Can interracial marriage hurt ones chances of getting a job?
First off, our own president is in an interracial marriage and he managed to get his current job. One would hope that maybe race would play no factor in matters of employment … especially not some college football.
However, UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong (pictured right) thinks otherwise and blames his not getting a head-coaching job on his interracial marriage. Apparently, strong suggested to Orlando Sentinel that being married to a White woman hampered his chances of being offered the head-coaching job, despite his memorable career that spans over 25 years.
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He also said he can’t simply discard this as a vicious rumor because there was another job he had interviewed for at a southern school a few years ago where he says he heard it too many times. "Everybody always said I didn't get that job because my wife is white," said Strong.
Well, apparently, he aint the only one. Rumor has it that one of the reasons Buffalo coach Turner Gill didn't get the job at Auburn is because his wife is white. Much as Gill had more impressive coaching credentials than Gene Chizik, Iowa State coach, Chizik got the job. Reporter Mark Schlabach backs this allegation up on ESPN's "Outside The Lines," saying two coaches told him that since Gill is married to a white woman there was no way he was gonna get the Auburn job.
So if you believe this to be true, what about Lovie Smith and Mike Singletary? Both of them are in interracial marriages. Both their wives are White. And both are head coaches in NFL. Can we really point fingers at interracial marriage?
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76 responses to "Can interracial marriage hurt ones chances of getting a job?"
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homesteader says:Posted: 16 Jan 09
Thank you for the advice on a Happy married life and how to spend our time . We are together 24 hours a day most often and still communicate on this site when we are apart . As our romance is from two different States and travel is the name of the Game on occasion .
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homesteader says:Posted: 16 Jan 09
Yes , the mind is the first thing to go . You - used in the Plural sense attacks no one individually . My comments come from my feelings as to a Blog , I might have been taught that Respect is a full time situation . Not just to be used when if someone feels like it . My post in Life is a Full time Husband , Father to 4 Daughters and 2 sons . I have done This correctly .
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jaydub2468 says:Posted: 16 Jan 09If a firm decided not to hire me because of my wife or girlfriend, I would not invest my time and energy toward making them successful. Once the dust settles, it would be their loss not mine.
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vt33 says:Posted: 16 Jan 09I"ll fedex you some milk to go with that salty doughnut you munchin on..wink..
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martha54 says:Posted: 14 Jan 09Can interracial marriage hurt ones changes getting a job in America yes it can. As much as we would like to see all races come together as a whole will it ever happen? I don't know. There are some American's who think their better than any one else in the world. You take this attitude with you when you visit other countries. I saw it last year when I was in Paris France. In lines at the airport hotel and in the resturants.I'm from the United States and I want etc... so what. When in rome do as the romans do the least you can do is try and use afew of their words with a little respect wrapped up in it.Step over the frence and try and date outside your race in America see if I give you this job.If God does not care who we fall in love with why should anyone else.I've dated outside my race just once it was enough for me to know what I wanted for myself it's my choice and no one can change my way of thinking. I live in one of the most racist cities in the United States where they hosed black people down with water hoses and put dogs on then during a riot in the 60's.Dating outside your race can hurt getting a job sometimes it depends on where you live. If you stay strong and hold to your beleives you can make it through any storm.
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Kat says:Posted: 14 Jan 09
I think it's disrespectful to throw your own wife under the bus like the coach did. Who wants to hear "Hey Honey, it's all your fault I didn't get this job"
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graduate2be says:Posted: 13 Jan 09For starters, there is a huge difference between our president-elect and the coach from UF. The difference is that while Obama is of interracial descent, the media and the majority of the people in the world view him as a black man. You don't hear people say, "President-elect Obama, the nations first interracial president". You hear them say, "The nations first BLACK president". I can't say if he would have been elected if his mixed heritage had been put on center stage; however, in the days leading up to the election, I read a New York Times piece where the writer interviewed a number of people that had problems with his mixed heritage. Somehow, he was less trustworthy than if he had been straight white or straight black (so went their logic). In regards to the coach at UF, yes, its possible that his marriage may have had a part in him not getting any job interviews; however, as someone else has said, if he feels so strongly that this was the case, he should file a law suit. It has been reported that Turner Gill, the head coach at UB, suffered from this same issue when he interviewed at Auburn. He stated that he didn't think that his marriage was the reason why he wasn't offered the job at Auburn, but the fact they hired a coach who was on the verge of being run out of his job at Iowa over Gill, who has at least proven that he can win, is suspect in my mind. The problem with making these kinds of allegations is that they are very hard to prove. I'm not saying that people should roll over and refuse to accept that racism and prejudice exist, but I am saying that if you are going to make an allegation, you better be able to prove it and be prepared to take some action beyond running to the media to bring about some form of change. Just my nickles worth.
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Glock says:Posted: 13 Jan 09
The first reference to "professional black man" was from "Vanillachai" (female). I did also use that phrase IN RESPONSE to something she posted. So what you're telling me is that the term "professional black man" is a term of endearment now? Do you really believe this crap? I think this thread has run it's course....
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vt33 says:Posted: 13 Jan 09
okay... The subject is about Charlie Strong and him popping his mouth off, and shooting down the chances of becoming the head coach of the Football Program at UF. I corrected Ria in stating that our president elect is in a interracial marriage, throught US history as well as the US Census form, your fathers heritage determines your heritage. (trust me the next census, there may be a reduction of choices for stating ones heritage due to the uproar of it back in 1998) Apparently some of you use blog as a format to voice how you think the race issues are handled in America. A few bloggers it seems you have somthing to prove that you are educated, and to back that up, paragraphs of statistics complete with quotes are plastered to no end. Now I gather in your world that makes you superior to the common man or what every it does for your ego, in the real world social awareness, experience, and struggle is how you obtain another level of education. Black culture is not a percentage, a theory, it's real like any other culture in this world. Where in the world does Charlie Strong fit in to this equations...nowhere. Folks it's the 09, showing off isn't cool, everyone has adopted the word "Fortunate" in the 09, everyone is struggling in one way or the other. Instead try taking all that knowledge and spread it to the less fortunate, tutor someone show them what a great education can do for you. That's a better way to launch your ego, and you just might get some warm fuzzy feeling to boot. For the gentlemen who made a statement about "professional black men", let me shed just a small glimmer of light for you. For many years the black community has seen a decline in black business men, doctors, lawyers, etc our son's were lost to a lot of things, so within out community when the term professional black men is used, it's a term of endearment, it shows that we had one more son who didn't end up behind bars, but made it to the bar, or exam room 1, executive board room etc. That makes the community proud, so please don't over examine it. It's not meant to hurt or disperespect anyone. Sorry, don't mean to offend just a thought. Ciao! note. Key word of the day "Fortunate" go out and share what you have to the less "Fortunate" and quit Flossin..lol
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Salsassin says:Posted: 13 Jan 09
I refer to Obama, as Obama. It is informal conversation. I am not in a direct address situation. And correct your own spelling errors before you correct mine. My posts may be drawn out, but many of your posts are non sequitors, non sensical and come out of the blue. Why so much posting if you are married and have a happy wife? Focus more on offline time now that you have found your match instead of posting so many comments that many times are irrelevant to the discussion at hand. No one else took offense to me refering to him as Obama, No one took offense in Facebook when I added the appelate Hussain in support of Obama, etc. Yes, I met him when he came to Atlanta. Now do you actually have some valid point, or are you just making noise in the background to fill space? I have respected you till now because of your senior status, but if you are going to challenge me on something trivial such as how I address Obama, and question the intelligence of my posts, then I will bring up the incoherence in yours, and the possible senility?
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Salsassin says:Posted: 13 Jan 09
Homesteader, not sure if you addressed that last diatribe to me, but I will respond. I campaigned for Obama. I serve my country in the military, so spare me the crap of my post not saying President Obama. When I am talking about him in respect to his job, I will refer to the title. When I am speaking of the human, I will refer to him as any other human. And in the military we use last names all the time to refer to each other. Now when he swears in this 20th, he will be my Commander in Chief. Thank You.
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homesteader says:Posted: 13 Jan 09
When you show no respect for our President / elect Barrack Obama . I see totally no intelligence in the B. S. you comment . My ancestry is from Poland and Canada alas I am second generation American citizen . My father fought to keep this country free along with half of the other countries in this free world today . I neither took my wives , my mother or my father with me when I seeked a job . As I was Man enough to find one on my own credentials . I am totally United States Citizen . Those of you without a green card , up against the wall as we are building a new fence for you to climb . As for boxes on employment applications / where it asked for sex , I would always write " Occasionally " because sexual discrimination is also against the law . Laugh and the world laughs with you - cry and you cry alone .
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lala2qz says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Oh, and I live here in Alabama, Auburn is the school I'm attending, and him not getting the job led to many discussions and analysis of the situation. Noone believes it is because of his wife. There was quite a bit of tension after the election however...... Obama won a couple of cities, but did lose here by a noticeable margin.... Certain people here don't particularly want more black men in high positions due to spite and fear that blacks are out to destroy them(not even kidding, people literally think the world will end as Obama as president here)... and it is well known. So it seems to many he is playing off of that for benefit. But, bad idea to use his wife, would've been better to simply say that it was because he's black. oh, and also, Obama's marriage isn't interracial. That would be like saying that me marrying a black man is interracial.... I'm half black, and I identify as black, and from my knowledge, many black people have European ancestry, so.... I don't see the interracial aspect in the situation...
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Glock says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
I don't let the government "define" anything for me. In fact you don't have to check any box. The constitution requires there to be a count of citizens for purposes of appropriations but nothing more. The box for "race" is not required.
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Salsassin says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
More than likely because of the patrilineality of last names. People might of assumed because their last name was their father's they had to identify as their father did. But that was not a census requirement, nor was it any legal standard.
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lala2qz says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
“According to the Census forms in America your culture back ground is determined by your fathers heritage.” I'm not sure about census forms.... but I've been told that a lot.... I remember in school people saying to me very often that it goes by your father, and that by that accord I shouldn't call myself black. I've never been sure where that came from but I've heard it commonly here.
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Salsassin says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
"According to the Census forms in America your culture back ground is determined by your fathers heritage." Since when? Your race is determined on the Census by what you choose to check off. In fact, you can choose multiple boxes. Some people Check both Black and White. The categories are: American Indian and Alaska Native alone, Asian alone, Black or African American alone, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, Some Other Race alone, White alone, and Two or More Races. Obama could, based on how he has identified himself on the media, check Two or More Races. Those being Black or African American and White. Now what he checked off is anyone's guess. There has never been a patrilineal system in the US. And in fact in colonial times, all the way to emancipation, it was the mother that determined status. But not for "race". Blood quantums usually determined that. Matrilinealism determined if you were born free or a slave.
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vt33 says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Ria are president elect is not in a interracial marriage. Barack Obama is of white and black origin, his father being African(kenyan I beleive) his mother being white american. According to the Census forms in America your culture back ground is determined by your fathers heritage. I beleive Mr and Mrs Obama Barack are not classified as a interaccial couple. Charlie Strong may have dulled his chances as head coach for UF because of his disposition. Possibly the last time he decided he wanted the position he kept making his voice loud and clear about the whole my wife is white thing holding him back . College programs are trying to get into the bowl games not media hot topics. Crybabies don't make good coaches , which is bad for the alum,the sports program and funding. Besides isn't Herm Edwards wife white, and he's been coaching in the NFL for 20 plus years. Actually if Charlies Strongs view point got accross, half the NFL, NBA, wouldn't have players. I dont' think his issue has anything to do with his family it's his " PIEHOLE" he can't keep shut that holding him back. Later Cryin Ass Coach!
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lovebug4bw says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Salsassin has posted a very interesting, well thought out discourse on the subject. I can point to my own family as a perfect example, both of his concept and that of interracial relationships. My Great-Grandfather was an immigrant French-Canadian (notice the common label that is still used in Canada today) fur trapper who fell in love with a Chippewa Indian (Native American for the label conscious PC crowd) and married her. Back in the day, let us remember that there was a huge social taboo against marrying a "Redskin," just as there was against a White marrying a Black (African American – another label). But he did anyway. Because he was self employed, he didn’t face any discrimination in the workplace against him for who he married. But they were social pariahs that didn’t fit in any community. Her family disowned her (they were still bitter about having been moved to the reservation) and his was overseas. They raised my grandfather as Mixed, teaching him both cultures, but with an emphasis on the Native American religious beliefs. My grandfather married a White woman and they produced my father. My father was not indoctrinated as much as my grandfather was, but still maintained his Native American religious beliefs. (When he died in November, we had a traditional NA smudging and then a memorial gathering – as per his wishes). My father also married a White woman, which produced my sister and I. Now here is the interesting thing – my sister and I are not allowed to be members of the Indian tribe because our “blood line has been thinned too much”. (This statement was actually in the letter sent by the tribal council to my sister) I am a Christian, but my sister still follows Native American religious beliefs. Her wedding to a White man was half-Christian and half Native American. She still checks “Native American” under race, I check White. I have the “rugged individualist” beliefs that Salsassin wrote about. But I follow my Great-Grandfather rugged individualism about dating outside my race, preferring Black and having previously married Hispanic. So – is it skin tone that determines a person’s race, or is it a person’s identification with the culture that determines race? How far does “blood have to be thinned” to “switch over” to be identified as a member of another race? As another member posted, are we not just members of the Human Race with different cultures?
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salsera77 says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Salsassin, we were thinking the same thing about Kanye West and my comment went up right after yours. Lol.
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salsera77 says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Salsassin, we were thinking the same thing and my comment went up right after yours. Lol.
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salsera77 says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Even though I don't agree with any your comments, Bp1. I think that Kanye West threatening to tear up the hall if he didn't get a grammy award would much better support your argument but please let's leave Denzel out of this.
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salsera77 says:Posted: 12 Jan 09
Bad analogy. Denzel Washington never complained of not winning an Oscar. Other actors around him (ie. Julia Roberts, etc.) complained that he should get one before he won it but never Denzel Washington. Anyway he has one so it doesn't matter.
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Bigpoppa1 says:Posted: 11 Jan 09Mr. Strong is just another disgruntled job seeker who didn't get the job he wanted, there are millions of those in the world! I'm sure he will get a head coaching job somewhere, especially since the Gators just won the championship. He is a great defensive coordinator. However, his comment about his wife tells me that he has some racial issues that he needs to work out. If he loved his wife, he wouldn't use her as a pawn in the media game. He is just playing a game trying to advance in his already illustrious career. Great football coach, terrible husband. She should leave him. He's a millionaire, that's probably why she doesn't. His millionaire status is another reason he shouldn't cry about being a victim. I hate people who have a salary level in the 99th percentile, and then whine about being a victim and using racism as their slogan for whining. If there is a glass ceiling (hint: there's not), he passed it a long time ago. It's pathetic. No one in society is humble anymore, it's all about arrogance and sense of entitlement. It's like Denzel Washington making $30 million for a movie, and then crying himself to sleep at night because the white people didn't give him an Oscar. Yeh, I would be crying too, while I'm partying and makin it rain in the club with my $30 million! Yeh right! I would take my $30 million, buy my own award show, and give myself an award!
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Glock says:Posted: 11 Jan 09
I am referring only to the story that is posted here, and have not herad it reported on the news. So my comments are relating to that. That being said, this is about "A professional black man who didn't get the job he is qualified for." 1. Who says he's qualified for it? 2. Why is he more qualified for it than anyone else? Did they do interviews and make the findings public for us to make the determination that he is in fact more qualified? 3. Is "professional black man" supposed to imply something more "royal" than say " a professional man"? 4. Someone said that "In the sports world, that might be seen as a BENEFIT (emphasis added)being black! Explain that one?? Sounds like the kind of verbage Al Campanis used 30 years ago to explain the lack of black managers in MLB!! Imagine if someone had made the same comment but said being white was seen as a benefit in the sports world. 5. So coaches don't get interviewed now? I wasn't aware of that. I thought in any major team, whether college or pros that potential coaches are interviewed. I agree with you Itsget2gether, there are myriad reasons why he didn't get the job and you named many reasons why. But of course if our society has learned anything is that, the simple accusation of racism get's attention, and gets attention on a national scale. It doesn't matter if the accusation is true or not, all that matters is that you're accused. Maybe Charlie didn't get the job because he's both black and he has a white wife. Bottom line is that I don't know and neither does anyone else. All I am saying and HAVE said is that there are many possibilities. Yet nobody wants to acknowledge the other possibilities. All that matters to them is he's black and he said he's a victim of racism so it must be true.
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ltsgt2gether says:Posted: 11 Jan 09Is this all about Charlie Strong or is it about Barrack Obama because it looks like the subject changed. Charlie Strong may or may not have been turned down because of his interracial marriage, he may never know but it may also be because he's not the right person for the job. Sure his 25 years of experience makes him a good candidate but there are other things to take into consideration such as social skills, one on one skills, the way he presents himself, attitude, a whole lot of issues, it's not just about qualifications in that one area of the job. Lawsuit? depending on what it's for,if it's for the right reason then yes maybe and it could go either way. If it's for revenge I would say no,(just my opinion). If it's for monetary gain, a lawyer once told me "don't let anger feed your pocketbook" Why would anyone want to work where they are not wanted. I would think it would be a miserable work environment to have to face everyday regardless of how much money is involved. And last but not least, Why bring your wife into this situation. She didn't deserve all the crap being dished out and she shouldn't have to be put on a guilt trip because of it.
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Salsassin says:Posted: 11 Jan 09
A few things to point out. Barrack Obama is not in an interracial marriage. He has ancestry from Africa and Europe. So does Michelle. Obama does not have the typical African American identity as he is first generation mixed, but his identity into Blackness was started by the White mother who raised him to identify as Black. Identity is not about what you think he is, but what he responds to. He would consider himself both mixed and Black. A mixed person having a relationship with someone who has shared ancestry with him is not in an interracial marriage. Even if he had identified as White. There is a trend for many people to use the race card when things go wrong. But it doesn't mean that the case could be true. Unless any of the posters here know the case in depth, they are all speculating, whether pro or con. Can a interracial marriage hamper a job pursuit? Of course. There is an easily verifiable case, Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford. Jr. His marrying a White wife has lead to a dismal drop in his popularity in his Black constituency. Many described it as political suicide. While Black men marrying White is much more accepted, it is much less accepted when the person is perceived as seeking to represent Black needs. And remember the ads that Republicans used against him, insinuating he was going for White women? Even before he married, they used the tactic against him to inspire reactionary conservative fears. In that case, an interracial marriage definitely has hurt Harold Ford Jr's political career. Just consider how strong the Black vote would have been if Obama had been married to someone White? While most of the members here would have not had an issue, that doesn't mean that more conservative populations wouldn't. Someone mentioned that a lot of his colleagues where Black, as if that meant that the claim would be false. The assumption is that the Black people would be more tolerant. And the answer would be, not necessarily. You have to look at each case, on an individual level. Vanilla Chai (one of my favorite drinks) There is a place called Caucasia. But it is in between Europe and Asia. Where the Caucasus Mountains are. The irony of the term Caucasian or Caucasoid, is that it was started by Blumenbach, a German anthropologist. He wrote a treatise where he thought the original Caucasian race which included Europeans sprang from the same region that Noah's Ark supposedly landed (Armenia, in the Caucasus mountains) Anyone with skulls shaped in the same pattern of these skulls found in this region was a Caucasian. Of course very dark skinned Ethiopians from Africa and Dravidians from India also have these characteristics. So it is entertaining when this outmoded concept is applied as meaning White. It is sad that Blumenbach's later assertions (after he fell in love with a Black woman, weren't more popular than his earlier assertions which inspired scientific racism. In his later work, he concluded that Africans were not inferior to the rest of mankind 'concerning healthy faculties of understanding, excellent natural talents and mental capacities'. But no one quotes his later work. Whiteness, on the other hand is a notion based on common skin tone. European. It has been used as early as 1300 (hombres blancos) in Spain to differentiate Europeans from Africans (Etiopes)(Spain being right across Africa) Not a racial term, but a physical descriptor, nonetheless. Just like saying a person is short or tall. As to there not being a White ethnicity, that would be as incorrect as claiming there is not a Black ethnicity. An ethnic group or group of ethnic groups is just a group that shares common historical patterns and cultural traits. A name can be used to describe more than one group (Australian Blacks vs African American Blacks). Black can be used to be a descriptor, a racial term, or an ethnicity. So can White. White as a hyperbole to mean light has been used throughout time, just as Black has been. One person's Black may be another person's White. In latin America the darkest person in a social group might be called negro. I know we call my uncle that. In the same token we will call the lightest blanco. In other words, descriptive terms, not racial terms. Scientific racism led to the belief of many racial categorizations that fluctuated with time. One of the most enduring has been the Black and White dichotomy. It's existence led to segregation based on racist notions. Race has no scientific validity. Bt the experiences that racism created are very real. And thus created historical and social patterns that have led to Black and White identities. Ethnicities. Not just racial groups. A person can know he is of mixed ancestry and still belong to a White or Black ethnicity. Alicia Keys identifies as Black, Angelina Jolie Identifies as White. Both are of mixed ancestry. More importantly, the reason why they are strong ethnic identities in the US, is because of the loss of prior long standing cultural ethnicities such as Irish, Yoruba, German, Ibo, etc. While slavery is well documented as a historical purging of ancestral memories that has lead to African American families struggling to recuperate their past. The similar loss of ethnic plurality in White America is less known. Because many ethnicities where forced to live together and mix, The individual identities of multiple African identities became one under Negritude or Creolite. In the White community you have a loss that wasn't forceful, but still had similar consequences. Most people who migrated to the US, did not just stay in strong ethnic enclaves like that of the East coast, where you have strong ethnic identities like Irish, German, Italian, etc. Many people migrated into the west at young ages trying to make it on their own. Culture is a continuous thing. And you can only hand down what you have acquired over a life time. When young kids migrated into the west, they broke all contact with families. No cell phones to talk and learn about the family past. They could only tell them what little they knew that they learned in the short span of interactions with their families. When they married and had kids, they did not have the experience of interacting with their own parents into older ages. A culture of early independence and separation was formed in the US. Most children migrate to other parts of the US for college, work etc. This pattern has led to a cultural amnesia, and the development of a blurred culture in which a generalized Euro/White identity has formed. A White ethnicity. it is also a culture that has not developed strong socio cultural buffers that most societies have. In most cultures, the community raises the child and the child develops an identity of belonging based on community. But n migrant populations that sense of community is lost for individualism. It can lead to great things. Self determinism. But it also can lead to great crashes. White Americana is a culture that has taught people to survive on your own or else. And because most do not have a multi-generational identity, much of the identity people adhere to is individual accomplishment. You aren't proud of being Irish and belonging to the Mc Dunnugh family. You are proud to be a doctor and you are proud of the big car you drive, and the big TV you bought. It fills the sense of identity void. But what if you don't fit in well with the crowd, or you lose everything? In a multigenerational cultural ethnicity, your in group, your community holds you up. Your sense of pride, of belonging makes up for your social inadequacy, and if things go wrong, it is your family, your community, that help you stand up. Two things. Both because of this loss of cultural continuity, we see that in migrant populations, the biggest sense of loss will be felt when things go wrong. Is anyone surprised when people fall through the cracks and events like Columbine occur? In a tightly knit commnity, and extended families, the devolution of an individual is noticed a lot quicker and a support group innately forms. It leads to less aberration, be it suicidal or in some cases violence against others. This need for community is so strong, that the Black ethnicity was formed out of the loss of their multiple ancestral ones and the bond in the Black community has become multigenerational , especially in the South. In many ways they are comparable to ethnic Irish, or others in their pride in culture and family bonding. But this is not unique to the Black community, the sense of identity loss, while not forced on the White community, has still led to a cultural vacuum that social nature needs to fill. SO either people buy into rugged individualism and focus on what they do and what they own, they focus on the individual family (creation of a microculture in the immediate family), or they have to create a cultural identity out of the void. White Americana. Especially in poor communities where accomplishment and material things are not high, (Who you are is usually defined by what you do or what you own in a cultural vacuum) a sense of pride will develop in a nebulous cultural past. As they can't specify where they came from because of all the migrations, and loss of history, they can only embrace the general European history and the general American experience (and in extreme cases glorifying concept like Manifest Destiny, for a sense of collective pride). That is the strongest sense of White ethnicity out there. So it would be incorrect to say there isn't a White ethnicity. Just like the Black ethnicity, it is both an amalgamation of cultural knowledge that has survived from Europe, the cultural experience that has formed with the loss of ancestral history i the US, and the new generational history that has been forged in the communities that have formed in the US and create new histories to tell to their offspring. You see it in niches such as Appalachia, and other places very well. It contrasts very much with those that are raised in multigenerational migrant families (Just think of families that have kids that go to college and migrate somewhere else.) And who usually don't have as strong an ethnic identity as much as job affiliated or accomplishment identity. OK, yeah I rambled, but you get the point. :)
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Red says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
VanillaChai said: There is no such place as Caucasia! White is not an ethnicity. I am European American & have ancestry & heritage. They are from Spain, France, the Azores, Ireland & England & ?. “White” is a mentality to which I do NOT subscribe & neither should anyone else. ************************* Very good statement!
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salsera77 says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
Addendum: Maybe Strong doesn't want the aggravation or have the funds to go through a legal fight so he's making his statement through the media for whatever it's worth. Still in this day and age, you can't be naive and doubt that incidents like that are happening. He doesn't need them.
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Layla32 says:Posted: 10 Jan 09I don't think a comparision to the President-Elect is appropriate. That is not an interracial relationship. If you are going to use a comparision to make an analogy, use one that is more appropriate. Most African-Americans have a "mixed" racial background and identify with a specific community. To imply that a man with a biracial/mixed background and indentifies as a "Black/African-American" male his entire life and is married to a woman that identifies as a Black/African-American is ridiculous. Also ridiculous on this site since this is a pet peeve of mine: You have no choice for biracial/mixed people. You have ONE choice for White/European Ancestered people and you have TWO choices for Black/African and Black/Non-African people, which I think just plays so much into the racial ideology that you try to infer that you are raising above. I have a few friends that joined this site and was clueless on which box to choose. And if there are Black/Non-African people, surely there must be White/Non-European people, correct? Why am I not surprised that the author of the article and the person who continues to prevade the racial dilemma in her writings is a Black/(don't know what to put here) woman... And finally, RACE is a social construct. We are all of the human race. We have more in common than we have differences. Promoting the social construct instead of discussing the real issues is a disservice.
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vanillachai says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
PS to JazzyOne...well you were WOMAN enough to step up to the situation...LOL.
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vanillachai says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
Thank you JazzyOne. I was hoping someone would be man enough to step up about the situation. As for the comments above: 1- If you interview for a job it is w/ a company & a person. So If you don't get the job, & you say "they" didn't hire you for a reason, then it's pretty OBVIOUS who "they" are. They can sure for defamation if "they" believe the alligations are "false". 2- Yes, let's be fair, it can go both ways. I am not saying it's absolutely true. But "some people" are saying it's absolutely not true & can't be true. Everyone seems to think that it can't be possible because of their own prejudices and stereotypical beliefs that a black man w/ a white wife has a "trophy" etc. All I'm saying is it's VERY possible & these things DO go on! If you don't think they do, then you probably also believe in Santa Claus & the Easter Bunny! LOL 3- This wasn't a case of a "black" guy not getting a job. This is a case of a professional black man who is in an interracial marriage not getting a job that he is fully qualified for and investigating further when it made no sense to him. This is not another "they didn't hire me because I'm black" situation. In fact, in the sports world, that might actually be seen as a benefit (being black)! 4- Of course the public's perception does not define what is fact. The entire time Obama ran I knew he was of mixed background. Through the eyes of the general public, he is viewed as a "black" man & in this case it helped him win the "race"...so to speak. My only comment on that, was when someone (here) mentioned about how he's in an interracial relationship. Most people view them as "The First Black Family" in the White House. My only point is that, Obama is not going to fit into this category. Even if he did, he had the vote of the entire nation. Charlie Strong, & anyone else applying for a job, does not get the luxury of interviewing & being voted in by "their peers". 5- To Glock, we actually are in TOTAL agreement on one thing. I do believe it's disfunctional, at best, that your ethnicity is not taken into account, by the general public (& anyone else? for that matter), when it comes to your children. There is no such place as Caucasia! White is not an ethnicity. I am European American & have ancestry & heritage. They are from Spain, France, the Azores, Ireland & England & ?. "White" is a mentality to which I do NOT subscribe & neither should anyone else. Let's see what happens w/ "Charlie Strong's War". I for one wouldn't want to take on anyone w/ that last name. It's self-fulfilling!
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salsera77 says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
VanillaChai and Glock, I can see both of your points clearly and time will tell how the Strong story will play out. As to whether or not his story will have any impact on future situations like this, I doubt it because of the way he's going about dealing with it. It'll be one drop in the bucket if he can draw some attention to it. I say good luck to him for the race issue is a deep-rooted, immoral entity to do away with in this society. It's funny/strange how some people see Obama as a Black man and others (myself included everytime I look at him) see him a Mulatto/Biracial man. You can not discount a person's roots. It really depends on how you were raised. If racial hatred (slight or outright) was not being taught to children growing up through the media, film, tv, commercials, or print, if it wasn't gone unchecked and all but condoned by many parents doing nothing, saying nothing when instances of it come up in their daily living to teach their children then just maybe in the future this racial hatred thing could be a thing of the past. I thought the following appropriate: Perpetrators, collaborators, bystanders, victims: we can be clear about three of these categories. The bystander, however, is the fulcrum. If there are enough notable exceptions, then protest reaches a critical mass. We don’t usually think of history as being shaped by silence, but, as English philosopher Edmund Burke said, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph [of evil] is for good men to do nothing.’
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JazzyOne says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
I fail to see the humor in laughing at discrimination towards anyone. It's never justifable. I agree 100% with VanillaChai's comment about I don’t think any of us should “get over” or accept discrimination just because we’ve all delt w/ it at some level. Racism, discrimination etc. are not going to go away ... EVER. The way to deal with is to educate and communicate. But to simply dismiss someone and their situation and feelings is just as ignorant, if not more ignorant that the people who are causing the mess to begin with. Black men are discriminated against in every way possible. Maybe you should read the latest about the situation in Oakland and the young black father who was shot in his back and unarmed. Or is that situation easier to believe because it was blatant? So because what Strong is saying isn't "in your face" or overflowing with cold hard facts, or gunshot wounds it can't possibly be true? Don't let your personal anger for black men dating white women, make you turn your back on them when you share the same color skin and the same thing could happen to you. A more factual statement is not ALL up and coming black men feel accomplished after marrying a white woman. Just like not ALL black women date/marry white men because they are angry with black men.
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homesteader says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
My wife who I met here on this site , is an other of Natural brown skin and I am pale white . The ones who put up the signs , Like " We reserve the right to refuse servive to anyone " . As far as we are concerned can enjoy themselves without worrying about spending any money from our pockets , If someone didn't want to hire me because of us being together . I feel sorry from them . Intelligence would make hiring the one with experience my First choice and Attitude about job preformance Secondly . I hired a contractor to repair damages from Hurricane Rita , this past year from a gov't loan I received / 3 years after the storm . He talked a good story , alas never did finish the job he was paid to do . He is Black , the only words that I have for him is that he is not a Quality Craftsman and does not tell the truth - a liar . I sent paperwork for a State Inspection of work not completed . He will deal with the State of Texas Contractors Review Board Inspection Team . And I will not allow him to finish the work as per contract he did not complete as he lied to me , This is a civil suit which will require him to pay a Legitimate contractor after the job is complete and if you will lie / you will steal and I dislike Thieves .
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Glock says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
Why aren't they suing them for defamation? Sue WHO? He hasn't named ANYONE! Couldn't it be that CHARLIE STRONG doesn't want an investigation because it's FLASE!? let's be fair, it CAN go both ways. Why is it that you are SO willing to believe what Charlie Strong says but so unwilling to accept even the possibility that his claim could be false? So a black guy doesn't get the job, claims it's because his wife is white, racism, prejudice OR WHATEVER, it's gotta be true?? There is no other possibility because the "victim" is black? Come on. As far as Obama being biracial, if the "public" (of which I am a part) "says" he's black, then he is black. Is that really how it's defined or has the public been conditioned to believe that? As the father of 4 biracial children, that is an insult! So what, I'm to be disregarded as thiry parent BECAUSE I'M WHITE?? Talk about discrimination. Now I don't even count as a parent because I'm white! LOL
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vanillachai says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
IF it's not true, why aren't those people suing him for defamation??? I bet it's because they don't want a formal investigation because there is truth behind it & probably a lot of other practices they don't want to come out into the public eye. 1- Although Obama is mixed, the general public perceive him as "black" so this/interracial marriage doesn't even apply to his situation. 2-I believe that he is calling them out & letting them deal w/ the heat for their actions. It's very controversial and could potentially hurt him. For people to act right, they must be held accountable for their actions. 3- For reasons like this, sometimes it's not the best call, but he has to be able to look in the mirror and face himself. So, if he wants to take the risk & speak the truth, then I respect him for taking that risk and drawing attention to the subject. 4- Maybe for him, it's all worth it if it helps someone else think twice about the same type of discrimination & prevent it in the future. 5- I don't think any of us should "get over" or accept discrimination just because we've all delt w/ it at some level. Obviously making those statements creates major BACKLASH. Just look at these postings! He didn't do it for himself...he is taking a lot of heat. He is doing it for the greater good & to make sure people acknowledge the issue so it doesn't continue & happen to other people. I'm unclear how it will work out for him, but I'm sure it will make some people think twice in the future.
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sweetmocha48 says:Posted: 10 Jan 09I'm in agreement with ,Glock,laugh_sailor and Ah Trini why is it he would say that after the fact he didn't get the JOB .in that case our up coming President wouldn't be our new president his wife is black and there are other guys out there that married to women of other race...and there are black men that are married to black women that sometime don't get the job.for most of them yes that is why they didn't get the JOB,and most of them did file a discrimination lawsuit.So STOP YOUR CRYING NOW YOU SEE HOW OTHERS FEEL...get over IT.Charlie Strong.WE HAVE
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sweetmocha48 says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
I'm in agreement with ,Glock,laugh_sailor and Ah Trini why is it he would say that after the fact he didn't get the JOB .in that case our up coming President wouldn't be our new president his wife is black and there are other guys out there that married to women of other race...and there are black men that are married to black women that sometime don't get the job.for most of them yes that is why they didn't get the JOB,and most of them did file a discriminatetion lawsuit.So STOP YOUR CRYING NOW YOU SEE HOW OTHERS FEEL...get over IT.Charlie Strong.WE HAVE
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vanillachai says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
A lawsuit is a good way to waste a lot of time, energy & money. Karma will come around. A lawsuit is not going to change people's prejudice. Neither is throwing your inside contacts "under the bus" for telling you the real scoop. Anyone who's street smart or worked in law enforecment knows rule #1 is you don't give up your source for "intel" or take people down with you.
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Glock says:Posted: 10 Jan 09
Yes, it IS possible. However it's also possible that it's a bunch of hogwash. If he is going to make PUBILC this claim, then he should file a lawsuit if he feels he's been discriminated against. It is so easy to make these public statements without backing it up. A lawsuit is a good way to back it up.
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homesteader says:Posted: 09 Jan 09
Real life has many different angles on the way people choose to treat others , Arrogance in the way one carries themself may be some of the problem , in others decisions as to advancement in job status . Look into yourself before you blame others .
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vanillachai says:Posted: 09 Jan 09
This IS very possible. Every situation is different & so are the people in charge "different". It's to nobody's benefit for him to come out w/ this info., if it's not true. & Even if it IS true...it's a huge risk for him to come out in public & say it. Behind closed doors of a corporation, many poor practices can go on. Usually it never reaches the public. To anyone who thinks this is not possible...you must also believe that there are no "kick backs" at corporations between them & their vendors & that nobody has ever exchanged sexual favors for a job...come on!
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Glock says:Posted: 09 Jan 09
Hmmmm. Let's see. So he doesn't get the job and blames it on his wife (basically). Notice he didn't say he didn't get the job because he's black, just that he's married to a white woman. Wow! I simply laugh when I read these rediculous stories. He suggests to the Sentinal that his marriage to a white woman is the reason of him not getting a job. Ok, then state WHO it was that denied you. State specifically WHAT was said. Further, when you say that "Everyone" says you weren't getting the job because your wife is white then tell the media who "Everybody" is.. Simply throwing an accusation out there means nothing unless you have something to at least back it up. Does 25 years of a memorable career ENTITLE him to anything? Then the article cites another case where someone else is allegedly discriminated against because of his wife. Apparently Charlie Strong forgot the fact that he's a defensive coordinater at UF DESPITE the fact that he's married to a white woman!! Charlie needs to look around at the side lines more. Most of the players are black, MANY of the assistant coaches AND head coaches are black. Let's face it, Mr. Strong is frustrated because he didn't get the job and is lashing out now and trying to portray himself as the VICTIM. Now he is going to be looked at more negatively the next time he interviews for a head coaching job because he has demonstrated his willingness to pull the race card. We all sometimes get frustrated because we didn't get the promotion, or the job we sought. You just can't stand by and cry about it. Move on, get over it. Count the blessings you DID receive.
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laugh_sailor says:Posted: 09 Jan 09
Yes, racism and prejudice of all flavors is used to discriminate in just about every way possible. I like to treat behavior like this as a gift - These slimeballs are telling me they don't want to waste my time or energy trying to drag my life down to their level - They recognize my strength and know they will only embarrass themselves, so they give their excuses and I am free to pursue all the wonderful relationships that are waiting for me that I would not be able to develop if I were mired in slime.
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AhTrini says:Posted: 09 Jan 09IF it is true, that's a laugh for me, since up and coming Black men think it's accomplishment that they have "attained" a White wife.
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homesteader says:Posted: 09 Jan 09
May this new year see changes in attitudes for all , Intelligence in Decisions and may we all grown till next year , Love Les
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