[BLOG] You’re Mixed…But How Do You Identify?
This past weekend was a blast! I had my niece and we played tag, ate junk food and pizza, watched movies, and stayed up until our eyes were as heavy as bricks. She’s the smartest four year old in the world and she’s very articulate and asks whatever she feels the need to.
So on Sunday we were laying down watching YouTube videos and she turned to me and said “Uncle, you’re black and so is my dad.” I laughed and said to her “Yes munchkin, and so are you.” She said I am? Nana (my mother) told me that too. Is my mommy black too?” I said “No baby, your mom is Mexican, which would make you half Mexican and half black.” She gave me the cutest grin and responded with “ooooooh ok, Uncle” and continued pulling at my goatee as we watched Michael Jackson and Beyoncé concerts on YouTube.
It kind of boggled my mind a little bit that she had no idea that she was half black despite my mother and father and her father explaining it to her. I also remember speaking about it to her earlier this year but she is only four so if it’s not about hello kitty and candy it probably doesn’t stick.
So I started thinking to myself, does she identify more with her Mexican side and disregard her African-American side because that’s what she’s taught when she’s with them or is it because that’s just what she’s around most days? Either way I found it interesting but I also know that now that my baby knows she’s half black (and is asking more questions) we have to continue teaching her about her culture. Just as she knows the Mexican culture she’ll know more about the African-American culture.
It also posed the question to those who are mixed, do you identify with one race over the other? Or do you represent both races proudly?