Comments on: Beautifully Aging AfroBella: Shirley Bassey

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.

By: RAY ELARMO

RAY ELARMO — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:52:34 +0000

i can appreciate your opinion. look the lady is half black and she is not political. don’t read into it so personally. you are proud of being black, thats fine. i am proud to be a filipino too. who cares if a person is famous or not. i don’t. just because shirley bassey is famous, you think she can do so much for the blacks, whites or who ever. except that not everyone is the same. some people get involved and some don’t. if you do that fine. don’t get upset because everyone thinks like you. carry on and don’t worry about things you can not control. shirley bassey is just fine. leave her alone. her music is her contribution to mankind. not standing on a soap box and brag about how proud she is to be black. monterey ray, a proud filipino.

By: Jayson

Jayson — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:04:14 +0000

First of all, I’d just like to say that I know this comment is remarkably tardy and most likely no one will read it, but I’d like to clarify a few things about the whole “biracial” debate. I personally don’t think it’s fair for anyone to place judgement on a biracial or multiracial individual simply because they believe they deserve the right. People who identify with one race have no idea what it’s like to grow up consisting of two racial backgrounds and no, biracial people do not want your pity or sympathy. Secondly, for so many people to pull the “tragic mulatto” bit and not only apply it to the singer of discussion but ALL mulattos is ridiculous. Also, as a biracial individual, I must point out that African-Americans or blacks in general are not the most accepting when it comes to mulattos; no more or less than Caucasians. I’ve been discriminated against more so by black people than white people, and why? Because I speak proper English, I’m not immersed in hip hop culture, or I’d rather listen to Maria Callas than 50 Cent, or my skin isn’t dark enough, my hair is too fine or curly, or whatever else asinine reason they could concoct by means of justifying treating me differently or calling me “uppity,” and “white boy.” I’m not saying ALL black people have been this way, or categorizing them in any way shape or form, a style that several individuals on this site have used when describing biracial people. I’m often mistaken for a Latino and have spent my entire 20 years on earth answering “What are you?” when I say I am not, and not once have I denied my African-American blood; but I’m looking at the topic in all fairness. It’s not fair to place the blame on all white people, as one individual did, when black people are equally as prejudice. Lastly, I don’t feel we should have to choose or identify as one or the other. Why, you ask? Because we’re both. Now, there are some biracial people that do, and that’s fine, but ultimately it’s their choice to make, not society’s. There are just certain examples in this blog, like the woman being upset because the store clerk said she should buy the “black” magazine. ANY “full-blooded” African-American who considered his or herself a conservative or republican would’ve been equally upset. Any human being for that matter is upset when things are assumed about them, so why is it such a big deal for a multiracial person to feel the same? Should we just accept the preconceived notions and pretend we’re not equal because we have to check more than one box on a forms and applications? No, I think not. So before you go calling us confused, or try to paint us in the color of sorrow and tragedy, and shower us in your sympathetic “poor half breed” stares, take a second and think about what we have to go through. And as afore mentioned, keep your commiseration and false understanding to yourself. Maybe then you won’t be so unsure why we adapt to situations or act the way we do; you know, like normal people trying to come full circle in a racist, prejudice, accepting, terribly wonderful world.