SECONDLY:

YOU have NO friends pictured. Are you ashamed of how they look or something? Why do you have a photo blog with no pictures? You need to get out and get a social life!! And get some friends!! God help us all!!

Okay- the above was in complete jest- I'm not mean enough or dumb enough to make judgements about your personal life based only on your photoblog. I'm smart enough to realize maybe perhaps you just haven't taken the time to post any pictures yet. What I said above though should ring a bell- it's how you posted in response to my pictures. Who are you to make judgements about me personally based on some pictures?

Just so you know- I DO have black friends. I also have more friends than just the ones pictured...by the same judgement you made by the color of my friends' skin, you should have also asked whether or not I have any GUY friends because none of them are in my photo blog either.

Well, I DO have guy friends. The reason why both they and my black friends aren't in here is because I don't have pictures of them. The reason why I don't have pictures of the guys is because usually, I'm too shy to ask them to take one with me, thinking they might think I like them. The reason I don't have pictures of my black friends is because I have only known them for a couple of weeks, and it would be weird to just take random pictures of them.

Now, why have I not known blacks sooner than just 2 weeks ago?? Well "sweety," I go to a pre-dominately WHITE college. There are maybe 1 or 2 blacks in all of my classes. They are nice people...BUT...well, picture it this way:

You've been brought up around white kids all your life because your family is...fairly affluent...not only that, your Dad is in the military, and for some reason, there aren't that many blacks in the military- or at least, there weren't when you were growing up. You've learned how to talk like the whites talk because that's all you've been around your whole life. You like white movies, music, etc., because that's what your white friends like....how can you not, when you haven't really heard or seen anything else?

Then, all of a sudden, you're thrust into the middle of a black group. They call you uppity/snobby just because your skin is lighter and your Dad makes more money (only because he chose to go to a military school which he had to work his BUTT off to get into). When really, you just don't know how to relate to the Black culture and you DEFINITELY do not understand ebonics!!

The black world is it's very own little world, and you just don't understand it. You don't like the black music because you've grown up listening to rock from your white friends. You don't like the same actors and actresses because again, you aren't used to it. SO, you just get quiet, insecure, and feel like you don't fit in at all with your own race...so you go back to what you are used to, which is being around whites. Meanwhile, all the blacks label you as snobby. I'm sure you would feel the same if you went to Africa- by no means are you as black as a true, pure-blooded African. Nor would you understand African culture truly unless you lived there.

Or, if that analogy doesn't work for you, try this one:

Imagine how a Hispanic who has been brought up in a white neighborhood among white friends would feel if they went back to Mexico. No, the US is not a separate country- but black culture is sometimes so far removed from the rest of the world, to be suddently immersed in it feels like you are living in a new planet.

I am making more of an effort to have my own "people" for friends. I now go to a predominately black church even though this is really only the 2nd time we have my whole life. To be honest, for awhile, I felt really awkward because again, I don't KNOW Black culture and I feel like an outsider- luckily, the people at my church speak English like most people in America so I haven't had to deal with ebonics.

BUT, I WAS embarrassed the other week when I didn't know the difference between micro braids and twisted braids (which, if you notice my hair, I have never had the need to have it braided, which explains why I don't know the difference- though I've wanted to, but the price seemed ridiculous for something I don't have to have done). And I'm sure I will make even more mistakes as I continue to learn more about my own culture.

There aren't any pictures of my family because for awhile they complained about their pictures being online...however, as soon as I can find one again, I will post a picture despite their complaints. And, I suppose, to further appease you, I will be sure to take pictures of my black "acquaintances (I really can't call them friends because I don't know them that well yet)," and post them soon as well.

BTW, since WHEN does your color of skin determine who your friends should be? I thought your friends are determined by who you like, not the color of your skin. I thought blacks had moved past the whole "let's be segregated" phase back in the 70s...?? Man, you're living in the dark ages girl (no pun intended)!!

And before you go off and say, "OH, she's just a light black that's racist against a dark one-" Not so. My younger brother is probably just as black as you are (I'm guessing your skin tone here, because you have no pictures in your blog- and I'm making this guess based again on how other blacks who are darker than me have acted).

About being Republican- I vote for my MORALS, not my POCKET. I do not support abortion or gay marriages...so I vote Republican. I do not think that today's blacks need to be repaid for slavery which happened hundreds of years ago (unless they are a slave/1st genteration of a slave), so I vote Republican. I do not believe in "woe are we the blacks...poor us...we can't get by on our own, we need Unlce Government to help us out..." so I vote Republican. In fact, the Republican party (Presient Bush was the first person I voted for on the Republican ballot- if there is a Democrat that is more conservative than him, then I will vote Democrat!! But there isn't) is the ONLY race "God will help," because it is the only race which values GOD'S principles more than anything else. If it means I will be a little poorer, but still have my morals and therefore be right before God- so be it. I'd much rather do that than just vote Democrat because that is what blacks are "supposed" to do. In fact, as you can tell from above, I don't do ANYTHING just because that's what we blacks are "supposed to do." You've been listening to Jesse Jackson for WAYYY too long. Use your own brain, think through things, and quit buying his lies.

Oh, and you might be interested to find out my whole entire church (or at least the pastor) are Republicans as well.