Talkin' 'Bout Miscegenation

The Sunday Times of London ^ | 7/21/02 | Andrew Sullivan

[Springman]

Thanks for the ping. Glad to see this thread hasn't been pulled.
This is what I had hoped to read yesterday.

[Non-Sequitur]

In 1691 Viginia passed a law which sentenced any white woman who married a black man to banishment. In 1712 North Carolina criminalized marriage between blacks and whites. By the time of the Civil War every southern state and almost every Northern state had laws on the books which criminalized interracial marriage.

[Zeroisanumber]

"It was the Democrats who outlawed it. It was the democrats who passed segregation laws that forbade a white woman from riding in the same trian car as her black husband. It was the democrats who made all these seperate but equal laws."

Not to leap to the defense of Democrats, but the Democratic party of the 19th century bears little relation to the Democrats of today. Believe it or not, the Democrats were the more conservative party in those days and the Republicans were considered raging liberals.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

If Eminem is "culturally black"

I think a long time ago in the 50's James Baldwin wrote that he went to France to get away from American racism and found that there were many North-Africans in France that he had nothing in common with. I guess he found he had more in common with white Americans. So I think that this is an old story. But, you know it is like you say that a lot of this is very artifical.

I wonder if since the 50's Hollywood would have portrayed blacks as they real characters instead of Chris Rocks and Whoopi Goldberg and Snoopy Doggy Dog if most of the racial problems in the US would be gone?? The image for young black males comes from Hollywood's demented liberal view of life.

[Tired of Taxes]

Thanks again for the ping. People were telling us not to have children because so-called bi-racial children are supposed to be so confused. Now, we have three young sons who are so handsome (proud mother here) and who know nothing about "race". I'm not worried about their future as adult men, but I would've been worried years ago. Times are changing.

[Tired of Taxes]

Ping! Just thought you'd might be interested in this thread.

[J. L. Chamberlain]

You'll pardon me if I take any socio-sexual commentary from a freak like Sullivan with not just a grain of salt but an entire mine!

J

[J. L. Chamberlain]

By the way, Jefferson's paternity of Sally Hemming's children is certainly unproved. Is his affair with her a proven fact? Anybody know?

William, I believe you have some knowledge in this arena, do you not?

J

[gunnedah]

Please dont talk like this,what would happen to DIVERSITY?
We couldnt play the race card then.Hell the newspapers and the politicians would go sane.

[bok]

Is this the same Andrew Sullivan? I thought him a little more conservative than to buy into the jefferson media propaganda

[bok]

Things aren't as rosy over in jolly olde england with their racial friction and diversity in tv film and the political arena. This is the second story i've read from the UK about the united states and black-white relations, the guardian ran a schools in the US are still segregated story. I guess the former british colonial masters still know best.

[FreedomPoster]

I had many people refuse to give a race and told me to put "American."

That is great news! I've put "human" in those places on forms for a long time. Drives my follow-the-rules wife nuts.

[Wordsmith]

I guess the former british colonial masters still know best.

I don't read the piece as "advice" from the Brits. Sullivan is, I believe, an American citizen even though he publishes at times in the London papers.

[Wordsmith]

Is this the same Andrew Sullivan? I thought him a little more conservative than to buy into the jefferson media propaganda

It is. I'm surprised to see him slip up on the Jefferson/Hemmings question. Usually he's solid on his facts. Don't think it detracts from the rest of the article though.

[Wordsmith]

You'll pardon me if I take any socio-sexual commentary from a freak like Sullivan with not just a grain of salt but an entire mine!

I prefer to not let my opinion of the messenger lead me to discount the value of the message. I also don't think that being in favor of more interracial relationships means that one has to in any way endorse homosexuality.

[Wordsmith]

People were telling us not to have children because so-called bi-racial children are supposed to be so confused. Now, we have three young sons who are so handsome (proud mother here) and who know nothing about "race".

Boy, does that sound familiar! We heard the same arguments before we were married, and now are the proud parents of three lovely sons who giggle at the idea of "race." Homeschooling has been a big help.

[Wordsmith]

The image for young black males comes from Hollywood's demented liberal view of life.

Very true! Of course, the influence of other leftist "culture leaders" like Toni Morrison and Alice Walker has been just as destructive as what's come out of Hollywood.

[Wordsmith]

What will be next, quotas on interracial marriages and controls on same race marriages to furthur that end? Looks like just another socialist ideal to me.

I don't think this reflects Sullivan's thinking. Just because someone thinks a particular trend is a positive development doesn't mean they think that the government should get involved in order to goose that trend along.

[Wordsmith]

Wow, un-freakin'-believable!!!

[sweetliberty]

"Just because someone thinks a particular trend is a positive development doesn't mean they think that the government should get involved in order to goose that trend along."

He doesn't have to think that. Some things just follow a natural progression once they come to be considered "legitimate" issues. They take on a life of their own. I am just hoping this is not a foreshadowing of things to come.