Zoe Saldana on race:

“I literally run away from people that use words like ethnic. It’s preposterous! To me there is no such thing as people of color cause in reality people aren’t white. Paper is white. People are pink, it’s a bit ridiculous when I have to explain to a human being, that is an adult like I am, that looks intelligent but for some reason I have to question his intelligence and explain to him as if he was a two year old, my composition in order for him to say, ‘Oh I guess I can chill with you, I can work with you.’

I will not underestimate a human being and I will not allow another human being to underestimate me. I feel like as a race, that’s a minute problem against the problems we face just as women versus men, in a world that’s more geared and designed to cater towards the male species.”

— Zoe Saldana

So being referred to as "Black" is an underestimation of what she is or has become... and then, problems "we" face as "women versus men"...
"... minute problem..."

Didn't she grow up in Queens?

What happened to this sister over there?

When you say that race is a social construct does that imply that it is insignificant?
Language can be described as a social construct.
To say that there is no such thing as a black race is actually inaccurate. The terminology of "Black Race" is a description that means that you can be readily defined as having indigenous African roots. While the biology, the genetic classification can be debated, one's family lineage is significant... as significant as being able to see yourself in the face of your children.
After the construction of race as a term to separate Blacks from the rest of society (that is why the other classifications take on different meaning) the descriptions of those that fell under that classification, in an attempt at invalidation, were ridiculous. The cultural practices that have been built based on those attempts ( ie: the biblical curse of Ham, Darwinish classification of Blacks as a lessor evolved species) were just psychological tools of war... and as such, as successful as they were, can never be called ridiculous.
Centuries later that classification "Black Race" is still being distorted and used as a war identifier.
The classification, meaning the defining and separating.. and the subsequent treatment of those that fell under that category, created a culture in response. Culture being another social construct that has existed at the foundation of civilizations for tens of thousands of known historical years.
Therefore Black culture becomes as significant as any "religion"... and therefore lies the danger.
That is what those are on both sides are frightened of and align themselves against. They are afraid of being persecuted by, or for being part of a "religion".
Historically powerful... and dangerous.

Saying race is nonsense becomes just one more tool to dilute that power and invalidate a people, in the same way the Australian aborigines were driven toward extinction.
It is not just how the world sees us and treats us but is as real as any identification of "family"...
... Which I admit can sometimes be ridiculous.

~ grey

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While on spring break in the late nineties, walking along the beach in Zihuatenejo, Mexico, two curious teens approached me and asked, "De dónde eres?" I replied, "Los Estados Unidos." They were puzzled. "Pero, cómo? Tú eres morena!" (Translation: "Where are you from? The United States. But how? You are brown!")

ixtapa bay, zihuatenejo | www.visitmexico.com

our FATHER: young, gifted, black, patriot

The "Multinational Patriot Flag & Blog Series" is dedicated to those international friends who could not believe I was from the U.S. and especially dedicated to my “brown” Canadian friends who I couldn’t believe were from Canada... Ahem… I own mine. We all have work to do...

This series grows from the desire to see American icons used in a way that represents the United States as the melting pot that it is. As several fellow tweeters observed, images of the U.S. flag, bald eagles and the like are often displayed in profiles throughout social media to indicate a specific brand of patriotism. Too often, many of these "patriots" lack an inclusive view of what “American” is. Unfortunately, this restrictive point of view is not limited to social media profiles... As a child, I remember watching my father, who served 20 years in the Air Force, quietly replace our flag each time it was stolen from our porch by our "neighbors." I listened to my mother who taught us to assimilate for success but not be a "typical American." To this day, I am still conflicted when expressing my "patriotism."

We are working on a blog series to explore what it means to be a patriot called "Patriot Survey Says!!!" We would love to hear your stories honoring your personal multinational journeys!