'I am not white'

Thank you for printing Ytasha L. Womack's article, "I Am Not White: Light-Skinned Blacks Defend Their Identity" (Aug. 2007). Like civil rights attorney Wendell Freeland, my grandfather was an Aryan-looking man who could pass for any European nationality, but was proud of being a "Colored" American. Like Melody Cofield, my mother is a dark-haired woman who could pass for Jewish, Italian or Greek, but grew up knowing "Black Is Beautiful." Bald my younger sister and I have tan skin, and could pass for Hispanic, but are proud of being African-American.

The problem many light-skinned Blacks have of being mistaken for other races (especially those of us who could pass for White if we wanted) is a particularly unique conundrum and cross to bear in American society. Being considered to be one thing when you look like another (or, the exact opposite) is a very confusing situation. And unless one is lucky to be grounded in a family that stresses pride in its dark ancestors, the "tragic mulatto" syndrome can occur, the same as it was portrayed in the classic 1959 film, Imitation of Life, and other, more modern films.

C.M. Appling

Shaker Heights, Ohio

African-Americans need to band together and recognize that we are a beautiful people of all shades. I just wanted to thank Wendell Freeland, Melody Cofield and Nicole Mitchell for educating us all.

Deanna E. Franklin

Baghdad, Iraq

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
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