Black and White: More Color Than You Think

I am white in certain places, but I am black in others. How can that be? I am a young bi-racial man; both white and black. The race card “Biracial anxiety; black/white; both/neither?” presents a scenario where two biracial girls of the same upbringing go separate ways (Frierson 1). The author identifies each of the girl’s perspectives and how they each felt on the topic of race. Immediately we get the sense that they are forced or compelled to choose a side. Frierson explains that one of girls had difficulty with her racial background, while the other didn’t. How they came to such conclusions, I still don’t understand. Was it how they interacted with one of the races? Though I am and always have been compelled to be both white and black, assuming I could benefit from the perks of both, most kids like me feel compelled to choose a side. It must be the subconscious forcing that individual to deem them selves a distinct race, particularly the one they are surrounded by in that exact moment. Guilty. I am guilty of this. But why, I feel comfortable with my racial background?

This six-word card, of The Race Card Project, was most intriguing because it hits home with regards to the fact that many young multiracial adults are trying to find themselves amongst the stereotypes of each race and a society that wants you to only be one. I don’t think I’ve been bogged down by this circumstance, but I have though about it on occasion. And I would argue that that notion in itself is unfortunate. We can just be ourselves; well we can but we must check first.