growing up biracial in america | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

I Am A Biracial Person Living In A Racist World

Even though the history books say that segregation ended decades ago, it still exists.

462
dad with daughters

To any biracial kids in this still racist world,

My mom is German and Italian and my dad is African American, which makes me an oreo like all of you.

We live in a world that is grouped by many things, and unfortunately race is still one of them. We, thankfully, never had a chance to be racist as we are our own category.

We fit into a category that didn't exist a century ago, especially in America, where for the longest time, people of different races weren't supposed to sit in the same area on bus, use the same bathrooms or water fountains, let alone have children together.

We are multiple races: white, black, asian, hispanic. Basically, we're different in a good way.

But in this world, being different can be awkward, strange and even scary. Trust me, I get it and it's okay to feel this way. I do, and have since I learned that my family wasn't "the norm."

There are days that I sat and cried in my dorm room because I have conflicting opinions in my life, especially regarding race. With Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem "scandal", I knew how I felt.

I knew he was doing it for people who face discrimination because of the color of their skin and I agree with him.

Unfortunately, I grew up with older generations on my mom's side of the family and some used to be against my parent's marriage. The fact that we have to deal with this in our family proves that America is not as accepting as we're made out to be.

I feel like I can't be myself. I can't be both black and white.

If any of you feel this way, I am beyond sorry. I hope to one day live in a world where people don't need to protest, where we can be happy that we have two distinct heritages.

I want to live in a world where people understand that their hair will never be as thick as a mixed girls, where professors don't look at you twice because you answer a question regarding your ethnicity that they don't believe is correct.

I want us to live in a world where we don't have to think about going out in public and seeing people's reactions. This might just be me, but every time I go out in public with my mom, I worry that we will be judged because she's white and I'm not.

I know that I shouldn't, but I can't help it.

Another moment that I struggle with is in history class when the topic turns to slavery or anything relating to civil rights.

I get the stares and the guilt filled looks and I don't know what they expect me to say. Trust me, I know how terrible things were, but people feeling guilty for something they had no control over is not helping anything.

Sometimes I wish that I was either just black or just white, but then I remember that I'm who I am because of my history.

I feel too white around my dad's side of the family and I feel too black around my mom's side of the family, but that's okay.

I'm special and so are you. In fact, we're so special that they had to create an option on standardized tests just for us, people of multiple races.

We might live in a racist world, but everyday that there are more of us, is a day that gets us closer to being how America is portrayed.

It gets us closer to no longer needing our own category. It gets us closer to everyone being classified as people, back to something that hasn't been around in thousands of years.

I hope that we can get there one day and I hope that you and I can witness it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Drake
Hypetrak

1. Nails done hair done everything did / Oh you fancy huh

You're pretty much feeling yourself. New haircut, clothes, shoes, everything. New year, new you, right? You're ready for this semester to kick off.

Keep Reading...Show less
7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf
Stop Hollywood

For those of you who have watched "Gossip Girl" before (and maybe more than just once), you know how important of a character Blair Waldorf is. Without Blair, the show doesn’t have any substance, scheme, or drama. Although the beginning of the show started off with Blair’s best friend Serena returning from boarding school, there just simply is no plot without Blair. With that being said, Blair’s presence in the show in much more complex than that. Her independent and go-getter ways have set an example for "Gossip Girl" fans since the show started and has not ended even years after the show ended. Blair never needed another person to define who she was and she certainly didn’t need a man to do that for her. When she envisioned a goal, she sought after it, and took it. This is why Blair’s demeanor encompasses strong women like her.

Keep Reading...Show less
singing
Cambio

Singing is something I do all day, every day. It doesn't matter where I am or who's around. If I feel like singing, I'm going to. It's probably annoying sometimes, but I don't care -- I love to sing! If I'm not singing, I'm probably humming, sometimes without even realizing it. So as someone who loves to sing, these are some of the feelings and thoughts I have probably almost every day.

Keep Reading...Show less
success
Degrassi.Wikia

Being a college student is one of the most difficult task known to man. Being able to balance your school life, work life and even a social life is a task of greatness. Here's an ode to some of the small victories that mean a lot to us college students.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments