Comments on: Beautifully Aging AfroBella: Shirley Bassey

By: annie

annie — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:58:13 +0000

I am mixed race and do not agree with the demonisation of Shirley Bassey. Overall I think monoracial people simple do not understand that as a mixed race person the whole idea of racial disharmony and identification is absolutely ridiculous! I wish many people could see this. I love beng mixed race I am balanced and fair in my views I love my african heritage as well as my jewish german, hispanic and jamaican heritage. I have zero setimentality about race only about unfairness and injustice/right from wrong. I could not care less whether am called black white mixed race or purple it is absolute nonsense. I am a human being and belong to the human race and will endeavour to identify with all mankind and do good for all martin luther king preached this story amongst other freedom fighters. alot of people need to get over themslves and deal with it. Shirley bassey has never said she isnt black and she has never even altered her appearance to appear less so in stark contrast to so called black performers like beyonce and tina turner that rock their silly long blond weaves and what not. most mixed race people rock their own curly hair do not try to alter their appearance despite easily being able to do so. My black african father never stipulated race to me but affectionately told me no one can make you feel inferior if you dont want them to!

By: Lilian Shettle

Lilian Shettle — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:08:09 +0000

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By: fabfashionista

fabfashionista — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:47:33 +0000

I was googling Shirley Bassey and I came across your site! I do agree that she could’ve leant her voice and talent to the civil rights movement; however race seems to be “less complex” in Europe. The thing that I don’t understand is that a lot of the black in Europe, especially in Britain identify themselves as being European / English before acknowledging the fact that they are Afro-European or black. They fail to see their color which is disturbing because their Anglo European counterparts have no problem seeing this disparity. Sometimes I believe Europe is more racist than the U.S. Its very sad.

By: Shemp howard

Shemp howard — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:06:08 +0000

Where I cme from a lot of mixed raced people and Creole people hate their blackness. I also had a brief chat with Iman also. She very much hates her blackness as well as Black males. This seems to be very common among these types of people. I am saddened that such people are held in high regard becausse they can ‘sing’ or dance or have a certain type of look. Personally I do not worship these people. Nor do I respect them as somehow being ‘better’ than the rest of us. Their deep rooted hatred of all things African/black expresses to me that they are unworthy of the attention that they receive. But in the end all things come into balance. Dr. Gates received his wakeup call. Perhaps one day Ms Bassy shall as well. And I certainly hope Iman gets hers. She it total trash as a human being. Very ugly on the inside.

By: Georgia

Georgia — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:13:55 +0000

Nanz, like many Londoners you seem to be ignorant about life outside your own city. How dare you make out the rest of the UK is racist. I’m mixed race in Manchester and I have never suffered racist abuse or felt badly treated because of my race. All you see up here are black and white people together and according to Wikipedia Manchester and Nottingham have a higher percentage of mixed race people than London which equates to more people of different races in relationships.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:14:55 +0000

Did you ever consider that just maybe Bassey was ahead of her (and our) time when it comes to race. It shouldn’t matter and obviously she is a good example that it doesn’t have to.

By: ella

ella — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:10:58 +0000

Also black people are a smaller minority in the UK, it is 91% white over here, followed by asians folled by blacks, so people see you as what you are. If you’re from England, you’re English then mixed race, if you’re Northern Irish you are Irish then black etc. I’ve heard Americans talking about in the olden days there was a ‘one drop’ rule. there was never anything like that in this country so you are what you are, nobody over here calls a mixed race person black unless they are very dark-skinned and appear to be. Go into the streets of Cardiff and ask what colour Barack Obama is and 99% will say ‘mixed race’

By: ella

ella — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:04:55 +0000

For someone talking about identity I’d have thought you’d bother to check your facts Shirley Bassey is WELSH, NOT ENGLISH, you want people to appreciate your culture but you don’t bother doing your own research. British does not equal English.
I am mixed race and call myself mixed race, I’ve never met anyone who has referred to me as black because I’m British Mixed. If a person is raised in an all-black community, their parents are seperated and they live with a black parent they will feel more black than white. If a person has bee raised in a predominantly white community such as most of Wales is they will probably connect with that side of their heritage more. Why is that taboo?

By: Ugonna Wosu

Ugonna Wosu — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 03:04:25 +0000

I don’t think its fair to assume Shirley doesn’t like blacks or whatever. I do find it sad that she doesn’t seem to feel any kinship to blacks, and has basically completely whitewashed her family, but I think she identifies more with white people. She was raised by her white mother, and has been hustled and bustled around by white, male managers since she was discovered as a teen. Please consider these things before demonizing her.

By: readb4uspeak

readb4uspeak — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:46:02 +0000

not sure what filipino pride had to do with anything but im pretty sure you completely missed jaysons point. he wasnt asking for bassey to get on a soapbox and preach. he was pointing out how close minded people place stigmas on others and how his blackness doesn’t outweigh is whiteness or vice versa. you clearly missed that as you only pointed out his black side as if he disregarded his white but maybe you didn’t grasp the concept. point blank period hes saying that biracial people don’t want to be pigeonholed as one ethnicity by some random stranger or society. but i guess you missed that too. i also dont see how him stating his opinion is “taking it personally” if thats the case then everyone in this blog is taking things too personally.