Topic #3. Pros and Cons to "Identity"
(Showing 16-18 of 18)

16. to historian
Fri, Sep 17, 1999 - 12:09 PM/EST
maine

I am also curious as to what you meant by the comment "the indoctrination of the Wilson/Sims children". I guess I felt that they weren't "indoctrinated" with any of the traditional messages-but were really allowed to be who they were.

17. Indoctrination of Wilson/Sim Kid explained
Fri, Sep 17, 1999 - 2:46 PM/EST
historian

Stevie,

What I understood of how Chaney and Cicily were raise is this: their parents decided that they would raise them as "black." Since Bill Sims, self-admitted, was on the road most of these girls childhood (except 4 years when Chaney was born), a white woman raised her daughters to be "black." Raised by African-American women, the emphasis has never been on teaching me to be Black, it just came with the territory. So, it would seem to me that Karen and Bill made a strong committment to making sure these girls would identify Black (whatever that means to a white mother and somewhat self-absorbed Black father)without much consideration or respect for the mother's racial and cultural heritage. I do recall them saying they raised the girls to be Black...as if one were raising someone up in a faith.

Hope this helps clarify what I was thinking when I used the word indoctrination.

18. To Concernedmom
Fri, Sep 17, 1999 - 11:39 PM/EST
loh263

Ok my biracial children looked mixed and I know how many people think the "one drop rule" is what has to define a biracial childs identity. My older kids are lighter skin and have straighter hair, you can tell they aren't white, but you can't tell they are black either, but each is proud of their heritage, both black and white. My younger children are light skinned and have curly hair and just know that they are biracial. I dont' feel I need to teach them American Society views them as black...I teach them to be strong about being themselves and the outside BS, will come, but by making them strong, will help them deal with it. My eldest son knows that police officers see him different than his blue eyed blonde friends, is it fair no, but he deals.