Non-Profit / Volunteering Group

My name is Dani Atkins and I am one of 4 surviving children of Ronald Edward Atkins and Clancyna Marie Atkins. On January 26, 2008 my father was killed in a tragic car accident that took place only 2 minutes away from my home. My parents had been married for 30 years at the time of the accident without separation. As I have been assisting my mother with putting together various lawsuits and claims against several different persons, insurance companies, and even the Los Angeles Police Department regarding several acts of negligence and dishonor surrounding my fathers death, I have come across a disturbing piece of information that I, being a 24 year old African American person am appauled. My father having been born on April 9, 1955, has a birth certificate that identifies his color and race as being "NEGRO." My grandmother, Eloise Marie Harrison having been born on April 4, 1933 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being "NEGRO". My mother, who is still alive, Clancyna Marie Atkins born on September 4, 1956 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being "NEGRO" as well. And I am quite sure there are thousands if not milliions of other African American people dead or alive who have been identified on paper at birth as being "NEGRO" I am absolutely disgusted that the United States of America even in 2009 have not made an attempt to make right this defamation of character in administering all new birth certificates to those who have died as well as those still living to identify these HUMAN PEOPLE with dignity and respect. I am passionately committed to make my fathers name wholly reflect the honorable father, husband, and man that he was and the fact that his life was not even given an opportunity to start before he was branded on United States of America paper as being a "NEGRO" is a disgrace and a shame on America.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MESSAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY SIGNING MY ONLINE PETITION at: http://www.gopetition

that was back then get over it! have you tracked down your ancestory back to africa, to call yourself african american? or is that what you want to be labeled as. should all people in the united states go into saying I'm a irish, dutch, german,ect...,ect....,american.The true american is called an indian.and I think american citizen should be what all americans should go by because all dark people does not come from africa.but some are proud to say it regardless where their ancestors came from

actually, yes I am African! and as to your statement of "get over it" NO! and actually I don't care what you think, i didn't ask for your opinions or thoughts I asked to sign the petition... and if you don't want to then don't, but please do not try and educate me on something you have no idea about...

Dani, I went to the site you put up but I had to do some searching in order to find your petition. You should have put the link to the page to make it easier or the title of your petition. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/birthright.html I went to the link to see what you want in place of Negro for race. What do you want in place African American or do you want it removed altogether, you don’t say. I was born in 1953 and my race says “White” and not Swedish American. Can you see where I’m going with this? You, your mother, your father, may he rest in peace, and I were all born here in America. You’re not African American and I’m not Swedish American correct?

I did not sign the petition because like I said you didn’t leave anything in place of what should happen. Maybe you can revise the petition and say what should be in place. In my opinion the category should be removed altogether. We are of the human race. Why do we need to know anything else?

History can’t be re-written but maybe future birth certificates can be changed. The cost to change millions of birth certificates not to mention man-hours would be astronomical. Revise your petition to show what you want to happen and maybe I’ll sign it then.

I forgot to add that please send me an email if or when you revise it.

Dani I'm so sorry for your lose please do not let these ignorant, insensitive idiots discourage you from who you are and what you believe. They do not understand, because their culture, race, and history was not taken from them. The term African American fits most people of color. Even most Latinos are descendents of Africa. The slave ships stopped at several Caribbean ports, dropped off slaves, and kept traveling. So if you are a black person born in America you're most likely of African descent.

Never get over nor forget what was done to our ancestors. History will repeat itself but it's going to be a bit different this time. If anyone ever tells you to get over it, don't even waste your time engaging in dialogue with such ignorance.

Also, its a fact the origin of mankind started in East Africa.