Preaching to the Converted
by TheosoD’Rejean Turner
April/May 2002
On June 14, 2001, I encountered the first of several mass media coverages of “Edwards vs. Vandepere”, a case that rose from the dispute between a Caucasian-Canadian woman living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and an African-American man who resided with his wife (same ethnicity) and children in the (American) state of Georgia. This dispute was over which of them was entitled to custody of their mixed-race child, Elijah, conceived during sexual encounters between the two, despite the fact that Mr. Edwards was legally married to his wife, who was not (and still is not) Ms. Vandepere. Ms. Vandepere was single throughout this occurrence; I have no knowledge of (and no interest in) her current marital status.
Since M.O.X.H.C.A. (Multiracial Oxidental/Occidental Heritage Citizens, the Americas) promotes outreach/education on behalf of both multiracials and biracials in Canada– I wrote letters stating my viewpoint both as a Multiracial brown-hybrid North American citizen, and AMEA/MOXHCA’s recognized representative. As usual, my communications included our AMEA website, and MOXHCA’s “snail” and e-mail addresses.
I received exactly 36 seconds on a local radio station (630 CHED) and although an editor from Macleans e-mailed me that my letter re. their August 27, 2001 publication on this and related topics about mixed-race visible minorities was being considered for publication, my letter was not among those finally selected.
As a 5th generation brown person of Multiracial-Heritage, on behalf of others also self-identifying as multi-racial, or biracial, and those who support our concerns, heritages, and principles, I remain convinced the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and Globe and Mail (newspapers), rather narrowly represented the issues, and even supported systemic racism, due to the following: —
By his own admission in the Globe and Mail publication, Mr. Hill (a supporter of basketball millionaire “Blu” Edwards’ position) neither interviewed nor in any other way consulted with self-identified Multiracial Brown-Hybrids, nor self-identified biracials.
Secondly, of equal importance is Elijah’s status as a Canadian citizen.
1.) The child Elijah looks like a barely brown Caucasian/Latino or South-AsianEurasian;
2.) Author Lawrence Hill looks like a barely brown Caucasian/Mediterranean who perhaps could pass for an Arabic-Egyptian;
3a.) He has targeted only “black” and “white” heritage-combinations, entirely ignoring those both self-identified/ alternately identifiable as of “Multiracial” brown-hybrid heritage, although there are many of us, and we are increasing in population world-wide;
3b.) Without realizing it, these actions condone, perpetuate and support ongoing systemic racism against all human beings;
4.) Persons of Multiracial Brown-hybrid heritage are racistly targeted by both Caucasians and Afroids, as well as byAsians, and (to a lesser degree) some First Nations North Americans, whether or not we self-identify with one of their heritage groups or as who and what we are actually.
Additionally (as the CBC broadcast featured)- the Edwards vs. Vandepere conflict is between “class” = financial resources and what Caucasian North America superficially defines as a proper “family”.
(Mr.&Mrs.) Edwards comprise a wealthy patriarchal nuclear family, within which “Mister” is allowed to engage in “serial extramarital affairs” (just quoting the broadcast) while “Madame” operates as a “stay-at-home” parent (that is her prerogative). “Mister’s” work outside the home has resulted in a level of income that comfortably permits all of this, including Elijah’s 3-month interval travels — the income and so-called family structure hardly make it a morally superior environment for child-rearing.
Ms. Vandepere, however, makes only a small amount of money, is a “single” parent, albeit with a doting and supportive father that Elijah is quite close to. — Her biggest mistake was getting involved sexually with “Mister” (Edwards). Her next biggest error was trusting the legal system.
Fortunately, I am not the judge — neither Vandepere nor Edwards would have appreciated hearing my opinion. However, by Autumn 2001, the Canadian Supreme Court did rule “that race ought not be the deciding factor”. Vandepere was awarded primary custody, with Edwards given both financial support responsibilities and visitation privileges.
Racism, obviously condoned/ supported by those who share Hill’s viewpoint, was/is the real issue, here. MOXHCA/AMEA and our supporters are addressing this issue perhaps too directly, hence the mass-media focus primarily on Hill’s viewpoint, that ensures Elijah and other children of Mixed-Heritage (especially if one parent is obviously brown or black) will increase the victim statistics– psychologically, culturally, socially, and spiritually (whatever the “faith”). — Racing a mixed child, especially a “barely brown” one as a “black” (or “white”) will never make that child “black” (or “white”) although it might — and usually does — later or sooner — make the human being very neurotic (“A Whiter Shade of Pale”: C.Carto, Globe and Mail, March 28, 2000, p.A18) and (sometimes very) psychotic.
My personal position (that I did hear 2 of CBC’s white/black alternative families express briefly towards the broadcast’s end) is that a mixed-race child has a much more stable foundation when she/he is raised in unity with his/her combined heritages. As an adult, one expression of it might be preferred over another. If the person is truly fortunate, a unified expression of the combined heritages will result in the balance most of us need for a healthy life.
The truth of mixed-race was summed up best by Saulteaux-Ojibway/Israeli Tamara Podemski: her Shuswap husband “shouldn’t have to sacrifice anything and neither should [she]” (Maclean’s, August 27, 2001, pp.22-24). All citizens who self-identify as multi/biracial are entitled to first-class citizenship and the right to determine our own official heritage identities.
Although we are the fastest growing distinct heritage population in the Western Hemisphere, we are not “new” as a species. — Recently, I noted during a documentary about the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that I had always (privately) viewed his widow, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, as significantly mixed with Native-American (as are Tina Turner and Eartha Kitt), although it was quite plain that she self-identified as “black” (or “colored”/”Negro” in those days).
I represent the 5th generation of hereditary Multiracial Brown-hybrids that began with the marriage of my maternal Jewish great-great grandfather to a full-Choctaw woman. — I realized some years after my Caucasian/Semitic-appearing grandfather, a retired attorney, narrated his family history to me, he chose the summer of 1967 to do this because all of us had gone as far as we could on the road of denial. A new trail was needed.
While Lawrence Hill is entitled to identify with whichever part of his heritage he chooses to as an adult, his propaganda supports racist power-brokers and other political-money opportunists. He has no right to attempt to force racist psycho-neuroses on other biracials.
Like the diseased ravings of white-supremacists and KuKluxKlanners, such ideas equate being born racially-mixed with inherent “illness” or/and “disability” when, instead it is racism that is inherently sick and evil.
Lawrence Hill and supporters need to study and comprehend a lot of writings by Maria P.P. Root, Ramona E. Douglass, G. Reginald Daniel, Francis Wardle, Matthew Kelly, Dean Quiring and a host of legitimate “others”. I strongly recommend “[Canadian] Diversity on Line”, Interracial Voice, The Multiracial Activist, BiRacial Family Network’s Interracial/Intercultural Connection Newsletter, and Mavin [Magazine].
To my brothers and sisters in the multiracial movement, I say again — it is critical that we continue to articulate who we are in the face of a mass-media that still favors both polarization and mono-racialism. Quoting/paraphrasing members of our community — herein, is it not to the already “converted” that I preach?
Sincerely yours,
TheosoD’Rejean Turner
Coordinator/Founder,
M.O.X.H.C.A. (Canada’s AMEA-affiliate)
Copyright © 2002 The Multiracial Activist. All rights reserved.