Is it okay to tell someone that’s mixed race that they aren’t really that race (read context below)?

I’m mixed...I’m often told I’m not really this or that and not gonna lie...it bothers me (doesn’t define or inhibit me, but yet- it sticks in the back of my mind). It makes me feel like I’m too light for one side and too dark for the other that neither are willing to embrace me as their own. Ppl don’t dare have the audacity to tell someone that’s mulatto that they’re not black so why is it okay for someone to say this to me? What do I say back?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

bijouxbroussard · F

You might tell them that “mulatto” is a slave term and that you’re not a slave. Nobody descended from slaves in the U.S. is pure African, and anyone who thinks they are needs to get their DNA checked. I’m biracial and my 1960 birth certificate says

Mother: Caucasian
Father: Negro
Child: Negro

So when anyone, black or white, tries to tell me who they think I am, they get cussed out. It’s not a club and you can’t be kicked out.

Lostpoet · M

@bijouxbroussard I kind of take offense to that because you have just as much white heritage as black and you get your mitochondria from your mother so that strength in you comes from your mom.

DecafD

@bijouxbroussard you’re right- it’s not a club and I don’t understand why people believe they can kick me out- like I’m lesser of a person bc I’m mixed. Thank you for sharing

bijouxbroussard · F

@Lostpoet If you saw me, you wouldn’t even know I was biracial. And it did not stop anyone from beating me up and calling me n*gger” as a child. People didnt care about those kinds of fractions back then.

Lostpoet · M

@bijouxbroussard They do now though. I think you are lucky to have a mixture of both I bet you are proud of what you have done in life. Do you think it would be any different if both your parents were of African ancestry?

bijouxbroussard · F

@Lostpoet Not really. My parents met at Columbia U, and had similar life goals. They both came from good, solid families.

Lostpoet · M

@bijouxbroussard I think they did good.

bijouxbroussard · F

@Lostpoet This month they will celebrate having been married 64 years.

Lostpoet · M

@bijouxbroussard Wow that's a long time and it's rare now days.