Mixed Chicks Chat

On Loving the Black Body

The very talented singer, songwriter, activist Jason Luckett has written a piece in the new anthology: The Black Body. If you're in LA, he's reading on November 10, 2009 at Skylight Books.

Episode 126: Black Face on America's Next Top Model

Heidi had some strong feelings about Tyra's 'painting' on the contestants for the show.  You can listen to the full episode here, or you can always subscribe on iTunes!

Episode 125: Jason Sublette, hapa writer

We were so jazzed to have Jason Sublette on the show this week.

We first met Jason at the first Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival when he came to read from his novel-in-progress.  He's a wonderful writer, and just a fun person hang out with.  He joined us again for the 2nd Annual Festival --reading another chapter.  He also created the most beautiful Wordles for the participants and attendees. 

If you missed the episode, don't miss the story he read on the show: 

Little Brown Liar

copyright 2009 Jason Sublette

Since we moved to Eagleville, Missouri—which is either quaint and charming (says my father) or oppressive and scary (says my mother)—I’ve tried and tried and tried to answer truthfully the awful question that is a buzzing mosquito in my ear.  But when they hear my answer—“American, just like you”—they say, “Okay, but where are you from?”  When I say, “Out West, Arizona,” they shake their heads no and show that extra friendly toothy smile like maybe I don’t understand English, and repeat very slowly, “Yeah, but, you know, just what are you?”

I know what they mean, of course, but the truth is just not an option.  Not here, not now, not ever.  What’s the point of saying my mother is Korean?  They’ll just ask if my Jap grandfather flew his kamikaze plane into Pearl Harbor.  They won’t care that my Korean grandfather engineered the washing machines for the U.S. Navy in Pearl Harbor.  I certainly can’t tell them that my other grandfather was not only a real German, but a real Nazi soldier.  Some of their grandfathers were at war with him. Besides, it’s clearly not the non-identifiable German genes that they care about.  It’s that there skin, them eyes. 

So I have to say something because they keep asking.  It’s all that seems to matter in rural Missouruh, the $64,000 question.  Kids, parents, teachers, storeowners, the dogs and cats that wander aimlessly through our yard, the curious fleck of ragweed pollen that has lodged under my left eyelid, the nosy drifts of pure white snow that tackle me by the ankles, the outraged bibles leering at me through the stained glass windows of the churches we never attend, they all demand an answer.  Just what are you?  

So I’ll lie.  I’ll become Hawaiian.  Hawaiian guys are cool, laid back surfers.  Hawaiian women are exotic and mysterious.  Who doesn’t want to be Hawaiian?  The King, Elvis, wanted to be Hawaiian.  Hell, even hip California mixed chicks like Fanshen and Heidi probably yearn to be Hawaiian.  So what if I have no actual Hawaiian blood, have never even been to the islands?   My mother was born there, my grandmother lives in Honolulu, and three pot-smoking Hawaiian college boys (who surf!) are living in our dingy basement (and yes I smash my nose to the vent in my sister’s bedroom when I hear their giggling).  Plus, I’ve eaten poi, can converse in pidgin English, sometimes refer to white people as haoles (when my haole father’s not around), am proud to display a full can of Primo beer on my dresser, can effortlessly flash the “hang loose” sign with both hands, and know all the words to “Lovely Hula Hands.”  So doesn’t all this give me the right?   Doesn’t it? 

Since they’ve decided I’m something—Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, however that goes—why can’t I choose what?  Why shouldn’t I be cool and exotic?  And when I say Hawaiian, they’ll believe me because with last names like Cook, Miller, Smith, and Snider, how could they possibly know I’m lying?  Can’t the stupid skin and eyes and nose work for me just once?  Is it such a crime for me to tell this one little white lie? 

Okay, so it’s a little brown lie. 

 

 

Originally published in slightly different form in Blue Mesa Review. 

 

Another long mixed-roots themed story in Green Hills Literary Lantern (http://ghll.truman.edu/ghll17/fiction/Sublette_Motion.html)

 

 

Episode 124: Marie Mockett Picking Bones From Ash

We were so excited to have Hapa writer Marie Mockett on the show today talking about her debut novel Picking Bones From Ash (Graywolf) published this month!  Of course Marie was a hit with the listeners! She read a few passages from Picking Bones from Ash -- and our listeners thought a petition should be circulated to get Marie to do an audiobook version with her voice. I agree! I know when I read the book I had her voice in my ear--

Okay, don't listen to us!  Listen to what Amy Tan says about the book: "A book of intelligence and heart.  As Mockett reveals, the ghosts of our mothers are always within us."

Better yet: listen to Marie herself--we think you'll love her too!

2nd Annual AFAAD Gathering for adult Adoptees and Foster Care alumni of African descent

Dear adoptee friends and family, and supporters of AFAAD,

It's time for the 2nd Annual AFAAD Gathering for adult Adoptees and Foster Care alumni of African descent on November 6-8th, 2009.
There will also be a youth session and an event on Friday open to the public.

 AFAAD has put out an international call for sessions and announcement for our 2nd Annual Gathering.
Adult adoptees and foster care alums of African descent (black, mixed, african, caribbean, afrolatin, afroasian) everywhere are invited.
The press release information is inserted below and a press release, call for sessions and registration forms are all attached.  All of the information about the Gathering, and the full-length call for sessions is available on the website:

http://afaad.wordpress.com/2nd-annual-gathering/

AFAAD is also looking for donations, sponsors, volunteers and collaborators!! Please email for info. They appreciate the support!

Episode 116: Filmmaker Carolyn Battle-Cochran & Writer Mat Johnson Double-Episode!

Don't miss out on this special double episode with filmmaker Carolyn Battle-Cochran "Biracial . . . Not Black Damnit."  We had the great privilege of screening this first at the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival.  It is a great documentary and you'll be happy to know that this is the first of four hour-long episodes.  Check out the trailer.  You're gonna love this too.

And the second half of the hour we talk with writer Mat Johnson.  He's the author of the graphic novel, Incognegro, and the novels Drop and Hunting in Harlem.  He talks with us about his experience growing comfortable as an individual and as an artist in claiming his multiracial roots. 

Episode 113: Dr. Maria P. P. Root & the Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage

We are so pleased that Dr. Maria P. P. Root, one of the nation's leading scholar on multiracial issues and identity and founder of the Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage, joined us for today's show.

Dr. Root, an honoree of the 2009 Loving Prize for her dedication to illuminating and sharing stories of the racially and culturally Mixed experience, published the first contemporary volume on mixed race people, Racially Mixed People in America (1992).  She has edited two award-winning books on multiracial people.  The U.S. Census referred to these texts in their deliberations that resulted in an historic "check more than one" format to the race question for the 2000 Census.

We're guessing that you're eager to adopt Dr. Root's Bill of Rights -- here are a few of them below.  You'll find the rest on Dr. Root's website.

I have the right...

·	Not to justify my existence in this world.
·	Not to keep the races separate within me.
·	Not to justify my ethnic legitimacy...
·	Not to be responsible for people’s discomfort with my physical or ethnic ambiguity...

Episode #112: Melting Pot Moms

The goal of Melting Pot Moms^TM is to provide a space for families of different ethnicities and cultures to create a diverse and nurturing environment for children.  They ran our family day event at the Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival this year and it was an amazing experience to watch the children express themselves creatively while surrounded by their loving families of every hue and culture.  You can start your own chapter if one doesn't exist in your city, or join one of the chapters across the country.  Go to:  http://www.meltingpotmoms.org

 

 Check out the episode here:

Episode #111: Author Carlene Brice: Children of the Waters

We just love the title of one of Ms. Brice's blogs: White Readers Meet Black Authors. She was encouraged to create this space because of the reactions she got from her book Orange Mint and Honey. White readers commented that they felt so connected to the characters and that it didn't matter that they were of different races. Her new book, Children of the Waters, explores how two sisters have grappled with identity and very different ideologies. We were thrilled to get her perspective on identity, the writing process and creating accessible, current characters. You can listen to the episode right here:

Episode #110: Mixed Chicks on Fraternities & Sororities

Fanshen couldn't make it on for this episode but Heidi holds her own quite well, despite the very last minute cancellation of her co-host!  Interestingly enough, we got ZERO responses to our call for 'Mixed Identified members of the Black Greek Association.'  Any thoughts on why?