"Being biracial has also helped me in many ways. I was able to get the unique red hair that I have, from relatives on both sides of my family."
By Will Jackson
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In April of 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau added 126 racial combinations. For one of the first times in history, the census gave biracial individuals the option to self-identify with multiple heritage groups. Is this a sign that society is becoming more accepting of people from mixed backgrounds? Youth Radio's Will Jackson is a high school student in Washington DC. He sent us his reflections about growing up biracial. (September 18 on WETA's Intersection)
The fact that I was biracial didn't really become clear to me until I was in the 6th grade. Being the son of a white mother and black father I didn't think much about race... But just around middle school I began to understand who I was ethnically.
Once I started to see who I was, I slowly began to see the different ways others viewed me. My friends had always treated me the same as they treated any other person. They would occasionally make jokes, but the jokes were harmless.
The real hurt came when I started high school last year. When I would have to fill out a form that asked me to state my race, my classmates would say that I "didn't count," and would tell me to "leave it blank."
There were many kids that treated me like anybody else and didn't make hurtful jokes. But it still seemed as though the white kids treated me as if I was black, and the black kids treated me as if I was white. This made it hard to find a group of friends that all would treat me the same.
I think younger people aren't as accepting of people who are biracial because they are confused. They haven't had a lot of experience being around people who are biracial. Someone who is white feels more comfortable around other white people because they are around them more often, and the same goes for people who are black.
When a variable - such as a biracial person - comes into the equation, people tend to judge first without getting acquainted...and they immediately reject.
Being biracial has also helped me in many ways. I was able to get the unique red hair that I have, from relatives on both sides of my family. And I can act as a neutral mediator between friends whenever a racial argument ensues. Although it can be tough at times, being biracial can be better in many ways.
You are not put into various racial stereotypes. For example, there is no pressure to have any particular musical preference, and it allows me to be much more independent in terms of what I believe. I rarely ever wake up and wish that I were 100% of a particular race, and over the past year, I have never regretted being biracial.
- Will Jackson is a student at The Latin American Youth Center. His commentary was produced by Youth Radio.
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