Light-skinned-ed Girl

10 Signs a Book Is Written By Me

Nova at Distraction No. 99 tagged me for this meme which gives me a chance to think about what my style is as a writer. 

10 Signs a Book is Written By Me:

1. There is a biracial main character.
2. There is a biracial character who is also bicultural.
3. There is lyrical language.
4. There are multiple points of view.
5. It has the feel of a Man Booker Prize book.
6. Race/racial identity is a central theme.
7. There is a young character.
8. There are often no mothers.
9. There's something Danish in the story.
10. There is tragedy but no tragic mulattos.

I am tagging some folks whose work I like to read: Douglas Light, Rebecca Walker, Lise Funderburg.

The Family Album is Mixed

Let me introduce you to my great-great-great grandmother on my father's side, a woman who was born shortly before Emancipation.  Her name was Eliza (or Elisa).  She was born around 1860 and lived in Texas.  I could hardly believe it when my Aunt Loretta (my father's side) showed this photo to me.  My Aunt Henny (my mother's side) has been working on a family genealogy for years. Her extensive research has also shored up some wonderful photographs like this one of my great-great grandparents.  Let me introduce you to Dorthea Andersen and Anton Soerensen Floe both born in Denmark in 1860.

I am sure they could not have imagined that their photos would be in the same Family Album.  But that's the story.  That's the Mixed experience.

Stoploss, the movie

There is something awkward about the movie, the script, and the direction--but it's as if the film's awkwardness reflects my own feelings of ineptness in knowing how to make a difference.  I don't blog about the war.  Or rather: I don't blog against the war, though I am against it.  I have become numb to the headlines of loss, but today, again I was moved.  The film is a bleak look at how neither individuals nor the collective can stop the continued fighting in a war that should never have been started--but still I must believe it is worth it to pay attention, and to speak up (even if it is this small way).  The movie helped me connect again -- maybe it will do that for you.

Race-(ism?) and American Idol

I love my American Idol, but really, what could I think of this week's results but that there had been some racial shenanigans at work?  The bottom three this week included two African-Americans and the biracial (looking at least) dread-wearing Jason Castro--the three most "ethnic" looking of the bunch.  Seems like American Idol wants to be a kind of 50s-version of All-American-ness--think American Bandstand before the 1960s protests.  Each of the bottom three have more talent than some others who sailed through (yes, I'm talking about a certain someone who sang to bless America).  What are we to make of this, but that the odds are stacked against talented singers of color on the show?  Or is that they just don't capture the imagination of the 10 and 11-year-old white girls who vote early and often?  Yes, there was the favorite David Archuletta and the cute but not very interesting Ramiele there safe on the couch, but still--oh, American Idol, don't make me turn off the tv in protest!

Looking too hard

"The writer should never be ashamed of staring.  There is nothing that does not require his attention." Flannery O'Connor

Photo copyright No Name No. 5

Scholarships for Multiracial and Transracially Adopted Students

This is exciting news!  Please make sure you share the information with anyone who may be interested.  Applications must be RECEIVED by May 16, 2008.  From the press release:

The Biracial Family Network (BFN) in collaboration with the Association of MultiEthnic Americans will provide two five hundred dollar scholarships with 1-year AMEA student memberships for the 2008-2009 academic school year. Students of all undergraduatelevels in 4-year colleges and universities, including entering freshman will be eligible to apply.Friday, May 16, 2008, no later than 5PM Pacific Standard Time. Notifications will be made by the end of June.

Scholarships are open to multiracial students or transracially adopted students from all backgrounds.

These scholarships may be used towards tuition, room and board, and any other school-related costs.

In an effort to highlight positive identity development among multiracial students and transracial adoptees, this scholarship marks the first of its kind for academic support for students that self-identify with two or more racial/ethnic categories, and/or are adopted into multiracial/ethnic families. AMEA and BFN recognize the difficulties that students from theses particular backgrounds, who are often times overlooked for scholarships, face, simply because they straddle multiple categories.

Interested applicants should submit 1) a one page resume; 2) a letter of recommendation from a nonfamily member; 3) college transcripts (current undergraduates) or high school transcripts (entering freshman); and 4) an essay answering the following question: “What does the ‘multiracial community’ mean to you and how does it affect your life?” to AMEA / Attention: AMEA/BFN Scholarship / P.O.Box 29223 / Los Angeles, CA 90029-0223. Please include a cover page with your name, year inschool/college, and current contact information (address, phone, email).

Essays should not exceed two double spaced pages, 12-point font. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be received by

For further information, please contact: Jungmiwha Bullock, President of AMEA or Harold Gates, Vice President at [email protected] or call 818.230.2285. Please do not email applications.

This is exciting news!  Please make sure you share the information with anyone who may be interested.  Applications must be RECEIVED by May 16, 2008.  From the press release:

The Biracial Family Network (BFN) in collaboration with the Association of MultiEthnic Americans will provide two five hundred dollar scholarships with 1-year AMEA student memberships for the 2008-2009 academic school year. Students of all undergraduatelevels in 4-year colleges and universities, including entering freshman will be eligible to apply.Friday, May 16, 2008, no later than 5PM Pacific Standard Time. Notifications will be made by the end of June.

Scholarships are open to multiracial students or transracially adopted students from all backgrounds.

These scholarships may be used towards tuition, room and board, and any other school-related costs.

In an effort to highlight positive identity development among multiracial students and transracial adoptees, this scholarship marks the first of its kind for academic support for students that self-identify with two or more racial/ethnic categories, and/or are adopted into multiracial/ethnic families. AMEA and BFN recognize the difficulties that students from theses particular backgrounds, who are often times overlooked for scholarships, face, simply because they straddle multiple categories.

Interested applicants should submit 1) a one page resume; 2) a letter of recommendation from a nonfamily member; 3) college transcripts (current undergraduates) or high school transcripts (entering freshman); and 4) an essay answering the following question: “What does the ‘multiracial community’ mean to you and how does it affect your life?” to AMEA / Attention: AMEA/BFN Scholarship / P.O.Box 29223 / Los Angeles, CA 90029-0223. Please include a cover page with your name, year inschool/college, and current contact information (address, phone, email).

Essays should not exceed two double spaced pages, 12-point font. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications must be received by

For further information, please contact: Jungmiwha Bullock, President of AMEA or Harold Gates, Vice President at [email protected] or call 818.230.2285. Please do not email applications.

Peggy Orenstein's "Mixed Messenger" essay

Please read Peggy Orenstein's article on her take, as a white mom of a biracial child, on what it means for Barack Obama to have a chance at becoming a major party candidate for President.  "[F]or parents like me, Obama, as the first biracial candidate, symbolizes something else too: the future of race in this country, the paradigm and paradox of its simultaneous intransigence and disappearance," she writes.  I was moved by her thoughtful essay.  I hope you are too.

Thank you Costa Rica

Light-skinned-ed Girl Relaxing in Costa Rica

I spent a good portion of my day reading and relaxing here: my personal hammock.  This is what I call a vacation.  Too bad it's time to travel home tomorrow.

Light-skinned-ed Girl in Southern Costa Rica

The day started with the promise that I was participating in my last up-high activity.  The very up-high activity was walking the Arenal Hanging Bridges.  By hanging bridges, I mean shakey metal bridges that spanned 150 feet hanging as if from clothes hangers above the jungle valley.  Actually, it was just fine.  And in fact, I enjoyed myself having spotted (well spotted for me): a red poisonous frog, a bull viper snake eating a lizard, a howler monkey and a couple of very good-looking birds.  But next up was the road trip south.  Somehow, we ended up on the road that was not paved, that climbed into the mountains and left us herding cattle at some point to get by and also wondering whether there was any road beyond the precipice ahead.  There was.  There always was, but it was a harrowing ride.  Still, it was all worth it.  It's amazingly beautiful here.  Now, for a good meal, and plans for tomorrow to stay on the ground without any adventuring.