Changing Races , Changing Religions?

[gsa]

There has been much ado about Rachel Dolezal, a woman who tried to pass as black or African-American, and became the head of the Spokane NAACP before resigning when her parents revealed she was of overwhelmingly European heritage.

But setting aside her specific case, why is it hard to imagine people switching their racial affiliation when they commonly switch religious or "tribal" affiliations all the time? People who become Jews, for example, cut off ties not only to their ancestral religion, but also their ancestral heritage. Is it really that different to change one's racial affiliation?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

People who become Jews, for example, ...

People who become Jews do so through a process that has nothing in common with deception.

 

[gsa]

People who become Jews do so through a process that has nothing in common with deception.

Perhaps you missed "But setting aside her specific case" in the OP?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Perhaps you missed "But setting aside her specific case" in the OP?

No. I simply ignored it as self-serving and worthless.

 

[psychoslice]

Oh well, they say a change is a good as a holiday.

 

[gsa]

No. I simply ignored it as self-serving and worthless.

So you decided to troll the thread and transform it into something else to suit your own needs?

 

[Skwim]

But setting aside her specific case, why is it hard to imagine people switching their racial affiliation when they commonly switch religious or "tribal" affiliations all the time?

Maybe because race is an inherited characteristic whereas religious and "tribal" affiliations are chosen. That said, for me it isn't that hard to imagine at all.

 

[te_lanus]

Living in Africa, I can say that changing one's tribal affiliation isn't that common or that easy.

I grew up in Johannesburg/Pretoria, and picked up a few North Sotho words, I moved a few years back to Where I live now in the Eastern cape, where they speak Xhosa. And in both places the "locals" can tell where anyone come from.

 

[LuisDantas]

Maybe because race is an inherited characteristic whereas religious and "tribal" affiliations are chosen. That said, for me it isn't that hard to imagine at all.

More accurately, there is some choice about whether to accept or rebel against one's cultural and religions heritage. Not always a lot of it, though. And virtually none about what it will be early on.

Of course, that only makes those changes that much more significant.

By comparison, ethnic background is of barely any importance at all.

 

[George-ananda]

Your racial ancestory has no choice involved. Religion can be chosen. Pretty big difference.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I agree with Angela Davis when she characterizes Dolezal's appropriation of the African-American label as a disturbing example of white privilege.

To rhetorically suggest that changing one's racial affiliation is not so different than changing ones religion is simply bizarre -- perhaps those in Selma should have simply opted to affiliate as white.

 

[JoStories]

There has been much ado about Rachel Dolezal, a woman who tried to pass as black or African-American, and became the head of the Spokane NAACP before resigning when her parents revealed she was of overwhelmingly European heritage.

But setting aside her specific case, why is it hard to imagine people switching their racial affiliation when they commonly switch religious or "tribal" affiliations all the time? People who become Jews, for example, cut off ties not only to their ancestral religion, but also their ancestral heritage. Is it really that different to change one's racial affiliation?

Because, IMHO, no one can change race. They can certainly change cultures or religions but to change one's race from white to black is simply impossible.

 

[Theweirdtophat]

I seriously don't know why people make a big deal about it. She wants to lie about herself of her race that's her business. Jews aren't a race either. Because anyone can convert to Judaism. Nobody can become black or Asian or white.

People are so into labeling these days. As if lying about yourself will make it easy to fit in. There's a reason why people say "Be Yourself" Because that's the only person you can be. You can try to be someone else or be something else, but it never works. People are people. Whether one is white black Asian, half black and white, 3/4 Asian and 1/4 white ect. it doesn't mater. We are people and need to look at the bigger picture and help advance the rest of the human race, rather than just focus on their own race.

 

[Nakosis]

Should the color of her skin matter? No. Does it? Unfortunately yes.

Is it any different then gender identification? She identified with being black. A black woman trapped in a white woman's body.

My kids are so mixed racially, a racial identity doesn't even make sense for them. But the rest of the world is still focused on race like it does make a difference.

My oldest son has gone through a few racial identities, Black, Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Jamaican. I guess as long as racial identity continues to matter to folks, race will continue to matter.

 

[Akivah]

Because, IMHO, no one can change race. They can certainly change cultures or religions but to change one's race from white to black is simply impossible.

Didn't Michael Jackson change from black to white?

 

[Theweirdtophat]

Didn't Michael Jackson change from black to white?

That was a combination of a disease he had plus plastic surgery, but it was mostly plastic surgery. Besides it didn't turn out well anyway. They can't really change any more than a woman can become a man. You can still tell.

 

[Akivah]

That was a combination of a disease he had plus plastic surgery, but it was mostly plastic surgery. Besides it didn't turn out well anyway. They can't really change any more than a woman can become a man. You can still tell.

I read a book called Black Like Me - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia in which a white man switched his race to black to write about the different reactions he got. He bleached his skin and wore dark clothing and passed as white. Then applied some pigments and wore light clothing and passed as black. When he was being "white", everyone treated him as such. So I disagree that one can tell in every instance.

Besides we have surgeries in which people can change their sex, so I have no doubt that surgeries will exist for people to change their skin color.

 

[Theweirdtophat]

I read a book a long time ago in which a light skinned black man switched his race to write about the different reactions he got. He bleached his skin and wore dark clothing and passed as white. Then applied some pigments and wore light clothing and passed as black. When he was being "white", everyone treated him as such. So I disagree that one can tell in every instance.

Besides we have surgeries in which people can change their sex, so I have no doubt that surgeries will exist for people to change their skin color.

Anyone can change cloths and bleach and or tan their skin, but it doesn't change who they are really. They have surgeries than can change their sex, but they aren't well done. It's still easy to spot a transgender despite advancements in technology. It's more than just changing skin color too for races. You have to consider the shape of their eyes, their lips, their nose and so forth. But nevertheless it's all rather pointless for one to change themselves like that. Tehre's a reason why people say "Be Yourself" Because that's all you can be anyway. You can try to be something else, but it never works in the long run, and the person deep inside will always feel sad, knowing they are living a lie though. It's not worth it.

 

[JoStories]

Didn't Michael Jackson change from black to white?

He suffered from vitiligo. A disease of the melatonin which the the active component in skin that provides our skin color itself. Without it, the skin is almost literally albino.

 

[JoStories]

Anyone can change cloths and bleach and or tan their skin, but it doesn't change who they are really. They have surgeries than can change their sex, but they aren't well done. It's still easy to spot a transgender despite advancements in technology. It's more than just changing skin color too for races. You have to consider the shape of their eyes, their lips, their nose and so forth. But nevertheless it's all rather pointless for one to change themselves like that. Tehre's a reason why people say "Be Yourself" Because that's all you can be anyway. You can try to be something else, but it never works in the long run, and the person deep inside will always feel sad, knowing they are living a lie though. It's not worth it.

Have you seen pictures of Laverne Cox? I would have never guessed this incredibly beautiful woman was a TG without knowing same. You are just wrong about that. And btw, my nephew and he IS my nephew, was born in a female body. That being said, he has NEVER been a girl or woman a single day in his life. His looks are masculine and his choice of career was a mechanical engineer, working mostly in steel at the higher levels. You would never say that he was a woman if you met him.