Pamela Haskel Two Essays

Being Black or Biracial

By Pamela Marie Haskel

Most people have made it seem as if being Black is a curse. Being black is not a curse it’s a blessing. For over 400 years Black women have faced discrimination in the corporate business world, fashion and beauty, film and movie industry in Hollywood as well as the music industry and other professional public sectors.

I am Black and part Native American. I’m not ashamed of my heritage because my African American and Native American heritage and lineage are both important to me. I love culture and I can resonate with people who are of different ethnicities because all my life growing up, I had White, Black, Hispanic and Native American friends I interacted with and spent time with.

I have also been in several interracial relationships with white men and some people stare in amazement and others with indignant emotions oppose interracial couples. I don’t have a dilemma with interracial relationships I think being in an interracial relationship allowed me to explore how white people think on different issues and perspectives of cultural norms that I experienced that was different from theirs.

The disheartening reality is that Black people cannot express their individuality of their culture and heritage because non-Blacks feel that wearing one's hair natural is not symbolic of mainstream American culture. Black people are targeted in every aspect of the judicial justice system through harassment from racists who try to plot vicious schemes to deliberately get Black people incarcerated for unjust accusations perpetuated against them.

The pageant, fashion industry mostly consisted of white women who won national pageant titles, or the white female models’ photos were on the magazine covers. Cosmetic companies produced or made cosmetics that were for fair or ivory complexioned women instead of making products of cosmetics inclusive for Black women who have ebony, deep, bronze, or beige skin.

Racism still exists its seen more on social media and television. When you’re a black woman it is as if you’re invisible to the world. There is still more work that needs to be done to enforce diversity in pageant, fashion, beauty, film industries for women of color.

I ‘m elated that more bi-racial and black women are winning national Miss America and Miss USA national titles. Beauty comes in different sizes, shapes, colors, and intelligence. When you come from an interracial family people tend to ostracize you and get you to pick what side of your ethnicity you are likely to relate to more

True solidarity starts with those white people who are willing to be pro- active in standing for justice for black people or all people, and taking the time to listen to African Americans in order to learn about the various cultural norms that will help them develop cultural competency in a nation that is divisive when it comes to race and hierarchy in certain organizations based on one's rank.

Embracing Diversity Through Differences

By Pamela Marie Haskel

Diversity, a word we hear constantly. The first thing that people think of when it comes to diversity is ethnicity, that’s part of it but, there is more to diversity than race, skin color.

I come from a family that represents many different countries, religions, as well as ethnicities. I grew up in a mixed diverse neighborhood on the West side of South Bend, Indiana. I would listen to different music genres from gospel, classical, pop, jazz, alternative, and rock and roll.

I love music even French music, I studied French from eighth grade through college. I believe retaining the knowledge I learned in my French classes has been beneficial in conversations with other French native speakers. Being bilingual or multilingual is essential because it opens opportunities for international occupations or careers where you can be a translator or interpreter for an organization that speaks the foreign language you speak.

Embracing diverse differences has been a detriment for most people because they cannot accept change. They believe conformity that enforces ideals and principles of other cultures, pertain to different ways of dressing according to cultural norms, speaking in a foreign language in which one’s dialect or accent is in contrast and a threat to their own norms.

I believe that diversity should be enforced in every profession, church and work culture. All of us as descendants from our ancestors are immigrants who migrated from various nations and continents. There should not be a spirit of inferiority because someone who looks different from you. No one should be discriminated based on their educational or socio-economic status because of their race or skin color.

Racial barriers have been caused by people who lack cultural competence in others who look, dress, or talk different. If people will take the time to listen and be open minded to understanding cultural norm differences, it will alleviate cross cultural barriers.

We must realize topics and perceptions of others ethnocultural backgrounds from many aspects will be assumed differently based on the conversation. As a result, the level of conversation how much you share, talk about, your tone, your body language people will assume things based on your relationship with them or others.

Conversation builds relationships and relationships build conversations. Everyone is unique in their own special way. A person should not be ostracized for embracing being different, more differences of ethnomusicology, languages, church denominations with ritual differences as well as interactions with people who are of another ethnicity, organization will break barriers that tend to stereotype people or marginalize them based on systemic racist principles which are unethical.

Conformity should be a balance as well as practical ethics that can enhance the laws and constitutional rights of every constituent to represent their cultural identity that most people can resonate with. If more people will stand firm to their convictions and be distinct from everybody.

Pamela Haskel is the author of two books. See more about her writing.