Thanx and same to you…!!

Sweetheart, let me put it to you this way– we as women may one day (in the very present future lol!)

be able to match social & economic standards, grasp corporate success, obtain independent monetary status with the opposite sex all while being a mother to his children and holding down the structures of everyday family living. However, until men can truly appreciate and respect us as the beautiful creatures that The Creator has willed us to be- we will never seem to be equated as a partner–in every sense of the word.

You remember this–

Like my grandmother always said–”be the person you want to attract, God will do the rest!”

I wish you well in your quest to find a lifetime partner equal to someone as yourself!

This knowledge comes with a price… All the reading has helped me get the history down to a degree, but I still can’t seem to figure out these men. Who’s got the goods on that!!

Damn, girl! Where was your butt when I needed help in my Spanish History studies??? Lol!!!!

Is it mucho gracias or gracias mucho??? Naw, I’m just kidding!

Good job!

To “The Real Essence”, I can sit here and type a dissertation in response to everything you said, but the “broad” comment and the threats gave me an impression of someone, well, for lack of a better word, lowly…and I have no time to get into an online debate with someone I don’t even know. I hope the exchange from everyone else, who responded with class and an objective view has provided better insight and education for you. And if name calling, threats etc. make you feel REAL ESSENTIAL, do you.

In the past, physical anthropologists spent years defining sub-races within three major categories: Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid.

{It was then reiterated by Real Essence:}

“In the past, physical anthropologists spent years defining sub-races within three major categories: Caucasoid {White}, Negroid {Black}, and Mongoloid {Asian}”

Unfortunately, being just black has become associated with negative connotations and therefore insulting to most. There is a long stemming socio-political misrepresentation of Blacks and in my opinion a modern day form of oppression- however we perpetuate the oppression thru ignorance. The classifications and distinctions of being Caribbean, African, Hispanic, East Indian etc.has been a subliminal effort of Europeans to keep us from sharing solidarity. Ethnic stratification is imperative to European supremacy otherwise collectively Blacks would prevail because we out number them by far. We are put against one another and trained to believe that we really are different b/c we hail from various countries & nations. Most groups outside the US are taught thru media, to believe the worst about Black- America so there becomes a deliberate effort to distinguish themselves from the very group they belong to {the Black race}. Black America is given the worst representation and it is no accident. If we all integrated despite ethnicity and nationality, we would be a threat and an unbeatable force. However, we spend every defining moment assuring that we are not tied to being a part of a particular subset of the Black race. So Bajans don’t want to be called Guyanese, who don’t want to be called Trinidadians, who don’t want to be called Jamaicans, who don’t want to be called Africans, who don’t want to be called Hatians, who don’t want to be called Dominicans, who don’t want to be called Cubans who don’t want to be called Puerto Rican AND NO ONE WANTS TO BE CALLED BLACK. We have allowed these classifications to permeate our existence to the point where we are ignorant of how much more we share with one another based upon our African ancestry. It is so funny to see people talk about what they do in their culture as though all descendants of Africa don’t share those qualities; all Hispanics think they are the only culture to eat platanos meanwhile Africans eat plaintans for breakfast as a side and Haitians eat them just the same but they call it Banan. We really sound ignorant denying our connection from one ethnicity to the next when the examples we use to distinguish ourselves are the same examples that prove how we are bound culturally.

I am proud of my Cuban heritage, but I am fearlessly protective of my image as a Black woman!! That is the image that I walk with EVERYDAY and when you see me that is the only assumption you can make of me so I rep that to the fullest… I am deeply offended by other Caribbeans and Hispanics that do not share that sentiment if it appropriately applys. I would never correct someone who called me Black, b/c they are as accurate as can be, however if a relevant topic ensues or asked about my name, I would be just as proud to talk about Santa Clara, Cuba…