The chosen exile of racial "passing": Allyson Hobbs at TEDxStanford
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ค. 2014
- Allyson Hobbs holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard and a doctorate from the University of Chicago, and teaches American and African American history at Stanford. She has held fellowships from the Ford Foundation and Stanford's Clayman Institute for Gender Research, and teaches courses on American identity, African American history, African American women's history and 20th-century American history. Hobbs has won numerous teaching awards, including the Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize. Her first book, A Chosen Exile: A History of Racial Passing in American Life, examines the phenomenon of racial passing in the United States from the late 18th century to the present, and will be published by Harvard University Press in the fall of 2014.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
This is so wonderful. Passing is a topic not often discussed in the African American community due to the shame that its rooted in. The mere fact that someone would have to deny who they are in order to succeed takes a piece of a person’s soul away.
if they can pass they are pretty close to white anyway
@Worship REBECCA Why wouldn't it?
robinsss looks are different fro dna you can find one person in a family who is much lighter than the rest doesn’t mean they are white or whiter.....
its a sad situation indeed.
But just remember: They looked more like full whites than their chocolate relatives.
They passed but actually passed for 100% white.
@@robinsss That's an oversimplification. These days people just call anyone with lighter skin white, but that denies their family, culture, community, and entire upbringing.
My father died when I was very young, never knew him. But he was a full blood Native American. My mother registered me as "white". I only learned the truth when I was in college.
Why say something like this that is obviously not true?
OMG, I stumbled on this video. Allyson is my cousin! So proud of her! Thank you for sharing!
She did a fabulous talk
Is she still single 😮💨😮💨
So proud of you Allyson! Excellent talk! Inspiring!
DNA analysis revealed my African heritage. My family attributed my dark features to a mythological American Indian connection. I am happy to learn the truth and saddened at the loss of identity. I choose to live the remainder of my life as African-American.
Oh god why? Let it die, it won't help you a bit. Your ancestors worked very hard to erase that part of you. Don't undo their work!
Just live yout life as you. I do not know what living a life as an African American means to you.
Good for you!! This is not only a true and authentic part of who you are, but connects you to a culture defined by an incredible journey that continues to advance despite amazing adversity, making the country and world a better place in the process! Welcome to the diaspora!!
@@tabitha8232 wow...
@ EBONY 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I live in Louisiana. There are "fair" skinned people at every turn. It was so obvious to me, looking at that young woman passing, that she was not caucasian. I'm still baffled that her appearance did not out her.
At any rate, what a sad story of so many who were, and are, still in that toxic mind frame. To BE(a state of being) beautiful, intelligent, acceptable, desired, honored, etc. you must LOOK(purely cosmetic) like what someone else that GOD did not make you. If we only truly understood that the flesh is NOTHING! THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE.
"And Still We Rise~"
She may have not been white looking as in European but she would pass as an Italian or Spanish or Greek woman which is considered white even now.....and that’s what many of them did pass as the above nations.... read Nella Larsons book Passing or watch the Human Stain regarding Broyard
because others (Jews, part Indian, Spaniards and Greeks, etc) were a part of the mix.
Funny how 'chocolates can almost always tell.
That's how baseless this American concept of "race" is. The definition of "white" is extremely vague and constantly changing. Irish were not white at one point.
I loved the way you brought it all together -- the historical, "common" loss that is felt merely by our being human, forging our way through life and its complexities. We can all relate to that. Being of Caribbean and Cape Verdean (most recent) background, I have family that I never met due to their choice to racially pass. Loss is inevitable; and Gratitude for Life is invaluable. Thank you for sharing!
We make choices in life. Some times you are forced into choosing what is giving or finding peace. Interesting talk. Thank you, bless you. All your dreams come true.
I've just discovered this Sista! WOW!
A topic that needs to be discussed.
Why??
Central High in Charlotte, NC from the 1930’s, Warren Central in Indianapolis from the 40’s, and Harpeth Hall from the 50’s.
The mom threw her daughter away...she hated her family who hated their own blackness so much that she was "thrown away." She fulfilled mama's wishes.
It backfired on the family who encouraged her to do so .... she really ditched them in the end ... I don’t blame her...
Brilliant oral essay...Bravo, Well Done!
love this!
Excellent TED Talk!
what a beautiful and classy woman... loved her speech as well.
She is excellent, so well spoken
I am what I am and I will never pass as somebody or something that I am not, this is me and only me, accept me or leave me and love me or hate me, but I won't give in. What you see is what you get, no modifications. I rather be poor and be what I am instead of passing as something that I am not in order to get a JOB or a material possession. That is why I don't aspire to be a politician or an entertainer. What a powerful message and who better than Allyson Hobbs to deliver it.
You guys are forgetting something.
They stuck out liker sore thumbs in their original families.
Family members gossiped about them and their fathers.
So, they were escaping for several reasons.
Off topic but I'm lighter skinned (not enough to pass for white but light) and I remember as a child the other African American girls in my class kept asking if I was mixed. I thought it was weird but I didn't think anything of it.
Me too. I remember my first day of school I got into an argument with another child because they wouldn't stop insisting that was a liar. Neither one of my parents are white, but no one would accept that as truth because I'm light-skinned.
Some - the really light ones - got tired of being singled out.
My guess as to why some disappeared into the dominant culture.
Their people.
So proud of you!❤️👍🏿👍🏿🌸
People are still passing for....and lighter skin people are still treated better than brown to darker skin people. Passing to survive.......
Lawrence Stick yep. It's not just blacks believe me.
I can pass.
@@VM-wt3ti yeah you see it in every non European community - Latinos (only see light skinned people on tv/movies), even people from India have severe light skinned bias.
Mike Noir Well he is half white he’s Hawaiian and white
Made from the dust of the ground legally by whose terms.... america is not the legal system of this world... all north Africans have African ancestry and are mixed race people
She absolutely made that dress look like "a million dollars."
right?
I heard this story at least 15 years ago. I thought it was anecdotal. I never knew it was a real person.
She's wrong about passing for white.
She was passing for 100% Caucasian.
She looked more like THEM than her relatives.
I have her book and let me tell you it is one of the best books on the subject of "passing" that I've read so far. In all honesty there's not to many books on this subject to begin with, so I'm very grateful for her contribution to this unique and very complex and strange phenomena. And, as a Africana Studies major and also a Sociology major also (I'm a double major student.). This book has been a great references for many debates and research papers for my college courses that pertains to the subject of race. I really do recommend her book to anyone who is researching the peculiar phenomena of "passing." In my honest opinion, just pertaining to the subject of "passing". I understand their reasoning for doing it, but I just don't respect it, why would you do something like that? Why be ashamed of who you are? "Passing" is something that I really, really cannot accept. That's just my two cents on the matter personally.
Layla Rose I agree. I can’t see how someone could leave their whole family to be in a world where you aren’t even really accepted.
Well we may not agree but if you were in their shoes or lived during that time then you might understand. But since we live in the present we will never understand how it feels to be them or the need to pass to gain a better life etc
Ashley Yvette but they are accepted because in American society if you look the part you are the part look at Hoover.... he was passing
Is it possible for you to help me with my family history?
lu hicks you should start with 23andMe or ancestry DNA kit. I did one on my dad and found out a lot. It costs like 100-200 though
Damn! Sis 😉✊🏾 to the ppl... Beautiful Melani
I never heard of passing before until I read this American Girl book called Shadows on Society Hill. But I just spoiled the book because the secret about passing isn't discovered til the end.
Susan Rebecca White's book, A Place at The Table touched on this subject too. Also, can't forget the classic film, Imitation of Life which shows the tumultuous life of a woman passing in white society.
Something was missing in this for me.
yea the connections shes trying to make are very incomplete. A missed opportunity
She has a more extended presentation on TH-cam. It's very interesting.
Read through Hobbs book yesterday-dont know a whole lot about this subject.
Hobbs' stance in the book and even in this speech basically fixates on social matrix and strata not mention "race".
She doesnt seem to get that these people chose largely to pass for economic, educational and social reason.
I doubt these people cared about watching parades in the South side of Chicago or going to soirees in their neighborhoods.
The Al Show If watching a parade is apart of the culture you are from, trust me it’s sacred to you.
Sad 😥 story very unfortunate part of this country's history and present
Love it.
The woman, Elsie didn't look white to me. I guess the photos didn't accurately portrayed her? Her phenotype- she was light skinned, but had wide nose and wavy hair.
Lol
Plenty of white people who resemble her.
there are lots of eastern Europeans who have her features
I am surprised that Elsie Roxborough could pass. She doesn't look anything like a white woman to me!! I think that Lena Horne looked more white and even she could not pass IMHO.
they both look white
Beyond the phenotype, those old photos made people look darker.
They passed as Italian Greek or Spanish white not Western European white
I found out in college anthropology that I have an African forehead and it delighted me. Then, when I had cancer my doc said he knew something about me I didn’t know. I told him about my forehead and he brought me up to speed on my blood and scar tissue and how I’m white on the outside only. Again, I was delighted. I then remembered meeting my great Aunti on my Mom’s side when I was about 4 and I asked the question
Mommy that lady is not like us. Are you sure she is related? She quickly peeled an orange and stuffed it in my mouth telling me to eat the orange and not say a word. The lady was so proud of my Mom and how I looked. Aha! Sweet. Then I found out my dad was in the CIA! Boomers are finding out sweet secrets.
Or riches.
stop hiding in the comments, classmates.
strange how so many people didn't study and learn that dark hair roots come from AFRICA. Google The Moors in Europe migrating with France, Spain, Italy, and Ireland.
You are from Morristown. Morristown is an extremely affluent city. Very privileged.
I'm not sure to whom you are responding but yes, these narratives are often completely oblivious to the factors of class and wealth as if race exists in a vacuum.
I had my DNA done on a hunch that I either had Jewish or Muslim heritage from a woman named Susan, born in PA in the 1700s. Her family came from Holland. Nothing unusual there, but Susan was. It means Lotus or Lilly blossom in Hebrew or Arabic. I found I have a little less than 1% of my ancestry from the Maghreb, or north-western Africa. The Muslims invaded Spain. Later the Spanish ruled over Holland. Susan Schoonover was my connection to Africa. And, as a follower of Christ to find out some of my ancestors worship a moon was a little strange, to say the least.
Laura Bunyard lol. Abraham was a pagan before discovering God, remember?..
And the ottoman empire invaded Spain. Get it right
Why are some people so obsessed with skin color?
And with age!
Ask the founding fathers
Mike Lincoln - Yts made that a reality. ameriKKKa is based on race.
At least knowing this is educational. I had been passing and not knowing because i was raised by white fosters.
Because this country treats you differently based on it. Hope this helps
I will marry you 😘❤️
If you are talking about the woman giving the talk, I will second you on that.
All of this is bulshit the truth is when you allow yourself to be the victim of society and the opinions of other's you will never be happy know thyself rise above the BS love is universal, and when it's all said and done do not let anything or anyone to define you instead define yourself.
Elise didn't look white she looked mixed. Her hair is clearly dark most white poeple atleast in America can't don't have dark brown hair unless they are mixed or dye.
Thankfully we are post-racial - and all this is totally unnecessary
hahaha wait you're joking right?
Original idea on history...
Um, in neither of her examples did she mention any loss caused by racial 'passing.'
In the first, the lady didn't go back to Chicago when her father was dying, for whatever reason. She didn't say. But in any case, that suggests she didn't feel like there was much there that she had lost. It suggests she was quite happy with her new life, and _not_ feeling a strong sense of loss.
In the second example, the girl committed suicide because her father cut her off financially when she needed money. _Maybe_ he cut her off because he didn't liker her passing as white? We don't know; the speaker didn't say. In any case, it clearly wasn't the passing as white that caused her to kill herself; it was her father cutting her off financially.
So... I mean, her examples do not support her thesis, that racial 'passing' causes great loss. Maybe it does, but even her anecdotes don't support the idea. Maybe it's wishful thinking.
Sad
It is not a crime, but it is a life of imposter!!!!!
It is not the life of an impostor
Is it your best idea to think about after watching this video?
Blanco 1927, there are many people that agree with you. I think, Ms. Hobbs might have some personal issues and making this into a sad story of her self. We are humans not knowing what kind of life we are going to be born to. People will choose on their own or are pushed to make very powerful decision in their life's. "Passing" like Ms. Hobbs uses in this lecture is a very slippery subject. Passing can happen in any culture or ethnic groups without race differences. It can happen from German to Polish, Spanish to French, Nubian to Egyptian, Colombian to Dominican etc... No one knows what that person went through in their life no matter good or bad. It could have been to survive life or death, some escape families that are worst than the race issue. Not being wanted by your own family or for whatever reason or the mistakes they had made that were unbearable. I would never judge a situation of this matter, one is giving one life to live and you better make the best of it.
What is this? You can't PASS, and then go for that hot dog & beer with your bros. You've lost your life!... for the lie that the other life is somehow better! "It must be better," they could see it was. And yet she suicides within ten years of living 'the good life!'
Pining for what can never be again.... that's some pining! A world to which you can never return....
Mark Foster why did she commit suicide ?
African American?
Don't see how she passed as white. I have family members who are very light complexioned with blue eyes, thin lips, thin noses and straight blonde hair but I don't believe they could pass for white.
I know this educational but baby that body 😍
She said she hasn't taken on another race, but she actually has. She encompasses the oppressor's hair, talk (not to say that those of the African diaspora don't speak intelligently, but there is a difference), and way of life...the way she started her thesis speaks volumes!
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
she was born with white features
@@robinsss true
How is she supposed to act?? Ghetto
She is educated that is the difference
???
Passing is not a transgression.
It was in the historical era she was talking about.
+Bradley Tian Not only that it was a double edged sword, something the "transgressors" were both proud of and also feared being discovered.
The problem is Blacks seem to take it as a transgression against them. Because you're no longer there to suffer with them. And yet most of your suffering was perpetrated by them.
Transgression means error or sin...LYING is a sin...
''''''''''''Because you're no longer there to suffer with them. And yet most of your suffering was perpetrated by them.'''''''''''…………….………………..good point
Are there any blacks who aren't professional racists? Please send me links to blacks who aren't consumed by their own racism while pointing at everyone else for their alleged racism.
me
Look me up Allison you're fine🌹
Elsie looks bi racial. Very pretty. But not happy. Poor thing.