It means "to engage in an intimate relationship with a white person means that one is selling out to white society and in the process has sold out the black community"(Childs 87). This is one of the problems interracial couples have to face because they want to expresses themselves from the norm they are viewed as a sell out. “ Among the black community respondents interviewed, statements that only blacks “who are removed from their race” or those who are “weak” engage in interracial relationships were common. Black college students groups also emphasized the importance of “keeping it real,”(Childs 90) I find this statement to be incorrect. Just because a person happens to see something in other races that does not mean that they are dishonest to their race. Also for “keeping it real” that is ridicules because the college students would think this way. The idea of being open-minded should not be taboo anymore because this is the 21st century. Sometimes I can’t believe people still think this way. Five of the black couples talked about the image of “selling out”, here Andre says,
“I don’t think that [I’m a sellout]. I kind of think I’m better than those people, you know? Like, I’m on a higher intellectual plane than them…if you’re just going to alienate me [as a sellout] because who I date or what music I listen to, or because of my views, then I got time for you, really. If you know your history, then you know you’ve been biased and prejudiced against, so why are you going to be prejudiced against someone else. Again, that’s defining me by my skin color and my hair texture to what I’m supposed to do, like I’m not preprogrammed because of, and no one is preprogrammed because of, their race to live a certain way, to think certain things, to date certain people (Childs 91)
Chris gives his view on the meaning of selling out.
“Sellout, that’s what blacks like to say when they don’t like the way you are living, whether it be with a white person, or your job, or your neighborhood. I feel secure in my identity, so when people say things like that’s why you got a white wife, or you think you’re white I just try to educate them. One of the biggest obstacles to black succeeding is this mentality, you know, that you got to be one way to be black. I’m black, and don’t challenge my authenticity because I am educated and I’m with her. Judge me on where I stand and what I do. I am involved in the NAACP. Are you? I give to the United Negro College Fund. Do you? But I also am not going to let my life be dictated, like, “Oh, you can’t vote that way. You’re black,” or, “You can’t like them because you’re black”…that’s ludicrous. To me, selling out is when you do something that contributes to the negative images of blacks” (Childs 93).
I picked these two quotes because is shows how optimistic the couples are. Despite, everything they face in their lives the couples never gave up on what they believe in. I found that the couples use the negative talk as a way to stay positive. Why do others feel threaten by interracial couples? This is the question I hope to answer.
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Well, I agree with both of the quotes you've picked. Why should someone have to date someone of their own race. Your right we are in the 21st cetury hello! Peopl are just ridiculous. I would love for the question of why others feel threatened by interracial couples. Although I do not know for sure, I think they feel thretened because they are insecure about something in their own life. And, they feel, that if they are known for or seen as being all for interracial couples they will be frowned upon. I know, that is pathetic but I feel thats a big reason why pelople feel the way they do about interracial couples. I suggest you give your own insight aout the uestions you ask. Trust me, it makes it alot more interesting to hear not only what you have to ask but what you actually think of your own question.=]
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