Oceanic? I’ve NEVER heard of that.
Lee, Saipan, MP. Oceania is the proper geographical name of a defined region, as are North America, Europe, Asia, etc. People are Native American, European,...
Before me, six Native nations here.
Minal Parekh, Erie, CO. I recently participated in a “cultural competency” exercise as part of a volunteer training. I could not answer the question about...
All I Know Is Native American
Jillien Jefferson, Baltimore City, MD I consider myself African American because that’s what I see in the mirror. but when I ask my grand mother...
Who knew Hispanics could be Native?
Luis Toro, Denver, CO. They try to tell us Hispanics are either white or black but my family’s ancestry is definitely Native American, we even...
We’re ONE; Perception is everything.
Miranda Childe, Miami, FL I’m a 68-year-old native New Yorker transplanted to Florida after my divorce made it emotionally and financially difficult to stay in...
I don’t speak Spanish, just Russian
Michelle Del Pin, Brooklyn, NY. I can’t even tell you how many times people have come up to me and started speaking Spanish. Sometimes it...
It’s your problem that I’ll ignore
Monalisa Layan, Federated States of Micronesia I lived in Hilo, Hawaii for 7 years while I attended college. There were many kinds and good people...
Native Stand With Black Lives Matter
Stephanie Traversie-Baechler, Watertown, SD. Growing up in South Dakota, many experiences Native Americans have gone through are familiar to those that have been expressed by...
Damn Yankees don’t go back home
Patty Reed, Greenville, SC. Originally from Pennsylvania, I’ve lived here the majority of my life but I cannot say I’m a native South Carolinian. While...
Not as white as I appear.
Susi Matthews, Kansas City, MO. I am 1/4 Navajo plus Cherokee and Mohawk. I am also English, Irish, Scots and German. I LOOK white; my...
Light Bright, Pass for White
Treysea, Tacoma, WA. I grew up in San Diego, CA in a predominantly blue-collar, working class, relatively ethnically and racially mixed community. Most of my...
“Generic Brown” is my passport everywhere.
Gil L. Pettigrew, MS, The Federated States of Micronesia. I have a very strong, very proud cultural heritage; I’m a North American Mestizo, 50% Native...
I am a proud American man
Charles Tanner, Midland, TX. I am an American,there is not a pre or post to that I was not brought here I was born here....
Blood and Tears But Footprints Remain
Justin John Banks, Boston, MA. My ancestors were both Native and African American. The U.S. was molded by the labor of both of these brave...
My German accent creates a wall.
Annette Baran Katonah, NY I´ve been living in the U.S. for 9 years and was recently naturalized. My kids are truly bilingual. Although, I have...
Yeah, but you don’t look white.
Seth Skaggs, Marion, OH. Four months out of the year, I get to be white. Well, white-ish. My parents always told me that my tanned...
I walk in two worlds daily.
Lenzy KB, Tulsa, OK. Like many Native Americans, I’m mixed and frankly, don’t look like the stereotypical “Hollywood” Native. I have to balance the Native...
