FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET JOANNA THOMPSON

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Joanna Thompson, age 28

 

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

My father is Black, from Washington D.C. His side of the family is mixed with European White and Native American, specifically Iroquois. My mother is Hispanic, from Nicaragua in Central America. Her side is also mixed with Native American, specifically Cherokee.

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

On the north side of Chicago, Illinois in a neighborhood called Lincoln Park.

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Unfortunately, not so much. It is predominately White. I have lived in this neighborhood for about 4 years and have recently noticed a growing Asian population. However, there are very little Blacks and Hispanics.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in Alexandria, Virginia, which is a suburb located in Northern Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C. I lived in Virginia until I was in preschool, at which point my parents moved to Rockville, Maryland, where I was raised. Rockville is another suburb of the Metropolitan Washington D.C. area.

Rockville was a very diverse community. I always joke that I had the “United Nations of Friends” growing up because I knew people from different races, countries, and cultures. I only knew one other mixed kid who clearly identified as such; she is Black and Hispanic like me. Otherwise, I did not know any other mixed kids. However, despite not knowing other mixed kids, race was not much of an issue where I was raised. Not to say life was perfect, but I think because the area was so diverse and we all accepted each other’s differences, race was not really seen as an “issue.”

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

My mom and dad met while working at a Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland. My mom, who had come to the United States from Nicaragua in the 70’s for better opportunities, moved to the northern Virginia area to finish high school and eventually get a good job. My dad was also hoping for the same, as he was preparing for community college and a career himself. In the early 80’s, my grandma (my dad’s mom) was working at said Marriott when she happened to hire my mom and dad around the same time. After meeting and chatting a few times at work, they began a courtship.

It’s kind of funny how they started talking because my mom actually lied about her age to my dad when they first started seeing each other. My parents are 10 years apart, with my mom being older than than my dad. At the time they were dating, my mom was 29 while my dad was 18. My mom told my dad she was around 23, but eventually came clean when she realized how much she liked him. Even with the large age gap, my dad had fallen for her too and they have been happily married for 34 years.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Yes, race played a big role on both sides of the family for my mom and dad. On my dad’s side, there was criticism from older members of the family because he was dating/eventually chose to marry a “foreigner.” He was scolded for not marrying a Black woman and my mom was interrogated quite a bit by members of my dad’s family in order to understand just what her intentions for being with my dad were. The issue of age also played into this due to the large age gap between them.

On my mom’s side, there was always the notion the children of the family would marry someone who identifies as White. My mom is the second youngest of 13 brothers and sisters and many of her siblings who were dating/married before her were in relationships with White males/females. For her family, White = wealth. After growing up in poor conditions in Nicaragua, they believed in “The American Dream” and a part of that meant starting families with wealthy, White individuals. When my mom told her brothers and sisters she was in love with a Black man, she was immediately shunned from the family. To this day, communication with her siblings is rare because they never really respected her choice. The only person who did was her mother, who was loving of all people no matter who they were. Unfortunately, she passed away shortly after I was born.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

My dad’s side has been much more supportive of my being mixed compared to my mother’s side. I think this is due to two main reasons. First, as previously mentioned, my dad’s extended family is mixed. My great grandmother on my dad’s side is White, of European descent, so many of my aunts and uncles are mixed Black/White. In addition, many family members have married other races; therefore, having the mixedness apparent on my dad’s side of the family is nothing new. Mixed-race is a part of the norm and it is very apparent given we have a gradient of skin colors on that side, from dark to light.

On my mom’s side; however, it is a different story. Even though my mom’s side believed in marrying outside of their race (i.e. marrying individuals who identify as White), the mix is not as apparent, and if anything, they seem to only appreciate a White/Hispanic mix. The fact that I am Black/Hispanic, to them, means I have been tainted, a child of the “One Drop Rule.” As previously mentioned, my mom does not have much contact with her family because she married a Black man. Even now at the age of 28, I have had minimal contact with her side of the family myself because they do not really recognize me as a part of their family due to my racial mix.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

Yes, I am fortunate to have had parents who raised me to be proud of both sides of my racial makeup. My dad never considered himself to be African-American, even though he knows his background definitely has roots in Africa, so I have never had any African cultural traditions like that from him or his side of the family. If anything, his culture, being from Washington D.C. consisted of social traditions that have been passed on. For example, he raised me to be a lover of sports. From football to hockey and everything in between, that is something we have always shared together as a family.

On my mom’s side, there are a bit more specific cultural traditions she has shared. My mom cooks delicious Spanish food, like Arroz con Pollo (chicken with rice) and handmade tortillas. Being in the kitchen with her, watching her cook, and trying to learn to do it myself have been a tradition in my household. One tradition both of my parents’ share is their love of music. Again, this may be considered more sociocultural than strictly cultural, but it is a part of the traditions my parents and I have come to share. I grew up listening to funk music from my dad and Juan Luis Guerra from my mom and being surrounded by their eclectic tastes in music helped me to learn more about my parents, where they are from, and what matters most to them. Plus, listening to Spanish music really helped me learn the language!

As I continue to think of family traditions, one tradition we actually created is putting up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving Day. My mom is a devoted Catholic. My dad was not as religious before meeting my mom but has since become very strong with his sense of faith. The Christmas tree tradition is a mixture of my parents’ beliefs, helping to display their strong sense of family and God. Even the year or two I have not made it it home for Thanksgiving, due to school or work, I have always made sure to put up my Christmas tree on Thanksgiving Day, while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course!

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

Yes, my mom speaks Spanish fluently, so I would always hear Spanish throughout the house, and still do to this day. Even though my parents have been married for 34 years, my dad does not speak it, he just knows the basics and can comprehend some things! And unfortunately, I am not as fluent with my Spanish speaking either. I grew up speaking English in almost every facet of my life, so my Spanish is a bit shaky. However, I can understand it well and can read and write it fairly well. I am guilty of always responding to my mom in English whenever she would speak to me in Spanish, which probably did not help much! But again, being raised in a suburb where English was so dominant, I never really gave in to using my Spanish...and I still respond in English when my mom speaks to me in Spanish to this day!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

From my mom’s side, I definitely enjoy the food! And it is a love for Latin food in general, not just delicacies from Nicaragua. I am thankful that many common ingredients like carne asada or plantains are featured in dishes from many different Latin countries. I also highly appreciate Spanish music/pop culture. I grew up watching Telenovelas (soap operas) with my mom and as I previously mentioned, listening to Spanish music. These are things I still do today and appreciate very much. Spanish food and music are definitely two things that have helped me feel more connected to my Hispanic side. Although I am not as religious as my mom, I do appreciate what I have learned about God and religion from my mom’s strong Catholic background.

From my dad’s side, even though there are not many specific cultural things connected to his background, again, I definitely enjoy the more of sociocultural background he has. I am very close with my dad’s side of the family and I think it is because we all appreciate the time we spend together as a family. Despite ups and downs, which come with any family, we have always managed to be there for for each other when it comes to family functions, dinners, and outings. One of my older cousins on my dad’s side, DJ, is like a brother to me. I am thankful I am able to just hang out with my dad’s side of my family and maintain that cultural importance of family.

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

Growing up, and even to this day, my parents never let me forget that I am mixed. And in doing so, both of my parents made sure that I would be proud to be both Black and Hispanic. They never wanted me to feel like I had to choose or feel like I am half and half, but rather a set of two whole races and cultures. My dad always said that because we live in America, I will always be seen as Black first, but that should never dim my Hispanic side. Even though I do not speak Spanish much, my parents always make sure I am using it at some point throughout my days so I would not lose it and not lose my pride in that part of my culture. And both of my parents have always told me stories/shown me pictures of their childhood experiences, being open and honest with me about where they come from so I could understand my roots.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

YES! Race was and always has been a topic of conversation in my household. On the one hand, my parents and I always get many a confused look when we travel together; people who are unsure what is going on between us and whether we are all really related or not. This always stems a conversation between us, which usually consists of a few laugh as we analyze what those confused looks may have have meant. In addition, as I have progressed through higher education, I am always talking to my parents about race and racism to bounce ideas off of them and to simply engage in some good conversation! On the other hand, for my extended family on my dad’s side, skin color and colorism have always been a heated topic. Despite racial mixing on my dad’s side of the family, there is a lot of tension between those who are dark and those who are light. There have been many comments made in regards to colorism in the family, along with its intersection with class and how certain family members are treated/treat others. Then again, being from the DC area, race and politics are always talked about, so I think my family just has it in their genes to get into discussions and debates about race!

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I identify as mixed-race/mixed/multiracial. I do not necessarily consider myself biracial because even though I am predominantly Black/Hispanic, I do have Native American and White blood in me, so I feel more multi- than bi-, haha!

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

Even though I have dated individuals of different races, race does play a minor role in who I choose to date. Sometimes, I feel like my eye is drawn to people of color or people who are visibly mixed. It’s as though I feel I will connect more with a person of color because they will understand the highs and lows of what it means to be a person of color in today’s world. Not to say a person who identifies as White will not, but sometimes I just feel like I will find it a bit easier to engage in those hard social conversations with a person of color. However, as someone who is currently on the dating market, I am definitely open to dating people of all races and racial mixes because in the end, connecting with a person takes into account more than just their race!

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

Being mixed to me, as cliche as it may sounds, means that I have the best of multiple worlds. I have Black, Hispanic, White, and Native American blood flowing through my veins and that means a lot to me. I think it makes me a beautifully layered person. It gives me strength and confidence to know that I am literally, multidimensional and an intersection of society and history. I do not give into the “tragic mulatto” stereotype because I do not think being mixed is a tragedy, I think being mixed is great! Do not get me wrong, I have struggled with feeling like I will never be “Black enough” or “Hispanic enough,” but I think as I get older, I realize that I am indeed more than enough.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

I do not have a lot of childhood friends who are mixed, but fortunately, I am lucky to have made new mixed friends throughout my graduate school career, mostly from when I travel for conferences. I do not get to see these people everyday, but I am thankful to communicate with them about mixed-race issues. From them, I have learned different perspectives of the lived mixed-race experience because their mixes are different from mine. Therefore, their ups and downs based on their racial backgrounds have been interesting to compare and contrast with mine. In addition, having a network of mixed friends has given me an outlet to vent, and have them vent to me, about things that happen in pop culture regarding mixed-race or challenges of being mixed-race in academia, since many of my mixed-race friends are also in grad school as well.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

One comment I have been tired of hearing recently is that “mixed-race people do not count.” From the speech Jesse Williams gave at the BET Awards a few months ago to San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kapernick protesting the National Anthem, mixed-race individuals have once again been put into a corner where they have to either choose a side or just be denied by both sides. Mixed-race people count, all sides of their racial mix, whatever that racial mix may be. Mixed-race people are not confused or unaware of who they are. It’s beyond time for people who are not mixed-race need to recognize that and accept it.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

I am a very optimistic person and I have a very utopian vision for the future of America in regards to race. I honestly hope that one day, the issue of race will no longer be an issue. I think one day we will all be racially mixed to some degree and at that point, we should not have to worry about racial differences and classifications because being mixed-race/multiracial will simply be the norm. And hopefully from this, racial violence will eventually decrease or cease to exist. Again, a very utopian dream, but I do hope it comes true someday!

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

I am a Ph.D. Candidate and instructor in the Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I teach an undergraduate course on criminal justice organizations. I received my MA from the Department of Criminology, Law, and Justice at UIC in 2012. Before coming to UIC, I received my BA in Criminology and Investigations with a minor in Professional Writing and Editing from West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. My research interests include further understanding the formation and perception of biracial identity theory and interracial relationships, focusing on critical mixed-race studies to emphasize the intersections between mixed-race identity and interpersonal victimization. My dissertation study examines bullying related victimization of mixed-race identified college students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

You can learn even more about Joanna HERE, and also on social media: FB // IG // LINKEDIN // SNAPCHAT @jotothejo00

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WHY SELF-IDENTIFYING AS MULTIRACIAL IS STILL NEW AND NOT AUTOMATIC FOR ME

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I grew up in New York City during the 1960s and 70s. Although I grew up in a very racially, ethnically and culturally diverse area—which included several interracial families—it wasn’t the norm to raise kids in that time period to self-identify as more than one race.

Although nobody specifically said so, all of us multiracial / Biracial kids were living according to the one-drop rule. For many of us, my family included, this had to do with which parent’s race was more discriminated against.

In my particular case, and I know I am hardly unique, my father’s father disowned my father for marrying my mother. I never met my grandmother or my father’s father. I saw my father’s brother and his family no more than a dozen times while I was growing up. My mother was an only child whose parents died before I was born and so the tragedy is that while I had grandparents living, one of them refused to meet his grandchildren and the other was too scared to try and have a relationship with her grandchildren.

This compounded my parents’ decision to raise us to self-identify as Black.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Why do I know? Because it’s been expressed to me eleven million times over the nearly half century I have been alive. “Girl, have you looked in the mirror? Do you realize you don’t look Black?” Some have even gone so far as to say, “girl, you ain’t really Black.”

But I am. And I am White and I am also Japanese.

My mother was Black and Japanese and growing up she had a hell of a time in upstate New York. As one of the two “colored” families in her small town that had a heavy KKK presence, my mother and grandparents were accustomed to having rocks thrown their window and crosses burned on their front lawn.

It was bad enough that my maternal grandmother was colored, but for my mother to have had a Japanese father both before and during World War II, oh my poor mother! She had two friends, and both were not so surprisingly the daughters of the other colored family in town, who, as it happened, lived upstairs from my mother.

My father had a whole other set of circumstances growing up. He grew up about 75 miles north of my mother in a town with many German, Dutch and Irish immigrants. My father’s father was German and my paternal grandmother was Dutch and Irish.

I am not sure there is a word to describe how my father’s father felt about people who weren’t White, Catholic and straight. Hate might not be quite strong enough. I’ll say this, he really hoped Adolf Hitler had been successful at exterminating all the Jews, Gays and Gypsies. And I mean all. And when Hitler was done with them, if he’d have just rounded up all the Asians, Muslims, Indians, Pakistanis, etc. etc., people who spoke Spanish and anyone with a hint of African in them, then in his view, the world would have been a better place.

He threw around the term Aryan frequently.

His reaction to my father marrying someone who wasn’t White was pretty predictable. My brothers and I were branded the criminal mistakes. My paternal grandmother wanted to meet us, but she was too fearful of him to go against him.

So had there even been a term for multiracial back then, my parents would still have chosen to raise us to self-identify as Black.

(If you’d like to read my entire story, it is part of an anthology of essays of people from around the world who are either Biracial / multiracial or the parents of multiracial kids I co-authored called Being Biracial: Where Our Secret Worlds Collide.)

As I grew up and dated and eventually moved out of my parents’ home to explore life as an adult, things had apparently begun shifting and people whose parents were different races were starting to embrace terms to indicate this. I missed this boat, you see.

I moved through the world continuing to self-identify as Black and responding to folks who questioned my insistence on aligning myself with a race of people who looked so different from myself.

And as all multiracial people have expressed (even if only to themselves), dating for the multiracial person is a serious challenge. Imagine for someone like me who was light, bright and clearly half White but who self-identified as Black. I really didn’t do myself any favors because what was typically considered Black back then: musical tastes, dressing a certain way and adopting a certain vernacular, I was so out of my league. None of me conforms to anything—White, Black or Japanese. My brothers and I were raised to appreciate music, art and culture from all over the world and not to allow arbitrary, unimportant and what society deems as the “usual” descriptors to define us.

What made me Black wasn’t something just seen on the outside but more importantly the history—good, bad, ugly and brutal—of our people, culture and awareness of how people who lack color treat those with color. This, in my opinion is what defines Blackness, not the ones that can change as we grow older and have new tastes.

And believe me when I say other folks tripped over this while I didn’t pay it any mind. Why should I?

White men were intimidated by me. They usually made the assumption I was militant because I didn’t (and still don’t) have to self-identify as Black … and they wouldn’t have been too far off the mark. I was pretty militant in my early 20s and I still am.

Asian men didn’t know what to make of me. Most assumed I was Puerto Rican and expected me to be some kind of bizarre combination of Chita Rivera, JLO and Rosie Perez.

Black men have always been able to pick up on the fact that I am a sistah, but this comes with its own problems. Many brothers I met were colorstruck and didn’t date me for me but because I was light complected and I could give them light babies with “good hair.”

I didn’t know the term for it then, but if I were dating today, I’d be quick to slam them for fetishizing me.

I dated a few Hispanic men and this was problematic too because there are hangovers from Spanish colonialization about color. Not unlike those that exist within the Black community due to slavery and miscegenation, in many Hispanic and Latino cultures, fair skin and straight hair are preferred. I think I was supposed to keep my mouth shut with their mothers because they were very happy to believe I was Puerto Rican (which I look) but when I explained that I am Black with some Japanese and White, things didn’t go so well after that.

And so dating was always challenging. My first boyfriend, who was Japanese and Jewish (Orthodox) had very racist parents. While they were pleased I was part Japanese, the Black part wasn’t so cool with them. His mother used to tell me I should go date my own kind. I explained that the only men I ever met who were my own kind were my brothers and there are laws against this.

She didn’t like my sarcasm. I was banished from her home. I never dated a Japanese or a Jewish person again.

When I was tired of guys assuming I was too militant, too strong, too into this or that to be Black, or of them fetishizing me or dating me so they could piss off someone, I decided to stop dating any more Black, Hispanic, Asian or White men again.

Well, talk about a challenge now because unless I had made the decision to date someone who was more than one race, I was kind of sh*t out of luck, wasn’t I?

It was fortunate for me that at the point I was ready to give up and join and convent, I met Paul.

Black on both sides, whose parents were of very different complexions, Paul’s family spans the color wheel just like mine. Raised to appreciate culture from all corners of the globe, loves science, the one word I use to describe Paul is Paul. He can’t be put into a box and this was by design. His parents didn’t put their kids into any box.

Paul never fetishized me. He also never questioned how I self-identified. What has always been important to him is that I can form an opinion about things, that I am not a sheep, that I am independent from him and see him as a partner. That we have the same political and ideological views is a huge a bonus for us both.

And so when people ask about the glue the holds Paul and me together and why we hit it off so quickly, this is it.

Through working on the Being Biracial book with my co-author Bryony (who’s White and married to a Black man), we came in contact with contributors from all over the world who embraced these terms I had never used before: Biracial, Multiracial and Mixed Race.

Yeah, I need to get out more.

Regardless of age, most all of them self-identified as multiracial or those who had kids were raising their kids as mixed race. It was so different from how I was raised. Through writing my own essay and doing lots of soul searching, I began exploring the idea of accepting that I am multiracial. It was foreign to me but yet it made sense because when I held true to my Black identity, I wasn’t always accepted and was often expected to show my credentials before I could enter conversations.

Shortly after the book was published in September 2015, Bryony and I met a man who interviewed people in the multiracial community about their experiences. When Alex Barnett interviewed the two of us and I would say I had mostly accepted or perhaps embraced the fact that I was multiracial, although depending on the situation, I can easily morph back into self-identifying as Black.

I am not sure who approached whom, I believe it was Alex who approached me but the next thing I knew we were talking about creating this platform of artistic expression for the multiracial community and on March 23, 2016 Multiracial Media was born.

The more I have become part of the multiracial community the more acceptance I feel and the more at home I feel—with my tribe. However, I will always vacillate between self-identifying as Black and multiracial.

The cool thing is that while I am going through a bit of an identity crisis, Paul hasn’t changed how he feels about me. I am still ostensibly the same person. My views about life, treatment of PoC, racism, etc. haven’t changed, even if I waffle at times about who I am on the inside.

I am not sure exactly where I am today. I have been a full-fledged member of the multiracial community for over a year and I have never felt so much immediate acceptance. I think that’s probably enough, isn’t it? 

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET CARLA COOK

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Carla Cook, age 38

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Mexican and Black

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Northwest Indiana

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Yes

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. It’s diverse by Midwest standards but not NYC diverse. Growing up there was one other family that was mixed.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

My parents met in 7th grade and dated throughout school. They were married during Spring Break of their senior year in high school. In March they will celebrate their 40th anniversary.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Yes, although my parents dated throughout school my maternal grandparents were unaware of their relationship. My mom got pregnant her senior year and when my grandparents found out that not only was she pregnant but pregnant by a black guy she was kicked out of the house. A few weeks later they were married and eventually everyone came around and things worked out.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING BIRACIAL?

Overall, yes I believe they have always supported and accepted us. There have been times when comments were made that I wasn’t “black enough” and my hair has always been an issue.  On my mom’s side I have always felt accepted by my family that actually lives in Mexico-it’s the Mexican American cousins that have, at times, made comments or treated me differently…

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

Lots of traditions especially related to food. Yes, my father’s side always had black eyed peas and gumbo for New Years Eve. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners were always a huge production-tables loaded with food, family prayer and games after dinner.

My mother’s side is much larger and we get together much more often. Every Sunday my 93 year old Wella makes pancakes for the entire family (22ppl). We also make tamales at Christmas and have family cookout every warm weekend in the summer.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

Spanish was spoken in my home while growing up and although we all understand Spanish, I choose to speak very little.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

Food is by far my favorite if I could combine Mexican and Soul food I would buy a food truck. Music is also one of my faves, my playlist would make anyone dance -best of both worlds :)

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

I believe my parents attempted to raise us to be colorblind. It was society that made us look at ourselves differently. To this day when I’m out with my mom if I call “mom” we still cause attention. LOL

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Never, my parents never discussed race at all. It wasn’t until I went to middle school that I realized that I was different.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I identify as being mixed, BLAXICAN.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

No I’ve dated different races of men

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

It’s the best of both worlds.

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DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

No

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

YES!! What are you? What are you mixed with? Is your hair real? Why do you talk white?

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

Just take a moment and realize we are so much more alike than we are different.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

Mixed chicks do it better!

You can follow Carla on Instagram

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WHY I WANT MY NEPHEW TO BE COLORBLIND

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Over the past year as I’ve been growing and adjusting to becoming a Tia/Aunt, me and my sister have been having an increasing amount of conversation regarding my nephew’s mixed upbringing and how we want that to be different from our own. Even though he’s Mexican, Black, and Puerto Rican, his genetic make-up leans more towards his Puerto Rican heritage in regards to pigmentation and skin color. He has fairer skin, amass of dark hair starting to curl, and racially complex features. From a general standpoint he does look mixed, but for the purposes of his upbringing we want him to accept the rainbow of genetics representing all three of his cultures.

He may grow up seeing my sister, my father, and myself and try to reconcile that visual color difference that separates us. My sister who experienced this many times growing up mentioned recently how she’s happy that she visually represents our Black side more because she wants my nephew to know “this is part of you too.” I find that beautiful that she’s empowered and embraces her darker skin tone and refuses to let that detract the way he sees people or his family growing up. As I’ve become more knowledgeable and educated about the multiracial community, colorism, and how to create impactful conversation for mixed race children, I understand how vital it is he’s supported, accepted, and taught early on he doesn’t need to feel inferior because “he doesn’t look like us.”

As his first birthday approaches I look forward to gifting him with the “My Family Builders,” set that will help stimulate and support his understanding of mixed race families. I may have not grown up looking like either parent, but I never experienced the type of fear or worry my sister did because to her she only looked like one predominant race. I never had anyone question or challenge me being mixed in that sense based off of skin color alone, and I’m happy she wants to use her own experience to build my nephew’s self-esteem and understanding of his mixed self. 

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET CHRISTINA JONES

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Christina Jones, age 26 

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Black and Native American.

 My black side is from my biological father’s side. I don’t know anything about him, but I know his family resides in the south. And my Native American side comes from my mother’s side. She is full blooded Navajo Indian and our tribe is one of the largest living Native American tribes in North America. She’s from Shiprock, N.M., which is where I grew up on the Navajo reservation as a small child.

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Colorado Springs, CO

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Yes, there are a lot of military bases here so it’s pretty diverse.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I’m from Texas, but I grew up on the Navajo Reservation until I was about 8 years old. I was pretty much the “black sheep” in a community full of Native Americans. There were no other mixed kids I could identify with, but when I moved to Killeen, TX with my mom it was a different story. I had a major culture shock and I had a really hard time adjusting to the “city life”.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

They met when my mom was in the Army I guess, she never told me about my biological father and I never dared to ask.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

I don’t know.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING BIRACIAL?

I was told that when I was a baby my great grandmother on my mother’s side didn’t approve of me, because I wasn’t full blooded Native American, but as soon as I was placed in her arms she started crying and smiling. My extended family since then has always supported me in every way possible.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

As a small child on the reservation I celebrated everything that was to be celebrated traditionally. My grandfather was a medicine man so he was always hosting peyote meetings, and I had the pleasure of helping my grandparents prepare for it. Even though I probably got in the way most of the time, I still enjoyed every minute of it. I didn’t know much about my black side until I moved to Texas, but even then my step-father never really taught me anything about black culture. The only thing I knew about was the food he would cook, and the rest of my black culture I learned from my black friends at school.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

Yes, my grandparents and other elders in my family on my mother’s side spoke Navajo. I remember my great grandmother trying to teach me Navajo, because she didn’t speak or understand English at all, but I was too shy to repeat anything. (I wish I wouldn’t have been too shy to learn from her.) I picked up a few words and phrases as a young child, but my mom doesn’t speak Navajo so I lost the few words and phrases I knew once I spent a few years in Texas.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

What I enjoy most about my cultural background is that I get to celebrate two cultures that have similar struggles and backgrounds as far as American history goes. I love and I’m proud that I’m made up of two beautiful ethnicities that survived against all odds. On my black side, I love the food!! Soul food is everything and more! It’s comfort food, and the feeling of togetherness all wrapped in one. I also love how black culture influences people all over the world from our music, to our fashion, and the way we talk. It’s mind-blowing to see how black culture influences everyone and everything and plays a major role in today's society.

On my native side, I can’t tell you how in love I am with my culture. It was my first identity, kind of like your first love but in a different way. My grandparents and aunts and uncles taught me so much about my culture while I was growing up on the reservation. Even though I can’t speak or understand Navajo, I always feel a sense of pride and love when I hear my grandfather speaking Navajo. His voice is the most beautiful and soothing thing on earth when you sit and listen to the words he speaks. I also love our native regalia, our jewelry, and the beautiful artwork that Navajo artists create in order to keep our culture alive. I love our strength has a Nation, and our sense of pride for our ancestors who have passed on. I love that we have a strong connection with Mother Earth and a profound spiritual connection to life and all living things. Most of all, I love that I come from a background full of warriors. My great grandfather was a Navajo Code Talker during WWII, my grandfather was a soldier who fought in the Vietnam War, my mom was in the Army, and my uncle was in the Marine Corps following in their footsteps I decided to join the Marine Corps right after high school. The Navajo Nation is a nation full of military heroes, you just won’t hear about us, because we’re not your typical “American heroes”.

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

My mom would tell stories every now and then about her childhood and what it was like growing up on the reservation and going to boarding school.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Not really, I had a very different childhood than most normal children growing up. There was never really a conversation about race or anything like that.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I identify with being black and Native American, I think when you just say you’re mixed it takes away from who you really are as an individual. It gives people a chance to assume things about you, or what you’re mixed with when I can just tell you and we can get over the awkward guessing game.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

Not really, but I’ve always dated black men or black men who were mixed with something else. I’m dating a black and Native American man right now, and we’ve been together for 4 years.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

Being mixed to me means that I have the privilege of celebrating different two cultures and bringing them together.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

I have friends that come from many different backgrounds, I've learned that people who grow up in different environments have their own outlook on certain races, but when you educate them and show them that whatever stereotype they know isn’t true they tend to change their outlook. I’ve also learned to respect many different cultures and what they believe in, even though it seems like we’re all different we’re really all the same in so many ways.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

Some of my biggest pet peeves are people who tell you that “you talk too proper/white”, “you’re not like other black people”, the most annoying question used to be “are you the Indian with the dot on your forehead or the one that dances around the fire?” after I got tired of this question I stopped using the word “Indian” and started using the term Native American.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

I wish that everyone would realize that we are all one, we all breath the same air, and we all want the same things out of life; to be successful, and have a happy and fulfilling life.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

I am a Marine Corps veteran who’s currently in school getting a bachelor’s degree in small business and entrepreneurship, I have 2 more classes left until I graduate! I also have a small candle business called Chicks Love Candles, I make candles at home and sell them online or at craft shows. I hope to have a candle shop within the next 2 years!

You can follow Christina on her personal Instagram.

You can also follow her company, Chicks Love Candles, on Instagram and Facebook.

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Multiracial #WCW: Devon Aoki

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So I was watching Fergie’s video MILF (#goals, btw) and noticed Devon Aoki in the video.  I didn’t even know the woman had a kid, so I went down the rabbit hole of what is the Internet and caught up on this beautiful girl’s life.

A little background, I first saw Devon Aoki on the cover of Vegas magazine on one of my first visits in the early 2000s.  She was a tiny thing with almond eyes, blonde hair, and full, heart-shaped lips that sloped downwards.  On this particular cover, I think her freckles weren’t covered up.  She was a doll.  Seriously, she looked like a porcelain doll I had when I was a child.  I was totally intrigued and wanted to know her background.  This was before “googling” was a thing (can you believe it?), so I had to actually read the article.

Devon Aoki’s father, Hiroaki Aoki, is Japanese and the founder of Benihana.  Her mother is Pamela Hilburger, a woman of German and English lineage.  Devon began modeling at 13 and was the face of Versace at 16.  She moved on from modeling to acting.  Most people probably remember her from 2 Fast 2 Furious, but the only movie I’ve seen her in is D.E.B.S.

Aoki is all grown up now.  She’s married and has three (THREE!!!) kids.  She is still just as beautiful and adorable and her three kids definitely have the pretty gene.  She is totally a MILF – Mom I’d Like to Follow… Get your head out of the gutter…

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET CARALIE MARIS WEGENG

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Caralie Maris Wegeng; 21 years old

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Asian: Filipino

White: German and Irish (as far as I know)

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Westwood Village, Los Angeles, CA / Santa Clarita, CA

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Currently, I’m attending UCLA; both the students and faculty are racially and ethnically diverse, however Asian and White people seem to make up the majority. Santa Clarita while having some variety is predominantly White.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I grew up and lived in a few different places. My early childhood was spent in the San Fernando Valley which was diverse, although I was around mostly Latinos (more so Mexican) and Filipinos. Since this was so early on in my life, I cannot recall being around mixed kids. I’m sure there were mixed kids; I was just probably unaware.

I also lived in a suburb in St. Louis, MO which had very little racial and ethnic diversity. There were maybe a handful of mixed kids, but our mixed identities were never part of the conversation. After 5 years in St. Louis, I moved to Austin, TX which is predominantly White and Latino (Again, mostly Mexican. Side note: The Mexican culture between LA and Austin are very different in certain ways which I found to be interesting). Because Austin is such an eccentric and free-spirited city, living there was what first sparked deeper thoughts of my racial and ethnic identity. Sometimes, I was the token Asian girl in various groups at school which was a weird experience for me since I didn’t have a strong identification with being Asian.

Although I didn’t become the best of friends with most of the mixed people I knew, I definitely felt a sense of solace and community knowing they were there (especially mixed Asian people).

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

They were introduced through mutual friends.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Both sides were accepting of the ethnic differences. Although, one of my mother’s sisters was not very fond of my father in the beginning because he was in the Navy.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

Yes. It has never been a negative experience in my family life.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

Somewhat. There isn’t really a specific culture we engage in on my father’s side. On my mother’s side, we will have family parties with my Filipino side since we live near them. Every once in awhile, we will see extended family on my Filipino side which means greeting a lot of our elders in the traditional Filipino way by taking the person’s hand (who we are greeting) and lightly touching it to our own forehead. I can’t recall anything else specific at the moment, but family gatherings are usually a medley of both sides.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

English and Tagalog. Only my mother speaks Tagalog; my siblings and I unfortunately cannot.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

The food is wonderful and can win over anyone’s heart. I don’t eat much Filipino food these days since I am vegan. I have grown a special love for Filipino desserts as many of them are vegan friendly (Thank goodness for coconut and rice!).  

The Philippines also has a lot of beautiful traditional clothing having influences from Spain and some from pre-Spanish colonization (more jewelry and accessories; minimal clothing -- very tribal looking). I also love the many traditional dances of the Philippines. They’re super entertaining! Especially Tinikling which is the Filipino bamboo dance. Watch some videos online if you’re unfamiliar. It’s great!

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

Nothing really. Mostly just food and talking about our ethnic mixture to bring awareness to it, but nothing specific.  

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Not very often. I think and talk about it much more often ever since I entered college.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

Yes. Sometimes multiracial/multiethnic, Filipino and American, Asian and White. Depends on the situation or form I’m filling out.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

Not at all. I’ve dated people of various racial backgrounds - mixed and not mixed.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

To me being mixed means getting to enjoy and embrace multiple racial and ethnic identities that are so important to me. Although a big part of this does include the struggle of balancing these identities. Being mixed is a constant learning experience. For the entirety of my life, I feel like I will always keep learning about my mixed heritage, especially about my place in society as a mixed person and how I will keep adapting to that role as society changes.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED? 

Ever since I joined UCLA’s Mixed Student Union, many mixed people have become my close friends. From them I’ve learned how varied the experiences of mixed people can be. At the same time, many of us share very similar experiences regarding our mixed identities even though most of us come from different ethnic backgrounds. Most importantly, they’ve given me reassurance that I don’t have to choose a side nor do I have to let others categorize me in such a way.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

You don’t look Asian.

Filipino isn’t even Asian.

I thought you were White.

I thought you were Mexican.

Filipinos are like the Mexicans or Blacks of Asia.

Is your mom a nurse?

Your dad must’ve had yellow fever.

Oh, you’re only half though so you don’t really count.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

For people to not be judged (underestimated, overestimated), discriminated against, or be afforded certain privileges because of their race.  

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

Instagram: @vulvarine_666

Twitter: @kegatron94

Facebook: Caralie Wegeng

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VIDEO REVIEW: MTV DECODED'S 7 MYTHS ABOUT CULTURAL APPROPRIATION DEBUNKED

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I can’t remember the last time I watched anything on MTV. I don’t have cable anymore, so it’s not really even an option and I kind of forgot that the channel even existed (do they even have music videos anymore?!). Oddly enough, I came across an MTV produced video on Facebook a few days ago with an interesting title. “Are cracker, redneck, and white trash racist?” I was immediately intrigued and watched the 5-minute video. The video is part of MTV’s Decoded series, which is a weekly series on MTV News, hosted by Franchesca Ramsey. Franchesca covers topics such as, race, pop culture and “other uncomfortable things” according to the shows YouTube page.

After I watched the first video, I was left wondering what this series was about and if they had more videos. I then spent the better part of my afternoon watching them all. Oops! Although I didn’t exactly get much done that afternoon, I do think I learned a few things, so it definitely wasn’t a waste of time. Of all the videos I watched, “7 Myths About Cultural Appropriation Debunked” stood out to me the most. This is likely because this topic has been a hot button issue as of late and also because it’s a topic that has intrigued me for a long time. I’ve had many conversations with friends and family about it and have done my best to try to explain why dressing in Native American garb or as a rapper and painting your face brown for Halloween was inappropriate and disrespectful. While I’ve always stuck to my guns, I haven’t always been able to precisely articulate why doing these things is disrespectful.

After watching the MTV video though, I came away with a little better understanding of cultural appropriation and I feel that I can better explain to others. It seems as though the issue comes up at least once a week in the media and, based on the conversations the media coverage causes, there is still a lot of misunderstanding. If you’re anything like me, you like to be able to articulate yourself well and be knowledgeable about topics before you enter into conversation or debate about said topics. As far as cultural appropriation goes, this video is a really great one to use to bolster your confidence and to show others who might actually believe some or all of the myths they discuss.

Cultural appropriation is really only part of the overall conversation about race in the United States. If we can find better ways to explain and understand these pieces of the puzzle though, I think we can eventually affect true change.

I encourage anyone and everyone to watch this video as well as the others MTV has created. I’m not sure what else you can watch on MTV these days, but I’m glad that someone over there thought these videos were a good idea.  

After all, knowledge is power.

Here’s the Cultural Appropriation Video. Enjoy!

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MISS JAPAN IS HAPA (AGAIN)!

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I think it so awesome that this year's Miss Japan is once again biracial! Priyanka Yoshikawa is 1/2 Japanese and 1/2 Indian, and she's just stunning! How beautiful and wonderful that Miss Japan is mixed! Sadly, there is a lot of hate going around on social media about Miss Japan not being Japanese enough to represent.

3% of Japan is mixed. I feel that just because you are a blend doesn't make you any less of something. In my opinion if you were born and raised within a culture that ultimately makes you that. Perhaps it is just a very Americanized view of mine. I was born and raised in the U.S. I think of myself as an American regardless of my ethnic background! Plus she is 1/2 Japanese! She speaks Japanese, she is Japanese.

"There was a time as a kid when I was confused about my identity," she said. "But I've lived in Japan so long now I feel Japanese."

It is so sad that many of the Japanese people think Priyanka Yoshikawa is not fit to be Miss Japan. People have called her a "terrorist", "Arab", and "Arab terrorist". The same disgusting backlash happened to her predecessor Ariana Miyamoto, who is half black. Even though some of the Japanese people are being closed-minded it's nice to see that the people who judge Miss Japan are not, and give this title based on ability and not "pureness". 

Times have changed friends. Pretty soon there won't be anyone that can deem themselves "pure", and that makes me happy! 

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SWIRL KITCHEN: BING BOX SNOW CREAM, EAST VILLAGE

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In my quest to find authentic Hawaiian Snow Cones in NYC my bestie Carol took me to Bing Box in the East Village. Sadly not Hawaiian shaved ice but dare I say just as good? Granted it has been several years since my last vacay in Hawaii.

Bing Box is a modern take on Korean shaved ice or bingsu, and I love it! I’ve been twice now. They use low-fat milk for their shaved ice.

My first time eating a Bing Box my friend Kavin and I split: Mango, Lychee, Vanilla Wafers and Condensed milk.

So refreshing and light! Perfect for a hot summers day!

Carol ordered: Tarro, Vanilla Wafers, M&M’s and Nutella.

Dewey got the Sesame Bing Box: Milk, Sesame Powder, Red Bean, Mochi, Almond Flakes, and Condensed Milk.

My second time around I made a Bing Box out of Strawberry, Mochi, Lychee, and Condensed milk. Isn’t it pretty!?

Warren ordered the Taro Bing Box: Taro, Strawberries, Caramel Popcorn, and Condensed Milk.

This is a great spot for dessert in NYC! Hope they make it through the winter and competing against Snow Days. Both spots have very similar deserts. I’ll let you guess which is my favorite!

For more info check our their website.

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET KHELSEY JUHRAE PENA

Enjoy getting to know Khelsey! We're super excited that she is not only featured, but is also our newest contributing blogger! Welcome to the Swirl Nation Blog Khelsey!

xx jen 

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Khelsey Juhrae PENA, age 23

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Italian, Dominican & African American

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

New York City

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

VERY!

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I am originally from NYC and I am still currently here. I grew up in the South Bronx, a very diverse community. Full of Latinos, African Americans, Europeans & Asians. I was also raised down in Atlanta & Richmond during my summers growing up. So I’ve been around a bunch of diversity since I was a child.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

My parent’s met  through  another  relative  of  mine.  They were all high school friends and they just pursued their marriage after 6 years of dating.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Not really.  My  biological father  was incarcerated a few months after I was born, so that put a major hold on their marriage. My mom later divorced him. She then met my sister’s father, who is Cuban.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

I never really knew my extended family. I was only raised with the Italian side of my family. I was around my stepfather’s side growing up, so a bunch of Latino’s.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

I did not have certain traditions with my Italian side of the family. We were a normal catholic family who celebrated holidays like normal people did.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

English, Italian and Spanish

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

I love food in general, but I did love baked ziti a lot growing up! Haha. Though jazz and soul come from the African American side of my family, I grew up enjoying it. I was big on blues!

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

My grandmother raised me. She made it clear to me to understand about different ethnicities and the different cultures in our blood.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

I didn’t honestly.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

I get identified as mixed most of the time or people will just assume I am Latina.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE? OR IF YOU HAVE A PARTNER WHAT RACE ARE THEY?

I am open to different races when it comes to dating. I’ve never been biased or judgmental based on anyone's background. My partner is Puerto Rican and Black.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

I think being mixed has its own way of expressing itself. I think to me, it’s a beautiful thing. So many cultures & blood lines running through my little body.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED? IF SO WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THEM?

I have a ton of friends who are from different countries actually. I love to get into their beliefs and thoughts towards racism. One of my best friends growing up was actually Cambodian. So growing up with her, I was aware of the standards, beliefs, culture & religion they had set for their children. I’m into learning more about a person and how they grew up living. I think you learn more about yourself, when you learn more about others.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

I really get bugged when someone makes a statement about my hair texture being “less” nappier or if it’s actually my hair. Not everyone has a coarse texture to their hair, which totally annoys me. Not every mixed woman wears a weave, which is totally rude and obnoxious.

Also, I’ll have people ask me “what’s my ethnicity”, and I’ll get into detail… They are totally like at lost for words. “You don’t even look Italian. Your complexion yes, but maybe if you had a slimmer nose or colored eyes..” Just total NONSENSE!

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

I honestly just hope that Americans can learn to accept one another, not for their skin color or assets. That’s our biggest default in this country. So much hatred is being shown. Gentrification is a big part of racism as well. People can look at my father, who owns a house upstate, and automatically assume “he’s no good for this town.” I just wish people learned to stop casting judgments on those who don’t always deserve it. Get to know others before you belittle them. “Love one another, as I have loved you”.

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INTERRACIAL ROYAL FAMILY

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I finally finished all seasons of Downton Abbey.  I am both happy and sad it ended, but I’m already on to my next binge-worthy obsession: Stranger Things.  What I loved about Downton is the juxtaposition between the service class and the aristocracy and how that changed over the course of time.  There was one story line over two episodes that dealt with interracial love, and I love the creators of Downton for taking that chance.  Other than that, we hardly saw any person of color in the whole series.  This made me think: have things changed since the late 1800s regarding the aristocracy and race?  Although there is evidence of biracial, illegitimate children of royals – the Prince of Monaco’s biracial son with a flight attendant comes to mind – you do not hear much about biracial royal families in the modern age.  Only one royal family, that I know of, has broken this barrier: The Royal Family of Liechtenstein. 

The family is very private, but this is what I could find out about the family.  Prince Nikolaus Maria of Liechtenstein is the second son of Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie.  He married Angela Gisela Brown, now Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, a fashion designer of Afro-Panamanian descent in January 2000. The marriage obtained prior consent and had full support of the groom’s family.  Being that there are very few royal families left in Europe, some people were not fans of bringing a non-royal into the elite class; however, other Royals welcomed the change. They have a son together, Prince Alfons Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein, born on May 18, 2001 and he is in line to the throne.

Prince Alfons was such an adorable little boy.  He should be 15 years old now, but I couldn’t find any recent photos of him.  This is the most current photo, a compilation of the Royal Families of Liechtenstein:

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SWIRL KITCHEN: Kappo Honda – Fountain Valley, CA

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One of my go to places to eat when I’m home in Cali is Kappo Honda in Fountain Valley. This is probably my favorite place to eat when I come home (besides In N Out). Kappo Honda serves up delicious Japanese comfort food, something I have yet to find in NYC.

We started with two different skewers: Beef tongue and Chicken Skin. 

Beef tongue can be so tender, just like pot roast. This was a bit chewier, but the flavor was wonderful.

I mean how can you go wrong with crispy chicken skin?

Mixed Tsukemono

We also ordered:

Mixed Tsukemono, I love me some Japanese pickled veggies.

Tarakasu – AKA butterfish

Melt in your mouth like butter. Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion serves this up and both are equally good, (one is just more expensive than the other… Guess which one?)

Tarakasu – AKA butterfish

• Sesame Chicken, Crispy fried chicken goodness.
• Nasu Miso – Stewed Eggplant in Miso with ground beef. This is my favorite way to eat eggplant. It’s so savory.
• Yaki Onigiri with Ume (salty plum). I love rice balls, especially grilled rice balls. Comfort food.
• Braised Pork Belly with Spinach and Mustard. This pork belly is fall apart tender. The broth is light and the spinach really brings a nice balance to the whole dish.
• Chawan Mushi. It’s a savory hot egg custard. Very light in flavor and the texture is like soft tofu.

• Cold Soba – buckwheat noodles. Perfect for a hot summer day

Look at the side eye my grandmama gave me for eating pork. She should talk, she will eat bacon.

I know a lot of the food might seem a bit crazy for those that have never had it. Try it. I bet you’ll love it.

For more info please visit their website.

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET MAYA WILLIAMS

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Maya Williams, age 20

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Mother’s Side: West African (African American) descent, German descent, Scotts-Irish descent, and Cherokee descent. [My grandmother has West African and Cherokee descent and my grandfather has German and Scotts-Irish descent]

Father’s Side: African American descent, Scotts-Irish descent, and Chickahominy descent. [My grandmother has African American, Scotts-Irish, and Chickahominy descent and my grandfather had African American descent]

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

North Carolina

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

On the surface, no. If you look harder, it’s there, just not a lot of diversity.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I grew up in Ft. Washington, Maryland, which is twenty minutes away from D.C. and an hour away from Baltimore. At the age of nine, I moved to Manassas, Virginia. At the age of eleven, I moved back to Ft. Washington. At the age of twelve, I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. At the age of fifteen, I moved to Greensboro, North Carolina. At the age of seventeen, I moved to Greenville, North Carolina to attend East Carolina University. I am in my senior year in my undergrad now.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

My father and my uncle were best friends, and my uncle was dating my aunt at the time. He and my father picked my mother up from college, and that is how my parents first met.

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View fullsize

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

My mother identifies as mixed race, and my father does not. There was obviously no trouble with in-laws getting along. However, there was the form of tension as far as how they identify goes. They divorced when I was five, not for that reason, more tensions that had nothing to do with that.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

My mom’s side has been more supportive than my dad’s side. My dad’s side has been coming along since seeing my work online about how I identify. However, my mom’s side has still been the more supportive side.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

My mom's side of the family has a lot of mixed traditions as far as hanging out with one another goes. Also, my mom grew up overseas, so there are some things that she remembers from living in Brazil that she includes in family traditions, especially when birthdays come around, and she would sing the regular happy birthday song, the Stevie Wonder version, and Happy Birthday in Portuguese. My dad's side of the family has a lot of traditions as far as prayer and unity goes, especially drawing from traditional African American Baptist culture. 

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

I enjoy relating to a significant amount of people in my family, even though it was difficult to at first, growing up. I enjoy being able to relate to a variety of groups of people as far as my background goes: mixed race people, black people, white people.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?Oh, absolutely. Especially with being raised primarily by a mixed race mother, it makes sense that race was a topic in our house, and that all of us, my three siblings included, identify as mixed race most of the time.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

The greatest thing about multiracial fluidity, is that I can be comfortable with however I want to identify day to day. Most days, I identify as mixed race, multiracial, sometimes biracial, or as black and multiracial. There are a few days when I identify as black. I don’t identify as white often, that’s happened a couple of times. That might change, we’ll see. I acknowledge that I have Native American heritage, but I don’t identify as Native American.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

Not really. In my life I have dated white men and mixed race men, but I didn’t forcefully “choose” to date them, if that makes sense.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

It means that I am a whole person with many fully whole parts. It means that I don’t have to place myself in a binary or in one particular box. It means speaking up whenever I feel “othered” and when people in my life feel that way too. It means embracing every part of my family with open arms. It means loving myself.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

More so now than when I was younger.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

“Race doesn’t matter to me because I’m colorblind.”

“God is spirit, therefore, God is colorblind.”

“Stop talking about race, no one cares.”

“That’s not where our focus is right now.”

“Oh, God’s not calling me to that right now.”

“You only identify as black when it’s convenient for you.”

“Stop pretending to be black.”

“Stop pretending to be mixed.”

“I don’t see you as [fill in the blank].”

“Maybe people would listen to you if you weren’t so angry.”

“Do you hate your white side with everything going on right now?”

“We’re all mixed, right?”

“This isn’t a race issue, it’s a people issue.”

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

That we don’t have rep sweat when it comes to our entertainment. That we don’t continue to marginalize people because of their race. That systematic oppression ceases.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

I am studying Social Work and English at East Carolina University. I am a coach for the Interfaith Youth Core, a non-profit that focuses on interfaith cooperation in higher education. I am an editorial fellow for The Tempest (follow us on Twitter and Instagram @WeAreTheTempest), a diverse online forum for millennial women. I have contributed my work to forums such as AltFem Magazine, Black Girl Nerds, Mixed Race Daily, and The Black Sheep Articles. I have been featured in the 100% Mixed Show’s #Mixstory, the Mixed Remixed Festival, and my university’s #ECUWithoutMe campaign to talk about my racial identity. I have been published at my university in Expressions Magazine for two issues, Rebel57, and the research magazine The Lookout. I am applying for graduate school. I have interned with the Creative Aging Network, Hillside Missions, and The Black Sheep Articles. You can follow me @emmdubb16 on Twitter and Instagram, and you can follow my blog flighty101.wordpress.com. Thank you for the opportunity! Thank you for sharing our stories! 

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HAPA SHAMING

Slut shaming but Hapa shaming…” -Carol Angeli

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Image is from the Hapa Project

If you are mixed you probably know exactly what my friend is talking about. Being shamed for being your unique genetic makeup.

*Just a disclaimer, I HATE slut shaming. Girls (and boys) you be you and be proud of your sexuality!

Sounds ridiculous right? People actually try and make you feel bad and less than a person because you happen to not be full (insert ethnicity here). Maybe it’s not intentional, but whatever the reason it hurts and pisses me off.

As a Hapa, I have felt like I have had to prove something. That I AM Asian enough that I AM white enough. I know for a fact I am not alone in this. I have had way too many conversations with my fellow Hapa tribe about, as Carol so perfectly put it, “Hapa Shaming”.

You’re probably gonna be surprised to learn that this comes from all sides. I grew up in a Jewish Household, so I really wasn’t in touch with my Japanese side. Especially when it came to food because let’s be real, most of that yummy goodness is considered “unclean” by orthodox Jewish standards.
When Asian friends found out I didn’t know what something was they would act horrified. “How can you not known what this is?! You’re Asian!” Or better yet they’d tell me I was a “Bad Asian” because I hold my chopsticks like a peasant, thanks, dad. To which I would always respond with “guys, I was raised by Jews”. As if I had to apologize and make up an excuse because I wasn’t Asian enough.

Over the following weeks, I want to share stories with you about my friend’s experiences. Whether it’s about how casting labels them or how people feel they can tell us exactly what we look like whether we are that ethnicity or not. How our own people have judged and deemed us not worthy to represent them.

It has taken me a long time (and I am still working on it) to accept me for me. I’m not just some “exotic” chick. I am so much more than that. My friends are more than that. We Are Human. Treat us as such.

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#NoMakeup

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I am a huge fan of Alicia Keys right now. Not only did she kill it at the DNC but she has also started a revolution of her own. I’m talking about her no longer wearing any makeup, the #NoMakeUp campaign.

It might sound trivial and of no importance, because I mean really who cares if a celebrity is wearing makeup or not? There’s a lot that’s going on in this world that, yes, is way more important. However, her message speaks volumes to women everywhere.

Ms. Keys is basically sticking it to the man, and she’s sticking it to him good. Her protest of sans makeup is giving women everywhere liberating freedom from hours and money spent on applying their face. Myself included. As an actor I strive for perfection, I want to look my best – and I’m not gonna lie I have always enjoyed trying out new cosmetics. It’s fun. My face is a canvas upon which I can express my inner conscious. Am I feeling edgy today? Or more playful? Depending on my mood I can create an image to fit it. Or depending upon the audition or show I can make myself appear more “Ethnic” or “White”. But this gets so tiring. Why should I have to conform to society or the entertainment industry? Why can’t I just be me?

Alicia Keys recently wrote an essay on her process to get to #NoMakeup on Lenny, and I have to say it’s pretty damn brilliant. She states “I hope to God it’s a revolution”. I believe it is. You have given women the courage everywhere to say “No”. No, I will not conform. No, I do not need makeup to be considered beautiful. This is me and if you don’t like it you can suck it!

I encourage women everywhere to embrace the #NoMakeUp. I’m not saying you have to do it every day but try it out! It’s liberating and your skin will probably thank you for the break. Beauty is skin deep. You don’t need airbrushed perfection to be beautiful because you are beautiful. Embrace your inner goddess, embrace yourself.

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET ILSA LEVINE NORMAN

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Ilsa Levine Norman, age 26

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

Mother’s side: 1/4 Japanese, 1/8 Irish, 1/8 Welsh

Father’s side: Jewish so Hungarian, Russian, Spanish

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Los Angeles

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Yes

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

Until I was 14 I grew up in Marin County, a suburb of San Francisco. It was somewhat diverse – a high Jewish population. I didn’t realize Jews were a minority until moving to Texas. At 14 I moved to Dallas, TX with my family. The community there was much less diverse than Marin. I remember being told very explicitly that I wasn’t white by a boyfriend’s family member.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

They met working a corporate job in Los Angeles.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Both of my parents were outsiders in their own spheres growing up. I think that’s part of the reason they connected initially. Both of them experienced a ton of prejudice in different ways. My maternal grandfather had some warming up to do to his new son-in-law but ended up really liking him.   

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL/BIRACIAL?

No. When my maternal grandfather married a Japanese woman all of his kids came out looking pretty different from their cousins. They were much darker and had different features. Our little side of the family were initially considered very much the black sheep. All the grandkids now are proud of our multi-racial background. 

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

No – both of my parents lost a ton of traditions when they were growing up.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

Food! Japanese food is the best. I love some of the Jewish traditions as well. We didn’t celebrate them as a family but we’d sometimes go over to extended family or friends places for Friday night Shabbat dinner. The Jewish culture is so wonderful about prioritizing family and relationships. I’m thankful for that.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Not really

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

Mixed brown race

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

It hasn’t. I have dated men from all different backgrounds. My husband is white and I’m excited to see our mixed babies!

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

There’s no category I fit into. I think it can also mean that I’m unique and have to create celebrations for a different kind of background.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

I have friends from all different backgrounds. Celebrating people for race other unique attributes is always a good thing.

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ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

Ha – this happens less and less but as I kid everyone just asked me if I was Mexican. Americans have a tendency to group all brown skinned people into one race. We should probably consider other cultures with darker skin as well.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

Celebrating uniqueness and not using race as a way to group people, label people, or isolate people.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

At the end of the day – we are the most judgmental of people who seem distant. I love that about this blog because we get to hear the stories of people from all different backgrounds. While there are many unique traits in all of us – I hope these kinds of platforms also show us how similar we are. We are humans and our deepest and most basic need is connection and relationship. Would we get to know the people who seem scary or different and realize the humanity in us all. My hope is that we can learn to love people and realize we are not that different.

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You can learn more about Ilsa on her website. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram!

FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET ELIZABETH CARROLL

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Elizabeth Carroll, age 60

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

50% Japanese, 20% Welsh, Mixed - American Indian, Irish, Russian

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE? 

Texas

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE? 

Yes

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I grew up in Griffith, Indiana, a non-diverse (all white) south Chicago suburb. There were no other mixed kids to identify with, in fact I was bullied for my mixed race, called the N-word and actually was put in the hospital with a concussion because the bullying became physical. Being identifiably but non-specifically mixed was really hard because there wasn’t a group that organically accepted me. A lot of the white kids ostracized me, and the next closest racial connection was with the Latinas. Unfortunately, the Latinas wanted nothing to do with me and in fact threatened to kick my ass if I didn’t steer clear of them.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET? 

During the Korean war, my father was stationed in Japan and my mom worked at the military PX. Interestingly, my parents did not speak a common language when they got married. When my mom finally became fluent in English, boy was my dad surprised with what she had to say!

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Different languages, races, countries, family hostility toward the Japanese. My dad’s mom was extremely racist against my mom and unfortunately, because my grandmother had spent all of my Dad’s military pay, he had to reenlist for six months and left my mom alone with my grandmother. She describes this as total hell and humiliation and borderline abuse.

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL? 

No. While nothing was said to me directly, my uncle, who married a Mexican woman was trash talked for having married outside the white race. My Mexican cousins were always marginalized in the family.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

No, the Asian culture values American assimilation.  So much so that my mother, Miyako Araki, changed into Judy and started smoking cigarettes as an attempt to fit in.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

No. The only Japanese that was spoken in our home was some slang and some food terms. I remember asking my mom one time how to say “mikan”, (Japanese for tangerine) in Japanese and got a big laugh. I remember reading Shogun as an adult in being amazed at how little I knew about the Japanese culture.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

Food, physical characteristics

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS? 

None

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP? 

No, but there was a lot of race bashing in my household. I remember having a little dustup with my dad when I was in the seventh grade. He said something derogatory about a race, and I said to him,” how can you talk like that when you are in a mixed race marriage and your children all look like Mexicans?”  That didn’t go over so well.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE? 

Mixed brown race

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE? OR IF YOU HAVE A PARTNER WHAT RACE ARE THEY? 

No, my husband is white and before me he never dated anything other than fair skinned, blonde haired, blue-eyed women. This pushed a lot of my buttons and I brought to light my racial wounding. The good news is that we now have a Marriage Boot Camp drill called “hot buttons” to help others dig out their hidden wounds.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU? 

That I don’t fit in

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

No, but I have Black and Hispanic friends who have a beautiful sense of racial self-esteem.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

My biggest pet peeve is the victimism that we are seeing in our culture today. Too many pity parties about racial injustice and not enough solution oriented cultural healing.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE? 

Color blind, character matters, race does not. Pretty much everything Martin Luther King said.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE? 

We need to value our racial heritage, revel in the beauty and refuse to identify in any negative way, especially as victims. While victimization is very real, identifying as a victim- victimism, is a toxic barrier to having a fulfilling life and fulfilling relationships. Please check out a talk that I gave at Remington College, which gives a full autobiography of my story.

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You can check out more information on Elizabeth's work on Marriage Boot Camp HERE and HERE.

And you can follow her on social media: Twitter  / Instagram / YouTube / Website

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FREDI WASHINGTON

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“To prove I don’t buy white superiority I chose to be a Negro.”  -- Fredi Washington

Before I moved to Germany in first grade, I fondly remember going to my Grandma’s house after school and watching old movies with her.  The routine was always the same: walk to Grandma’s house from the bus stop, watch the afternoon movie (always a classic), change into play clothes and either pester the dog – Spike – or my Shetland Pony named Star Dust (or get in to some other shenanigans a six-year-old can get in to on a farm).  Every weekday, it was the same until we moved.  I credit my Grandma for instilling in me my love of old movies and the current romanticism I have in owning a farm.

Old movies – the glamour, the costumes – I love how everyone seems to break out in song and dance (tap dancing, even) at the same time in a dreamy choreographic number.  I love when people are introduced and they say, “charmed I’m sure”.  What does that even mean? I don’t know, but I love it.  What I don’t like about old movies: the shortage of minority roles and the typecasting that went to the few available roles for minorities.  At one time in my life, I seriously wanted to be an actress and I always thought, I love this period movie, but I would obviously be cast as the slave…no fancy ball gown and wig for me. Womp, womp.  I can’t deny, I love a good classic – Mildred Pierce, Gone with the Wind, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  The first two movies employed the same stereotypical black characters: slow and simple; or sassy – all servants or slaves.  The last movie employed a white person, Mickey Rooney, playing an Asian man, horribly, again, degradingly having an atrocious overbite, eating with chopsticks and complaining about Western ways.  Although I love these movies, these characters remind me of the really bad roles available for minority actors and actresses during that time. 

One movie I remember watching as a child was Imitation of Life, the 1934 version.  Being that the movie was made in 1934, I assumed the lead character, Peola, was a white actress portraying a light-skinned black woman trying to pass.  I mean, Mickey Rooney was portraying an Asian man in the 1960s, so why not?  It turns out, Fredi Washington, the actress, was black.  Gasp.  Now, Mrs. Washington was actually one of those unapologetically black actresses that took part in the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights movement.  After learning this, I had to dig deeper.

Fredericka Washington was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1903, the eldest daughter of five children.   Her mother died when she was eleven and she was forced to help take care of her younger siblings.  Her father remarried and the family moved up to New York during the Great Migration.  She began as a chorus girl in Harlem, even dating Duke Ellington and becoming friends with Josephine Baker.  She made the rounds in early Black movies before landing her most memorable role in Imitation of Life in 1934.  Fredi was born very fair with light brown hair and bluish-grey eyes, many people at the time thought she was Caucasian.  Many Hollywood executives asked her to “pass” as white to get better opportunities and roles, but she didn’t.  When asked why, she answered, “Because I’m honest, firstly, and secondly, you don’t have to be white to be good.  I’ve spent most of my life trying to prove to those who think otherwise… I am a Negro and I am proud of it.”  Imitation of Life was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture that year, but it did not win.

Fredi Washington went on to form the Negro Actors Guild in 1937, an organization that fought against stereotyping and advocated for broader roles for Blacks.  Fredi, herself, had trouble finding roles – too light for “black” roles; and miscegenation laws prohibiting her from being cast with a white leading man.  Fredi became a theatre writer and a film consultant on 1953’s Carmen Jones (another favorite of mine) and Porgy and Bess.  When asked again why she didn’t “pass” to get better opportunities, she replied, “You see I’m a mighty proud gal and I can’t for the life of me, find any valid reason why anyone should lie about their origin or anything else for that matter.  Frankly, I do not ascribe to the stupid theory of white supremacy and to try to hide the fact that I am a Negro for economic or any other reasons, if I do I would be agreeing to be a Negro makes me inferior and that I have swallowed whole hog all of the propaganda dished out by our fascist-minded white citizens.”

In 1975, Fredi Washington was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.  She died in 1994. 

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FEATURED MULTIRACIAL INDIVIDUAL: MEET STACEY E. BRYAN

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Stacey E. Bryan, I’m in a phase where I don’t talk about age! I explain a little more at the end of this interview.

WHAT MIX ARE YOU?

White: Austrian; Mediterranean: Greek. Creole black; some Native American (not sure which tribe) and white (not sure from where).

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Burbank, California

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

Much more diverse than it used to be. Burbank is where Johnny Carson had his show and Bette Davis used to live. That old-school Hollywood population has dwindled, making way for many other types.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Oakland until I was around 5. Oakland was definitely more diverse than the San Fernando Valley where we moved to when I was 6. The new neighborhood was not diverse in the least. I think it was 95% white. My family was the only black family living there. I say black because although I’m mixed, I was adopted into a black family. That’s why the information I have about my Creole black half is spotty. Most of the kids in the L.A. neighborhood were nice, but my brother and I did not really fit in.

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

I will have double answers in some of these, due to my adoption. My adoptive parents, who are black, met in San Francisco when they were teenagers, through mutual friends. My biological parents met at Berkeley while they were going to school.

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

The initial obstacle lay with my biological parents. Apart from their youth, I think the other primary reason I was given up for adoption was because I was mixed race and my biological mother didn’t receive the support from her family that she otherwise would have received. 

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

I fit into my adoptive extended family seamlessly, because although they’re black, they’re also very mixed. It wouldn’t have mattered if they weren’t mixed or didn’t look mixed, like my parents; I was fully accepted and loved as if I were their blood.

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?

Since my adoptive family was black, what I remember most was we ate lots of soul food: greens and grits and black-eyed peas, and jambalaya, etc. I don’t remember any particular traditions or cultural events taking place.

When I met my biological mother, she introduced me to Greek food, which I had never had before. Her father was Greek and her mother was Austrian.

WERE THERE MULTIPLE LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

No foreign languages were spoken.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

Since food is the most vivid memory, I have to say I enjoyed that the most. I remember a lot of smooth jazz and the blues playing during parties, so that’s a very fond memory. There were no overt religious beliefs that I can recall, although my adoptive father is a strict Catholic. Nobody in the extended family seemed to be very religious. But then again, they were all on my mother’s side from San Francisco, and my father was from Boston. It seems like the San Fran folks were all sort of Avant-garde while Dad’s Boston side were more God-fearing!

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS? 

My brother and I had a set of books as children concerning various historical figures like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King. My mother took us to see plays like A Chorus Line and Raisin In the Sun equally. I don’t remember her doing anything special to *teach* me about white people. Maybe she thought we were already surrounded by white people (in our neighborhood) had white friends, went to school with white people, and learned about mostly white people in history and other school topics already. So *being white* and what it meant to be white wasn’t a mystery.

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

Race did come up fairly often because my brother and I were often in settings where we were the only ones of our kind; he was a black kid at a Catholic school, and I was a mixed kid at the same school. Kids used to call him Oreo. Later when my hair grew longer, kids said I had “witch hair.” My parents’ overall message was that people were just people but that some people looked at skin color more than others. We were supposed to “ignore the ignorant.” But, of course, it wasn’t always easy to do. My mother thought that, in the future, when everyone “looked like me” racism would be greatly diminished.

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

This is a funny question for me, because I started out from childhood through my 20s saying I was black. That’s who had raised me, and that’s who I identified with. I distinctly remember being in first grade, in the Catholic school where they called my brother an Oreo, and somehow another girl and I started talking about my grandmother, and I recall proudly saying, “My grandmother is from Africa.” My grandmother wasn’t from Africa, not directly, at least, but I said it almost as if daring the girl to refute it somehow. By the time I was through my 20s, I had gotten so many confused looks and was so sick of explaining myself, I started saying I was “half black.” I realized years later that I was saying “half black,” and not “half white,” too, because of buried resentment against my white biological mother who gave me away. Nowadays I just say I’m mixed race.

DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE?

When I was dating, the last thing I looked at was race. I’ve gone out with every color under the sun. My husband (who is very *private* and didn’t want any pictures of him included, unfortunately) is Latino. His parents are from the Dominican Republic. His skin tone is much darker than mine. In fact, when I first met him, I thought he was black. But I knew he was mixed with something. I just had no idea what.

WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

Being mixed to me simply means that two people whose DNA manifested in them in different ways got together and had a child. It makes it harder for people to put a label on me, but it also causes confusion. But in the end it makes me feel very connected to the world, having DNA that comes from so many different places. I think most people who have been in America for a long time are mixed, even if it isn’t readily apparent, or they don’t know it. It’s too bad that they don’t know it, or accept it, because our country would be a very different place.

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED?

I’ve had a few mixed friends, two of whom were a half-Filipina woman and a half-Japanese man. The interesting difference between them was the half-Filipina woman was happy with who she was and how the world saw her. The half-Japanese man identified with being viewed as a minority and acknowledged the oppression and alienation that so readily can come from that. Maybe it had to do with the woman being female and pretty and not having the same concerns as an ethnic male. Ethnic women aren’t under the same pressures as ethnic men in our society. But I do think it’s a form of denial if an ethnic person believes they are completely free from those pressures.

ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

I feel like people who haven’t lived on a day-to-day basis under the kind of stress that comes with being constantly judged and often treated a certain way by appearance alone usually respond with denial, rationalizations, and out-right misdirected anger. That constant, repeated response annoys me to no end, but I know it comes largely out of a lack of real, goal-oriented, educated discussion. There are old hurts and long-held angers on both sides. I also am wounded by black women who make contemptuous faces at either me or my husband when we’re out together, obviously concluding that either I’m white or my husband only likes like-skinned women.  The irony in this position is that my husband was not accepted at all by the black community he grew up in in East New York. In fact, girls that were attracted to him, upon discovering that he was Latino, would then reject him. Often kids would chant, “Rice and beans, rice and beans,” in order to get under his skin. So the black women who appear to be annoyed at what they see as a cliché of a black man with a white woman are annoyed with an illusion, because he’s not even what they traditionally go for. But all of it’s an illusion, anyway. Holding on to the same old thoughts, feelings, and ideas have gotten us nowhere and will continue to get us nowhere.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

Like I said above, my mother thought that if everyone got mixed enough and it was harder to stick labels on folks that racism would diminish greatly. But I’ve had discussions with people who believe the “paper bag rule” will just come into effect. So as the population gets more and more mixed, the new level of undesired status will become “anyone who’s darker than a paper bag” and on like that. So I’m not sure what the answer is, as long as a certain trend of thought continues. The trend has to be destroyed so that healing can begin. I guess my dream is for people to start thinking out of the box where race is concerned. Staying in the box is keeping us all prisoner.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE?

I’m very passionate about this topic, as you can see. I’m a writer, and I’ve addressed this issue sporadically, but probably not enough, and not in a really big way. I actually just had a book come out in June. It’s a paranormal comedy called Day for Night, and although I’m proud of it for what it is, part of me wishes I’d written the next “Invisible Man,” or something equally as weighty. However, even though it’s a comedy involving aliens and vampires, my main character, Rae, is a mixed woman (who’s also facing ageism and never says her age out loud, something I’ve adopted in real life for the time being) and I do talk about race here and there throughout the novel.

Well, the story takes place in Los Angeles, so it would be impossible not to mention race relations! I’m hopeful for the future, though. I do believe people would rather get along than war against one another. I do believe mutual understanding and compassion will come. But it’ll take time and, I think, some creativity.

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You can follow Stacey on her Facebook Author Page / Goodreads / Website / Twitter