Race controls society no matter how you think about things. Recently I have been talking about race a lot with my friend who is mixed. It made me think of how society and cultures will make you choice a race if you are mixed. Society seeing you be too black or not black enough , too white or not white enough , too asian or not asian enough, etc. When you think race do you just see color or do you see features? Do you see mannerisms , clothings, lifestyle living? I knew I was my race because thats what society told me and they made sure I fit the description of what my race should be I grew into it and embodied it. When people are mixed they either feel the need to choose or society makes the choice for them of the race they embody. I think of how people that are mixed might feel pressure and discount from their communities that should be embracing them. A conversation I had was how can we as a society or community can embrace and make sure these individuals feel accepted and loved.
Read more: Is my body my own or is it my race?
I really liked the point you made here. I have a cousin who is mixed, his father is Black and his mother is Italian. It was a really interesting conversation to have with him about his experiences growing up on our (Black) side of the family. He often said that he never felt the need to clarify his identity or defend it. However, he did note that while he internally struggled to find his place, he always felt and identified as a Black man—because that is how America saw him. I would be in denial and lying to myself if I tried to say that society doesn’t matter to your racial identity, but it does.
The reality of it is however you are perceived, that is how you will be identified. Even for those that aren’t biracial, their race is made up by stereotypes and how they act. It’s important that no matter how someone identities, you still accept them and actively work to dismantle the stereotypes placed on all racial identities.