Contrary to the belief that America is a nation built on the ideas of both freedom and liberty, those ideals are still quite controversial today in the 21st century. Every time I think about the United States, I think of home, but I also always think of corruption and contradiction. Why do I think of it as that? Well, seeing as though you and I know the country's past, it is safe to say that today is very different than back then, however, most of the underlying problems still exist. They never faded, they just have a different form. One problem that still exists today is the lack of development in social ignorance. Ignorance plays a huge role in the lack of communication that is the key to acceptance and peace, not only here in the United States, but the entire world. One of the problems we humans naturally possess is ignorance, but what we suffer from the most is close mindedness.
We all have the ability in the world to learn and grow. It’s when a person closes their mind to the feelings and lives of others do they play a huge, negative role within society. They not only hurt others, but they also are hurting themselves. This would be a contradiction. The United States was and is a home to immigrants emigrating from their countries for many different reasons. Why does anyone here in the U.S. feel like they do not belong, then? I wonder why that would even be a problem. In 2016, social economic status plays a huge role in people’s lives. The question here is, why exactly would that matter so much? We are reminded virtually everywhere that race plays a factor in the many issues we face and this is where corruption takes place.
Companies, large and small businesses, and schools are all subject to follow the same law which is suppose to make every person’s life here equal in opportunity and fair in reason, yet social problems still find their way into people’s lives which affect their success, acceptance and overall happiness. Corruption and contradiction are still being figured out to this very day. When someone ignorantly says, “Jeez, wow, they (the colored) are upset about what happened way before their time---(assuming they are referring to slavery in general).” I say, “Really? Way before their time? That’s a huge misleading understatement, seeing as though civil rights occurred in the 1960’s and took time to even make ground in the United States, home to the – free, and even with that in mind, the U.S. is slowly, improving it’s laws one step at a time, starting with the basic human rights example in 2015, for marriage equality."
What does this all have to do with being mixed? For starters, acceptance in this country as you can see is a contradiction for some. What we stand for versus what we do are two very different things. Some of what we can control is corrupt because what we all believe person to person (values and beliefs) can vary. Our jobs, education and acceptance in this world is all then questioned. Acceptance is one ideal that this country absolutely needs to get right in the twenty first century, and racism should be abandoned for good for the sake of those who live within this country. We are all immigrants, with the exception of the natives.
As a mixed individual, I would not even call myself biracial because I am more than that, not symbolically speaking, actually more than that. In fact, I am more than four races. Native American, Dutch, German, African American, Jewish and Portuguese. Do I love being mixed? Absolutely, because I find it so interesting. Do I have times where I feel like I do not belong? YES. Do I ever wish I was one thing? When I was younger I had a hard time figuring out how I would represent myself because everyone was always wondering but have since found out it’s whatever I want. I fully accept and embrace it! Mixed individuals, like myself, are always asked questions regarding what we are because it makes those who are asking more comfortable. It’s nothing to feel uncomfortable about, we are more than our races, there is more to us and we shouldn’t be treated any differently because of our ancestry.
I thought you were black and white, what are you?
Human.
When someone makes up their mind about who and what you are (knowing you are mixed)...
"Us _____ girls have to stick together.”Uh, there are Sicilians darker than I am, are you sure you want to make that wild assumption? Why ask me what I am and then bunch me up with whatever race you decide on?
You’re light skinned.
I don’t know... ask my German grandfather, mother and Smash box about my skin tone. I actually take this very offensively. Why? It's another word to categorize and divide not to mention it is used in an incorrect way. For ex: Calling someone who is Spanish, Mexican. Just because they are Spanish doesn't mean they are automatically Mexican. Just like calling someone who is mixed light skinned is calling them biracial or in some cases a light African American.
When someone doesn’t know how to treat you because they know nothing other than what they are comfortable with.
Your mother’s name is Consuela?
Don’t be intimidated because, I speak proper, fluent English.
When people don’t understand you because of your likes and interests...
Yes, I love indie pop, whats wrong with that? Oh... I’m sorry I didn’t realize I was too dark for that and just too light to listen to hip hop/rap.
You feel differently almost all the time – people see you differently everywhere. Almost everywhere I've been in the world, people have perceived me differently because some are more open minded and aware than others. To anyone who is mixed: hold on for a little longer, you will realize that the world isn't all the same when it comes to accepting even if it seems that way. You will learn to appreciate your uniqueness, just know you're beautiful.
If you are not sure how to approach or speak with someone who is more than one culture, maybe instead of focusing on their appearance so much, ask them something else and get to know them on another level. You would not like if someone constantly approached you and asked you about your ethnicity would you? When someone tells you what they identify themselves as, please respect what they have to say as you would not like if someone told you what you were based off of what they thought. Please treat everyone normally, as you would like to be treated. Be open minded and remember nobody is originally from the U.S. (except the natives), and we all came here for all different, important reasons.
Thank you loves.
