
Ni de aquí, ni de allá
Ana Rodríguez, Wayne State, Antioch, IL Selena’s dad explained it best in his monologue where he talks about how tough it is to be Mexican-American....
Indian or American? Why not both?
Nivedita P., Boulder, CO. Why do we feel that a single label can divide us so easily? It’s more complicated than one word.

Why can’t I simply be me?
Jessica Seargeant, Bellevue, WA. I am half Japanese and half Caucasian. I’ve been told I’m not Asian enough by Asians and not “white” enough by...
Sure, right, Jewish is a race
Anonymous, Portland, ME Although I’ve explained a thousand, people keep telling me that Jewish is a race not a religion. At this point, why both.

Why can’t I simply be me?
Jessica Seargeant, Bellevue, WA. I am half Japanese and half Caucasian. I’ve been told I’m not Asian enough by Asians and not “white” enough by...
I’m too light, yet too dark
Jessica Tolentino, Winchester, VA I chose those six words because I am considered too dark in America but too white in Mexico. In the United...
You look White, but I’m Black
Laureen Crooks, Canada Just another example of a child who learns the social construction of race. At six years old, I recall asking, “Why can’t...

Yes I can be both races
April Daniels, Philadelphia, PA I was always told I had to pick one race or the other. But I felt like I would be betraying...

Bicultural and Bilingual should be enough.
Megan Medrano, Houston, TX. Growing up Latina in south Texas, I have always been surrounded with rich culture. My home was filled with both the...
Why do I have to pick?
Lisa Pearce, La Marque, TX Being mixed race has brought on everything from “oh, you look like you speak Spanish” to “don’t be so white”....

I am white. So?
Alan S. Doctor, Cambria, CA. I was born in San Francisco on 15 Sep 1930. Dad was Scotch/English and Mom was Polish with a dash...

You have to choose. Which one?
Aimee Mallery, Rochester, NY. My daughter is Native American on her father’s side. When faced with a form for daycare, I had to choose whether...

I’m not just one, I’m both!
June Blanton, Magnolia, TX. I was raised between two family’s. One black and one white, please stop telling me that i’m one or the other....
Is Jew a religion or race?
Hannah Herzog St. Louis, MO Guess what? It’s both (sort of). You may be of “Jewish” ethnicity without being of Jewish faith (non practicing), or...
No, I dont have to choose
Olivia Divers, Norfolk, VA. When you’re mixed with black and white people always have this preconceived idea that you have to “pick” which of the...

I am both black and white
Alexander Belisle, Bronx, NY. My mother is Latvian and my father is from Belize but all my life I passed as white. I always listened...