I can't believe 4 weeks has gone by this quickly. Wow.
Your responses to my queries have been extremely thought-provoking. I learned alot and alot was reiterated. The whole issue of "talking/acting White" has been minimized for quite some time and for some reason I feel a need to do what little I can to help children cope; even if it's just one child.
If you could do a few things for me, that would be great:
1. Please go back over your responses one last time and make any amendments you deem necessary. I have seen some answers that did not answer the question and I need as much info as possible to make this project successful. Please complete all of your responses by no later than July 24 so that you are eligible to redeem compensation for your participation.
2. Kindly provide a summary about this focus group experience and how it made you feel.
3. Are there any other coping mechanisms that you think has been left out? If so, I want to hear about it! =)
4. Join OBG on Facebook. =)
There will likely be one last posting...on Monday.
Until then...
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Hello,
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you so much for choosing me to be a partipant in this blog. It was thought provoking and allowed me explore thoughts and feelings I forgotten I had, good and bad. Ultimately, issues like this are not productive in our society but even in the age of Obama we need to recognize that racism and and self hatred is still very much prevalent. Much work is still needed.I think and hope your book will go a long way in aiding those in need.
MoniqueCB
When I first read about the focus group that you were starting I thought "Other people went through this too?" It was weird for me to think that I wasn't the only one. I've never talked about this issue before and certainly never heard other talk of their experiences. This focus group made me feel part of a community for the first time. Reading everyone's input was eye-opening and often times helpful. It really made me think about my past and explore my feelings. Your questions were difficult! I think because they really forced me to sit down and think through some issues that I had.
ReplyDeleteThe essence of your book seems pretty thorough, I can't think of anything to add.
Good luck! Can't wait to read the finish product and keep a copy in my classroom for students.
I think this focus group was great. I feel like the women in the group were transparent with their experiences (whether it was good or bad). It provided great insight on how the issue of "talking white" has affected all of us. But I love that this group and book was also looking for suggestions. I hope that this book will be very successful and become a powerful agent of change. Who knows? Perhaps this book could become required reading material for students in school... I think its another great place to keep the dialogue going. Once again best wishes for continued success with this project!
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you and One Brown Girl for this focus group and this entire experience. I can't speak for everyone else, but these four weeks of reflection and writing were worthwhile for me! It forced me to take a look at the inner me and evaluate myself. It also gave me a venue to vent and share feelings I needed to express. I hope and pray in my venting and speaking the truth against ignorance that I helped at least one person cope with his or her feelings and it gives him or her the courage to stand proud and speak out against that ignorance. As a result, they can continue to pay it forward and help the next person!
ReplyDeleteThank you OBG for choosing me to participate in this blog. I sat at my laptop many times throughout these past few weeks to vent about a subject that so many people avoid. The topics you covered are quite thorough and I cannot express how much I enjoyed reading the responses of the other ladies.
ReplyDeleteIt was so refreshing to read the experiences and opinions of other women who have the courage to be the best "them" they can be. What I found most interesting is that in many cases, it seemed as if the teasing and insulting comments from others helped many of us grow, become more confident and more comfortable with the person we are today.
Thoughtless comments from others who questioned our identity and sense of self have made us more sound in who we are, because we have dealt deeply and thoroughly with those questions and come out saying, "yes...this IS who I am; no acting here.
I wish you the best of luck with the book, and I can't wait until it hits the shelves. It will be a must read for my daughters, and other young ladies whose paths I may happen to cross.
This book will be such a help to young ladies dealing with the topics covered in this blog. There certainly wasn't anyone that I was aware of writing about this when I was dealing with it.
Thank you so much for allowing me to participate in this focus group. I've never been approached to discuss this subject, nor had I ever volunteered my childhood experience with others. I'm so grateful that you are writing a much needed guide to help others cope, and exposing a term that has been long overlooked and swept under the carpet. I wish you and the other participants every success!
ReplyDelete-2. Kindly provide a summary about this focus group experience and how it made you feel.-
ReplyDeleteMy participation wasn’t what I had hoped, and only because I clicked on the forum soon after the first posts arrived and there were about 4 chapters to respond to – I instantly got overwhelmed and began procrastinating. And then when I get off my butt to write finally I’m less excited about posting, because the whole group has moved on, and I’m still “stuck behind” (even though there wasn’t necessarily a set sequencing we had to follow). I forgot the process wasn’t as long as I thought. I had imagined we might discuss one topic every week or so.
Because of my own delay, I didn’t do something with the majority of my posts that I did with the very first one I responded to – read other participants’ responses. But on one hand, I think that’s better for me. It allowed me to respond freely, without subconsciously speaking to others’ points or perspectives. Still, it made it a very solitary process, and I’m guessing there was more of a “community” created through this process by the folks who participated in a more timely way.
In the course of my responses, I had a lovely revelation (which I think you’ll read threaded throughout my posts) about how far I’ve come in my feelings about being considered someone who “talks white.” I am SO over it. I had to reach back to remember how I felt about those days when I would be teased and hurt. I am now surrounded by a loving set of friends and associates who also completely reject the stupid idea that anyone talks in any sort of racialized way. It tripped me out to read other participants’ descriptions of people saying that kind of stuff to them as adults. I almost wish someone would tell me I “talk white” now – I am so ready to respond.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful experience!
I am thankful that I was chosen to participate in this. It made me feel good to see the comments of others and how they cope with things.
ReplyDelete