ONLY MY WHITE PEOPLE CAN COME

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED LAST AUGUST 14, 2008

(IMPORTANT NOTE: I reposted this article because 2 bloggers accused me of being racist. They claimed my blog is "racist" and according to one, I do not know how to love people from different races, nationalities and skincolors. She advised me to "learn how to love people of different races." Well, sorry to say, I don't need her advice. I am married to a white American man for more than 5 years and I love my African-American best friend of 8 years. People could be so quick to judge saying they have been to my blog and my blog is angry, full of hate and racism. Obviously, these people are the ones who need desperate help. They're the ones whose minds and hearts are full of anger, hate, apathy and desolation. )

According to a recent article in Yahoo about "Whites No Longer a Majority by 2042", a wave of new generation Americans are on the rise because of interracial marriages and rapid influx of immigrants.

What comes to my mind is probably by that time, Americans will no longer classify people by race or color. Afterall, discrimination by color is irrelevant to most people outside America. Yes, it's true that skincolor can be a basis for "physical beauty" especially in Asia. However, other than that, nobody thinks that skincolor is equated to intelligence, education and economic status other than most Americans I know.

When I was in my tiny islands-nation, women craved for lighter skincolor. But we don't place people into categories based on their skincolor. But the sad state of America being "indoctrinated" with such "notions that people are to be categorized " by their skincolor is absolutely atrocious.

The word, "classify or categorize" is defined by "limiting availability of information, rights, privileges, options or resources to a certain group of people exclusively." It is apparently the case in this land which is supposedly, no pun intended, "united states" where most people are divided exclusively by race and skincolor. Why unite when no one can even be of a single category?  The "united states", stricken with this idiotic mindset can eventually fall. That is absurd because the "greatest nation on earth" should be strong enough to be even shaken by impertinent and inutile standards of attaining glory and edification. One of these days, this nation will fall rotten because it fails to recognize the "greatness" people of other skincolors.

I remember on a job interview I had years ago, the interviewer asked me, "Are you married?" I said yes. Further she inquired, "Is your husband a Filipino?" I replied, "No, he's American. For a few seconds, she glanced over at my resume and then looked at me and asked again, "Is he white or....." She drifted, probably, not knowing how to say it, so I filled in for her, "Yes , he is white." Then as I searched for her face gesticulations for any sign of approval or rejection, I asked her, "Does it matter if I'm married to someone who is white or not?"  She nodded, "Oh no, I was just curious."  Oh really?

Another time, I was visiting my Filipino friend who married a white American. It was the first time I met her family. The 4 year old daughter, Samantha,  talked to me and then proudly exclaimed, "In two weeks, I'll be 5. I'm having a birthday party".  I asked her, "Oh am I invited to your party, Sam?" Then she rolled her eyes while she said, "Oh no. Only my white people can come, except Grandma and Mommy ( Mommy is my Filipino friend and Grandma is her mother). Kind of surprised, I turned to my friend and said, "Your little girl is racist huh?" She said, "Actually I don't know about that 'white people' term she's using. It must be her father and her American grandparents who was teaching her that. You know while I'm at work, her granparents take care of her."  I was flabbergasted in a way but I tried to repress it. Samantha's father is white American. However I still did not find out who really taught Samantha about "only my white people can come"---her American father or her American grandparents?

One occasion which up to this day brings me sadness, was when I overheard a co-worker ; a young white girl in her early 20's talking to my customer over the phone. Since she was new, I was moved to a desk left vacant by another employee. This new girl took over my desk and phone for that day while waiting for maintenance to fix our phone lines so I could have my original direct phone line. Thus, the new girl was taking calls from my clients. But instead turning them over to me, she dealt with them. One client called looking for me griping about the mistake I made on her order. The new young white girl said to the client, "Oh she is an immigrant. She doesn't speak English so well. That is probably why she didn't understand your orders." (Hello? Am I speaking English here? Or how did I ever get this job in the advertising department of an English language news publication if I don't speak good English?) So the customer asked from our manager that his account was  to be transferred to the new girl. I came up to HR and addressed the issue. HR nor my manager didn't do anything about it. Anyway, the company sucks. So I left that place. Several months later, I heard from my friends at that job that the "new young white girl" had numerous  drug busts that she had to leave the job because she was sentenced to prison. I thought only black people get entangled in drug-busts as portrayed in movies and TV.

It's pretty much damn ridiculous that most of us define people's characteristics based on skincolor. This color is dumb. That color is evil. This color is poor. That color is loud. This color is ...etc...etc. So all throughout, we are constantly bombarded with images perpetrated by media-----that Asians are portrayed like this, blacks are like that, Hispanics are like this, and so on.

As I have known, America is actually the land of its own original inhabitants, the native Americans. People from England migrated to this country and later on, bought Africans at a price to become their slaves. Then they grabbed a big chunk of land from the Mexicans, now called California and Texas. They now call Mexicans the "illegal immigrants."  Even then, this present US  (so-called original immigrants) populace place exclusivity by limiting other  US inhabitants by their race.

I always do pray that this stereotyping people done through color-coding shall end. God does not judge us by our skincolor. He made us in different colors so others can see us in brilliant ways how God could be so amazing in His works. He made us in different colors so we can also see how God is creative and talented in His works  and that He is our awesome Creator.

This phenomenon of color-coding  can be hard to eradicate but if we only all believe in one unifying factor, especially our one God, then we could be in less turmoil. Most of us won't  admit it and would never try to verbalize that they are judgmental about skincolor. But only those who were affected by it can truly confirm that racial discrimination really hurts and sometimes can be nauseating. In fact to me, it propelled me to a depressive state for a month.

But the good news is there might be hope. By 2042, maybe white people will stop discriminating non-whites. Also, non-whites will cease to create "too much tension" proving that we're all just one----all humans. Blacks, Latinos, Asians, Indians and Polynesians will also try hard not to discriminate others not their own race.  Maybe by that time, they will finally realize God is so great He made us in different colors. And with these different colors, things will get better, life will be more wonderful.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

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Comments

[Clarisse]

Hi there, I'm back here. Thanks for dropping by my site. I'm really drawn to yours because I can somehow relate to your thoughts. Anyway, I had that kind of discrimination one time. At work, I had this phone call from a guy who's last name didn't even sound American...he thought I was Mexican because of my hubby's last name (he's Filipino...you know how it is with our names!)...so anyway, I said, I'm from the Philippines. And he asked me if I know how to spell his address right. And even said, "Oh by the way, I live in a high rise building...you probably don't know what that is?". EXCUSE ME?! Anyway, as if it wasn't enough, he wanted me to repeat all the information he gave and asked, "can you say that in your own language, including street number and name"...how was that possible? And he was laughing. So I said, sure. DO YOU WANT THAT IN FRENCH TOO? I think the only consolation was when my white co-workers were infuriated by it and apologized for what I had to put up with. Apparently, there's even some level of internal discrimination because they asked me what state he was from...I told them and they said, "No wonder". Oh well, bless their hearts!

[uglyblackjohn]

Maybe the child was trying to fit in with the "in" crowd. Maybe she was trying to show them how "white" she could be. Kids learn a lot of their behavior at school from the other children.
I don't think that she was being racist as much as classist.
But I could be wrong.
UBJ

[Lateralus]

Um, I am white and no one I have known is racist or ever discriminated against anyone else. Of course I am from Illinois, the home of Abraham Lincoln and we pride ourselves on not be racist. If I see a racist pass through my city he doesn't get too far without being beat down. I have no tolerance for racism or discriminating against anyone for race, color or creed. I am not sure where you are hearing this in New York as most of the north prides itself on being against racism. Only the southern part of the "divided states" still has any noticeable racism.

[em]

This is a great post bing... I understand what you feel. Around here where I live I can tell some people are just so racist the way they talk to me or ask me it's just driving me nuts... Here's the worse one I read it on her profile she said " DEATH TO ALL MANKIND EXCEPT THE WHITE RACE". I told my husband about it because they are cousin and my husband said she is depressed that's why she have hatred in her heart. I just hope people learn to love one another we are all God's creation.

[bingkee]

CLARISSE---Yea, all we can say , "bless their hearts"...thanks for sharing that Clarisse.

UGLYBLACKJOHN---No one really knows and I don't wanna ask. :-)

LATERALUS---I've heard about that.

EM---Oh really? Kagrabe ana uy. Well people who are so depressed and miserable have anger and hatred in their hearts.

[bluedreamer]

interesting post here
thanks for sharing
just dropping by here again have a great day and happy blogging

[Jena Isle]

Your post presented valid and significant points that are facts. I'm surprised that skin color still says something , there in the land of liberty/freedom?

You spoke eloquently about the biases that other people have. At times, they just don't realize it as they have been brought up that way, just like the little girl borne of a Filipina mother. That's truly really sad.

[Mel Avila Alarilla]

Hi Bingkee,
I think the main problem here is the title of your blog. People have negative connotation about the word hate. There must be a better term to describe your ambivalent feelings about America than love-hate. Some readers just look at the title, see the layout and read the surface of your post, then immediately jumped to their own preconceived conclusions. Another thing that probably rankles some of your readers are your use of strong words. Many readers appreciate your being straightforward that is why you have legions of readers, but there are overly sensitive people who despised strong words thrown right straight at their face. Maybe, some readers think that you are taking advantage of your stay in the US and dislike your way of criticizing America as a whole. I have seen Caucasian males married to Filipinas and residing in the Philippines. They are cruelly ostracized if ever they write anything disparaging about the Philippines. Some would even say that if you hate the Philippines and the Filipinos, you can get the hell out of the Philippines. In fairness, I never read you write any disparaging remarks or untrue remarks about America and the Americans, that's because I read your whole post and I always find them factual, unbiased and even handed. But as I say, some readers just read the surface of your post, look at the title of your blog, then add one plus one to come out with their own biased comments. The thing we could do is just ignore them. You use strong words that is why you invite strong reactions. We can not win them all. Suffice that there are people who believe in you and who hold you in the highest esteem. That should be enough reward. Those are just my two cents worth of observation and opinion. I hope you will take them positively. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.

[Jodi]

AMEN!!

[bingkee]

JENA-It's really sad.

MEL--NO,it's not my title ...THE PROBLEM is their being narrow-minded, judgmental and being stupid. I tell you Mel, there are so many blog titles that are negative like "Not Your Ordinary Shit", "Stupidity is a Curse" and "Kill Myself"----and these titles don't make me judge about what the blog is all about until I read the posts,, because I'm not judgmental and I 'm narrow-minded.

[katherine]

Hi Bing. Thanks for the visit. Iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nyan Bing. You are such a good writer that's why they reacted that way. Kung sa bisaya pa, "kay mabaw man ug buot or sabot, dili jud makasabot" tama ba ni? and maybe imo blog title lang ang nabasa bing, ang "love-hate america" haha then react dayon siya....haha.

Anyway, touched ko sa imo ba regarding sa bata.then yong babeng baliw, hmm. kalami adto laparuhon Bing. Paan-haon ra ba ko sa ako kano hinoon kay gusto makakita sa ako iya mga sisters habang buhay pa sila. Naka submit na ra ba ko sa kong G325 form dah! well, dili man sa mi mamuyo diha for good. Diri man jud sa Davao iya gusto. Hapit baya mi mag bulag Bing. Anyway email na lang kita sa details..hehe

ayu-ayu diha.

[Leomar]

I am with you in the hope that discrimination will stop sooner than expected. These racists don't even need to see skin colors to discriminate. As a call center agent, I used to support American customers and it was not a very good experience. A few of these racist Americans need only hear a trace of Filipino or Asian accent and they will start belittling you as if you belong to an inferior race.

BTW, you're not racist, you're just stating a fact.

[Louis]

Learn not to take into account what other people think. Love you! Be who you are.
Life is too short....

Please join the group "Eracism", on "Savannah Coastal Forum"

[Louis]

http://savannahcoastalforum.ning.com/

[betchai]

I actually do not feel any racist tone in this post Bing, if I would have to say one to describe this post, it is actually reconciliatory, hoping for oneness regardless of color. I think just like what Mel had stated, it is because others just come into conclusion without really spending time to read, or they may read the whole post, but they are too emotional and their thoughts had been clouded already by the impression they had in mind in some of the words they focused or chose, like let us say, the title, "only my white people can come". sadly, others really do not spend a lot of time reading the post, and they just react outright, you are right, usually, human's weakness is when s/he is sad, they tend to see and thrive in the negative things.

[bill]

Hi Bingkee. I got the retweet button from LJ when she redid my site. She put it in for me. I know there is a plugin called shareaholic for firefox and it lets you do about the same thing but you do the retweeting not your visitors. I hope that helps out.

[d.anonymous]

Thanks for reposting this. I often at a loss to explain racism to my bi-racial son who had encountered something like the little girl's statement in this post when visiting his white grandparents for the first time. I am proud that his response to being told that "black people are bad" was that the people he knows are BROWN!

[Anne H]

I'm an American living in the Philippines, for many years now. I find your site somewhat entertaining.

I wanted to warn you to check what questions are legal to ask an applicant during an interview. Many are not, them stepping over the line is testing you or taking advantage of you. Both of which you would want to be aware.

The next comment is that another culture often looks very much in contrast to the home culture, until you adjust. Then you start to notice how alike they are. Oh, and some people never adjust.