Light-skinned-ed Girl

Is This an Interracial Relationship?

A brief interruption of Mixed Experience History Month.  (I hope you're continuing to enjoy the posts!)

I wanted to share my most recent Huffington Post piece on the new Census numbers that show interracial marriages are at an all-time high.  Here's the beginning:

I'm used to checking "other" to describe myself. As the daughter of an African-American Air Force serviceman and a white Danish immigrant, I have yet to find a form with an Afro-Viking box.

Still, imagine my surprise -- not at the recent headline that interracial marriages are at an all-time high -- but that my marriage is included among them.

Read the rest of the piece here.

Bryan Stevenson: "We Need to Talk about an Injustice"

I posted this on my Facebook and Twitter accounts a couple of weeks ago, but it's so important and so moving and absolutely transforming--that I had to post it here too.

This is Bryan Stevenson's TED Talk on injustice, his grandmother, and the importance of sharing the truth of one's identity to help others.

 

 

New Census Reports Show an Increasingly Multiracial Population

This ran on NBC Nightly News yesterday about the new Census figures.  Check it out!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

CNN Dialogues Wrap Up!

I can't stop buzzing about the wonderful experience I had last week as a participant on CNN Dialogue's inaugural discussion in Atlanta. I was more than little nervous that I would flub the whole thing up. The panel, which was moderated by CNN's Wolf Blitzer, included fellow panelists Kris Marsh, Yul Kwon, Dana Young and Edward James Olmos. I was there as the author of The Girl Who Fell From the Sky-- talking about the Census and the New America. I wish I could give you a whole play-by-play but it all went by in a kind of blur. There were some interesting highlights --like when Wolf joked that I didn't "sound black" and then I didn't sound Danish -- well, until I busted on with some Danish on stage--I never get to do that. I also really enjoyed hearing from the young people in the audience. Two in particular stood out -- a young woman who clearly got her hackles raised when I said kids didn't necessarily know enough history (she obviously did--and she will definitely be a force) and another young woman who lamented that despite having the best education and access possible, she still found colorism to be so confounding. I wish I had an answer for her--all I could say was "Girl, I wish I knew. I straightened my hair this morning!" We came up with zero answers, but it was a spirited dialogue and I was so excited to be a part of the discussion. There's talk that it will be webcast on the CNN website. I'll keep you posted!

CNN Dialogue with Wolf Blitzer

I'm excited to be a part of this new series CNN Dialogues on Race moderated with Wolf Blitzer on August 31 at 7PM in Atlanta. Other panelists include actor Edward James Olmos, Survivor winner Yul Kwon, and Professors Kris Marsh, and Dana White. For ticket information visit the university website.

Kudos to Lexus: Multiracial Families in the Company's Ads

Anyone else noticed that Lexus is running not one, but TWO holiday commercials this year featuring multiracial families?  In one commercial you see the three mixed kids and mom and dad.  In the other, an interracial couple is featured.  I'd seen the ads many times this last week but didn't put it together that they were both Lexus ads until last night. 

Thank you Lexus for making multiracial families visible!  I just may look into getting a Lexus hybrid when I'm ready for a new car in a couple of years!

Ebony Magazine Power 100 Includes ME!

Ebony Magazine has just released its Power 100 List in the Dec./Jan issue on newstands now. And guess who's in it? Me! Yup. Crazy, right? Too exciting. An incredible honor. I could go on and on. I make the list as an emerging leader in Arts & Letters which also includes the big writers: Malcolm Gladwell, Edgwidge Danticat, Ntozake Shange. Dude, I'm like crazy happy. Happy. Crazy. Excited. And yes, I am ready to embrace my role as a "Baller and Shot Caller" as the cover headline proclaims! Hee hee!  Please pick up a copy--it's the one with my favorite celebrity on the cover: the very lovely Vanessa Williams!  This is what the write-up says: “Biracial smarty-pants Durrow hit it big this year with her incandescent debut and award-winning novel The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, a coming of age story about the daughter of a Danish mother and a Black GI who becomes the sole survivor of a family tragedy.”

On Haiti

I've been without words on this topic.  I have nothing new to add--

It's a horrible tragedy.  My heart goes out to the people of Haiti and friends and family.  And hopefully, everyone will be able to do what they can to give and help the many people who need help.

A friend wrote this to me as he thought about how to process and respond to the disaster in Haiti:

"2010 is only few weeks old but already I've been blessed to witness a flood of good fortune showering on me and my family and friends, with more to come. But at the same time we're all dealing with the universal catastrophe in Haiti. Sunday a friend shared some happy news with me and I blurted out, "This is the best year ever!" and immediately felt guilty about it. Now I don't say this to be a killjoy. Like I said I'm trying to reconcile these emotions. My initial fear was that the poor people of Port-au-Prince had somehow paid for our happiness with their blood and tears and that was horrifying because we could not in good conscience enjoy it. But now I look at it another way. I was recently reading about the ancient goddess Fortune and how her wheel can turn on anyone at any time. Clearly it's up for us and down for Haiti. At this moment, we grieve their losses and worry for their future. But I read something helpful yesterday, that despite our best intentions we do no good by drowning ourselves in pity and sorrow. For sure we must give money and the best of us give their bodies and labor to aid those suffering, but after that the best thing we can give is hope, peace, compassion, and love. I think we are best able to do that when we have an abundance of the same. So we should receive our bounty of good fortune--especially the hard-earned and well-deserved kind--give thanks for it, remember those less fortunate than we, and in so doing we share the light and increase it. Today we are the reminders that life is worth living and worth living well. Our example will find its way to where it needs to go."

Thank you, my friend for this.

And also, another friend is using the talent he has (as an artist and graphic designer) to help raise money for the quake victims by selling specially designed water bottles.  (This is a photo of the design.)  100% of the profits will go to Partners in Health.  The proverb on the bottle is a proverb: “Many hands make the load lighter.”  Please consider helping the quake victims this way.

American Idol: Yes, I Am Addicted!

I tried to give it up. I really tried.  The show lost it' heart last season--I didn't like the addition of the new judge and I didn't like how it all ended up -- all the final singers good, but it was clear that the 11-year-old text savy viewers and determined the results.

So, yes, I tried not to watch, but I couldn't stop myself.  I am watching it right now.  And really, I love it still! 

This time around the auditions have this extra twist for me.  As the book is about to be released, I feel like I am auditioning too. 

I love when the contestants nail that moment.  Or they redeem it by just being themselves and speaking truthfully.  I hope I can do the same on the road with the book tour -- when I'm talking to booksellers and stuff. 

I mean, dude . . . I love seeing that moment on American Idol when the contestant gets the nod to go to Hollywood and you can see they can see all that seemed impossible for their futures before.  I can feel their joy--like WOW, maybe I will be living my dream.  It's so lovely.  And I swear I tear up every time a contestant gets a "golden ticket" to Hollywood.  Cheesy, yeah.  But, well, I am rooting for them.  Live your dreams guys.  I like joining you on the journey.

Bank Freebies?

Our banking system is on the verge of collapse but today at Columbus Circle Citibank was giving out free Metrocards and Sovereign Bank had a couple of guys on Segways giving out refrigerator clips.  Is any of this going to make sense soon?  Is any of this mess going to get cleaned up?