Lifestyle July 22, 2019
Being mixed doesn't mean having to choose; It means getting to embrace many cultural backgrounds.
Being a mixed-race person can often raise a question mark when it comes to personal identity. But remember, having a diverse racial background is beautiful. Explore it!
Its been 52 years since the groundbreaking supreme court case, Loving v Virginia, legalized interracial marriage nationwide. Since then, the population of mixed-race people in the United States has been on the rise. In fact, according to a report by the Pew Research Center, the number of multiracial Americans (6.7% of the population) is growing at a rate of three times that of the total US population.
That being said, as a mixed-race person, I have often felt out of place. A common struggle facing the multiracial community is feeling like they don’t resonate with a single racial identity.
I am half Black and half Hispanic. There have been times that I’ve felt like I could never be enough to fit into either group; like there’s an unspoken barrier that separates me from my cultures.
However, over time I have come to realize that the best way to strengthen my sense of self is to fully embrace my racial history. Here are a few ways you can do the same:
A really great first step to learning to embrace your identity is to learn more about your cultures. If you’re not quite sure where to start, a simple google search might teach you more about yourself than you could imagine.
Learn about your cultures’ historical values, fashion, food, music, literature and politics. Dive deep into the struggles your people have faced, and the victories they’ve achieved. Take time to learn about historical figures like authors, musicians, politicians or activists. If you can, learn the language your culture is associated with—or at least the basics. Find out what’s important to your culture, and you might come to find that it’s also important to you.
In addition, you should talk to your family members—particularly those who strongly identify with a given culture. Use the fact that you don’t fully resonate with one culture as an opportunity to learn about the experiences of people that do.
Now that you have some solid background information on your cultures, it’s time to explore. For me, it was valuable to go out and support Black or Hispanic owned businesses. You can also join Facebook groups online and go to community events associated with your culture.
Near my home town, there is an annual Chilie Y Frijoles Festival, where local vendors come together to celebrate the Mexican community through food. I always make a special effort to go and experience my culture through communion. It is also a great opportunity to practice my language skills.
If you can, I would highly suggest you plan a trip to your racial countries of origin. Especially if you want to learn the language.
Even after you know more about yourself and have gotten out into the community, you still might be feeling a little out of place. This is totally understandable—because it’s new. The most important piece of advice I can give you is to embrace the fact that you are mixed-race. While you may sometimes feel like an outsider, being mixed-race is a cultural experience that makes you special and different. There are things about being a fully Black American that I will never understand, and that’s ok. You have to remember that your journey is yours—and it’s beautiful and unique.
Don’t let people get away with misidentifying you. It is a human tendency to categorize so try not to be too hard on people, but don’t be afraid to correct them either.
