Hm. This video was really interesting to me, but I’m not sure I have an opinion of it at the moment.

What it is: Tyra Banks has a group of women who all claim to be bi/multi racial–but who only “claim” one racial identity. A clue for those who don’t watch talk shows–of *course* the women only claim their “less offensive” side (aka their white side).

As a multi racial person who does not identify as multi racial (I claim mestizaje or mestiza)–I have to wonder why so many people are so offended that there is so much ambiguity and even rejection of particular racial identities. I mean–look at Tyra Banks. As she berates and sits judgment on a girl who ‘rejects her black side,’ Tyra is wearing her blond straight haired wig and has been famous for changing her eye color and even race (and requiring others to do so as well), on her other show, America’s Next Top Model. Ostensibly, Tyra is looking more white and can more easily pass than the girl on the stage can. And yet…she’s the one who feels she can sit judgment on everybody else.

If you “change your race” to look cute and hip and make money–is that different or less problematic than “changing your race” because you want to be white?

Without saying too much more about the video, I do have to say that this is why I so strongly favor the identity of “mestizaje” and “mestiza,”–it allows for a fluidity of racial identities. SUch that you are no longer claiming “I like my white side better” (etc). Because all the sides are mixed together to create a whole new “thing.” Not necessarily the best solution, but better, I think, than completely walling off entire familial backgrounds and histories.