I am biracial, ask me anything.

[Anonymous]

To Asian OP, do you self-identify as white or asian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biracial people really can't catch a break. I look white or hispanic even though I'm black and white. When I say I'm black or go to black events, people give me the side eye and act like I'm intruding. But if I had just gone about my business and didn't talk about being black, people would think I was trying to "pass."

I am the first black/white poster, and I agree with the sentiment of this post. Although I look more AA than anything else and was raised to identify with the AA community, there is no one "right" way for biracial people to identify themselves. I find it very frustrating when society steps in and tells us how we should identify ourselves. The whole "Why does Obama say he's black when he's biracial," line of thinking is really annoying to me. It is hard to be undefined in a society rather obsessed with racial classification - if you're biracial, when you find a way that works for you, you go with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biracial people really can't catch a break. I look white or hispanic even though I'm black and white. When I say I'm black or go to black events, people give me the side eye and act like I'm intruding. But if I had just gone about my business and didn't talk about being black, people would think I was trying to "pass."

I think that it is really that the majority of black/white biracial people have chosen to self-identify as black. Possibly due to the way many look- President Obama, Halle Berry, etc... Many people are just accustomed to hearing it. From your post, you seem insecure over choosing to identify as white, has neither side been accepting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Biracial people really can't catch a break. I look white or hispanic even though I'm black and white. When I say I'm black or go to black events, people give me the side eye and act like I'm intruding. But if I had just gone about my business and didn't talk about being black, people would think I was trying to "pass."

I think it has to do with the history of race relations in the US. Many fair-skinned black people "passed" their way out of being black in order to be accepted by white society. So, to see this done today leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Seems very desperate/approval-seeking to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Biracial people really can't catch a break. I look white or hispanic even though I'm black and white. When I say I'm black or go to black events, people give me the side eye and act like I'm intruding. But if I had just gone about my business and didn't talk about being black, people would think I was trying to "pass."

I am the first black/white poster, and I agree with the sentiment of this post. Although I look more AA than anything else and was raised to identify with the AA community, there is no one "right" way for biracial people to identify themselves. I find it very frustrating when society steps in and tells us how we should identify ourselves. The whole "Why does Obama say he's black when he's biracial," line of thinking is really annoying to me. It is hard to be undefined in a society rather obsessed with racial classification - if you're biracial, when you find a way that works for you, you go with it.

How do you think parents of biracial children can help them past this? Particularly, in a situation where one child in society is viewed as Black/AA and the other is seen as Caucasian? My children look very different and I encounter this, different complexions just as DH and I.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No issues means no issues. I'm 44 now and I think if the sky were going to fall in on me just because I do not claim to be black. I don't consider it "passing" this is simply who I am.

So fo you consider yourself to be biracial? Or just white? Has anyone ever asked you of you were biracial?

I am biracial, but I identify white.
I get the biracial question the most from AA, who then get really offended and try to tell me about this "one drop makes you black" rule. I tell them slavery is over, welcome to 2012.

Just know that to many you look/seem desperate. How pathetic.

Who are you referring to as the "many"? Desperate in what way? Can you comprehend that someone may have had a different experience than what you may know, and that one person's view shouldn't bother you as much as it obviously does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No issues means no issues. I'm 44 now and I think if the sky were going to fall in on me just because I do not claim to be black. I don't consider it "passing" this is simply who I am.

So fo you consider yourself to be biracial? Or just white? Has anyone ever asked you of you were biracial?

I am biracial, but I identify white.
I get the biracial question the most from AA, who then get really offended and try to tell me about this "one drop makes you black" rule. I tell them slavery is over, welcome to 2012.

Just know that to many you look/seem desperate. How pathetic.

Who are you referring to as the "many"? Desperate in what way? Can you comprehend that someone may have had a different experience than what you may know, and that one person's view shouldn't bother you as much as it obviously does.

It doesn't bother me. Just stating my opinion. See 09:08.

[Anonymous]

My experience is that there is a biracial image that many of us who have one Black parent try to fit. The media sees biracial and mixed race as "curly hair and light skin" but not everyone has both features and those that do not get put in the white box or black box. People are so harsh when it comes to biracial kids that do not "look mixed" and most of the time it is when you are a darker featured biracial person. Other biracial people try to box you in or out as well.

[Anonymous]

good lord, why has this thread been hijacked to talk about black white issues?

OP, why do Asians change their names to Western ones? Does it feel as conformist/indicative of a racial inferiority complex as it seems to others watching?