Mixed Remixed Festival

What would you do if Barack came in?

by

 

Experimental question combines race and Hispanic ethnicity.
Experimental question combines race and Hispanic ethnicity.

The sun was hot and the sky a bright Mediterranean blue, but when I reached the US Citizenship and Immigration Services building it was grey and flat, and seemed to absorb the metallic light.

Behind the counter an older Asian woman filled in a form for my ‘biometrics appointment’, she glanced at me and circled ‘Asian’ as my ethnicity. Officials usually choose ‘white’ while I choose, or write in, ‘mixed’. I imagined the scenario – my application delayed because my ethnicity suddenly changed half way through the process. San Francisco is truly a town of transformation, you can change your gender, your sexuality and even your football team, but your ethnicity? I don’t think so.

I ask her to circle ‘white’. She did so and erased ‘Asian’. I explained I’d like both categories and she said ‘No, you have to choose one’… ain’t that the truth! I smiled and asked, ‘what would you do if Barack came in?’ gesturing towards the President’s photograph on the wall behind her. She remained unsmiling and I remembered the ‘birthers’ thinking maybe it wasn’t such a good question after all.–Clare

“No Colour Bar” Dance – London 1955

by

"No colour bar" dance
dance

 

“No Colour Bar” Dance – London 1955
I’m carrying out research for my novel about Caribbean and Irish immigrants to London, England (like my parents). I came across some interesting videos including this Pathe report from 1955. It features a dance in London where the Mayor of Lambeth (one of the London Boroughs) invited 180 “English” people and 180 “West Indians” to a dance, in order to improve relations between the existing population and the newer immigrants from the British Caribbean.–Clare

Bill Would Provide “Multiracial” Option on NYC Forms

by

Thereoption_other‘s a bill proposing that New York City forms add an option for multiracial folks to check all that apply like you can on the Census. Currently there are five options on New York City forms: “white, not of Hispanic origin”; “black, not of Hispanic origin”; “Hispanic”; “Asian or Pacific Islander”; and “American Indian or Alaskan Native.”  Councilwoman Margaret Chin is spearheading this effort.  She is quoted as saying: “This will allow New Yorkers to identify their heritage and be proud of it. They shouldn’t have to only check one box.”  What do you think?–Heidi Durrow

Bill to allow New Yorkers to choose more than 1 ethnicity! #mixedremixed

Click To Tweet

Little White Lie Film Receives Rave Reviews!

by

lacey-schwartz1The Mixed Remixed Festival is very excited to co-host in collaboration with Be’chol Lashon a special Q&A with filmmaker Lacey Schwartz following the 11/30 2:20pm screening of Little White Lie at the Music Hall 3 in Beverly Hills, CA.  Tickets are available for purchase on-line and at the box office.

Learn more about this amazing film that has received rave reviews across the board!  Do we hear Oscar?–Heidi Durrow

"'A lot of personal documentaries cover secrets,' said Jay Rosenblatt, program director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. 'Self-indulgence is a big problem with personal documentaries, but I think the secret in ‘Little White Lie’ kept it from going in that direction — the narrative thrust keeps you engaged.'" - Felicia R. Lee / The New York Times

“‘A lot of personal documentaries cover secrets,’ said Jay Rosenblatt, program director of the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. ‘Self-indulgence is a big problem with personal documentaries, but I think the secret in ‘Little White Lie’ kept it from going in that direction — the narrative thrust keeps you engaged.'” – Felicia R. Lee / The New York Times

"Holmes' criterion for festival submissions is great black films, against the grain. Certainly that describes Brooklyn filmmaker Lacey Schwartz's 'Little White Lie', a personal documentary about family secrets and the power of truth-telling." - A.D Amorosi / The Inquirer

“Holmes’ criterion for festival submissions is great black films, against the grain. Certainly that describes Brooklyn filmmaker Lacey Schwartz’s ‘Little White Lie’, a personal documentary about family secrets and the power of truth-telling.”

– A.D Amorosi / The Inquirer

"It goes without saying that Jewish identity, in all its forms, is one of SFJFF’s overriding themes. The world premiere of Lacey Schwartz’s first-person documentary 'Little White Lie', closes the festival with an utterly unique angle on the topic." - Michael Fox / KQED Arts

“It goes without saying that Jewish identity, in all its forms, is one of SFJFF’s overriding themes. The world premiere of Lacey Schwartz’s first-person documentary ‘Little White Lie’, closes the festival with an utterly unique angle on the topic.” – Michael Fox / KQED Arts

"Filmmaker Lacey Schwartz explores how race, culture and family shape a person’s sense of identity in this documentary and personal detective story." - Anita Katz / The Examiner

“Filmmaker Lacey Schwartz explores how race, culture and family shape a person’s sense of identity in this documentary and personal detective story.” – Anita Katz / The Examiner

Everybody Loves Hapa

by

Everybody is okay with Hapa.
Everybody is okay with Hapa.

We caused a little firestorm over on Facebook when we asked this question: “Words you’re cool with using for mixed people: 1) mixed; 2) hapa; 3) mutt; 4) biracial; 5) potato; 6) Heinz 57; 7) zebra; 8) mulatto. Have I missed any?”

Below are some of the many and varied responses.  But it was pretty clear that everybody seemed to be okay with Hapa.  How about you?

  • A mulatto is a mule – a cross breed between donkeys and horses. Mules are sterile. Only 1 in 144,000 can reproduce.
    It’s a livestock term used for slaves of African descent that also had European ancestry.
    It’s a slavery term and it’s just as bad as sa    ying nigger.
    I wrote the word nigger in this post, without quotes, and intentionally repeated it because the word mulatto makes me just as angry to hear and see in print, flippantly.
    “Mulatto” is “Nigger” for Mixed folks like us. It serves the same purpose of branding us as chattel slave property, just with a “twist.”
  • Not cool with derogatory ones like ‘mutt’.
  • 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 should go…the is only 1 race…the human race, and we are proof that this divisive cramp is a waste of time. I have never of heard “potato”.LOL Anywho, there are so many mixtures, and some of these terms only refer to black and white mixes.
  • I can’t like this
  • I really appreciate all the voices and comments on this. I think the consensus is lose “mutt” for sure. And BTW I adopted “potato” via writer @Lori Tharps who also has called her Spanish/Black kids “spa-negroes” — love her! More on that story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-w-durrow/interracial-relationships_b_1514896.html
  • How about human beings
  • My brother loves Halfrican. I can do Afro-Semite or Hegro.
  • And hell no to mulatto!!!
  • Zebra??? No way!!!
  • I think anything that is commonly used in the animal world (zebra, mutt, mulatto) is probably better left there. Even “mixed” sometimes sounds wrong–I usually associate that word with “breeds” of animals. And cocktails.  But I understand that word is more acceptable.
  • I don’t mind mutt, but I mind when people say bitch. I also like to call myself American and human.
  • Best is: ‘Neither Both’
  • Looks like hapa is the one term everyone agrees with. True?
  • Understand 🙂
  • I tell people I”m a BLEND of Black, White & Native American. I also use the word MULTICULTURAL. I detest the word Mulatto.
  •  multiracial
  • What an awesome question. Keeping dialogue open is the most important part of all. Personally, when I was confronted with the inevitable curiosity of my peers (“What are you?”), and was questioned about my ethnic identity, my mom told me to tell them my name. If pressed, I would give them facts. Because I was proud. But as people started placing their own perspective on whatever those facts were, I made them regard me the same way as I viewed them: as a human. I love my family and my heritage, but it doesn’t define everything about me. It’s not expected of any other person. So I claim my name as an individual first, and only.
  •  Callaloo
  • I think it is more about the intention of the word, if I don’t give it power, it can’t control me. People are going to say hurtful things but I’m not going to let their ignorant comment ruin silly words I ENJOY using to explain my unique upbringing.
  • Don’t get or like these. Personally love Multi- culti. But long long ago used oreo.
  • My son likes, ‘blend
  • I use the term mullato/a academically but not socially. And I use mutt in jest but would never allow someone else to refer to me that way.
  • Someone would knock my ass out if I went outside and said mulatto.
  • My daughter uses Halfrican.
  • hapa <3
  • A potato what on earth haha
  • A potato flew around my room. Lol I never heard that term before potato.
  • lol @ mulatto being socially acceptable.
  • Lose the mutt.
  • I can’t stand mulatto when it is used in America. Or mutt. Ugh. I usually stick with mixed or biracial.
  • There are some derogatory slurs, but they do not deserve to join this listing.
  • Hapa or mixed are probably my top choices. My nephew and niece use “Chrislim” to describe themselves, but this is more religious than “racial” as they have one parent who was brought up Christian and another who was brought up Muslim, hence Chrislim…
  • I prefer High Yellow… 😉

 

Everybody is okay with “hapa” but don’t call me a mutt! #mixedremixed

Click To Tweet

What’s Your Favorite Interracial TV Couple?

by

I recently asked my Facebook friends this question and the answers were wide-ranging from the most current like Olivia and Fitz on Scandal to Helen and Tom Willis on The Jeffersons.  What do you think?–Heidi Durrow

Favorite interracial TV couple? Fitz and Olivia? Or Tom & Helen? #mixedremixed

Click To Tweet

image

Bravo (again) Cheerios! A True Storyteller’s Prize Leader!

by

Cheerios Camille Gibson and Doug Martin with Festival Founder Heidi Durrow
Camille Gibson, Vice President of Marketing of Cheerios; Festival Founder Heidi Durrow; Doug Martin, Marketing Manager of Cheerios

We were pleased as punch to honor Cheerios with a Storyteller’s Prize in June at the Mixed Remixed Festival for their work in celebrating the diverse American family in their commercials.  Cheerios’ Camile Gibson and Doug Martin accepted the award on behalf of the company and really stole the show (video to come soon).  Now, Cheerios has released this awesome video in its continued commitment to portraying life in America as it is in all of its wonderful diversity.  Check this out!  Bravo again Cheerios! And here’s more praise for Cheerios from Slate Magazine, and Adweek.–Heidi Durrow

[youtube]http://youtu.be/QvHGKSqBVjs[/youtube]

Bravo again @Cheerios! Thank you for your continued commitment to the diverse American family! #mixedremixed

Click To Tweet

TypeError thrown

stristr(): Argument #1 ($haystack) must be of type string, array given