Comments on: Me Sube La Bilirrubina (It Raises My Bilirubin)

By: andar909

andar909 — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:02:59 +0000

hi, andar here, i just read your post. i like very much. agree to you, sir.

By: The Jose Vilson — Yes, I’m Still Gonna Blog

The Jose Vilson — Yes, I’m Still Gonna Blog — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:16:03 +0000

[...] on the cover of Essence Magazine? Over Obama? I think I know why I wouldn’t make it on there, but Zack seems to think I deserve it. More power to my man, [...]

By: nezua

nezua — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:54:19 +0000

josé, it’s good stuff. so much of the first incarnation of my blog really wrestled with similar things. And it can be tough to do when so much of the dominant culture discourages explorations along such routes. but i think it’s always helpful to read. i know it is for me, to see others are having their own challenges with identity in this culture. it’s only those who fit squarely in the main of the stream that see such wandering and wondering as unnecessary. which is unfortunate.

keep hashing it all out my friend, it’s good stuff. and screw the numbers. like you said, its about coming from the heart.

peace.

By: Shout Out Saturday | Sassy Women

Shout Out Saturday | Sassy Women — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:02:40 +0000

[...] Jose made the personal political, as usual. [...]

By: e.

e. — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:34:52 +0000

i love how you made it personal and then related it to the special. i especially enjoyed the card metaphor. so what do we do about the cards, my friend? are just gonna keep looking at them and shuffling them? or can we find an effective way to get them off the table – either one by one or even a few at a time?

By: Corey

Corey — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 07:10:17 +0000

I’ve personally been struggling with something similar. My dad Americanized our last name, and with a name like Corey, no one is going to expect a Dominican if they read it off a list. So, I want it to be pronounced with a Spanish accent, but because I’m all that’s left of my dad’s legacy, I also have a responsibility to at least keep the name he left me, in the way he left it.

As for the whole skin color issue you brought up, it’s kind of been a double edged sword for me. It’s easy to tell I’m Latino, but for some darker Dominicans, I’m not dark skinned enough. Suddenly, speaking Spanish, eating the food, and listening to the music isn’t enough.

Just to make a reference from Common’s “Black Maybe,” it seems that a lot of adversity also comes from our own kind…

By: Hugh O'Donnell

Hugh O'Donnell — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:24:10 +0000

“Know thyself,” and, according to the ancient Greeks, you’ll understand other folks. Of course, in today’s world, culture shock and awe is an everyday occurrence, and the learning curve is steeper.

But I’m still a fan of self-awareness and I’m not wild about labels and pigeon holes.

By: m dot

m dot — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:35:44 +0000

very good post (as usual)

[this comment also doubles as a plea for your presence on 08*08*08 @ 8 for my bday party where your culture is always appreciated & celebrated! *wink*]

By: Jose

Jose — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:33:42 +0000

Thanks, Tracy. Yeah, I agree with the professor in a way. When we look at those prejudices, the first emotion that might come up is shame, but it’s the first step in a series of emotions that lead to anti-racist/sexist/classist/etc. behaviors. It doesn’t stop there. It takes a lot of retraining, and a lot of hard work.

By: Tracy Rosen

Tracy Rosen — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:21:50 +0000

wow – didn’t realize how long that comment got.
Your post provoked that much.