Comment from Mizzday
Time: May 28, 2008, 11:34 am

Yes, let’s talk about it, since I unable to hide from it. In fact, I never have been. I come from a background that is multiracial and although I am socially considered black. My looks have always been the source of rejection or commentary. I came out looking like a tanned ambiguous other, somewhat foreign to some and nothing more than the “beautiful” black woman to others. The point is, that along with my color comes stereotypes. When I traveled locum tenens as a medical imaging professional, it was difficult to go out to dinner in those small towns because there was always someone who would assume that I may have been a prostitute. Because I was always conscious about my speech and carriage, I was always characterized as pompous, arrogant or the new word “Elitist”. On those occasions where I ended up in places with actively racist coworkers who sought to question my competence, and I proved to be the best, I had an “attitude”.
Being an attractive black woman conjures up the image of a party girl to most. These type of women drink, may dabble with drugs, and have many boyfriends according to the stereotypes. However, I practiced Kabalah. I didn’t go to clubs and never drank, smoke or had even an interest in drugs. I studied African religions and the religions of the diaspora. I listen to music ranging from Arabic to Celtic, just everything because to me, all music was/is beautiful. However, my choices of expanding my mind was judged as “different” and I was labeled as “weird”.
Why is it so hard to be a woman who happens to be black as opposed to being a black woman? When one of the former Miss America winners stated that “black was the least of what she was, she was crucified”. Condaleeza rice has her sexuality and racial integrity questioned constantly. Oprah’s sexuality is questioned. Why?