biracial Archives - The Race Card Project

Your words don’t change who I am

December 1, 2025December 2, 2025 Accept, beautiful, biracial, Blake Coffey, CA, Mexican, mixed, mixed father, skin, Van Nuys, white mother, words

Blake Coffey,
Van Nuys, CA.

In a world where being mixed is supposed to be looked at as beautiful, it’s not as easy when you are. People automatically assume that all mixed people are supposed to look mixed just like they assume all Mexicans are brown. I’m born to a mixed black/white father who looks full black and society deems him so, and a white mother. I’ve looked for people that are the same thing or mixed but not looked at as mixed but I’ve always felt left out. I don’t look at people as a certain race but they sure look at me like I am. I’m judged and denied of who I am because genetics determined that I wouldn’t come out looking mixed. Although I’ve faced racism from every race.

Today is the day when I fully accept myself for who I am. I’m not denying myself or anyone else of who I truly am. I am not Mexican, I am not Middle Eastern, I am not Puerto Rican or whatever else I’ve told people. It’s time for me to not only come to terms with who I am but to come to terms with the world and how it is. To stop shielding myself and hiding behind fake back stories because of peoples judgments and words. It doesn’t matter if I had brown eyes, blue eyes, black kinky hair, blonde straight hair, a bump on my nose, big lips, high cheek bones, dark skin, light skin, because I am what I am and I can’t change it. People can make whatever assumptions they want or say whatever but that doesn’t change who I am ethnically.

I wanted to change who I am ethnically my entire life. But I can’t. It’s time to stop lying and just be honest. Whether or not I’m accepted by the black community or even the biracial and multiracial community, I am a multiracial person of African and European heritage. My dad looks full black and my mom looks white as snow, yet my sisters and I came out with light carmel skin tones, different hair types, colored eyes, and unique facial features that make us look completely different from anyone else in our family. Whether someone tries to portrait me as white or Mexican or something else that I’m not is not my problem. I can’t change it and your words or judgments isn’t going to change anything either. It’s not your place to determine who or what I am. I am a person of mixed race. That’s just what I am.

Military families: ahead of the curve.

January 15, 2025January 23, 2025 ahead, Alpine, biracial, CA, curve, Family, Fort Gordon, GA, military, Monique Hollis-Perry, soldiers

Monique Hollis-Perry
Alpine, CA

Military bases overseas were homes to many biracial families like mine, and my sister and I went to school with classmates who looked like us. It was many years and thousands of miles from being sent to Fort Gordon, GA as a test case in the 1960s to see how (or whether) soldiers with mixed families could live safely in the South. It was sobering to return to the States and meet people who found us “exotic”, “foreign”, and “strange”. These inquiring minds did not understand that kids like me came from two interconnected cultures: the military and the slipstream allowing us to draw from both parents’ heritages. For us, this was normal.

A very proud biracial Black woman!

August 30, 2024 biracial, Black woman, Britt Lewis, ct, New Haven, proud

Britt Lewis,
New Haven, CT

Everything has to do with race.

Benefit and burden with being biracial

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 benefit, biracial, burden, identity, interracial marriage, mom, On Location, Ryann Williams, San Antonio, Texas, the race card project, Trinity University, TX, USA

Ryann Williams,
Trinity University

In a lot of ways, having two parents of different racial/ethnic backgrounds allows a unique insight into both cultures. It can be extremely enlightening to see how both sides can be so different and yet so similar at the exact same time. However, there is always this feeling as if I am not fully a part of either because of my own interracial identity.

White mother glad sons biracial 2021

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 biracial, black son, El Paso, mom, Monae Dasher, scared, sons, TX

Monae Dasher,
El Paso, TX

I was the white girl that embraced integration in school, first to befriend the one or two Black children my age in elementary. In middle school, large integration happened and physical fights broke out and my heart ached to see my friends on both sides beating each other up. I became untouchable to white boys as I easily was friends with Blacks and Hispanics. Only white boys from outside my high school would date me. My mom and dad liked the fact I had friends of different races, but dating was taboo, as “society isn’t ready for biracial couples”. I would be hurting myself socially and career-wise, according to my father. But I found acceptance from Black men and women and their families embraced me so warmly compared to white boys and men I dated, who rarely had me meet their families. I felt at “home” within the black culture and embraced (mid-70’s through 80’s). I was fired from numerous jobs once my white boss saw my Black boyfriend and inexplicably and suddenly accused of stealing or other firing offenses that I did not commit because it would have been illegal to fire me for the race of my boyfriend.

I left home and family by joining the U.S. Army in the late 70’s and met my future Black husband. We married and were subsequently separated for two years, because a racist Colonel wouldn’t sign papers for joint domicile despite the Army having a policy of keeping spouses together whenever possible. My MOSs, (military occupational skill), I had two, were a shortage world wide (Journalist 71Q/Broadcaster 71R) and I could have definitely been together with my husband in Germany. I subsequently came down on orders to Alaska (considered an overseas assignment). Two years later, I left the Army with an honorable discharge after serving a total of four years, and we were back together. I hated leaving the Army, but my choices were to be continuously separated from my spouse or to leave (he had the most years invested).

We had two sons five years apart and my father often was fearful for my Black sons’ futures, but in today’s climate in 2021, if he were still alive, he’d be fearful for his white grandsons and great grandsons. That is why I am grateful for having two biracial sons in 2021’s racially divisive climate. It truly breaks my heart.

Will they ask me or assume?

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 adapt, ask, assume, biracial, Hillary Buren, Hispanic, Kansas City, mistaken, MO, what are you, white neighborhood

Hillary Buren,
Kansas City, MO.

As a biracial women growing up in am almost entirely white community I have adapted to addressing my racial ambiguity (I am most commonly mistaken as Hispanic but even have been confused for as Indian) and usually I resort to humor when it comes to this topic. However it never ceases to amaze me how uncomfortable it is for people when they cannot classify me right away. I run into 2 types of people those who just ask and those who assume…on the rarer occasion I met those who allow me to bring it up in conversation… and those are the people who earn my trust the quickest.

Si Senor! I am US citizen

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 Baltimore, biracial, checkpoint, citizenship, Half, Heidy Avila Murillo, husband, MD, mixed, passing, police, senor, stereotype, US Citizen

Heidy Avila Murillo,
Baltimore, MD.

My marriage is biracial, I am Hispanic and my husband is a Caucasian born in Maryland. This year after obtaining my US citizenship, my husband and I decided to have three days vacations in Canada. We visited Niagara Falls, Toronto city, and since I love Diego Rivera’s artwork, we decided to have an adventurous driving trip and passed by Detroit Museum of Art, which has original copies of Rivera’s murals.

When passing through the border checkpoint between Canadian area and Detroit, an officer asked for our passports, he reviewed mine very carefully. He started asking us what was our relationship? We said we are married, He replay for how long?, we answer 4 years. He asked back and directed the question toward my husband like if I didn’t understand English, and said Why she hasn’t change her name? My husband replied, “Well she doesn’t want it. “ After that he asked more questions; from where we are coming from? For how long we have been in Canada?, what was our purpose of coming to Detroit? For how long we are planning to stay in Detroit etc, etc. Still after answered all his questions, he didn’t seem satisfied. At the end he told us to park our cars and so we can pass by the office to be checked.

I got it officers in any checkpoint border need to check people’s passports, but this officer’s behavior wasn’t correct, why all that questions? What if we were just being friends, or complete strangers? What it is wrong if I don’t want to change my Latino name for a more Westernized? we were after all US citizens.

With this experience, the only conclusion that I can make is that his officer had his head “full of stereotypes” I guess it was hard for him to accept the idea that biracial marriages really exist, and that people like me “Hispanic looking” can also be citizens like him, but I don’t blame him, my passport was the only evidence that I had to prove it.

Unconditionally loving my transgender biracial children!

March 5, 2024 biracial, children, father, GA, Grayson, mother, Nepal, transgender

Angel Smith,
Grayson, GA

I am a mother of two young adult transgender, biracial children. Some ask me how I can be so unconditionally supportive and loving of their lifestyles. So many of our youth falls into the wrong paths of drugs, crime, gangs, violence, teen pregnancy, etc. If THIS is the “worse” my children brought me, then I am the one who is blessed because they made parenting easy. They are amazing young adults, one has a BA, works a full time job and teaches children and their teachers art lessons in Nepal online. The other is a successful lab technician for a leading vision provider. I could not be prouder of the success they worked so hard to earn for themselves. Different is not always bad. Take time to learn and understand the things you aren’t exposed too before passing judgement. Differences make us all unique and beautiful.

I am woman first, biracial second

March 5, 2024 biracial, Cordova, TN, unapologetically Black, woman

Cynthia Heard,
Cordova, TN

I am unapologetically Black. I have little tolerance for fragile people who don’t consider their need for comfort as a problem for others who just want to exist in their melinated skin.

Biracial lesbian relationship rubbled. Which why?

February 12, 2024February 12, 2024 biracial, Devall, Lesbian, Lynette Faye, rebel, relationship, WA

Lynette Faye
Devall, WA

With less legal, societal, and sometimes even family support, biracial same sex relationships are often under even greater strain. And when they collapse, wounded individuals are left wondering which factors may have contributed the most pressure.

I realize “rubbled” is not word, much less a verb, but I like the distant echo of ‘rebel’ – that faint, involuntary, consequential label one is assigned after choosing a partner of a different race…and so I employed poetic license.

Black Man Father Kids Race

February 1, 2024February 1, 2024 biracial, black man, Charlottesville, Derrick Carter, future, kids, Race, VA

Derrick Carter,
Charlottesville, VA.

Trying to understand and teach my biracial children and how they can make the future better for every race.

Black White Society Makes Me Choose

August 15, 2023August 15, 2023 biracial, choose, Frederick, MD, mixed, Nicole, society

Nicole,
Frederick, MD

Where are you from? No, really

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 biracial, Hapa, mainlanders, Marc Quarles, Michael Kenji Yamasaki, NM, Rio Rancho, stereotype, Walmart, where are you from, wife

Michael Kenji Yamasaki,
Rio Rancho, NM.

OBSERVATIONS – Where are you from? No really … Where are you from?

I can relate to Mr. Marc Quarles (African-American, with a German wife and two biracial children).

There were times when I too have been asked, “Where are you from? No really where are you from?” However, in addition to that, people have also commented how well I spoke English (despite the fact that I have been in the United States over 50 years.), or they would “welcome me to the USA.”

Growing up in Hawaii, race wasn’t really any issue with me. In Hawaii, Asian is the dominant population. (By the way, I notice that for the most part, Asians and Pacific Islanders are lump together as if we are one giant homogenous group. A lot of “mainlanders” don’t seem to get the idea that Hawaiians, Samoans, Japanese, Koreans, Filipinos, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. have their own unique traditions and culture.)

I recall that when I was getting married to my wife at the time, one of party from the mainland made a comment, “There aren’t too many Americans here.” Referring to the population of Hawaii. I was so shocked and speechless about it. She also commented that a lot of Mexicans were moving into Kentucky. (Her tone of voice signaled that she was not happy about it.) Unbeknownst to her, one of my best friend who was riding with us in the back seat was half-Mexican (but could pass for White). You should have seen the look of his face. Ugggh!

It was when I moved to the mainland (New Mexico), I became aware of my “minority” status. Asians are few and far between in the area that I live. It felt odd to be a “minority” coming from Hawaii. Most of the comments directed at me were out of ignorance rather than racism. False assumptions based on generalized idea of an Asian person.

I remember once where my wife told me while she was at the mall with our baby “hapa” (biracial) girl, a woman thought how adorable our daughter looked. She inquired where did my wife get the little girl. (Oh, did I forget? My wife is White from Kentucky.)

My wife almost told her, “At Walmart, on sale now. Down on aisle 15.” People assume that when a White woman has an Asian looking child; the Asian child is adopted. Sheesh, give me a break.

“Your child is milking her race”

December 1, 2022December 1, 2022 biracial, child, hurtful, Jewish, MA, Meryl Poku, milk, Needham, Race

Meryl Poku,
Needham, MA.

The most hurtful words said to me (white) about my biracial Jewish daughter.

Don’t Bring Home No White Girls

November 21, 2022January 17, 2023 anonymous, Apuci, biracial, Black American Female, chicken legs, dating, deep voice, dual citizen, father, first experience, Home, interracial dating, Jewish, mulatto, Nubian Goddess, rape, sistah, taboo, travel, trilingual, TX, veteran, white girls, white woman

Anonymous,
TX.

Said a well travelled Black American female veteran to her biracial, trilingual, and dual citizen son. Behind her, in full agreement, stood her Eastern European Jewish husband. As madly in love as was at first sight, their relationship was taboo, condemned by family and friends alike. Now years later they faced their resultant son, looked in his light colored eyes and set him right. If he didn’t want any trouble and to keep his future bright, keep all White women out of sight! They only had their son’s best interests in mind, because both had known Black and Mulatto young men who had thrown their lives away by chasing after White American women that then uttered the dreaded 4 letter word….Rape.

In turn he smiled at them amusedly, took a few clumsy steps forward on his long skinny chicken legs, exactly like those of his towering father, and bent, though not too far because his mother was also quite tall, to plant a kiss on her round ebony cheek. In his low deep voice as he pushes his thick glasses back up on his face he says, “Why would I chase a ghost, when I have had the epitome of beauty before my eyes for nearly 23 years?” As he had done as small boy, when people thought this gorgeous Nubian Goddess who was closer to 50 than 40 but was often accused of being only 30 was merely his nanny, the son holds his mother’s face in hands and stares at her adoringly. “I learned how to appreciate real beauty young.” Then he smiles bashfully at his father and concludes, “Apuci(Daddy), I am going to get one of these fine models for myself. Where should I look?” It was very clear that though the well-brought up young man respected all women, his heart would ALWAYS belong to a fiery,gorgeous, and loyal ‘Sistah’.

I’m just stuck in the middle.

September 5, 2022September 5, 2022 Alexis Berry, Arabic, biracial, challenge, College, compassionate, Detroit, Half, MI, professor, Race, society, stuck in the middle, teacher, Wayne State

Alexis Berry,
Wayne State,
Detroit, MI

Being Biracial is really a challenge. Being half black and half Arabic makes me feel like I belong to neither race. Many people look to their own race as somewhere they belong, but it’s the opposite for me. Since I’ve been young each race makes me feel like I’m not “really” apart of their society. There has been several encounters where I have been talked down upon because of my race. This only makes me stronger and more compassionate to those who also deal with this. The less race revolved we are the better!

I’ve been called my sister’s nanny.

August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 adopted, affluent, biracial, Columbia, Mary Carroll, nanny, SC, sister, white

Mary Carroll,
Columbia, SC.

I am biracial and adopted into a white family. Growing up in a very southern affluent area, people were always asking me if I was paid well to look after the child and if I would work for them. When I would tell them that the child was my sister, generally they would respond with a laugh and “if that’s what you call it” then turn to someone else and say “that nanny calls the child her ‘sista'” assuming I was using a colloquial term rather than defining a familial relationship.

Light skinned, biracial, Jewish, Arab American man.

June 23, 2022June 23, 2022 Arab, Arab-American, Austrian, baklava, biracial, Egyptian, English, Falafel, food, German, Greek, Iraqi, irish, italian, Jewish, light skinned, Norwegian, Polish, qitnyot, religion, Russian, scottish, Sephardic, Shabbat, South German, Swedish, Swiss-German, synagogue, Syrian

Arturo Hull,
Anchorage, AK.

My mom is Syrian, Iraqi, Egyptian, Greek, Italian, Swiss-German, Austrian, South German, English, Norwegian and Danish. My dad is English, Scottish, Irish, Swedish, German, Polish, and Russian. I am light-skinned and can easily pass as French or Italian, but I embrace my Arab roots to the fullest and enjoy foods like Falafel, ful medames, and baklava. I also celebrate Arab holidays, such as Syrian Independence Day and Syrian Revolution Day. When I go to synagogue for Shabbat, I try to attend a Sephardic Synagogue and I eat qitnyot on Shabbat.

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