In answering this question I don't have supportive statistics or any other hard proof, only a myriad of life experiences that have shaped my opinion. My first response would be yes, because, among other reasons, I have had more date proposals from African American men than I have from men of other "race." This of course is a broad generalization and would say more about the nature of men and their dating preference than about African Americans as a whole. So upon revisiting, the question forces me to acknowledge my differences for once. The task is to determine whether my interactions with African Americans have been and continue to be positive experiences or not. To be even more direct, I would like to define positive interaction as the successful exchange of words between two people regardless of the subject matter.

If you look at African American history in the United States you will find many instances where the Multi-Ethnic population was sowing its seeds into this nation's history as much as any other nationality that came here in search of a better life. This is rarely acknowledged as much as it needs to be (many stories are untold), but it is undeniably there. This propagation caused a rainbow of different shades of brown amongst the people, so in many ways African Americans must be more tolerant. They must be?? There is one rub, though. As the Multi-Ethnic community has, in my opinion, provided a far greater acceptance of individuality, it has also -- in some people's eyes -- weakened the African American "stronghold" on the political front. When an African American asks me, upon learning of my mixed heritage, "What do you consider yourself?" I will simply answer "I don't consider myself." This has proved to be an acceptable answer by the white community, but it provokes serious verbal repercussions from the African American community. Many questions invariably follow, and I believe an example is in order here.

Example: "Why don't you consider yourself black?" "Are you ashamed of claiming yourself as an African American?" "Why can't you just say you're black? That's the way everyone else sees it. You'd be lying to yourself if you believed anything different." End of Example.

So as much as history would suggest a greater tolerance among the African American community, economic and political factors have mangled a once pure idea. Great mistrust for a "Government of the people (white people that is), for the people, by the people…" has deepened the dividing line, causing a self-segregated hybrid community to flourish. This forces the Multi-Ethnic community to choose imaginary sides. Isn't it funny that skeptics who base all decisions on proven facts would entertain the idea that "race" must be kept in mind when applying for various opportunities? Where are the facts that this information is critical to the continuation of life as we know it? It has always been so shall it always be, I guess? What would be the real difference of choosing one over the other? I think "they" should define what choosing one "race" would mean -- if they are going to ask at all. Another example follows.

Scenario: When filling out a form for your child to register at a new school -- or yourself at a school, for students of all ages -- you get the question of "race." Now freeze frames. Wouldn't it be nice if alongside every choice there was an explanation of what it means to choose that "race"? One idea for a definition would be "By choosing white for your primary race, you will be qualified for more money per hour in your occupation of choice (now that's proven)." End of Scenario.

These programs, designed with good intention to make higher responsibility jobs available to the African American community, actually force a person to cling to her title ("race") and stand behind those that choose the same, those that question others who do not wish to participate in the "race" game. Having been labeled as selfish and low in confidence by my "people" has tarnished the idea that greater acceptance of racial ambiguity is seen among African Americans. So, I find myself back at square one on the subject. I do not sense a greater tolerance; rather, it is exactly the contrary. With all broad generalizations there are exceptions, and to this it would be -- I do not sense a greater tolerance except when a Multi-Ethnic person chooses to "represent" herself as African American. Anything else would be denial.

Finis

Serene Asana Hammond is President of NAME (National Advocacy for the Multi-Ethnic) an organization she founded in January 2001 out of a desire for a group that would advocate for issues that are important to America's growing Multi-Ethnic population.

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