Part One
I am multiracial. The blood of African Slaves, Irish, English, French Canadians, and Native Americans run through my veins. I am often mistaken for being from Latin America, India, the Middle East or Southern Europe. This has suited me fine in the past as I considered myself (and still do) first and foremost, a human being. At no time have I ever thought I wish I were “white”, “black” or “whatever”.
The above does not mean that throughout my life I have not been sensitive to the social construct that is “race” however. My racial ambiguity has led me experience many sides of the spectrum. Though never said to me, I know I have been the “black friend” to whites, and the “white friend" minorities. I have been regard as one of the most responsible of people by those who know me, and been regarded warily at the mall by strangers eyes full of suspicion that at any moment I shoplift.
It also works both ways. I see now that I myself have, and no doubt am, guilty of manipulating my ambiguity to my advantage. Most of the time I present an almost race neutral persona to the world, but then turn on my “whiteness”, or “blackness”, or my “whateverness” to help me relate to the world, to put people at ease, to go for that laugh, or just make my own life easier. I see now that it has become something of a habitual survival mechanism to make my life less complicated smoother. I did not set out with some sort of plan. It just happened.
Thanks to this election year however, thanks to Barack Obama, something is happening to me. I have become aware of how as a multiracial person my conduct is not only affecting me but those around me. I must speak up. Even if that means being losing a few admirers. I hope to elaborate on these thoughts throughout the rest of this week.
The above does not mean that throughout my life I have not been sensitive to the social construct that is “race” however. My racial ambiguity has led me experience many sides of the spectrum. Though never said to me, I know I have been the “black friend” to whites, and the “white friend" minorities. I have been regard as one of the most responsible of people by those who know me, and been regarded warily at the mall by strangers eyes full of suspicion that at any moment I shoplift.
It also works both ways. I see now that I myself have, and no doubt am, guilty of manipulating my ambiguity to my advantage. Most of the time I present an almost race neutral persona to the world, but then turn on my “whiteness”, or “blackness”, or my “whateverness” to help me relate to the world, to put people at ease, to go for that laugh, or just make my own life easier. I see now that it has become something of a habitual survival mechanism to make my life less complicated smoother. I did not set out with some sort of plan. It just happened.
Thanks to this election year however, thanks to Barack Obama, something is happening to me. I have become aware of how as a multiracial person my conduct is not only affecting me but those around me. I must speak up. Even if that means being losing a few admirers. I hope to elaborate on these thoughts throughout the rest of this week.