to www.AMBW.weebly.com until February 1st 2012 to apply for this documentary.

And don’t forget to watch the Video Pitch @ http://www.youtube.com/getrealwithgeorgia

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Muslims in America versus Lowe’s Stores

Recently there was an up roar over Lowe’s Home Improvement pulling its ads from the TLC show All-American Muslim in response to an organization claiming the show “falsely humanized Muslims in America.” I was a bit disappointed by the Lowe’s brand actions but not really surprised. Still it was encouraging to see the reaction for supporters of the show and the American Muslim community, like high profile celebrity Russell Simmons who spoke out against Lowe’s actions

But it’s not just celebrities who are speaking out against Islamophobia in America. I recently learned about the My Fellow American project, which is trying to prevent and overcome racial issues like this in America.

Visitors to the site can share what controversies like this means to them. There’s also various content to help spread the message of tolerance from various entertainers and faith leaders on this topic.

Check out the site and let me know what you think – http://www.myfellowamerican.us/

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KFC Offering $20,000 College Scholarship

Starting now through December 13, high school seniors can try to win a $20,000 Colonel’s Scholars scholarship by tweeting a single image and including the hashtag #KFCScholar.

KFC is asking college hopefuls to tweet a photo that illustrates why they exemplify Colonel Sanders’ commitment to education and enriching their communities, and why they are deserving of a college scholarship. The scholarship winner, announced on or about December 15, will receive up to $5,000 per year for the next four years to pursue a bachelor’s degree at an accredited public university within his or her home state.

Get Creative, Tweeple. Apply by following KFC on Twitter (@KFC_Colonel) and submitting your application in the form of a tweeted photo, including #KFCScholar in the tweet.

• Applicants do not have to include @KFC_Colonel in the message that accompanies the image, but are required to include #KFCScholar, which can be included as part of the message; e.g., “A picture’s worth 1,000 words! I’m applying to win a $20K KFC Colonel’s Scholars scholarship with a single photo #KFCScholar.” Applications will be judged solely on the photos.

•   Tweets will be reviewed after December 13 to determine that applicants comply with proper eligibility requirements*, and the winner will be announced on or about December 15.

To be eligible to compete for the KFC Colonel’s Scholars Scholarship, an individual must:

• Graduate from high school this academic year (8/31/12)
• Earn a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.75
• Plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree at a public, in-state college or university (start no later than 9/30/12)
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident

For official rules and more information on KFC Colonel’s Scholars and the Kentucky Fried Chicken Foundation, visit www.KFC.com or www.KFCscholars.org

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Race Focused Bullying. Where’s the support?

A few months ago I took part in a roundtable discussion for CBS News/48 HOURS presentation “Bullying: Words Can Kill.”

Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Of course as a parent the topic of bullying is important to me. But as a parent of a biracial child, I’m especially interested in bullying and how it happens with the mixed race community. To many times I’ve seen bullying tolerated and then the damaging effects it leaves on children’s and adults who are already facing discrimination outside their “community”.

I recently saw this tragic story of a bullied 10-year-old girl who commits suicide. A discussion on the article wondered if part of the teasing was racial based. The child was biracial.

Certainly race does play a part as shown in an article that highlight Asian Americans are the most bullied in US schools

For some that might sound outlandish. How can someone be bullied based on race?

For those in the mixed race community, this isn’t even a question. Race focused bullying happens all the time. Bullying can happen as early as toddler hood. I’ll never forget when children in the playground started telling my son 2 year old son to go back to china because he looked different then they do.  But where do children learn how to bully from?

 

I strongly suspect from the adults in their lives. I recently watched one video where a mom of an infant went on a racial rant in public.  If this mom says those kids of things  in public imagine what she says on the privacy of her home to this very impressionable child? Can you guess what mindset this child will grow up with?

 

Another sad truth is adults are not immune to be being bullied. I experienced a bullying moment tonight in a mixed race online group, when I tried to expand a discussion. The issue was about the race boxes some college students are checking…or in this case not checking. Based on me asking a question that moved the discussion beyond asian and white I was asked….

 

 

Because clearly, since I wont talk about JUST white and asian issues I must hate white people. Ugh This is not the first time someone has accused me of hating white people. It seems to be the default argument whenever I challenge a conversation that excludes anyone who isn’t half white. I’ve already addressed this accusation in more then one blog post but seems I need to kill off that argument in a more dramatic way. I’ll definitely deal with that question in a future blog post.

 

For this blog post I want to bring the focus to what happened after those words were thrown at me.

 

Despite me ignoring them, the person in this group continued to post and accuse me. Each post becoming more inflammatory.

 

Now you’d think in a group of over 1,000 adult people someone who step in and say something right? Nope. Not one person spoke up and said anything in my defense, to change the topic or just to stop the tirade that was happening.

 

And in my mind, that’s how bullying holds it’s power. People see things happening but no one says anything.  Where’s the support for a person being bullied so they dont have to deal with it alone?

 

Granted I’m an adult and can stand up for myself but still I told the teacher aka group owner. LOL. She handled situation but the whole thing has already left a bad taste in my mouth. Are these the adults leading the way for the next generation of mixed race children? Are these same adults the ones who’s suppose to provide support and a safe haven for children dealing with mixed race conflict?

 

Thankfully, this is not the only group within the mixed race community. Many other groups do provide a true safe haven and will stand up for those being bullied racially.

 

During that CBS News/48 HOURS roundtable discussion one thing I spoke strongly for was building a support system. Both children and adults need to surround themselves with those who will take a stand with them against bullies. If your being bullied it’s important for you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Find a community to be a part of or if you can’t find, then build your own.

 

Bullying is not just a part of life. Bullying is not something that will make us stronger. Bullying is killing our friends, family and our children because they feel there’s no support. It’s time to take a stand and speak up, time to share stories, time to save our community and our children from dying both figuratively and literally.

Here is a list of Resources for students & parents – http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/08/48hours/main20100086.shtml

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Disney Dreamers Academy Celebrity Twitter Party #DisneyDreams

Come tweet along with the stars at the first “Celebrity Disney Dreaming Twitter Party”! Join in and chat with “Family Feud” host, comedian Steve Harvey, Grammy-award winning gospel star Yolanda Adams, co-host of “106 & Park” Terrance J, noted educator Dr. Steve Perry, and ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith, among other special guests.

This inspiring group is a part of the panel that is picking the final 100 students who will attend next year’s Disney’s Dreamers Academy and you have the opportunity to get in on the action, right from your own living room!

Celebrity Disney Dreaming Twitter Party

Date: Saturday, December 3rd
Time: 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. EST
Location: #DisneyDreams
Host: @DreamersAcademy and@MomTalkRadio (Maria Bailey, Founder of MomSelect)

This is the time to ask your favorite celebrities how they reached their amazing levels of success and what they are dreaming about now. And because it’s a party, we’ll be sure to give away some favors with some fun trivia questions and contests.

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Is Japanese “Black Face” a Tribute to Black Culture?

It’s no secret that Japanese people LOVE imitating the black culture. From reggae to hip hop, you can find the Japanese trying to assimilate the culture and fashion. But what happens when they cross the fine line of imitating to mocking? Where exactly is that line anyway?

I saw this video posted in one of the asian and black groups and thought it was interesting. When did being black become a lifestyle?

Metropolis TV – ‘Black lifestyle’ in Japan .

Her mom seems to think her daughter will get bored with living the black lifestyle. Like being black is just a fad to test out for a few months. I think it’s a shame that hip hop culture seems to be all some Japanese people know about black culture. Black culture can mean and be so many things. But that’s another rant for another time. Regarding this video again I ask, where is the fine line between imitating and mocking?

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Thankful for Native American Heritage

Today many here in North American are waking up to celebrate thanksgiving. They’re imagining a day filled with food and family. They consider this a day to be thankful. They’re right. They should be thankful but many of the people who should be receiving their thanks are either all dead or fragmented across the United States without a home to call their own.

Every November I try and support the Native Americans for Thanksgiving because my heart aches for the Native people who saved those first Pilgrims. While the Pilgrims acknowledged the wisdom and kindness of those Native Americans, somewhere along the lines the natives became savages and we all know how history unfolded for them. Many have forgotten the true history behind thanksgiving and the people who made those first pilgrims thankful.

But I wont forget and I’m thankful that  every November, which is Native American Heritage Month, others see why they shouldn’t forget either.

This month I celebrate the history and heritage of my friends like Krystal, who’s of Korean and Native American decent and blogs at Siksi Korean. Krystal is also a Domestic Violence Advocate for the Native community. Everyday Krystal deals with the after effect of the damage that was done to the native community. She inspires me with her courage and love for her community.

This month I also celebrate the heritage of the other Indigenous ethnic groups keeping their history alive. A few months back I attended Island Beats: Festival of Oceania at AMNH where I introduced my son to Aboriginal and Polynesian culture.

Of course my son had a blast. But more important he learned about the sounds, dances and traditions of Indigenous culture from the people themselves. I think that is such an important point. To many times we learn about other cultures from a white perspective and most times it’s tainted to paint the culture as inferior.

But Native and Indigenous cultures are far from inferior. These cultures are worthy of being celebrated and remembered in a positive point of view in their own right.  I always worry that these cultures will disappear and go under ground. That somehow we’ll lose their unique voice in the diversity collective.  Each November I’m thankful that hasn’t happened. I’m thankful that many are still sharing their voices, cultures and kindness with us modern day pilgrims.

Happy Native American Heritage Month!

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All-American Muslim: New series on TLC

What is it like to be Muslim in America? TLC answers that question with All-American Muslim, a powerful series that goes inside the rarely seen world of American Muslims to uncover a unique community struggling to balance faith and nationality in a post 9/11 world.

All-American Muslim follows the daily lives of five American Muslim families in Dearborn, Michigan, one of the most established and largest concentrations of American Muslims in the country. Each episode offers an intimate look at customs and celebrations, as well as misconceptions, conflicts, and differences these families face outside and within their own community.

All-American Muslim premieres Sunday at 10 PM ET/PT on TLC.

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@OU_STARS Stands Against Racist Halloween Costumes

I was reading the Is That Your Child latest post “A Spirited’ Discussion About Halloween and Appropriation” and couldn’t believe my eyes.  Racist Costumes?  Like are people STILL doing this?  In that post Michelle highlighted ‘We’re a Culture, Not a Costume‘ the anti-racist campaign from Ohio University’s Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS).

As I googled STARS and learned more about their anti-racist costume campaign, I could have cried. Not because of the insanely offensive racist costumes being sold, or because of the crazy white people who think wearing them is “fun” or “honoring a culture”.  Why don’t more white people go as themselves and THEIR culture anyway?!

No, I nearly cried to see the passion and determination of the next generation standing up to fight against race issues. It’s a powerful thing and their campaign and posters send a powerful message.

All the more powerful because they start it on their own. They didn’t receive funding and support from their school. They didn’t wait for media attention. They tapped into their own little community groups and made it happen. All the support and media attention came AFTER they made their stand and MOVED into action. Kudos to them!

I’m very interested to see what else STARS will do to spread awareness on race issue. I’m also interested to see if they’ll inspire the next generation of advocates.

Because one truth that has not changed for those involved in spreading awareness of race issues.  Racism and inequality has not changed. I know many people want to think, feel and say there’s been changes and things have gotten better.  But what I’ve seen is that racism has taken on a more casual subliminal way of creeping into the lives of minority people. While the past generation could stand and fight against clear and in your face racism, those tactics don’t work as well anymore.

I feel it’s important that the new generation continue to take a stand but their tactics have to change. They’ll need to adjust and be open to new ways of getting their point across. Sometimes they’ll have to take a stand on their own when others claim not to see a problem.

Fighting racism isn’t easy but it’s not impossible and our action can force a change.  We have many examples in all our histories to prove we don’t have to accept it and we can fight against racism. I’m proud to see the next generation stepping up to continue the fight.

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