Date: Fri, February 21, 2003 10:50 pm
From: Valerie Wilkins-Godbee
Subject: Letter to the Editor
February 21, 2003
Interracial Club Newsletter
The Abolitionist Examiner
Maryland
Re: “New Faces in a Changing America in the 21st Century and Beyond!”
Dear Letters to the Editors:
When I received my complimentary book, addressed to A Place For Us/Multiethnic Women, in my mailbox in December just before Christmas Eve Holiday, I was so thrilled! After a quick review, I decided to go right to the chapter describing “multiracial organizations” in the U.S.! With much anticipation, I hurried along to the table of contents, and then to the chapter describing the various groups.
What I saw next was not only shocking, but disturbing, to put it mildly. The most bizarre part of this whole thing was that the publishers were knowledgeable about both organizations. They had enough understanding to send us their publication. I am the former deputy chief national director of *A Place For Us/National and the founder and president of Multiethnic Women for Media Fairness. Although we appear to be on their roster of “multiracial organizations” they failed miserably when it came to identifying us in a manner that reflects positively.
They did include A Place For Us, giving it a slanted, anorexic and somewhat of a “right-winger” christian persona. I began as a member, with *APFU, later appointed director, national director; in July 1996, I was asked to be acting chief national director to finally my last role as a deputy chief national director; all took place between 1991 and 2000. I worked hard along with many members and directors of other groups, and thousands of interracial families and folk that didn’t wish to join any particular groups. We worked tirelessly to aid in the abolition of Directive 15 throughout the U.S.
One significant way we did become involved, nationally, was through a formidable letter writing campaign to the Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C. in the early 1990’s. Groups like Ameurofian Heritage Foundation and *APFU, MAP (Multiracials of Philadelphia), and of course **AMEA to mention a few. We had a dialogue with several federal directors that worked in the OMB where on numerous occasions they extended invitations to us, at *APFU, to be a part of this public forum and debate or that public hearing. However, due to the simple fact we at *APFU didn’t have the time nor the manpower to be full-time advocates, we couldn’t attend all meetings. Our main reason is that we worked closely with the interracial community on all aspects of their daily lives.
Unlike **AMEA who focused most of their resources on the multiracial identifier; we worked on issues from discrimination in housing ‘Oops! Your-mate-child-is-black-brown’ cases; dating and marriage counseling to the transracial adoption plight sweeping across the nation like wildfire, –(Losing Isaiah – Hollywood version), based on my true story with *APFU and the book “Bird Without Feathers: The True Baby Byron Story”, and legal case from Pennsylvania– to our annual summer festivities for our youth titled “American Spirit Youth Summit“, to listen and learn about what things our youth would do with their college/university or vocational degrees to bridge the racial divide once they graduated. Ameurofian Heritage Foundation a “newly” forming group worked closely within *APFU as one of their handful of affiliates, and worked on issues of multiracial identity. But due to funding woes of which most of us understood, all too well, it couldn’t lend itself to the “multiracial identity” fight full-time. Ameurofian is a phrase to describe people born in North America with four or more generations of Am-Native, Am-European, and West African Heritages.
I believe, then and now, that these members voices, though, tiny in number, were just as significant a part of razing Directive 15, and as instrumental in changing the course we multiracial activists, groups and communities were on, as anyone else! And, to deny them this recognition is a travesty of justice! It is a warped and lopsided view of interracial history of astronomical proportions. Many groups and organizations with the legal status of 501 (c) (3) non-profit or private/limited status, that weren’t under the umbrella of an association like **AMEA were vital in the dismantling of the infamous “One Check Mandate”. Obliterating the alienating “Other” box for good! As were many ordinary folk in the multiracial family across this blessed land we call America.
Dr. Frances Wardle wrote a commentary titled “We win! We win! We win!” in 2001 in New Peoples’ Journal on the web when the tally was in. A whooping 6.8 million multiracial households! It was a piece that congratulated the entire interracial family and friends and special accolades to our leaders. Praising, too, folks that probably did their part; lone foot soldiers, from outside of our interracial circles that mayn’t have even been describing themselves as “mixed” race. But, who believed in our mission. The sanctimonious tone is what struck me the most. And, it is largely due to the blatant omissions of some of the most dedicated leaders in the U.S. Multiracial Movement history I’ve ever seen.
Leaders that weren’t associated with the national groups like **AMEA or *APFU/National. But, they worked tirelessly to become a respected group in their local communities, addressing every need of interracial community and life. While on a shoestring budget in most cases. Some groups like Child First a group out of Texas, founded by “white” transracially adoptive parents Amy and Brad Russell. I know, personally, they worked hard for the multiracial indentifier soon after becoming members in *APFU. Many, I remember championed the cause of the 2000 Census changes on the question on race, and to, finally, abolish Directive 15.
Not to take away from those who worked exclusively for the multiracial indentifier and “Check All that Apply”, for the upcoming Census 2000. Having said that, I still fail to understand the motives behind leaving out so many of the vital groups and dedicated leaders from across the country? Or, giving little more then a token mention? And, in the next breath taking away credit for the enormous political outcome of the first-ever Multiracial Solidarity March/Rally organized by Charles M. Byrd, of Interracial Voice e-magazine of New York State? Mr. Byrd who has won the prestigious Touching Leaves Humanitarian Award, in 1998, for this historical assembly in July 1996, I call the “Father of the Modern-Day Multiracial Movement”, through his convictions, dedication and personal resources catapulted the movement into the media spotlight like Spike Lee managed to do in the early 1990’s with his silver-screened movie “Jungle Fever”. Only that was largely an unenthusiastic portrayal of our interracial love and intimacy.
This symbol of our determination of purpose, and of our commitment to fully embrace all that our heritage bequeathed us, on that summery hot and steamy July afternoon, in 1996, in our nations U.S. Capitol at the Mall not far from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and our then President William Jefferson Clinton, made even our public officials stand up and take note! Byrd gave us an opportunity to petition our government in public forum. We were witnessing not only thousands of passersby stopping for a few minutes to listen, but to bare witness and to put into action our rights as citizens by way of our U.S. Constitution to freely assemble and speak our solidarity without fear of retribution. The news media was also using their right of the free press, and reported on us throughout the Tri-state area, in VA, D.C. and MD, as it mushroomed around the nation!
To suggest that because the turnout was less than what we had hoped for was proof-pudding that very little was accomplished, is pure unadulterated rubbish! Spectacular!!! The ramifications were astounding, and we are still feeling the huge affects of the Byrd March. Part of the reason the turnout wasn’t in the several thousands was due to the media blitz over the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. And, partly due to the way the media had dealt with interracial issues all along. Only, to further suggest with bravado and embellishment that under the rubric of **AMEA and Project Race hosting of the AMA bone marrow blood drive did the abolition of the dehumanizing Directive 15 succeed, is stretching the truth! There were many factors; foot soldiers and forces absorbed, in play here, organizations both large and small. Those, too, should have been cited in the book.
Not, merely, one or two groups can rightfully take ALL the credit for the sinking of a very destructive racial category: giving credence to only those affiliated with the **Association of Multiethnic Americans. This is not simply unfair, but a revision of our in American history! Indeed, that was not the only trumpet sounds the Office of Management and Budget, in Clinton Administration, heard in the years leading up to the official dismantling, in 1997. We leaders around the country had a part in this unfolding modern-day drama. There were many trailblazers: pioneers in publishing, products and services, founders of institutions, secular and religiously rooted, that toiled in support to end this hideous racial mandate and government sponsored racialistic ideology.
** AMEA was and remains to be unquestionably a unique force in the “Multiracial Movement” and the way we “mixed” people in America identify. Furthermore, they can make huge claims to the transforming acts behind the scenes in the seat of power in congress and legally-speaking, as they closed in on this one important question on racial categories, and the struggle for “mixed” race people to legally self-identify, to be heard and addressed as a separate community. E pluribus Unum should be our mantra! Our voices were like one sword penetrating the hearts and minds of millions of Americans.
I don’t wish to continue this critique, as it brings me to floodgates of overwhelming sadness. Only, I must confess, though, the title should have been more appropriately “AMEA: Changing Faces in the 21st Century and Beyond”, at least then I don’t suppose it would have been so hurtful, felt so deliberate. A thorn in the side for some who struggled so hard on this malady, we faced so boldly.
For our comrades,
Valerie A. Wilkins-Godbee
Founder and President
Interracial Women’s Political Consortium, 2001
And, former deputy chief national director of
A PLACE FOR US/National, a
501 (c) (3) non profit advocacy
group for the interracial family,
couple, and individual, est. in
1984! And, Founder and President of
the Ameurofian Heritage Foundation,
addressing the needs of those born in
North America with 4 or more generations with
Am-Native, Am-European and W. African
heritages, named created in 1989, group
formed in 1994!
cc
Note: *A PLACE FOR US/National – **ASSOCIATION OF MULTIETHNIC AMERICANS, ***Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton years!