For those of you who are biracial (or more), how do you feel about it?

Inspector_Spinda 2021-03-14 15:48:11 UTC #6

I'm not technically biracial because both my parents are "Chinese", but my dad is not what you'd typically think of as Chinese. His culture and language is more similar to Turkish and he looks different from the typical Chinese and even Middle Eastern folk. I don't know much about his language or culture either, because I've only been to the province twice. China is a really strict and terrible place and they're currently the ethnicity being abused (if you've seen the news).

I kind of feel bad for not learning the language, but I also barely know Chinese because I've been living in America since I was 4. I'm not a huge cultural nerd so it doesn't bother me too much though I understand your predicament. My parents don't especially care as long as I get through school and get a well paying job and make a ton of money they're fine.

If anything I feel a smug sense of superiority (joking) because my family history is cooler than pretty much anyone else's

Wocalich 2021-03-14 15:49:38 UTC #7

Tbh, I get this feeling and I'm not joking lol

Inspector_Spinda 2021-03-14 15:50:58 UTC #8

tbh im not either i just don't want to be rude to the normies

Wocalich 2021-03-14 15:52:12 UTC #9

It's not being rude to feel proud about your heritage, at least I think so. I'm sure we all have interesting ancestors if we dig deep enough

vothnthorvaldson 2021-03-14 15:54:30 UTC #10

Not answering to main question but just a comment: if the doctor asks you such question, answer as specifically as you can, which mean all of the heritage you know of. It is likely about prevalence of certain medical conditions, so the more info the best. If they don't allow multiple choices and additional infos, then it is not for that purpose and you can ask the purpose. It's weird they'd ask you that in Canada, but if it's for medical related stats or such, the answer you may want to give may vary depending of what the study is. And you can skip if you don't want to answer.

Mojiroo 2021-03-14 15:57:53 UTC #11

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll definitely keep that in mind! And also, they don't necessarily straight-up ask, it's just on the form they give you to fill out before you head in the office c:
(Btw, I currently live in the U.S. haha)

Black_Conscious 2021-03-14 16:01:49 UTC #12

lol I am quite similar to yours

hmm yeah I am Biracia... because a whole lot of my ancestors are mixed because of colonizers from other country's coming in

As far as I know I'm Black American and as well Polynesian, I know for sure that both sides are mixed, my Polynesian side is heavily mixed since looking at the older photos the people where very much dark but over time the skin is what you'll consider to be olive skin or much lighter ( and the history as well).

My fother had taken a DNA test and it showed that he had other
races in his blood, but it did say majority of his blood traced back to the west side of Africa (which most slave ships came in and brought them back to America), so this part on just claiming yourself as just one is hard to understand of. (hes black American)

So in the sense are we all Mixed? (well in America that is and as well countries that where invaded by other countries)

I think labels are just confusing , it is like should we go off by the land we grew up on/born from or from where are ancestors came from?

I'm labeled either as Black or African American (and Polynesian) , but I was never born in Africa so claiming myself is just hmm, but I never grew up in America but I was born on the land though, I was more connected to the island my people come of for most of my life until I moved to the states.

But anyways, sadly I wished I knew the language on my Polynesian side since it is a dyeing language and culture, wished I did payed more and taken it more seriously when I had those classes that where given to me.

So ye... lol
thats what I feel about this
My whole thoughts on that is very Confusing

Black_Conscious 2021-03-14 16:04:28 UTC #13

See! thats where the confusing part comes in, lol I have a problem with that on labeling myself since I'm mixed and as well moving to different places

Mojiroo 2021-03-14 16:07:22 UTC #14

Hmm... That's a good point. I guess we each have some mixed blood if our ancestors don't all come from where we do.

I also think they're pretty confusing ;-;

Kura 2021-03-14 16:38:23 UTC #15

It's odd because people are very insistent in knowing what I am. They will get mad if they don't know, then when I tell them they don't believe me and then do guessing games to either guess or tell me what I am because "clearly my parents are lying to me"

I didn't get to know my parents cultures, because they were afraid that if I started acting too much like one that I would get picked on and harassed in school (The first time I got in trouble at school was for saying I didn't have grandparents and instead I had grandparents in mom's language and then grandparents in dad's language). Honestly, me being alienated from my culture didn't help because I got picked on anyway cause I'm very obviously not white, nor was my very long last name that no one could pronounce (while my first name was an attempt at an English name... but spelt wrong because both my parents are not so great at English at the time cause it is their second language. So no one ever pronounced that right either)

I lot of the time I didn't feel like I was anything, or belonged anywhere. I didn't even feel like I belonged to the country I lived in despite being born there. Canadians were not welcoming, they treated me like I didn't belong, they still do. I still get asked for my work visa or immigration card, and when I say I don't have one they'll start talking to me slowly. Like I didn't understand the question.

I want to learn my dad's language but he will not teach me it, because "You don't need to know it. You only need to know English in this country. If you speak something else as well it will be harder to get work, no one will respect you." even trying to find somewhere to learn it is very difficult. There's not a lot of people that teach it, and there's not a lot of people even looking to learn it outside of 'tourist language' so the only lessons I can find are basically 'where to find landmark?' or 'do you know someone who speaks English'

therosesword 2021-03-14 16:40:37 UTC #16

I'm "mixed."

Father's side: Austrian and Croatian (which probably means there's some Turkish and even Celtic in there.)

Mother's side: Ahhh, here's the rub. Spanish and Native American which is often misnomered into "Mexican" but "Mexican" is a country it is not a race. I knew a German guy who was born and raised in Mexico and called himself Mexican.

My mother died when I was young so I was raised by my step-mom who was 1st generation Italian. I look Italian (probably the Croatian in me) and as I grew up that way everyone tends to think I am. I even kinda Identify that way although I'm careful and say I'm Italian by osmosis. I know more about being Italian than i do about being Austrian, Croatian or "Mexican."

Because I don't look it, I usually don't say I'm "Mexican" and avail myself of the white privilege I grew up with because of the Austrian/Croatian being predominant in my skin make up (although I used to tan like crazy so I'm not lily white).

However, now that I'm an older fart if someone I've known for a while decides to get all bigoted around me about Mexicans I wait for the right moment, tell them I didn't know they felt about me that way and walk away.

I do not tolerate in any form any bigotry.

Usually when asked for "race" on official forms I put "other - mixed" and leave it at that. If it's a medical form i do go into more depth because certain ethnicities have different medical issues.

I'm happy with all my ethnicities jumbled up in me. There are many wonderful (and not so wonderful) things about our cultural heritages to learn if we wish.

As far as learning languages go... you can always learn them. As individuals we have no control on how we came to be. But we do have control on what we become.

therosesword 2021-03-14 16:44:48 UTC #17

Have seen that and watching it. I'm a big fan of Chinese Drama and was wondering how that was affecting actors like Ma Tienyu

MK_Wizard 2021-03-14 17:16:35 UTC #18

Honestly, I don't see what the big deal is. We're all human so what does it matter if someone is biracial (or more) or not?

I mean, I was born in Canada, but my parents immigrated from Greece so socially, I often feel like I'm biracial. Also, there are a lot of relatives of mine who married non-Greek people who were lovely. And when you live in a multiracial society, you have to expect it. If you can't be ok with what someone is, I think you need to rethink your standards in people.

skyfarron 2021-03-14 17:36:35 UTC #19

I'm from Celtic, Russian, and Aboriginal Canadian/American sources I keep it real, I excercise each part of myself by learning and practicing traditions from all sides so there's no conflicts

LCT_m_a_d 2021-03-14 17:52:09 UTC #20

I'm not sure if it's the same in Canada as the US, but there is a pretty significant growing consensus that us (black-americans) should start screening for cancers at a younger age.

NickRowler 2021-03-14 18:02:17 UTC #21

I am biracial. My mom is White (Scotch-Irish) and my dad is White/Guatemalan. Compared to all my siblings I have the fairest features yet my facial structure looks more like my dad's.

I sometimes feel very stuck culturally. I feel too white to be latino. Yet I am not really white enough to just be white. So I sort of feel like I don't really belong anywhere. I have had people falsely try to claim I was "actually" Italian or Spanish (like from Spain). Whatever my skin looks like, I still grew up in a multicultural family, my grandpa is still an immigrant.

I do relate to the frustration of the filling out forms question. In the US you can only mark the "White/Caucasian" box if you are "non-Hispanic". But I am part hispanic but I am also white. It is confusing and sometimes I just leave it blank.

jcmraz 2021-03-14 18:18:32 UTC #22

Okay so I'm not biracial. I'm just white/caucasian. My son is half vietnamese though and is a thing I've had to think about and explain to my girlfriend, who was born in Vietnam. If you're in the US you'll probably always be viewed as the minority part of your race socially and on anything official or government related. My son will always be seen just as asian. Not white. Not half white. I disagree with the way this is as it relegates and groups without any nuance. This is a difficult topic and I don't really feel like I have any end point for what I'm saying. I've just been having these thoughts too. I hope I was able to add a small amount to the conversation you wanted to have

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-03-14 20:08:55 UTC #23

If it's a paper form, and you think you're not adequately "defined" by the little checkbox choices, write in your own chosen description.

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-03-14 20:14:31 UTC #24

There's a lot of pressure for people to be shoved into group identities. It makes them easier to manipulate, if they accept the group label & the "characteristics" that are assumed or assigned to their group.
Refuse to be labeled, categorized, stereotyped or put into a cubbyhole. Just be who you want to be.

"It riles them to believe
that you perceive
the web they weave.
Keep on thinking free."
--Moody Blues

Ordinaryaverageguy 2021-03-14 20:19:39 UTC #25

The ending of a lot of prejudice is when a person finds out their friend(s) are not what they thought they were & have to face how much they'd leaned on a stereotype instead of seeing everyone by "the content of their character".