I cannot remember a time that someone, particularly strangers, did NOT ask me "What are you?" As a multiracial individual I know that it is so intriguing as to how I was created. This is especially present in a racially fetishized America. Well guess what folks, I was created like everyone else, some good ole procreation. Now I know that this is common and that people mean no harm out of it. But what particularly bothers me is the "what." First and foremost, I am not a "what," rather, in a more Seussical fashion, I am a "who."

When I was about five years old, I could differentiate between a "white" person and a "black" person. So naturally I asked my mom one day if I was black. Her reply was something that has been one of the greatest influences in my life. She said, "You are not black. You are not white. You are Colette. But if people want to get technical, you are American." Now if you really want to know: my mom is white, Native American, and Middle Eastern, and my dad is African American, Jamaican, Scottish, and Native American. I had to learn this little chain of phrases in order to satisfy the curiosity of society. Why this was so influential was that it turned the emphasis away from what I looked like and onto who I was a an individual.

First and foremost, I am Colette. Colette means "people's victory." I was named after St. Colette, the foundress of the Colettine Poor Clares. She was known for having visions, healing sick children, and praying for a miracle for a mother said to be dying in labor. She was a bold nun that sought truth even when it was difficult. It is said that she knew who the real pope was in a time of two popes. She was powerful in that she was awarded several papal bulls, charters, to found monasteries. She was woman before her time in the early 1400's having had founded 18 monasteries before her passing. As a namesake, she has influenced me to be a strong female leader. At college, I am the captain of the dance team and I am a part of the women's basketball marketing committee. I thrive in leadership roles and work hard to be good leader. I am a devout Catholic. With such a strong namesake, I saw that through God I am capable of accomplishing great things even when the time that I live in is against me. I see that God has made each and everyone of us for a special purpose and finds joy in each and every one of us. I am not black. I am not white. I am Colette.

For many multiracial individuals, there is a "racial shifting" that occurs in most situations. In a recent poll, sociologists have actually found that racial shifting is more common than not in America. When I am around my "black" friends I am the "white" friend and when I am around my "white" friends, I am the "black" friend. I remember hanging out with a friend of mine and their grandmother had called. They answered the phone and said, "Hey I am with Colette, can I call you later?" The grandmother then asked a question and my friend responded, "yeah, the black one." When they got off of the phone I asked what was the black one, and they replied, "Oh, my grandma just knows that I have one black friend and that it is you." I, like most people, was really hurt by this. It made me feel as though, once I was no longer visible, I was simplified down to the "black one." I know that given her age that she probably thought nothing of it, but it did show how my friend referred to me to their family, and it hurt. We went on to have a discussion about it but I could tell that they didn't really see what the big deal was. The racial shifting that has occurred in how people view me has truly shown me that race really doesn't exist unless we let it. So, I have decided that for me it doesn't exist and that I will not refer to myself racially and make it clear to others that I am not black, I am not white, I am Colette.

I am Colette. I get fired up about the smallest things. Even when a situation does not concern me, I can't help but get involved. For example, today I saw a middle school aged boy with his friends hanging on a horizontal pole. As expected, one of the boys fell off face first onto the ground. The boy got right up and seemed fine. His friends started to tease him and rough house after he got up. In a typical Colette fashion, I walked over and told them to "knock it off and to make sure that you tell your mom how you fell in case something is wrong." Onlookers looked at me like I was crazy. I am a little crazy. I get overly excited and passionate about anything! My voice gets louder, I start pacing around and my eyes get a little crazy. I am Colette.

Second, I am an American. I think that this sums me up better than anything. When I have traveled abroad, no one has ever inquired about my skin tone after hearing that I am American. Oddly enough, other nations seem to understand that America is ethnically and racially diverse and that we are all same even if we look a little different. So what makes me identify as American? I believe that I have the right to say whatever I want, whenever I want. I feel that as a nation and as an individual that there is sense duty to defend those that cannot defend themselves. I believe in the freedom to be whomever you want to be and that no one has the right to stop you. I love me some capitalism. I love shopping and having so many different options everywhere I go and having power in my penny. I love summers with country music, slippin' slides, and barbecues. My favorite part of any sporting event is the national anthem. I love American racial diversity and all that each subculture contributes (thanks, Halal Guys). I love that we live in a land of opportunity and if it isn't offered we demand it. I am American.

So yes, I am multiracial. And if you want to be really offensive, you could call me "mulatto". I could give you a string of nationalities and ethnicities that I am derived from, but I won't. Let's start with my name. Next, let's discuss my passions. Then, maybe my dreams. After, MAYBE we can touch on my place on the color wheel. The truth is, I don't believe that ANYONE is their race. And the fact that you have to ask me says that it might not even be a real thing. So let's try to not lead with a race question. Let's try to not judge by race. Let's try to not see race. Race seems, to me, to be such a small facet of the human being that doesn't really matter. So no, you are not black. And no, you are not white. You are you and I feel that it is time that we start to see each other and our selves that way.

Sources:

Racial Shifting-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/201...

St. Colette-

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04099b.htm