I’m actually 100% black and I used to get the “You don’t talk black” “act black” called an Oreo I’m 56 and have times where I still have moments from the past trauma. Stereotypes are horrible. Racism is so ingrained that people don’t realize how much it impacts/limits their lives.
Same with me, Holly - both my parents are black, and I took a lot of crap from other black kids in junior high about being light skinned, not talking black enough, not being black enough, and on and on. We emphasize racism experiences at the hand of white people (and I experienced this too as a very young kid, I'm talking real racism), but in contrast we rarely talk about colorism prejudices within the black community and how we denigrate each other with reverse racist stereotypes.
9 times out of 10 you were doing something off code, or weird. I know my people. you can be yourself without being called an oreo. you were probably doing the most looking down or just straight up doing stuff thats off code. like walking around talking like a valley girl listening to smash mouth and being a teachers pet.
I’m a therapist and I just used some of your video in a presentation for understanding mixed race identity development at Vassar College. Your story really highlighted and made all the academic stuff much more personal and thought provoking. Thank you for being so vulnerable about an important topic!
I find it disturbing you showed this to your class. Her rationalizations are just based on stereotypical misunderstands and cancel culture programming. If you want to know who is most concerned with color it's not white people, Most white people have never even heard the myriad of words black people use to describe their own race. Red boned, hi yellow...etc. Does a white person know about the paper bag test? She quickly goes to mixed to black to mixed, Her ethnic ambiguity is in her own mind yet she had embraced her embarrassment for white privilege such as not being pulled over by the police merely based on her whiteness. If anything, this should be shown to a class as an example of current moirés, I hear so many phrases that are repeated by so many you have to believe it's indoctrination. The second level of this is inclusivity of thought. When people are in an atmosphere where they have been told something and no one disagrees then they can't get pAR the first level of any intellectual conversation or debate. That's not right. A true debate takes a positive and negative side, here it is obvious there are not 2 sides there is only the what you are told side and the side that agrees even more. I guess you would be fired if you even suggested such a thing but perpetuating repeated doctrines is really not any better. Grape kookaid girl? Where you from? Black people don't say grape koolaid, the struggle to be oppressed is real.
As a father of a bi-racial daughter I wanna give you a huge hug! I sat my 13 y.o. Down to watch your video and it was eye opening for both of us. Bless you for this because it has opened new dialogue between us.❤️
I just want to respectfully say I hope that your daughter represents her blackness more proudly than the mixed up sister in this video bc allowing whites to shame black ppl around you is unacceptable to our lineage
Very well done, Jacy. I’m a 60 yo biracial male and can recall many of the childhood experiences you shared. Thank you for sharing yours. I passed your video along to my sisters and one of my nieces (also “passing”). Thanks. 😌
I’m black and white. I always hear I look Spanish till I say I’m black and white, they look shock and say really. Like I’m proud of what I am. I wouldn’t change it for anything ❤️
I won't lie Danny I thought you were either 🇵🇷🇩🇴..but nonetheless bro you have the best of both worlds like you said be super proud of your beautiful 🔙 ground my brotha👊🏿👊🏿
Im Afro Caribbean/ Black woman and Ive been taking the time to sit back and listen to experiences of black and white bi-racial/mixed people and Im learning a lot. Thank you for sharing.
Very considerate comment, we are quick to give solutions or make excuses when sometimes the best we can do is just listen and learn. Thank you for sharing.
@@Oldschool504 yet you want others to give 2fs about the plight of your own people? The world is simple, you give compassion you get same, you give grace you get grace.
@@farman96 Others will never give a shyt about Black Folks in this country, especially white folks. Equality, Payment, and being left alone are all Blacks asked for yet it's too much. None of the three will come without fighting for it. It's just how things are. Compassion has "always" been given, along with "forgiveness"
20:28 I am a Black grandfather of 3 biracial teenagers. I've often wondered what they have gone through and will go through in their lives. Watching your video has been most informative. Thank you for your clear and honest comments and insights.
Very insightful, thanks for sharing. As a black father of three black children who were raised in predominately white environments, I found your perspectives very illuminating. In addition, I remember when I was in business school, I dated a bi-racial woman who could pass for white. She used to say that she always tried to establish the fact that she was half-black very early in interactions with people so that she would not hear the racial biases that she would have access to otherwise.
All of this! I’m also half black and half white. Had a total identity crisis during the protests. Have had people tell racist jokes around me because they don’t know I’m black. Found Halsey’s words affirming/clarifying. I found your channel because I’m still trying to process exactly what my identity means to me and looking for more mixed people experiences. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for sharing Katie! It's definitely been an interesting year navigating our identities, and it'll be something we'll always have to deal with. But listening to others experiences is helpful, and I'm glad I was able to help you!
@@Blackraregem There is no such thing as mixed, the man carries the seed, so therefore you are what your father is! The term mixed, concept or ideology is a social construct created for political use! The father determines the nation its been this way since ancient times, every thing else is new age established for political use!
if that's the case men should be able to procreate alone. If that was the case we wouldn't have white passing kids with black fathers. If that was the case we wouldn't have unambiguously black looking kids with white fathers. It takes two black parents to make a black child and two white parents to make a white child. The woman's egg carries as much genetic material as the sperm or else you'd able to reproduce with just sperm. Her egg is going to carry genetic material from her lineage rather you like it or not.and not only that but genetically, a person actually carries more of his/her mother's genes than his/her father's. The reason is little organelles that live within cells, the mitochondria, which are only received from a mother. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell and is inherited from the mother.
Thank you for telling your story. My son is mixed and I remember when he struggled with being mixed. I walked through the fire with him and he knows who he is.
I’m half-Black and half-white myself! 🙂 I appreciate you for making this video because we need to stick together and defy what people think of us. I just subscribed to your channel. Please keep making more videos! 🙂
I am both Black & White...and I know exactly what and who I am as well as educated on my ethnic backgrounds.... everyone who isn't both say we don't know what we are but we do......we just don't seem to fit with what they'd want us to be. Appreciate you. It's been a great life to date. My Portuguese side of the family showed nothing but love for me and that was in the 70s. My black side of the family also loving ,supportive and present .
It's crazy how different your experience was from mine. I'm a BLACK passing half black/half white person. For me, people don't initially think I'm half white until I tell them because I primarily talk with AAVE, super athletic, wear bandanas, etc. I fit MOST of the black stereotypes despite being half white. When around white people, I tend to cut out the slang. That being said, I have dealt with colorism at earlier parts of my life. Now, most blacks realize that I pretty much get put in the same boat as full blacks 90% of the time. Your experience being half black/half white in America REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR COMPLEXION. If you're black passing, your pretty much going to have a more similar experience to someone who is "full black." If you're more white passing, then this video pretty much explains that. Your mileage will vary.
Very well spoken Jacy. Thanks for being so vulnerable with us. I’m half Nigerian. After my parents divorced, my father remarried my stepmother who is also Nigerian. I always felt a little empty because I didn’t grow up around the culture like my younger siblings. Finding your identity can be difficult, but once you do, it’s a true blessing. Continue growing. Many blessings 😊
You can still learn o!! Nigerians in Nigeria I find are very open to foreign-born Nigerians and they want to invite and teach about the parts of culture that you may have missed. IK there's not a ton of resources outside of Nigeria to learn, but don't feel empty! Your culture is based on the mix, and is just as unique. You do not have to be full anything in order to be valid.
I went to the premiere of MIXED (a documentary) at the Cleveland Institute of Art recently and actually thought of you while I watched it. I don’t know if it’s available elsewhere now, but it was made by Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal. Thanks for always being authentic and genuine with us.
Really appreciate this. Think there is a difference between how a person self identifies and how who world sees them. For me, im mixed but the world often sees me as black. How the world sees you controls how you are treated and opportunties provided. Hence I do understand the response to the black scholarship. Those are usually offered based on social limitations, rather than how you feel inside. Think thats acknowledged in this video which is great.
This conversation was 100 percent real. Thanks for being real and honest. This conversation is so needed for a healthy society. First and foremost you are Jacy and the rest are attributes of who, you are.
I'm in tears over this video cuz I feel like this is a monologue of my life. I'm mixed (white and black) but I am black passing but the identity crisis part is so on POINT! Never black enough, never white enough. It's a struggle. This is my favorite video you've done!
Sorry to break the news to you but the parent of yours that is blc got with your other parent as a coping mechanism based on self-hat,whereas the parent of yours that is ₩te got with your other parent as a fet¡sh to fulfill to check off the bucket list.That's just the plain truth
@@aidan2849 meaning she didn't hit certain black cultural cues around black people so they ignorantly labeled her "not black enough". It's like a white guy who grew up in the hood. They aren't white enough for suburban white folks
Honestly me too. I was going to comment on the Halsey part… Halsey’s dad is biracial while her mom is White, which means she’s not Black nor mixed with Black. She’s a White women with a little bit of blackness. Other then that, I appreciate all of the points Jacy made on being a white-passing biracial women❤️😁
@@JulianSteve I have to disagree with you there...Halsey's definitely a mixed-race woman and it doesn't matter that her father may be half Black, instead of completely Black, because mixedness doesn't begin and end at only being half. If it did, most mixed people here would be disqualified because many African Americans have European ancestry already. For the most part as well, mixed people in America don't make a huge difference between those who are half or a quarter. We just consider people who are recently white and black to be mixed, blood quantum's not really a thing for us.
@@JulianSteve To be white, you need to be 100% Northern European. Are you from America? Having any black ancestry definitely means you are not a white person
@@RETROGEMS There is no such thing as mixed, the man carries the seed, so therefore you are what your father is! The term mixed, concept or ideology is a social construct created for political use! The father determines the nation its been this way since ancient times, everything else is new age established for political use!
I’m Black and Persian and most people confuse me with a Hispanic person. It was a very rough and confusing life in my earlier years to say the least. You always feel like you don’t fit in with either side and always looking in from the outside. I’ve been told that I’m not really black also by other black people Even though the only family I know or had was black. The only way to get through this life when you’re born into these situations is to be your own and love yourself.
Hey Queen Jacy ❤. I am sorry that you and our other mixed brothers and sisters go through these identity crises. Both sides should accept you for who you are. Both sides make up your genes so you actually are a member of both races. Your heritage includes both sides, not just one. This was educational and thank you for sharing. ❤❤❤❤
Hi Jacy, enjoyed your video about growing up mixed, I have cousins who are mixed and they always used to tell me about some of the same challenges and issues that you endured and listening to your experience, I feel that I have a better understanding of what they went through. The one thing that was relatable to me was when you mentioned the fact that when you were speaking to people sometimes that they will say to you " That you don't talk black" or "Don't act black" or my personal favorite "You are too well spoken for a black person" (I actually got told that one yesterday).lol. I actually sent this video to my god daughter who is mixed she is a freshman in high school right now and she has been going through it socially . She has confided in me some things that people have said to her concerning her skin color and ethnicity. Hopefully after seeing your video she will know that it is okay to embrace both sides of who you are. Sorry for the lengthy comment, but thank you for sharing your story. Looking forward to the next story time :-)
I was told in high school how I was an Oreo. And I was the whitest black person my friends knew. Thinking back on those instances makes me sick. It’s disgusting.
I cant thank you enough for your comment and kind words Samuel! I'll never understand why people continue to make those comments, almost as if they're compliments because you're breaking some kind of mold! It's insane black individuals in general still have to endure those blatant microaggressions. I hope my perspective is able to help your god daughter navigate her own ethnicity and self worth, and learn to be unapologetically herself regardless of expected stereotypes. Thanks again for your continued support!
Yes! I'd like a video like this! I am racially mixed and my sisters look different, my little sister was always complemented for her light hair and white passing appearance as a kid, strangers would also stop my mom all the time and compliment my sister, and I was only complimented for my light skin, but I had more native/darker features so I wasn't as complimented or paid attention to, and I didn't know why as a child, but as an adult I now know. Years later as I grew into my skin, and the Kim K look became popular, I started getting a lot of compliments, but it was a 180 for me and I never really felt them, as I had developed this complex that white was beautiful. It's sad that mixed kids are just trends. I now embrace my "unique" look (irregardless of validation from others or not), I just wish I had seen my own worth and beauty through my own eyes and not society's, also doing that in my late 20s though :)
Wow, thanks Mich for your perspective. I couldn't agree more, it feels weird that mixed kids are often complimented based on their proximity to whiteness. And I can absolutely relate to the insecure feelings growing up, only to have your "look" essentially become a trend. The best we can do is be unapologetically ourselves, regardless of validation as you said. Thanks so much again for your comment and support.
@@JacyErin in itself it wouldn't be a problem if colorism didn't exist. some babies are just cute. But we happen to know what types of mixed is generally complimented. I am myself most times but i don't like the roundabout way people ask about ethnicity.
I'm mixed b/w 60 years old, youngest of 3 siblings. You look like my niece and nephew on my brother's side. I'm dark enough to never be confused for white, but I look different enough to keep people guessing. I have been confused for white on the phone only to see the look of shock or confusion when meeting someone in person. There are so many stories. You are doing something important here. Keep it up. ❤
Hi Jacy, this video has been extremely healing and inspiring for me. I came across this video just now as I’m wrestling with my own relationship with my identity as a mixed race person in the United States. My name is Joya Saxena, I am 22 years old and I’m a college senior. I am third generation Indian American on my father’s side. My paternal grandparents emigrated from India to the USA in the early 60s. On my mother’s side, I am white. I grew up in San Diego and was raised in an ethnically diverse but conservative suburb. Conversations about racism were largely nonexistent in general, let alone in context of my own experiences. Then, everything changed when Trump got elected in 2016. I was 14 years old and that was the last time I was ever going to be a normal kid again. For many years, I was very politically active, both during high school and college. As conversations about race became part of my daily life, I began to wonder where my place was in racial justice struggles that I willingly took on. Reflecting on my tumultuous childhood as a Neurodivergent kid bullied by my peers throughout elementary, middle, and high school, my first four years of adulthood have been spent trying to unpack my intersecting identities while simultaneously navigating the universal struggles of coming of age. What I have learned is this: Your video resonated so much with me. Immersing myself in my Indian heritage has saved my life and made me a better human being. Some of the Indian cultural traditions and values I hold close to my heart include being family oriented, revering our elders, giving and sharing with others, uplifting our community, seeing the divine in nature, and the belief in good over evil. These core principles are not just appealing. I have experienced many ups and downs in this journey but embracing my relatives, both in India and in the diaspora, has helped me understand that these core values were inside me the whole time. All I needed was exposure to the half of my identity that would bring them out into the world. With that, I have grown repulsed and distant from my white identity because of three things: 1) the oppressors who colonized most of the world, including my ancestors in India. 2) the classmates who bullied me as a child and showed arrogant, self centered behavior in general. 3) the angry, impulsive, confused, and mentally unstable little girl I must now leave behind in order to become the best woman I can be. Whiteness represents all of these things in my life and I only speak from my own experience. This doesn’t mean all white people are bad. Plenty of white progressives at small liberal arts colleges like mine have demonstrated their commitment to uplifting marginalized communities. I still stand by my decision to give my Indian heritage my undivided attention because as a whole, it taught me more about life than any job I held or class I took. With every new interaction with my Indian heritage, both good and bad, I become more compassionate, patient, considerate, and resilient. My close friends from similar cultures (Latinx, Caribbean, East African, Middle Eastern, East Asian, etc.) all agree. Having said that, I’d be doing my monoracial Desi counterparts a huge disservice by not acknowledging my white privilege. I have fair skin and I have a basic white girl accent. I also grew up in the USA with unearned privileges that I got by virtue of being born here. Many of my international counterparts have been profiled and assaulted because of their visible Brown skin, clothes, and heavy accent. They also have a hard time finding employment opportunities because it’s a pain to get work visas and green cards after graduation. They often have to bear the brunt of most racist and xenophobic stereotypes. My international and monoracial friends are more likely than myself to be asked if we worship cows and “drink cow piss.” They are also more likely to experience colorism and hear how unattractive they are in comparison to me. There are so many things my monoracial Desi counterparts, both first and second generation, have had to deal with that I’ve been spared from. It makes me extremely sad and guilty that I have experienced so much imposter syndrome in South Asian dominated spaces. Growing up in a very westernized household, I always appear to be “forcing myself” or “trying too hard” to rush Indian customs and norms in the eyes of my Indian relatives and peers. As much as I want India back in my family, it’s not the same as being over there where it all comes naturally. Having to come to terms with that is hard but I have to accept it at some point. This video provided me so much comfort knowing that there are multiracial people who understand the hidden dark side of the multiracial experience in this country. So many people think it’s all sunshine and rainbows but we’re the only ones who truly know what it’s like to feel “caught in the middle” and rejected by both sides. Thank you for sharing your story and truth. It really helped me feel like I’m not alone.
I applaud your honesty, understanding and explanation of who you really are. I am very proud of you because I understand through your words how difficult that journey must have been. Thank you my sister for educating me.
Thank you for sharing, as a someone who is racially Black and ethnically Somali I can relate a little. I honestly don’t know much about mixed race people, I learned something. Short story, it is important we all embrace all the parts that comes with us. Colorism and categorizing Black people came from colonialism and slavery. I hope more of us learn history to understand our own behaviors. We must unlearn.
Sweetheart let me say first, my heart broke when you started to cry. I understand how you feel, and I have experienced much of what you have experienced. My family is very racially diverse (black, native American, European, southeast Asian). When I was in school I literally had kids say to me I had to choose which race I would identify as, to which I made a very clear statement that I would not because you can't exclude who God gave you as a family, and I'm not choosing to make you comfortable with me. Either you take me as is or you don't, period. I grew up in the suburbs, went to private schools, and I speak clearly and concisely as I was taught. I have been questioned on so many occasions for who and what I am that I've lost track of how many times it's happened. I have sisters and cousins who look like you, we all identify as black, as well as the rest of our ethnicity. It's ignorance that would make any human being make another human being feel inadequate or less than because of skin color (melanin which is only 1/8 inch deep in our skin), since we all have the same cells, blood running through our veins, and organs. It's just stupid. NO ONE should have to defend who they are, honestly we are failing as a human race with that mindset, it's staggering to me!! I grew up in the 70's and honestly thought by now it would be over, its an archaic way of thinking that should be in the past, yet here we are. It saddens me greatly. Because deep down I know that by the time I have grandchildren they will probably experience this as well. I hope and pray they don't, but more than likely they will. We need to get better at accepting people for who they are and their character, not by what we see. 🙏❤💯
Wow Divan, thank you so so much for sharing your story. You are absolutely right that No One should have to defend who they are or explain to others, yet we’re still judged regardless. You are so right that the ignorance in our society is probably not going away anytime soon, but if we continue to speak up and share our experiences, more people may understand. I sincerely thank you for your perspective, and I too will hope for a more accepting tomorrow!
Thanks for acknowledging that being bi-racial is not the same as black, even if you identify as black you still benefit from your ambiguity. Everything you said was spot on, great commentary Jacy👏🏽👍🏽
The "you don't count" quote definitely hits home. I'm mixed. My mother is Mexican and my father is a white ginger. I'm white passing and I have never felt like I fully fit in with either culture. I'm not light enough to be white, but not dark enough to be Mexican. When I speak to my friends who are also biracial, they share this sentiment of not feeling like they fully belong.
I love how postive, vibrant, articulate and selfaware you are. Keep that up and dont let anyone bring you down. You do you and if others have any issues with that then thats their problem, not yours. Your story again proves that racisim is learned. Kids are not born to see race and racial sterotypes. They are tought that.
Thanks for your honesty about the college apps…I gave up figuring out what to put, I’m Hispanic, Chinese, white..I just check whatever I feel like that day and often I put “other” 💗
This was very interesting and I appreciate your candid honesty, which is very refreshing coming from a blk and yte bi-racial person/female. Keep telling your story to help people to learn.
I’m not mixed, I’m actually 100%Mexican American but I pass for white. I enjoyed your story because that is exactly how I felt growing up. Not Mexican enough for the Mexican people yet not white enough for the white people. I’ve accepted this situation and I know that my true identity is spirit soul, and I’m not my physical body. As far as getting along in this world, I just act like myself and whoever loves me for being me is my friend.
I thought I was 100 percent Mexican until I took a DNA test. I turned out to be 12 percent Aztec 88 percent European of mostly Spanish with some English, German, Italian and Irish ancestry.
There's no such thing as 100% Mexican American when it comes to DNA. You are mestiza more than likely. In Mexico you are white but in the USA you would be considered mixed. If you take a DNA test it will tell you what you are. Culturally you are Mexican American of course. Skin color doesn't matter when someone says "I pass for white." Anybody can pass for white really (brunettes, brown hair, black hair.)
This is why I dislike mixed/biracial people either categorizing themselves or black people demanding that they are categorized as just black. They are not black. They have a different experience from both black and white people, good and bad. It’s not just that they can’t relate to some of the black experience, I can’t relate to the mixed experience so why would we be considered the same?
If you are mixed and don't pass, you will be considered black by the construct. Lol. Try calling yourself white and walk into a Klan rally mistakenly. Lol. What happens? You will get a wake up call. Police stop? Etc...
You could flip this around and see that it's clear Jacy wouldn't feel comfortable identifying as just "white". And I think that's enough for her to identify as black, because it hints that she is aware that in the racial hierarchy, being white is exclusive - any hint of blackness makes you black. Jacy has experienced discrimination when people find out she's half black, after all. In the fight against racism she clearly sides with her blackness. I'm mixed, though not white-passing. Sometimes when I tell a white person that I'm mixed - instead of just saying I'm black - it kinda feels like I'm trying to distance myself from blackness and all the negatives associated with that. It's like I'm trying to assure them that I'm not "full black". It feels more respectful to my black heritage to just unashamedly identify as black. I imagine for Jacy being white-passing, that feeling might be even stronger. On the other hand, if I'm talking to a black person, then I have no problem identifying as mixed, as I feel I can just state it as a matter of fact, without the need to represent my people.
The experience of a biracial person is determined purely by appearance. It doesn't matter anyone's opinion of whether they're black or not. Society will determine how you are treated and whether someone will rent you an apartment, give you a job, etc. That's a fact
I grew up in white communities my whole life. My parents are immigrants. I’ve dealt with racism and xenophobia growing up. I was “the token black guy” around white people and seen as “the whitest black guy” around black people. Personally, I will always choose black friends over white friends regardless of the “white man with black skin” jokes. I keep my social group very small. Race was not a big deal for me as a younger adult. As an older adult, I acknowledge race more because of the dehumanizing racism and profiling I have endured. If I fathered mixed children, I would NEVER raise them in a white community like I was raised within. I would want them to grow up around people of color that look like them. Another interesting thing is colorism, which is the sister of racism. Within the black community, the lighter you are, the more attractive and better you get treated. If you’re light-skinned with a pointy small nose and smaller lips, essentially caucasian features, you’re considered more attractive. I remember my mixed friends being treated better and being considered more attractive because of that. All the black and white girls would flirt with and date them. I was always ignored and treated like I was invisible. I was basically a tall/skinny, dark shadow looming in the background. Getting disgusted, dirty looks because of my complexion and being called “gross and ugly” by these black/white girls. It was savage 💀😂🤣 I met a guy who was treated like garbage because he’s black albino. People called him ugly his whole life. Our stories sounded so similar even though our complexion spectrum was so different. We became good friends because of that. Girls used to dare each other to ask him out. I was like “Oh my God…the same thing happened to me,” and we just started laughing. I have a masters degree, both of my parents have been married for 40 years. My dad is a retired college professor. I break every stereotype, but I’m still an outcast by both sides. It’s really a matter of picking your poison. I just don’t care anymore. I’m very quiet and stoic personality wise now. I keep to myself. To hell with everyone else. Most people are so stupid, xenophobic, racist, and ignorant.
Wow Abe, I am sorry to hear this, especially on being rejected for having “blacker features” than your mixed with Black male friends. I had a similar problem growing up with girls too, but not like your story. Thank you for sharing💯
Wow, thanks for sharing your story Abe! I 100% agree that you need to pick your poison, knowing you'll always be deemed the whitest of the black friends or the blackest of the white. It was tough to navigate at first, but I agree that now it's more like "to hell with them" and unapologetically yourself and disregard stereotypes and expectations. I'm so sorry you had to endure that growing up, but colorism is unfortunately very prevalent within the community. Might add it to my video list of topics to discuss. Thanks again for your comment and support
Odd how you didn't talk about how dark skinned people beat and abuse light skinned people for being light skinned and having a proximity to whiteness. How many dark skinned people do a person need to find attractive in order to find a light skinned person attractive? How many dark skinned girls do a man need to date in order to not be deemed a colorist if he ends up settling down with a light skinned one? Some people really like to play mental gymnastics with light skinned people and it's truly sad. If you have some kind of self hate take it up with where it started. And this usually starts at home with your black/African/dark skinned parents made colorist comments to you as a child.
@NothingButTruth first black to own a slave was from Angola. You are full of nothing but untruth. But we'll pretend just mixed folks owned slaves. Don't want to hurt your oppressed feelings.
Hey Abe. I’m half Malawian🇲🇼 & half Nigerian🇳🇬, and I was born and raised in the US. I’m also a dark-skinned black person that has really strong Native-African facial features so I had a similar experience as you when it comes to colorism, featurism and xenophobia especially during my middle school and high school years. I’ve never faced overt racism from non-black people while growing up, but it was obvious that I couldn’t completely fit in with the whites,asians and hispanics at a deeper level since I stood out racially. Also, the people that made fun of me the most were other black people unfortunately. I would get xenophobic comments mostly from some of the Black-American kids that I went to school with just because my black parents were African immigrants. Many girls (mostly black girls) didn’t find me attractive as well just because I was a skinny dark-skinned black dude with strong African features back in the days when being a dark-skinned black person wasn’t cool or trendy. So, I felt like an outcast as well, and I became introverted because I always felt that I was more at peace when I’m not around people. I also have a master’s degree just like you which means that all the negativity we received didn’t stop us from doing something right with our lives! 💪🏿💪🏿
I came across this video randomly, but I'm happy I did. You shared an authentic take on what it's like to be mixed and passing, and as someone who could never be mistaken for anything but black, it was interesting to hear your experience. Thanks for sharing.
This women is absolutely beautiful! And I have to admit that the reason I first came to watch this video was because it just popped up on my main youtube page a little while ago and I saw her and didn't really pay any attention to the title. But then when I saw what it was about and then watched it, it was very interesting. I enjoyed it. Being a body builider and songwriter, it's nice to watch different things because what I do is mostly the only things I look for to watch on here, so it's nice to see different interesting subjects and good content like this video here is. And this lady here did one heck of a great job with with it as well. And I liked what you said at the very end about being asked if you could say that word, and then what you answered back. lol That was priceless! Thanks Jacy!
Jacy, the part in your story where you describe the conscious changing of your personality depending on your social environment is an accurate depiction of what's been termed "code switching." I'm half black as well, and a southerner. I'm more on the 'racially ambiguous' spectrum than white passing, to the point where one time a guy from Pennsylvania thought it was safe to tell a story around me that the reason he moved away from Philly to move down south was to get away from all the black people. There's lots of irony in that one.
This might be a long response but...first, I want to say that your video moved me to tears. Honestly. I’m so deeply sorry for all that you’ve been through. I admire how you acknowledged so many perspectives: from your own experiences to the feelings of others, regarding what it means to be a mixed-race individual. I really learned ALOT from your video too. I was clueless to a point that I didnt know the internal battle of what a mixed-race person goes through such as your struggle, your identity crisis and the entire journey. The way you were able to dive into this issue is heartbreaking yet inspiring. Your strength and openness to share your story was touching. Thank you. I have a huge respect for you in how you navigated through your struggles. Hopefully, ONE DAY, we can minimize these harmful stereotypes, judgement, fake "gatekeeping mentality" and create spaces where everyone feels belonged, seen and valued, regardless of race or culture ❤
I really appreciate Halsey's presence on the scene myself! I think she's a little less than half Black but it makes no matter to me, she's a mixed-race woman of Black American/White ancestry. I went for the longest time seeing no people like myself who are racially mixed and white appearing--growing up, there was Mariah Carey and that's about it. There are SO many bi/multiracial people out there on social media and in the general media for mixed people to identify and connect with, it has completely changed since my childhood/teen years in the 90s and early 2000s. I'm mixed Black and Italian-American (part black on my mother's side, part sicilian on my father's) and I love hearing the narratives, dialogue and journeys of other mixed people navigating this difficult racially polarized society. It's very important so thank you for sharing!
In New Orleans you would blend in with the city folk. You look like a 3 generation black with some white ancestry. It's not hard, you look like a light skin black. Even with your hair texture. It looks nice flat ironed. It was nice hearing your story. ♥
@@denisehenry3427 that's pretty cool! 😁I have always been fascinated with the history of the city and the folks down there. Maybe 1 day, I'll make it down there. I usually wear my hair natural, it was a braid-out in my pic. Try to stay away from straightening because I don't want to risk heat damage.
That's because 2 ethnicities who are natural enem¡es have no business mixing and making 👶🏽!That's why you're so messed up.Too bad mixing still happens especially with my people in particular. Despicable!
I can sooo relate with everything!! same here called white exotic green eyes curly blonde hair halfcast 😆 As I’ve grown I’ve had to create my own place that’s ok to be mixed neither either or both just uniquely me 😆 straightened my hair for years, the stereotypes from both party’s same as your experience either too white or too brown to fit in🤣 im in my 40s and not much change from others mostly in my own self esteem I guess. So great you are sharing your experiences 🥰 Unapologeticly me is so right! You and your family are so gorgeous 💕
Not sure how this ended up in my feed today (a year after it was posted), but I’m so glad it did. What a wonderful, honest, sincere, informative, and heartfelt “chit chat”. Thank you so much for posting. I have three nieces and one nephew who are also mixed (white and black). I can only imagine how much of this they would identify with.
Good one. More of the Black with White-passing. My actual situation is this: very fair complexion Coloured in Africa (South Africa). Ideologically I turned Black Conscious in 1976 at high school during a politically conscious period for learners like me. During the last years of the dying Apartheid I finished my teaching degree. I taught at a Coloured High School where Afrikaans was the medium of instruction. And my Coloured learners would not believe that I was Coloured 'like them'.
Wow this video spoke to me in so many ways. Thanks so much for sharing!❤️❤️ I've always been the black girl who talks white, or acts white, and such a "valley girl". Never black enough for the "real" blacks and not white enough to be white passing. The struggle is real and it takes many years to figure out where to belong. The judging never seems to stop..
Thanks for sharing Jacy. I live in the UK and was born in the early 60s, so obviously I'm much older than you and the UK is a bit different but I know exactly what you're talking about because I myself am Mixed Race. My parents are no longer around but my father came from West Africa Ghana and my mother was from Southern Ireland, although it was my mother who raised me as my parents never stayed together, my father basically walked out on her. I take after my late mother quite a lot though, I look more like her than I do my father, and many do presume I am White, and others mistake me for Greek or Turkish, that kind of thing. It rarely occurs to anyone that I am in fact half-Black but a few do work it out. Suffice it to say, I have had many of the SAME kinds of experiences as yourself growing up. Funnily enough, on the subject of George Floyd, which you mentioned in your video, I don't know if you might have heard but we kind of had our own 'George Floyd moment' over here in Britain back in 2011. Only in this case, the man killed (his name was Mark Duggan) was shot by the Police from a distance, and, unlike George who was mono-racially Black, Mark was Mixed Race like me and yourself, he had a White mother and a Black father. Like George, Mark was known by the Police and had a criminal record but to be honest, I don't know how the Police would have seen Mark in terms of his ethnicity, because like me and you, he didn't exactly stand out as obviously Black. Maybe they saw him as Black but he could have been any other non-White and from a distance, it would be even harder to tell what he was, and yet, accusations of Police racism were thrown nevertheless, followed by nearly three days of rioting up and down the whole of the UK. One thing that did strike me as odd though, many of the shops that got looted weren't actually White owned, they were often Asian owned and here's the rub, many of those Asians have much darker skin than Mark Duggan, so isn't it kind of strange that the rioting mobs who were using racism as the excuse were taking it out on a group of people who were probably even bigger victims of racism than Mark Duggan himself? To me, that sums up the complete lack of logic in many people within society when it comes to this issue, they're not making any sense and they just can't see how irrational they are being. Many thanks.
Thanks Jacy for the honesty in the story. I've learned a lot. Many times we do not realize the harm caused by the microaggressions of colorism on mixted race people.
Thank you for content. I found it useful as black father to half white daughters, 1 passing more than the other. The complexity of complexion in American society. Thank you again for sharing. This has to be helpful to so many other who seek to understand.
I can relate to all of this , growing up as a mixed boy in the “hood”. Its always pressure to be a “man” and growing up with no real role models you dont learn what a real man is until its time to be a father.
@@TheIntrovert83 It relates to the mental programming that was done to Black males by the colonizers and enslavers. That madness is still being practiced today. Across the board, the average Black (male and female) are initially thought of as having any smarts and child-like aka ignorant and foolish. In the hood, there's kind of a reversed affect that Black folks whom don't typically look "mixed" and those whom don't look "mixed". We're talking colorism here. Still in our communities nation wide, Black folks with a none Black parent gets discriminated against by those who don't and often discarded and invalidated as human beings and of being of the Black community...usually until he or she can go above and beyond the burden of proof to ignant types of Black folks that he or she can behave in ratchet ways associates with lower income Black folks who fight and struggle with themselves to merely exist. People like this often catch hell from both sides. I've seen it and having been young myself, have also participated in a few taunts until my mother taught me better before I became an adult. I've experienced some of that crap myself having been light enough to actually appear as though one of my parents could be white. That crap was far from cute. But I grew up and learned better and do better.
@@sirharry3051 I agree with you 100 percent. My father was of mixed race and had to deal with that BS. I feel like Willie Lynch is Alive and well unfortunately...
@@TheIntrovert83 The thing that baffles me is that more Black folks sit around and keep it alive and well operating within Black society. I honestly feel that folks of mixed Black heritage can better help stomp out the more troublesome ways in which racism towards people with African roots by stop referring to self as a "mixed race" individual and simply identify as Black. One doesn't have to try and disown the fact that he, she or they aren't of any other race. It's a huge step in helping dismantling the racism. Denying one's African roots or putting it in the often madeup laundry list of 900 different races only goes to support what white supremacists have concocted and use as a well oiled machine of death and destruction.
I’m in the middle of watching of watching this video and it’s really resonating with what I’ve seen on TikTok in the past year from biracial children with black fathers and white mothers, and it sounds like there was not a lot of talk about race and racism in the household from the black fathers. I am a black woman who is married to a white man, and we talk about identity, how we will identify our children until they can choose how they identify as an individual. The discourse I’ve seen on TikTok specifically talks about black father is not having these conversations and white mothers giving birth to children who have minoritized identities, and not knowing how to immerse them in that culture. The conversation has come up asking what role do these black parents or minoritized parents have in immersing their children in their ethnic culture. It’s unfortunate because the first time you talk about your own race should not be with friends. It should be at home, especially given the world and society that we live in.
I am black with 3b or 3c hair texture and straightened my hair as a child, mainly because my mom worked so it made ir easier for me to just put in a ponytail. But as I got older, specifically 18, I decided to stop perming my hair. Then flat ironed until my late 20s.I have been natural. But since then, I have been asked if I was mixed. I have light brown eyes as my grandmother and great grandmother had green eyes. So my dad, an aunt me and an older cousin all have some variations of green eyes. My dad's are hazel, mine are a light brown. My cousin and aunt's are green. So, it wasn't until an adult that I have been asked if I was mixed. When I said no, "but you hair, your eyes." We as black people are a mixed people. We vary in shades, hair textures, political affiliation. We are not a monolith. And like you, before I am black, I am me....
Jacy you're a GIFT from heaven! You're an articulate, smart, Beautiful and wonderful human being. You're a child of LOVE and that's what really matters.
Very interesting experiences and outlook on "race" you have. I'm very happy or even glad that you have what I feel is a great connection and bonding with your father.
I understand how you feel Jacy, my mom is a mixed race like you, half black/half white, they told her the same thing back in her day, but you're absolutely right, I think people put so much emphasis on race based on stereotypical characteristics? it's not right, who's to say that you're not black enough because you don't look black or act like it? Look Jacy you're an amazing human being, race is something that stagnates us from being ourselves, I'm sorry that you have to go through it, hearing this story reminds me of my mom when she told me a similar story except it was a little worst back in her day in the 70s and 80s that's the only difference, but again I love your story, it was moving and inspirational, I respect you 100%
Nature doesn't make mistakes, and we are all beautiful complex variations of our collective historical ancestors. My family is completely mixed, black, white, native American and Middle Eastern, how beautiful is that. We should never let the ignorance and prejudices of societies insecurities make us who we are and determine who we say we are. Facts 🔥
Solid video queen, and thank you for your courageous and honestly blunt intelligent clarification of this historical reality and colonial era legacy 🖤💯
Jacy, thanks for sharing your experience as a mixed-race human being. As a black male, my ex-wife was mixed and I couldn't help but think of her while watching your video. She also got inquisitive looks from people who wondered "what" she was. Some thought she was Hispanic, others guessed Asian, and a lot of them had no clue. Unlike you, she never identified as black or white. She would always pencil in mixed when filling out applications and questionnaires. I also got the "you don't sound black" and "you're different" from white classmates in college because I was well-spoken. Like many black people, I found myself having to "code switch", which sometimes can be exhausting. Anyway, thanks for a making great and timely video.
The similarities between a brother/ sister with one black parent and those of us with two, but growing up privileged, is astounding. I can relate to most of what you’re saying because I grew up privileged, and also in a neighborhood that was just about ALL white. With the exception of a few people of Asian decent. I’ve been saying this for a while…brothers and sisters who are visibly mixed and those of us who are black and black passing that grew up privileged could have a conversation about this stuff all day. VERY similar stories although there are some obvious differences.
Thank you for sharing this with us...ur beautiful intelligent and funny women...sorry u have had these struggles....being vulnerable reg this subject is awesome and will help others...love from uk 💜💜💜
(Don’t worry, no identity crisis here!) I’m just me. I'm a quarter black, so I look hella white. My hair is curly, and I just have nothing about me that shows that I'm mixed. It feel like something ‘I’ve got to prove.’ Recently I've felt as though I've been dishonest when telling people about my family, even though I'm just stating facts. I'm finding it really hard to know who I am and what I'm supposed to be. Part of me feels that it 'isn't that deep' and that I should just get on with life. As you said, you've never experienced the racism that someone who has a darker skin tone will, and the same goes for me. I just feel out of place and confused. I get frustrated when I tell someone I'm mixed and they keep referring to me as white and calling my family white. I'm just really confused about how to feel and who I am and who I'm meant to be...Sorry, I don't know what I'm trying to say. Thank you for sharing your story. x
Please just be who you are, a person with a unique identity, an individual. Just be proud of yourself and don't worry about what others may think about you.
I’ll make it simple for you. You are white...with a quarter of black ancestry. You most likely will marry and procreate with a non black person like most mixed people today so don’t stress too much about your family dna. No need to have an identity crisis. 😆 How should visible black people deal with the harassment we face being followed around stores while shopping, getting stopped by police etc. You really have nothing to worry about. 🤦🏾♀️
@@hadast3806 Sorry! Yes, I completely understand. I honestly always catastrophise. I’m sorry for being inconsiderate of others experiences. That wasn’t my intention. No no, I’ll definitely not have an identity crisis!😂 I appreciate your comment. Thank you! x
We need to have a bigger community for all of us that are mixed. I liked your stories and can resonate with some parts. It's hard out there, still not sure where I fit in.
Love your energy. Thanks for sharing your experiences . Its crazy how some humans treat people based on their genetics that they are born with and have no control over. People want to categorise those who are mixed yet they aren't mixed themselves. As a mixed person you can identify as how you want to identify. You come across as a polite, honest, strong woman. Continue being you 😊👑😍
This was a very interesting video. I really appreciate your level of self awareness and ability to truly articulate your experience. Just subscribed and I definitely would like to hear your extended thoughts on the privileges you have received as a person who presents as you do to the world, or this society I guess I should say. If it is too long maybe consider offering it as an accompanying podcast somewhere? I don’t necessarily know how that works lol.
I just found your channel , and I was curious about test you would say . What a fantastic video so vulnerable and clear . Thank you . I would encourage you to continue to label yourself however you see fit . Why yes you are white passing in society - that doesn’t have to be your personal identity . So many folks who are white passing have done work that has helped Black Americans as they are . Your blackness no one can take away from you . One writer I really like that talks about being biracial and who has characters who are white passing is - Danzy Senna she looks white passing but isn’t she too is mixed race her father Black her mother white - her book Caucasia is awesome and Syptomatic is fantastic ! Keep shinning bright ! And Happy Juneteeth 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉✊🏾
I appreciate you sharing your story. It is unfortunate that people want you to explain (your identity) and is likely stressful. I hope you find peace and love you.
It's GOOD that she's had that experience. A good kick in the ass is what people need to understand the world they live in. The only indentity she should have is Black, but unfortunately, 'mixed people' tend to be poorly prepared for the reality of the world they're born in.
Thanks for this video. I am glad that you address the issue of your blackness being scrutinized by both white and black people. Most times people assume that the insensitive, rude and even racist comments are mainly from white people. The truth is black people are just as rejecting of mix race people especially if they are very light and white passing. I hope that we can get pass these micro aggressions in the future and just celebrate and appreciate people for who they are. Great video
Amazing. This is so brave of you. My kids are mixed and I will show this to them. You really did a remarkable service, more than you know with your honesty. These are great topics and impact parents with interracial children.
This was an extremely good talk and I'm glad the algorithm dropped it on me. You seem like a great person and it is both sad to hear the bad experiences and awesome to hear the good ones. I'm also glad you are proudly embracing your black heritage. Since you mentioned that right at the end, it kind of left a question in my mind. Do you feel proud of your mom's heritage? By that I mean the story of her family and her collective ethnicity and what they accomplished and overcame. Is being white so problematic that it makes that difficult? It's kind of sad to see that part of yourself being treated by others as though it's radioactive. I hope things are going well on that front, too.
Thank You Ms. Erin. You are so brave to do this. My daughter is also black/white. 27. She has come through life so far unscathed even though she has I'm sure seen her fair share of the ugly part of being black. She has more white features than black and navigates the people according to how they present themselves to her. Articulate and worldly. Gets along with all people well especially animals. We joke about her being of the Dolittle persuasion. They come to her like she is their lifelong friend. She makes me feel proud to be her Father. I pray you have a wonderful life.
Love your video!!! ❤ the way we address this issues in Latin American countries is by “creating” new races like trigueño, mulato, mulato-claro, mulato-oscuro, jabao’, etc… (there are more lol). If the society only acknowledges black and white it’s ignoring the whole spectrum created in between. It’s too simplistic to identify with one or another when you are your own unique race 🎉
My wife is from Panama' and in Panama' she is a mulata or a triguena. She has a huge extended family that includes Blacks, whites, Chinese, Indians....it would amaze most people in the States. She truly could care less about a person's color. It is a highly mixed society and, while there is some amount of racial emphasis, its nothing like the U.S. Ironically, there is a small faction of U.S. "educated" people who have returned to Panama' and are preaching a doctrine of race hate, because of course the Spanish (Blancos) held slaves at one point. I don't know if this racist movement will find much traction anywhere besides Colon (and maybe not even there) because frankly, the people are highly mixed, and even the white Panamanians are more like "white passing".
Just so you know. I'm brown skinned and I've experienced everything you experienced, even though I primarily went to black schools. I also got to go to primarily white schools and liked them better because they had better equipment, more classes, and more resources. Because I didn't fit the stereotypes, most of my friends, even at the predominantly black schools were white. Black people accused me of trying to be white the entire time I was growing up, despite the fact that my family didn't fit any of the stereotypes either. However, I noticed when my cousins went to the same schools as me, they changed their behavior in school to fit stereotypes to fit in. I feel like you and I had a lot of similar experiences, except the black awards ceremony.
Oh that is so awful how the scholarship luncheon went down for you. We are so focused on how a Black person is stereotypically SUPPOSED to look and sound and act that we often treat people badly. I’m sorry.
Unfortunately some don't understand that being mixed is truly a blessing to society. It improves critical thinking and innovation in various ways which I can see here in Europe happen. My pov as a black teenager from Germany
High school is a beast. It's a dose of real-world situations that you will probably be dealing with in everyday life. You learn how to deal with bullies and adversaries.
I'm black, irish and scottish even though I'm a black passing person I feel happier and comfortable around the white side of my ancestry. I can be my clumsy, nerdy self without dealing with dirty looks and harsh criticism.
The fact that you have chosen to identify as Black especially when you could have chosen otherwise to your benefit speaks volumes of your character. What you reveal more than anything is that being black not just one thing or one way. The black community is diverse. Much to your chagrin you also found out that other black people put you in a specific "box". What I find so fascinating and intriguing is the denigrating things that you hear when you are around non-blacks that don't recognize your blackness. I had a Korean friend in college that used to share some of the things that were said about blacks when there weren't any blacks in the room. Not that you don't love your mother equally, but I can tell you have great love and admiration for your father and his side of the family. Just out of curiosity, do you feel more accepted by your father's side of the family? You continue to do you and live your best life.
I call y'all Daywalkers.. All the strengths and none of the weaknesses. I know the world can be cruel on all sides but your beauty is in your ability to see all.
I'm Eurasian, and I get the "You don't count as Asian" comments too. My dad didn't raise me so I grew up in an exclusively Asian household. I've learned how to be unashamed and unapologetic about my heritage as an adult. If you don't think I'm Asian, then you don't get to see the tasty lunch I brought to the employee break room! 🤪
I am half italian and I am more like a mulatto than a white person . Many white people say they have half or less italian and I notice most look English or Irish but not me. I have the stronger gene that comes from Turkey and that does exist in Italian DNA. I been called an olive nigger, a Mexican by other italians even because of my last name not sounding like theirs even though it was total italian. They called me a Mexican.. I could never win. And if people weren't being openly racist. They were sure picking on me for that reason but disguise it as something else It was extremely slow for me to make friends in my suburban high school in Massachusetts. It was either going to take a long long time or never. The older kids were nicer, my class was distant and more cliquish or gangsta cliquish even. Pale white kids acting like gangsta wannabes. How John Cena came off is real life in towns. Those kinda racists all over the place up there.
@@truthteller4659 Not necessarily. There are dark-skinned Asians. Colorism is huge in many Asian countries, and people in the west often only think of China, Japan, and Korea.
I’m actually 100% black and I used to get the “You don’t talk black” “act black” called an Oreo
I’m 56 and have times where I still have moments from the past trauma. Stereotypes are horrible. Racism is so ingrained that people don’t realize how much it impacts/limits their lives.
Same with me, Holly - both my parents are black, and I took a lot of crap from other black kids in junior high about being light skinned, not talking black enough, not being black enough, and on and on. We emphasize racism experiences at the hand of white people (and I experienced this too as a very young kid, I'm talking real racism), but in contrast we rarely talk about colorism prejudices within the black community and how we denigrate each other with reverse racist stereotypes.
You're not 100% Black if you and your grandparents are American - Black. You're likely at least 30-40% White. Get real, get a DNA test :P
9 times out of 10 you were doing something off code, or weird. I know my people.
you can be yourself without being called an oreo. you were probably doing the most looking down
or just straight up doing stuff thats off code. like walking around talking like a valley girl listening to smash mouth
and being a teachers pet.
Just a crybaby you will be alright
@@catchwreck928 congratulations, you just made my point.
I’m a therapist and I just used some of your video in a presentation for understanding mixed race identity development at Vassar College. Your story really highlighted and made all the academic stuff much more personal and thought provoking. Thank you for being so vulnerable about an important topic!
I find it disturbing you showed this to your class. Her rationalizations are just based on stereotypical misunderstands and cancel culture programming. If you want to know who is most concerned with color it's not white people, Most white people have never even heard the myriad of words black people use to describe their own race. Red boned, hi yellow...etc. Does a white person know about the paper bag test? She quickly goes to mixed to black to mixed, Her ethnic ambiguity is in her own mind yet she had embraced her embarrassment for white privilege such as not being pulled over by the police merely based on her whiteness. If anything, this should be shown to a class as an example of current moirés, I hear so many phrases that are repeated by so many you have to believe it's indoctrination. The second level of this is inclusivity of thought. When people are in an atmosphere where they have been told something and no one disagrees then they can't get pAR the first level of any intellectual conversation or debate. That's not right. A true debate takes a positive and negative side, here it is obvious there are not 2 sides there is only the what you are told side and the side that agrees even more. I guess you would be fired if you even suggested such a thing but perpetuating repeated doctrines is really not any better. Grape kookaid girl? Where you from? Black people don't say grape koolaid, the struggle to be oppressed is real.
As a white I often pass for black just to get treated decently.
Damn that was deep to embrace black while realizing that your black experience was different from others,I am black and impressed with your truths
Why? She can always lean on her white side, which keeps a foot in our black ass
As a father of a bi-racial daughter I wanna give you a huge hug! I sat my 13 y.o. Down to watch your video and it was eye opening for both of us. Bless you for this because it has opened new dialogue between us.❤️
I just want to respectfully say I hope that your daughter represents her blackness more proudly than the mixed up sister in this video bc allowing whites to shame black ppl around you is unacceptable to our lineage
Proud to be Mestizo.
As a white I often pass for black just to get treated decently.
Very well done, Jacy. I’m a 60 yo biracial male and can recall many of the childhood experiences you shared. Thank you for sharing yours. I passed your video along to my sisters and one of my nieces (also “passing”). Thanks. 😌
I’m black and white. I always hear I look Spanish till I say I’m black and white, they look shock and say really. Like I’m proud of what I am. I wouldn’t change it for anything ❤️
❤🖤🤍
Awesome
I feel u bro I get that all the time!
I won't lie Danny I thought you were either 🇵🇷🇩🇴..but nonetheless bro you have the best of both worlds like you said be super proud of your beautiful 🔙 ground my brotha👊🏿👊🏿
@@mocancer8485 thank you, that means a lot man, and I always will, gotta love ourselves no matter what. Stay true brotha 👊🏼👊🏼
Im Afro Caribbean/ Black woman and Ive been taking the time to sit back and listen to experiences of black and white bi-racial/mixed people and Im learning a lot. Thank you for sharing.
Very considerate comment, we are quick to give solutions or make excuses when sometimes the best we can do is just listen and learn. Thank you for sharing.
Interesting!
Cheers for being honest!
I have no need to learn any more about white folks and Bi-racial folks
@@Oldschool504 yet you want others to give 2fs about the plight of your own people? The world is simple, you give compassion you get same, you give grace you get grace.
@@farman96 Others will never give a shyt about Black Folks in this country, especially white folks. Equality, Payment, and being left alone are all Blacks asked for yet it's too much. None of the three will come without fighting for it. It's just how things are. Compassion has "always" been given, along with "forgiveness"
20:28 I am a Black grandfather of 3 biracial teenagers. I've often wondered what they have gone through and will go through in their lives. Watching your video has been most informative. Thank you for your clear and honest comments and insights.
Very insightful, thanks for sharing. As a black father of three black children who were raised in predominately white environments, I found your perspectives very illuminating. In addition, I remember when I was in business school, I dated a bi-racial woman who could pass for white. She used to say that she always tried to establish the fact that she was half-black very early in interactions with people so that she would not hear the racial biases that she would have access to otherwise.
I like that you embrace that you do not face the same struggles as dark skinned people.
All of this! I’m also half black and half white. Had a total identity crisis during the protests. Have had people tell racist jokes around me because they don’t know I’m black. Found Halsey’s words affirming/clarifying. I found your channel because I’m still trying to process exactly what my identity means to me and looking for more mixed people experiences. Thanks for sharing :)
Thank you for sharing Katie! It's definitely been an interesting year navigating our identities, and it'll be something we'll always have to deal with. But listening to others experiences is helpful, and I'm glad I was able to help you!
From your pic, you look mostly like a black person. You have a ethnic face
Your not black your mixed
@@Blackraregem There is no such thing as mixed, the man carries the seed, so therefore you are what your father is! The term mixed, concept or ideology is a social construct created for political use! The father determines the nation its been this way since ancient times, every thing else is new age established for political use!
if that's the case men should be able to procreate alone. If that was the case we wouldn't have white passing kids with black fathers. If that was the case we wouldn't have unambiguously black looking kids with white fathers. It takes two black parents to make a black child and two white parents to make a white child. The woman's egg carries as much genetic material as the sperm or else you'd able to reproduce with just sperm. Her egg is going to carry genetic material from her lineage rather you like it or not.and not only that but genetically, a person actually carries more of his/her mother's genes than his/her father's. The reason is little organelles that live within cells, the mitochondria, which are only received from a mother. Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell and is inherited from the mother.
Thank you for telling your story. My son is mixed and I remember when he struggled with being mixed. I walked through the fire with him and he knows who he is.
I’m half-Black and half-white myself! 🙂 I appreciate you for making this video because we need to stick together and defy what people think of us. I just subscribed to your channel. Please keep making more videos! 🙂
I agree! I feel that we are our OWN people❤
I am both Black & White...and I know exactly what and who I am as well as educated on my ethnic backgrounds.... everyone who isn't both say we don't know what we are but we do......we just don't seem to fit with what they'd want us to be. Appreciate you. It's been a great life to date. My Portuguese side of the family showed nothing but love for me and that was in the 70s. My black side of the family also loving ,supportive and present .
It's crazy how different your experience was from mine. I'm a BLACK passing half black/half white person. For me, people don't initially think I'm half white until I tell them because I primarily talk with AAVE, super athletic, wear bandanas, etc. I fit MOST of the black stereotypes despite being half white. When around white people, I tend to cut out the slang. That being said, I have dealt with colorism at earlier parts of my life. Now, most blacks realize that I pretty much get put in the same boat as full blacks 90% of the time.
Your experience being half black/half white in America REALLY DEPENDS ON YOUR COMPLEXION. If you're black passing, your pretty much going to have a more similar experience to someone who is "full black." If you're more white passing, then this video pretty much explains that. Your mileage will vary.
I'm black passing too I agree with you 💯
Very well spoken Jacy. Thanks for being so vulnerable with us.
I’m half Nigerian. After my parents divorced, my father remarried my stepmother who is also Nigerian. I always felt a little empty because I didn’t grow up around the culture like my younger siblings. Finding your identity can be difficult, but once you do, it’s a true blessing. Continue growing. Many blessings 😊
Thanks for sharing that! I feel like it'll always be an ongoing struggle, but that in and of itself is something I've found peace in ❤
You can still learn o!! Nigerians in Nigeria I find are very open to foreign-born Nigerians and they want to invite and teach about the parts of culture that you may have missed. IK there's not a ton of resources outside of Nigeria to learn, but don't feel empty! Your culture is based on the mix, and is just as unique. You do not have to be full anything in order to be valid.
As a mixed race/bi-racial/multi-ethnic girl i can TOTALLY relate!!! Thank you for making this video and sharing your.....(our) story 💕
I went to the premiere of MIXED (a documentary) at the Cleveland Institute of Art recently and actually thought of you while I watched it. I don’t know if it’s available elsewhere now, but it was made by Caty Borum Chattoo and Leena Jayaswal.
Thanks for always being authentic and genuine with us.
I'll for sure be looking this up. Thanks Meriah!
Really appreciate this. Think there is a difference between how a person self identifies and how who world sees them. For me, im mixed but the world often sees me as black. How the world sees you controls how you are treated and opportunties provided. Hence I do understand the response to the black scholarship. Those are usually offered based on social limitations, rather than how you feel inside. Think thats acknowledged in this video which is great.
This conversation was 100 percent real. Thanks for being real and honest. This conversation is so needed for a healthy society. First and foremost you are Jacy and the rest are attributes of who, you are.
I absolutely love this video. I'm not biracial, but this perspective is so necessary. We all need to do better.
I'm in tears over this video cuz I feel like this is a monologue of my life. I'm mixed (white and black) but I am black passing but the identity crisis part is so on POINT! Never black enough, never white enough. It's a struggle. This is my favorite video you've done!
And I identify as yellow my mom is orange and my dad is purple so I just choose to identify as yellow that’s how dumb y’all sound
Sorry to break the news to you but the parent of yours that is blc got with your other parent as a coping mechanism based on self-hat,whereas the parent of yours that is ₩te got with your other parent as a fet¡sh to fulfill to check off the bucket list.That's just the plain truth
wdym by never black enough. I truly dont understand what that means
@@aidan2849 meaning she didn't hit certain black cultural cues around black people so they ignorantly labeled her "not black enough". It's like a white guy who grew up in the hood. They aren't white enough for suburban white folks
@@aidan2849 they’re not full black they don’t have TWO black parents. What is there to understand
Jacy yessss so well-spoken on the topic of mixed, you couldn't have said it any better 🌟
Honestly me too. I was going to comment on the Halsey part… Halsey’s dad is biracial while her mom is White, which means she’s not Black nor mixed with Black. She’s a White women with a little bit of blackness. Other then that, I appreciate all of the points Jacy made on being a white-passing biracial women❤️😁
@@JulianSteve I have to disagree with you there...Halsey's definitely a mixed-race woman and it doesn't matter that her father may be half Black, instead of completely Black, because mixedness doesn't begin and end at only being half. If it did, most mixed people here would be disqualified because many African Americans have European ancestry already. For the most part as well, mixed people in America don't make a huge difference between those who are half or a quarter. We just consider people who are recently white and black to be mixed, blood quantum's not really a thing for us.
@@JulianSteve To be white, you need to be 100% Northern European. Are you from America? Having any black ancestry definitely means you are not a white person
@@calicoesblue4703 So you’re saying anyone can be mixed then? That does not make sense at all. DNA does not work like that🤷🏾♂️
@@RETROGEMS There is no such thing as mixed, the man carries the seed, so therefore you are what your father is! The term mixed, concept or ideology is a social construct created for political use! The father determines the nation its been this way since ancient times, everything else is new age established for political use!
I’m
Black and Persian and most people confuse me with a Hispanic person. It was a very rough and confusing life in my earlier years to say the least. You always feel like you don’t fit in with either side and always looking in from the outside. I’ve been told that I’m not really black also by other black people
Even though the only family I know or had was black. The only way to get through this life when you’re born into these situations is to be your own and love yourself.
Prob'ly because Hispanic is not a race. They are typically mixed(Blk, Southern European, and Indigenous) by default
@MuayC Que???? WTF???
@@25oxendine😂😂😂😂 i know right he is ridiculous we all know indians have Asian blood not no persian
@muiclay8565liar
@muiclay8565Quien eres tu para decir algo haci estas loco nada mas
Hey Queen Jacy ❤. I am sorry that you and our other mixed brothers and sisters go through these identity crises. Both sides should accept you for who you are. Both sides make up your genes so you actually are a member of both races. Your heritage includes both sides, not just one. This was educational and thank you for sharing. ❤❤❤❤
Hi Jacy, enjoyed your video about growing up mixed, I have cousins who are mixed and they always used to tell me about some of the same challenges and issues that you endured and listening to your experience, I feel that I have a better understanding of what they went through. The one thing that was relatable to me was when you mentioned the fact that when you were speaking to people sometimes that they will say to you " That you don't talk black" or "Don't act black" or my personal favorite "You are too well spoken for a black person" (I actually got told that one yesterday).lol. I actually sent this video to my god daughter who is mixed she is a freshman in high school right now and she has been going through it socially . She has confided in me some things that people have said to her concerning her skin color and ethnicity. Hopefully after seeing your video she will know that it is okay to embrace both sides of who you are. Sorry for the lengthy comment, but thank you for sharing your story. Looking forward to the next story time :-)
I was told in high school how I was an Oreo. And I was the whitest black person my friends knew. Thinking back on those instances makes me sick. It’s disgusting.
Thank you for sharing Samuel. This makes you think🤔💯
I cant thank you enough for your comment and kind words Samuel! I'll never understand why people continue to make those comments, almost as if they're compliments because you're breaking some kind of mold! It's insane black individuals in general still have to endure those blatant microaggressions. I hope my perspective is able to help your god daughter navigate her own ethnicity and self worth, and learn to be unapologetically herself regardless of expected stereotypes. Thanks again for your continued support!
Yes! I'd like a video like this! I am racially mixed and my sisters look different, my little sister was always complemented for her light hair and white passing appearance as a kid, strangers would also stop my mom all the time and compliment my sister, and I was only complimented for my light skin, but I had more native/darker features so I wasn't as complimented or paid attention to, and I didn't know why as a child, but as an adult I now know. Years later as I grew into my skin, and the Kim K look became popular, I started getting a lot of compliments, but it was a 180 for me and I never really felt them, as I had developed this complex that white was beautiful. It's sad that mixed kids are just trends. I now embrace my "unique" look (irregardless of validation from others or not), I just wish I had seen my own worth and beauty through my own eyes and not society's, also doing that in my late 20s though :)
Wow, thanks Mich for your perspective. I couldn't agree more, it feels weird that mixed kids are often complimented based on their proximity to whiteness. And I can absolutely relate to the insecure feelings growing up, only to have your "look" essentially become a trend. The best we can do is be unapologetically ourselves, regardless of validation as you said. Thanks so much again for your comment and support.
@@JacyErin in itself it wouldn't be a problem if colorism didn't exist. some babies are just cute. But we happen to know what types of mixed is generally complimented. I am myself most times but i don't like the roundabout way people ask about ethnicity.
Yes girl❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😅😅😢
I'm mixed b/w 60 years old, youngest of 3 siblings. You look like my niece and nephew on my brother's side. I'm dark enough to never be confused for white, but I look different enough to keep people guessing. I have been confused for white on the phone only to see the look of shock or confusion when meeting someone in person. There are so many stories. You are doing something important here. Keep it up. ❤
Hi Jacy, this video has been extremely healing and inspiring for me. I came across this video just now as I’m wrestling with my own relationship with my identity as a mixed race person in the United States.
My name is Joya Saxena, I am 22 years old and I’m a college senior. I am third generation Indian American on my father’s side. My paternal grandparents emigrated from India to the USA in the early 60s. On my mother’s side, I am white. I grew up in San Diego and was raised in an ethnically diverse but conservative suburb. Conversations about racism were largely nonexistent in general, let alone in context of my own experiences.
Then, everything changed when Trump got elected in 2016. I was 14 years old and that was the last time I was ever going to be a normal kid again. For many years, I was very politically active, both during high school and college. As conversations about race became part of my daily life, I began to wonder where my place was in racial justice struggles that I willingly took on. Reflecting on my tumultuous childhood as a Neurodivergent kid bullied by my peers throughout elementary, middle, and high school, my first four years of adulthood have been spent trying to unpack my intersecting identities while simultaneously navigating the universal struggles of coming of age. What I have learned is this:
Your video resonated so much with me. Immersing myself in my Indian heritage has saved my life and made me a better human being. Some of the Indian cultural traditions and values I hold close to my heart include being family oriented, revering our elders, giving and sharing with others, uplifting our community, seeing the divine in nature, and the belief in good over evil. These core principles are not just appealing. I have experienced many ups and downs in this journey but embracing my relatives, both in India and in the diaspora, has helped me understand that these core values were inside me the whole time. All I needed was exposure to the half of my identity that would bring them out into the world. With that, I have grown repulsed and distant from my white identity because of three things: 1) the oppressors who colonized most of the world, including my ancestors in India. 2) the classmates who bullied me as a child and showed arrogant, self centered behavior in general. 3) the angry, impulsive, confused, and mentally unstable little girl I must now leave behind in order to become the best woman I can be. Whiteness represents all of these things in my life and I only speak from my own experience. This doesn’t mean all white people are bad. Plenty of white progressives at small liberal arts colleges like mine have demonstrated their commitment to uplifting marginalized communities. I still stand by my decision to give my Indian heritage my undivided attention because as a whole, it taught me more about life than any job I held or class I took. With every new interaction with my Indian heritage, both good and bad, I become more compassionate, patient, considerate, and resilient. My close friends from similar cultures (Latinx, Caribbean, East African, Middle Eastern, East Asian, etc.) all agree.
Having said that, I’d be doing my monoracial Desi counterparts a huge disservice by not acknowledging my white privilege. I have fair skin and I have a basic white girl accent. I also grew up in the USA with unearned privileges that I got by virtue of being born here. Many of my international counterparts have been profiled and assaulted because of their visible Brown skin, clothes, and heavy accent. They also have a hard time finding employment opportunities because it’s a pain to get work visas and green cards after graduation. They often have to bear the brunt of most racist and xenophobic stereotypes. My international and monoracial friends are more likely than myself to be asked if we worship cows and “drink cow piss.” They are also more likely to experience colorism and hear how unattractive they are in comparison to me. There are so many things my monoracial Desi counterparts, both first and second generation, have had to deal with that I’ve been spared from. It makes me extremely sad and guilty that I have experienced so much imposter syndrome in South Asian dominated spaces. Growing up in a very westernized household, I always appear to be “forcing myself” or “trying too hard” to rush Indian customs and norms in the eyes of my Indian relatives and peers. As much as I want India back in my family, it’s not the same as being over there where it all comes naturally. Having to come to terms with that is hard but I have to accept it at some point.
This video provided me so much comfort knowing that there are multiracial people who understand the hidden dark side of the multiracial experience in this country. So many people think it’s all sunshine and rainbows but we’re the only ones who truly know what it’s like to feel “caught in the middle” and rejected by both sides. Thank you for sharing your story and truth. It really helped me feel like I’m not alone.
I applaud your honesty, understanding and explanation of who you really are. I am very proud of you because I understand through your words how difficult that journey must have been. Thank you my sister for educating me.
Thank you for sharing, as a someone who is racially Black and ethnically Somali I can relate a little.
I honestly don’t know much about mixed race people, I learned something. Short story, it is important we all embrace all the parts that comes with us.
Colorism and categorizing Black people came from colonialism and slavery. I hope more of us learn history to understand our own behaviors. We must unlearn.
Sweetheart let me say first, my heart broke when you started to cry. I understand how you feel, and I have experienced much of what you have experienced. My family is very racially diverse (black, native American, European, southeast Asian). When I was in school I literally had kids say to me I had to choose which race I would identify as, to which I made a very clear statement that I would not because you can't exclude who God gave you as a family, and I'm not choosing to make you comfortable with me. Either you take me as is or you don't, period. I grew up in the suburbs, went to private schools, and I speak clearly and concisely as I was taught. I have been questioned on so many occasions for who and what I am that I've lost track of how many times it's happened. I have sisters and cousins who look like you, we all identify as black, as well as the rest of our ethnicity. It's ignorance that would make any human being make another human being feel inadequate or less than because of skin color (melanin which is only 1/8 inch deep in our skin), since we all have the same cells, blood running through our veins, and organs. It's just stupid. NO ONE should have to defend who they are, honestly we are failing as a human race with that mindset, it's staggering to me!! I grew up in the 70's and honestly thought by now it would be over, its an archaic way of thinking that should be in the past, yet here we are. It saddens me greatly. Because deep down I know that by the time I have grandchildren they will probably experience this as well. I hope and pray they don't, but more than likely they will. We need to get better at accepting people for who they are and their character, not by what we see. 🙏❤💯
Wow Divan, thank you so so much for sharing your story. You are absolutely right that No One should have to defend who they are or explain to others, yet we’re still judged regardless. You are so right that the ignorance in our society is probably not going away anytime soon, but if we continue to speak up and share our experiences, more people may understand. I sincerely thank you for your perspective, and I too will hope for a more accepting tomorrow!
Very well said.
Thanks for acknowledging that being bi-racial is not the same as black, even if you identify as black you still benefit from your ambiguity. Everything you said was spot on, great commentary Jacy👏🏽👍🏽
The "you don't count" quote definitely hits home. I'm mixed. My mother is Mexican and my father is a white ginger. I'm white passing and I have never felt like I fully fit in with either culture. I'm not light enough to be white, but not dark enough to be Mexican. When I speak to my friends who are also biracial, they share this sentiment of not feeling like they fully belong.
I love how postive, vibrant, articulate and selfaware you are. Keep that up and dont let anyone bring you down. You do you and if others have any issues with that then thats their problem, not yours.
Your story again proves that racisim is learned. Kids are not born to see race and racial sterotypes. They are tought that.
Girl check BOTH boxes and don’t worry about anything. Black men will LOVE you forever
Thank you for telling your story - it was important and very interesting! I love your honesty and love you.. You're one incredible woman..
Love you Lorraine!
Thanks for your honesty about the college apps…I gave up figuring out what to put, I’m Hispanic, Chinese, white..I just check whatever I feel like that day and often I put “other” 💗
This was very interesting and I appreciate your candid honesty, which is very refreshing coming from a blk and yte bi-racial person/female. Keep telling your story to help people to learn.
I’m not mixed, I’m actually 100%Mexican American but I pass for white. I enjoyed your story because that is exactly how I felt growing up. Not Mexican enough for the Mexican people yet not white enough for the white people. I’ve accepted this situation and I know that my true identity is spirit soul, and I’m not my physical body. As far as getting along in this world, I just act like myself and whoever loves me for being me is my friend.
I thought I was 100 percent Mexican until I took a DNA test. I turned out to be 12 percent Aztec 88 percent European of mostly Spanish with some English, German, Italian and Irish ancestry.
You should do a DNA Test to know your true ethnicity.😌
There's no such thing as 100% Mexican American when it comes to DNA. You are mestiza more than likely. In Mexico you are white but in the USA you would be considered mixed. If you take a DNA test it will tell you what you are. Culturally you are Mexican American of course. Skin color doesn't matter when someone says "I pass for white." Anybody can pass for white really (brunettes, brown hair, black hair.)
Because you’re a white Latino. Latino isn’t a race. You sound like a conquistador descendant
This is why I dislike mixed/biracial people either categorizing themselves or black people demanding that they are categorized as just black. They are not black. They have a different experience from both black and white people, good and bad. It’s not just that they can’t relate to some of the black experience, I can’t relate to the mixed experience so why would we be considered the same?
We don't get to dictate what people identify as. Interesting folks are quick to claim Mariah Carey, Megan Markel, Katherine Johnson etc. as Black
@@smarie4834 Mariah Carey, Obama, Megan Markel etc are NOT black
If you are mixed and don't pass, you will be considered black by the construct. Lol. Try calling yourself white and walk into a Klan rally mistakenly. Lol. What happens? You will get a wake up call. Police stop? Etc...
You could flip this around and see that it's clear Jacy wouldn't feel comfortable identifying as just "white". And I think that's enough for her to identify as black, because it hints that she is aware that in the racial hierarchy, being white is exclusive - any hint of blackness makes you black. Jacy has experienced discrimination when people find out she's half black, after all. In the fight against racism she clearly sides with her blackness.
I'm mixed, though not white-passing. Sometimes when I tell a white person that I'm mixed - instead of just saying I'm black - it kinda feels like I'm trying to distance myself from blackness and all the negatives associated with that. It's like I'm trying to assure them that I'm not "full black". It feels more respectful to my black heritage to just unashamedly identify as black. I imagine for Jacy being white-passing, that feeling might be even stronger.
On the other hand, if I'm talking to a black person, then I have no problem identifying as mixed, as I feel I can just state it as a matter of fact, without the need to represent my people.
The experience of a biracial person is determined purely by appearance. It doesn't matter anyone's opinion of whether they're black or not. Society will determine how you are treated and whether someone will rent you an apartment, give you a job, etc. That's a fact
Wow love. So admirable of you to speak on this ❤️ your struggle is valid
Thank you so much Kendri!
I grew up in white communities my whole life. My parents are immigrants. I’ve dealt with racism and xenophobia growing up. I was “the token black guy” around white people and seen as “the whitest black guy” around black people.
Personally, I will always choose black friends over white friends regardless of the “white man with black skin” jokes. I keep my social group very small.
Race was not a big deal for me as a younger adult. As an older adult, I acknowledge race more because of the dehumanizing racism and profiling I have endured.
If I fathered mixed children, I would NEVER raise them in a white community like I was raised within. I would want them to grow up around people of color that look like them.
Another interesting thing is colorism, which is the sister of racism. Within the black community, the lighter you are, the more attractive and better you get treated.
If you’re light-skinned with a pointy small nose and smaller lips, essentially caucasian features, you’re considered more attractive.
I remember my mixed friends being treated better and being considered more attractive because of that. All the black and white girls would flirt with and date them. I was always ignored and treated like I was invisible. I was basically a tall/skinny, dark shadow looming in the background. Getting disgusted, dirty looks because of my complexion and being called “gross and ugly” by these black/white girls. It was savage 💀😂🤣
I met a guy who was treated like garbage because he’s black albino. People called him ugly his whole life. Our stories sounded so similar even though our complexion spectrum was so different. We became good friends because of that. Girls used to dare each other to ask him out. I was like “Oh my God…the same thing happened to me,” and we just started laughing.
I have a masters degree, both of my parents have been married for 40 years. My dad is a retired college professor. I break every stereotype, but I’m still an outcast by both sides. It’s really a matter of picking your poison.
I just don’t care anymore. I’m very quiet and stoic personality wise now. I keep to myself. To hell with everyone else. Most people are so stupid, xenophobic, racist, and ignorant.
Wow Abe, I am sorry to hear this, especially on being rejected for having “blacker features” than your mixed with Black male friends. I had a similar problem growing up with girls too, but not like your story. Thank you for sharing💯
Wow, thanks for sharing your story Abe! I 100% agree that you need to pick your poison, knowing you'll always be deemed the whitest of the black friends or the blackest of the white. It was tough to navigate at first, but I agree that now it's more like "to hell with them" and unapologetically yourself and disregard stereotypes and expectations. I'm so sorry you had to endure that growing up, but colorism is unfortunately very prevalent within the community. Might add it to my video list of topics to discuss. Thanks again for your comment and support
Odd how you didn't talk about how dark skinned people beat and abuse light skinned people for being light skinned and having a proximity to whiteness.
How many dark skinned people do a person need to find attractive in order to find a light skinned person attractive?
How many dark skinned girls do a man need to date in order to not be deemed a colorist if he ends up settling down with a light skinned one?
Some people really like to play mental gymnastics with light skinned people and it's truly sad. If you have some kind of self hate take it up with where it started. And this usually starts at home with your black/African/dark skinned parents made colorist comments to you as a child.
@NothingButTruth first black to own a slave was from Angola. You are full of nothing but untruth. But we'll pretend just mixed folks owned slaves. Don't want to hurt your oppressed feelings.
Hey Abe. I’m half Malawian🇲🇼 & half Nigerian🇳🇬, and I was born and raised in the US. I’m also a dark-skinned black person that has really strong Native-African facial features so I had a similar experience as you when it comes to colorism, featurism and xenophobia especially during my middle school and high school years. I’ve never faced overt racism from non-black people while growing up, but it was obvious that I couldn’t completely fit in with the whites,asians and hispanics at a deeper level since I stood out racially. Also, the people that made fun of me the most were other black people unfortunately. I would get xenophobic comments mostly from some of the Black-American kids that I went to school with just because my black parents were African immigrants. Many girls (mostly black girls) didn’t find me attractive as well just because I was a skinny dark-skinned black dude with strong African features back in the days when being a dark-skinned black person wasn’t cool or trendy. So, I felt like an outcast as well, and I became introverted because I always felt that I was more at peace when I’m not around people. I also have a master’s degree just like you which means that all the negativity we received didn’t stop us from doing something right with our lives! 💪🏿💪🏿
I came across this video randomly, but I'm happy I did. You shared an authentic take on what it's like to be mixed and passing, and as someone who could never be mistaken for anything but black, it was interesting to hear your experience. Thanks for sharing.
This women is absolutely beautiful! And I have to admit that the reason I first came to watch this video was because it just popped up on my main youtube page a little while ago and I saw her and didn't really pay any attention to the title. But then when I saw what it was about and then watched it, it was very interesting. I enjoyed it. Being a body builider and songwriter, it's nice to watch different things because what I do is mostly the only things I look for to watch on here, so it's nice to see different interesting subjects and good content like this video here is. And this lady here did one heck of a great job with with it as well. And I liked what you said at the very end about being asked if you could say that word, and then what you answered back. lol That was priceless! Thanks Jacy!
You're such a beautiful and transparent woman. I appreciate that in this world of oblivious, fake influencers. Your voice is heard, sis! 💗
Jacy, the part in your story where you describe the conscious changing of your personality depending on your social environment is an accurate depiction of what's been termed "code switching." I'm half black as well, and a southerner. I'm more on the 'racially ambiguous' spectrum than white passing, to the point where one time a guy from Pennsylvania thought it was safe to tell a story around me that the reason he moved away from Philly to move down south was to get away from all the black people. There's lots of irony in that one.
Yesssss we want to hear more 😊 thanks for being so open and honest and real 🙌
Thank you 🙏
This might be a long response but...first, I want to say that your video moved me to tears. Honestly. I’m so deeply sorry for all that you’ve been through. I admire how you acknowledged so many perspectives: from your own experiences to the feelings of others, regarding what it means to be a mixed-race individual. I really learned ALOT from your video too. I was clueless to a point that I didnt know the internal battle of what a mixed-race person goes through such as your struggle, your identity crisis and the entire journey. The way you were able to dive into this issue is heartbreaking yet inspiring. Your strength and openness to share your story was touching. Thank you. I have a huge respect for you in how you navigated through your struggles. Hopefully, ONE DAY, we can minimize these harmful stereotypes, judgement, fake "gatekeeping mentality" and create spaces where everyone feels belonged, seen and valued, regardless of race or culture ❤
Girlll I felt you on so many key points of this video glad to hear you speak on this as a mixed women in America 💕💕👍✅
I really appreciate Halsey's presence on the scene myself! I think she's a little less than half Black but it makes no matter to me, she's a mixed-race woman of Black American/White ancestry. I went for the longest time seeing no people like myself who are racially mixed and white appearing--growing up, there was Mariah Carey and that's about it. There are SO many bi/multiracial people out there on social media and in the general media for mixed people to identify and connect with, it has completely changed since my childhood/teen years in the 90s and early 2000s. I'm mixed Black and Italian-American (part black on my mother's side, part sicilian on my father's) and I love hearing the narratives, dialogue and journeys of other mixed people navigating this difficult racially polarized society. It's very important so thank you for sharing!
In New Orleans you would blend in with the city folk. You look like a 3 generation black with some white ancestry. It's not hard, you look like a light skin black. Even with your hair texture. It looks nice flat ironed. It was nice hearing your story. ♥
@@denisehenry3427 that's pretty cool! 😁I have always been fascinated with the history of the city and the folks down there. Maybe 1 day, I'll make it down there. I usually wear my hair natural, it was a braid-out in my pic. Try to stay away from straightening because I don't want to risk heat damage.
That's because 2 ethnicities who are natural enem¡es have no business mixing and making 👶🏽!That's why you're so messed up.Too bad mixing still happens especially with my people in particular. Despicable!
@@RETROGEMS What are your preferences white or black men? Am honestly just curious as to which biracials prefer?
I can sooo relate with everything!! same here called white exotic green eyes curly blonde hair halfcast 😆 As I’ve grown I’ve had to create my own place that’s ok to be mixed neither either or both just uniquely me 😆 straightened my hair for years, the stereotypes from both party’s same as your experience either too white or too brown to fit in🤣 im in my 40s and not much change from others mostly in my own self esteem I guess. So great you are sharing your experiences 🥰 Unapologeticly me is so right! You and your family are so gorgeous 💕
you don't owe anyone an explanation of who you are - you are a human being with value and importance. You just being is enough!
Not sure how this ended up in my feed today (a year after it was posted), but I’m so glad it did. What a wonderful, honest, sincere, informative, and heartfelt “chit chat”. Thank you so much for posting. I have three nieces and one nephew who are also mixed (white and black). I can only imagine how much of this they would identify with.
Good one. More of the Black with White-passing. My actual situation is this: very fair complexion Coloured in Africa (South Africa). Ideologically I turned Black Conscious in 1976 at high school during a politically conscious period for learners like me. During the last years of the dying Apartheid I finished my teaching degree. I taught at a Coloured High School where Afrikaans was the medium of instruction. And my Coloured learners would not believe that I was Coloured 'like them'.
Wow this video spoke to me in so many ways. Thanks so much for sharing!❤️❤️ I've always been the black girl who talks white, or acts white, and such a "valley girl". Never black enough for the "real" blacks and not white enough to be white passing. The struggle is real and it takes many years to figure out where to belong. The judging never seems to stop..
Thanks for sharing Jacy. I live in the UK and was born in the early 60s, so obviously I'm much older than you and the UK is a bit different but I know exactly what you're talking about because I myself am Mixed Race. My parents are no longer around but my father came from West Africa Ghana and my mother was from Southern Ireland, although it was my mother who raised me as my parents never stayed together, my father basically walked out on her. I take after my late mother quite a lot though, I look more like her than I do my father, and many do presume I am White, and others mistake me for Greek or Turkish, that kind of thing. It rarely occurs to anyone that I am in fact half-Black but a few do work it out.
Suffice it to say, I have had many of the SAME kinds of experiences as yourself growing up. Funnily enough, on the subject of George Floyd, which you mentioned in your video, I don't know if you might have heard but we kind of had our own 'George Floyd moment' over here in Britain back in 2011. Only in this case, the man killed (his name was Mark Duggan) was shot by the Police from a distance, and, unlike George who was mono-racially Black, Mark was Mixed Race like me and yourself, he had a White mother and a Black father.
Like George, Mark was known by the Police and had a criminal record but to be honest, I don't know how the Police would have seen Mark in terms of his ethnicity, because like me and you, he didn't exactly stand out as obviously Black. Maybe they saw him as Black but he could have been any other non-White and from a distance, it would be even harder to tell what he was, and yet, accusations of Police racism were thrown nevertheless, followed by nearly three days of rioting up and down the whole of the UK.
One thing that did strike me as odd though, many of the shops that got looted weren't actually White owned, they were often Asian owned and here's the rub, many of those Asians have much darker skin than Mark Duggan, so isn't it kind of strange that the rioting mobs who were using racism as the excuse were taking it out on a group of people who were probably even bigger victims of racism than Mark Duggan himself? To me, that sums up the complete lack of logic in many people within society when it comes to this issue, they're not making any sense and they just can't see how irrational they are being. Many thanks.
Thanks Jacy for the honesty in the story. I've learned a lot.
Many times we do not realize the harm caused by the microaggressions of colorism on mixted race people.
Thank you for content.
I found it useful as black father to half white daughters, 1 passing more than the other. The complexity of complexion in American society.
Thank you again for sharing. This has to be helpful to so many other who seek to understand.
Jacy Erin, this is a beautiful story. Love your personality and I am just finding it a year ago. So surprised..... Great video!😊💛💯👍
It’s really amazing how this beautiful mix baby embraces her Blackness with dignity. ❤❤❤❤
I can relate to all of this , growing up as a mixed boy in the “hood”. Its always pressure to be a “man” and growing up with no real role models you dont learn what a real man is until its time to be a father.
Whats being A Man gotta do with you being mixed?
@@TheIntrovert83 It relates to the mental programming that was done to Black males by the colonizers and enslavers. That madness is still being practiced today. Across the board, the average Black (male and female) are initially thought of as having any smarts and child-like aka ignorant and foolish. In the hood, there's kind of a reversed affect that Black folks whom don't typically look "mixed" and those whom don't look "mixed". We're talking colorism here. Still in our communities nation wide, Black folks with a none Black parent gets discriminated against by those who don't and often discarded and invalidated as human beings and of being of the Black community...usually until he or she can go above and beyond the burden of proof to ignant types of Black folks that he or she can behave in ratchet ways associates with lower income Black folks who fight and struggle with themselves to merely exist. People like this often catch hell from both sides. I've seen it and having been young myself, have also participated in a few taunts until my mother taught me better before I became an adult. I've experienced some of that crap myself having been light enough to actually appear as though one of my parents could be white. That crap was far from cute. But I grew up and learned better and do better.
@@sirharry3051 I agree with you 100 percent. My father was of mixed race and had to deal with that BS. I feel like Willie Lynch is Alive and well unfortunately...
@@TheIntrovert83 The thing that baffles me is that more Black folks sit around and keep it alive and well operating within Black society. I honestly feel that folks of mixed Black heritage can better help stomp out the more troublesome ways in which racism towards people with African roots by stop referring to self as a "mixed race" individual and simply identify as Black. One doesn't have to try and disown the fact that he, she or they aren't of any other race. It's a huge step in helping dismantling the racism. Denying one's African roots or putting it in the often madeup laundry list of 900 different races only goes to support what white supremacists have concocted and use as a well oiled machine of death and destruction.
@@sirharry3051 exactly 😎👍
3 mins into it and I already LOVE this girl! I prefer the term ‘mixed’ as well.
I’m in the middle of watching of watching this video and it’s really resonating with what I’ve seen on TikTok in the past year from biracial children with black fathers and white mothers, and it sounds like there was not a lot of talk about race and racism in the household from the black fathers. I am a black woman who is married to a white man, and we talk about identity, how we will identify our children until they can choose how they identify as an individual. The discourse I’ve seen on TikTok specifically talks about black father is not having these conversations and white mothers giving birth to children who have minoritized identities, and not knowing how to immerse them in that culture. The conversation has come up asking what role do these black parents or minoritized parents have in immersing their children in their ethnic culture. It’s unfortunate because the first time you talk about your own race should not be with friends. It should be at home, especially given the world and society that we live in.
Good observations.
🙌🏼❤❤❤❤
I am black with 3b or 3c hair texture and straightened my hair as a child, mainly because my mom worked so it made ir easier for me to just put in a ponytail. But as I got older, specifically 18, I decided to stop perming my hair. Then flat ironed until my late 20s.I have been natural. But since then, I have been asked if I was mixed. I have light brown eyes as my grandmother and great grandmother had green eyes. So my dad, an aunt me and an older cousin all have some variations of green eyes. My dad's are hazel, mine are a light brown. My cousin and aunt's are green. So, it wasn't until an adult that I have been asked if I was mixed. When I said no, "but you hair, your eyes." We as black people are a mixed people. We vary in shades, hair textures, political affiliation. We are not a monolith. And like you, before I am black, I am me....
Yes girl
Jacy you're a GIFT from heaven! You're an articulate, smart, Beautiful and wonderful human being. You're a child of LOVE and that's what really matters.
Very interesting experiences and outlook on "race" you have. I'm very happy or even glad that you have what I feel is a great connection and bonding with your father.
I understand how you feel Jacy, my mom is a mixed race like you, half black/half white, they told her the same thing back in her day, but you're absolutely right, I think people put so much emphasis on race based on stereotypical characteristics? it's not right, who's to say that you're not black enough because you don't look black or act like it? Look Jacy you're an amazing human being, race is something that stagnates us from being ourselves, I'm sorry that you have to go through it, hearing this story reminds me of my mom when she told me a similar story except it was a little worst back in her day in the 70s and 80s that's the only difference, but again I love your story, it was moving and inspirational, I respect you 100%
Nature doesn't make mistakes, and we are all beautiful complex variations of our collective historical ancestors. My family is completely mixed, black, white, native American and Middle Eastern, how beautiful is that. We should never let the ignorance and prejudices of societies insecurities make us who we are and determine who we say we are. Facts 🔥
I love your honesty. This is very refreshing to hear your point of view.
Solid video queen, and thank you for your courageous and honestly blunt intelligent clarification of this historical reality and colonial era legacy 🖤💯
Yes to wanting to hear about those experiences and stories!
Same here. I am intrigued💯
Jacy, thanks for sharing your experience as a mixed-race human being. As a black male, my ex-wife was mixed and I couldn't help but think of her while watching your video. She also got inquisitive looks from people who wondered "what" she was. Some thought she was Hispanic, others guessed Asian, and a lot of them had no clue. Unlike you, she never identified as black or white. She would always pencil in mixed when filling out applications and questionnaires. I also got the "you don't sound black" and "you're different" from white classmates in college because I was well-spoken. Like many black people, I found myself having to "code switch", which sometimes can be exhausting. Anyway, thanks for a making great and timely video.
The similarities between a brother/ sister with one black parent and those of us with two, but growing up privileged, is astounding. I can relate to most of what you’re saying because I grew up privileged, and also in a neighborhood that was just about ALL white. With the exception of a few people of Asian decent. I’ve been saying this for a while…brothers and sisters who are visibly mixed and those of us who are black and black passing that grew up privileged could have a conversation about this stuff all day. VERY similar stories although there are some obvious differences.
❤️ Thank You for sharing your life experiences as a mixed person. Great video Beautiful.💯
Thank you for sharing this with us...ur beautiful intelligent and funny women...sorry u have had these struggles....being vulnerable reg this subject is awesome and will help others...love from uk 💜💜💜
Thanks Annemarie! I appreciate your kind words :)
(Don’t worry, no identity crisis here!) I’m just me. I'm a quarter black, so I look hella white. My hair is curly, and I just have nothing about me that shows that I'm mixed. It feel like something ‘I’ve got to prove.’ Recently I've felt as though I've been dishonest when telling people about my family, even though I'm just stating facts. I'm finding it really hard to know who I am and what I'm supposed to be. Part of me feels that it 'isn't that deep' and that I should just get on with life. As you said, you've never experienced the racism that someone who has a darker skin tone will, and the same goes for me. I just feel out of place and confused. I get frustrated when I tell someone I'm mixed and they keep referring to me as white and calling my family white. I'm just really confused about how to feel and who I am and who I'm meant to be...Sorry, I don't know what I'm trying to say.
Thank you for sharing your story. x
Please just be who you are, a person with a unique identity, an individual. Just be proud of yourself and don't worry about what others may think about you.
I’ll make it simple for you.
You are white...with a quarter of black ancestry. You most likely will marry and procreate with a non black person like most mixed people today so don’t stress too much about your family dna.
No need to have an identity crisis. 😆
How should visible black people deal with the harassment we face being followed around stores while shopping, getting stopped by police etc. You really have nothing to worry about. 🤦🏾♀️
I wish I can marry you. I love you so much.
@@hadast3806
Sorry! Yes, I completely understand. I honestly always catastrophise. I’m sorry for being inconsiderate of others experiences. That wasn’t my intention.
No no, I’ll definitely not have an identity crisis!😂
I appreciate your comment. Thank you! x
@@squidinthematrix ❤️
We need to have a bigger community for all of us that are mixed. I liked your stories and can resonate with some parts. It's hard out there, still not sure where I fit in.
Love your energy. Thanks for sharing your experiences . Its crazy how some humans treat people based on their genetics that they are born with and have no control over. People want to categorise those who are mixed yet they aren't mixed themselves. As a mixed person you can identify as how you want to identify. You come across as a polite, honest, strong woman. Continue being you 😊👑😍
I'm biracial and grew up in the 70s and 80s. so I was certainly mixed back then . I absolutely get that.
Was probably even tougher for you! But I’m glad you can relate to parts of this video 🤗
This was a very interesting video. I really appreciate your level of self awareness and ability to truly articulate your experience. Just subscribed and I definitely would like to hear your extended thoughts on the privileges you have received as a person who presents as you do to the world, or this society I guess I should say. If it is too long maybe consider offering it as an accompanying podcast somewhere? I don’t necessarily know how that works lol.
As another biracial woman I appreciated you sharing your story😊
love the commentary. very honest and appreciated.
Most people would not be this honest. It needs to be said.
I just found your channel , and I was curious about test you would say . What a fantastic video so vulnerable and clear . Thank you . I would encourage you to continue to label yourself however you see fit . Why yes you are white passing in society - that doesn’t have to be your personal identity . So many folks who are white passing have done work that has helped Black Americans as they are . Your blackness no one can take away from you . One writer I really like that talks about being biracial and who has characters who are white passing is - Danzy Senna she looks white passing but isn’t she too is mixed race her father Black her mother white - her book Caucasia is awesome and Syptomatic is fantastic ! Keep shinning bright ! And Happy Juneteeth 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉✊🏾
I appreciate you sharing your story. It is unfortunate that people want you to explain (your identity) and is likely stressful. I hope you find peace and love you.
It's GOOD that she's had that experience. A good kick in the ass is what people need to understand the world they live in. The only indentity she should have is Black, but unfortunately, 'mixed people' tend to be poorly prepared for the reality of the world they're born in.
Thanks for this video. I am glad that you address the issue of your blackness being scrutinized by both white and black people. Most times people assume that the insensitive, rude and even racist comments are mainly from white people. The truth is black people are just as rejecting of mix race people especially if they are very light and white passing. I hope that we can get pass these micro aggressions in the future and just celebrate and appreciate people for who they are. Great video
Amazing. This is so brave of you. My kids are mixed and I will show this to them. You really did a remarkable service, more than you know with your honesty. These are great topics and impact parents with interracial children.
This was an extremely good talk and I'm glad the algorithm dropped it on me. You seem like a great person and it is both sad to hear the bad experiences and awesome to hear the good ones. I'm also glad you are proudly embracing your black heritage. Since you mentioned that right at the end, it kind of left a question in my mind. Do you feel proud of your mom's heritage? By that I mean the story of her family and her collective ethnicity and what they accomplished and overcame. Is being white so problematic that it makes that difficult? It's kind of sad to see that part of yourself being treated by others as though it's radioactive. I hope things are going well on that front, too.
Thank You Ms. Erin. You are so brave to do this. My daughter is also black/white. 27. She has come through life so far unscathed even though she has I'm sure seen her fair share of the ugly part of being black. She has more white features than black and navigates the people according to how they present themselves to her. Articulate and worldly. Gets along with all people well especially animals. We joke about her being of the Dolittle persuasion. They come to her like she is their lifelong friend. She makes me feel proud to be her Father. I pray you have a wonderful life.
Love your video!!! ❤ the way we address this issues in Latin American countries is by “creating” new races like trigueño, mulato, mulato-claro, mulato-oscuro, jabao’, etc… (there are more lol).
If the society only acknowledges black and white it’s ignoring the whole spectrum created in between. It’s too simplistic to identify with one or another when you are your own unique race 🎉
Can you explain some more?
My wife is from Panama' and in Panama' she is a mulata or a triguena. She has a huge extended family that includes Blacks, whites, Chinese, Indians....it would amaze most people in the States. She truly could care less about a person's color. It is a highly mixed society and, while there is some amount of racial emphasis, its nothing like the U.S.
Ironically, there is a small faction of U.S. "educated" people who have returned to Panama' and are preaching a doctrine of race hate, because of course the Spanish (Blancos) held slaves at one point. I don't know if this racist movement will find much traction anywhere besides Colon (and maybe not even there) because frankly, the people are highly mixed, and even the white Panamanians are more like "white passing".
P.S. My wife is generally classified as a Black woman, or maybe a "Black Latina" in the U.S.
Brazil is famous for this. They have a whole dictionary for describing various racial mixtures😂.
So happy I stumbled upon your channel this week.
And I'm so happy you found me ❤
Just so you know. I'm brown skinned and I've experienced everything you experienced, even though I primarily went to black schools. I also got to go to primarily white schools and liked them better because they had better equipment, more classes, and more resources. Because I didn't fit the stereotypes, most of my friends, even at the predominantly black schools were white. Black people accused me of trying to be white the entire time I was growing up, despite the fact that my family didn't fit any of the stereotypes either. However, I noticed when my cousins went to the same schools as me, they changed their behavior in school to fit stereotypes to fit in. I feel like you and I had a lot of similar experiences, except the black awards ceremony.
That’s such a annoying feeling right? Lol my own dad told me “you think you are white” being mixed is a blessing and cures
Oh that is so awful how the scholarship luncheon went down for you. We are so focused on how a Black person is stereotypically SUPPOSED to look and sound and act that we often treat people badly. I’m sorry.
...here we go "...it was the Blacks who treated me like crap.." ...always flip the racism on the Blacks.
Unfortunately some don't understand that being mixed is truly a blessing to society. It improves critical thinking and innovation in various ways which I can see here in Europe happen. My pov as a black teenager from Germany
High school is a beast. It's a dose of real-world situations that you will probably be dealing with in everyday life. You learn how to deal with bullies and adversaries.
Glad to. Say you’re one of us. And it’s ok to claim who you truly are. ❤😂
I'm black, irish and scottish even though I'm a black passing person I feel happier and comfortable around the white side of my ancestry. I can be my clumsy, nerdy self without dealing with dirty looks and harsh criticism.
Just be happy you've got a bit o'Irish in ya.😂😂
The fact that you have chosen to identify as Black especially when you could have chosen otherwise to your benefit speaks volumes of your character. What you reveal more than anything is that being black not just one thing or one way. The black community is diverse. Much to your chagrin you also found out that other black people put you in a specific "box". What I find so fascinating and intriguing is the denigrating things that you hear when you are around non-blacks that don't recognize your blackness. I had a Korean friend in college that used to share some of the things that were said about blacks when there weren't any blacks in the room. Not that you don't love your mother equally, but I can tell you have great love and admiration for your father and his side of the family. Just out of curiosity, do you feel more accepted by your father's side of the family? You continue to do you and live your best life.
Nahh, nothing special. She is mix and very far from blk if we are honest. She might have around 10% blk in her.
. Not black. Biracial though.
I really liked this video!! I would love more video on this topic!!!
Thanks for the feedback and support Ivana ❤
I’m sending this to my mixed daughter. Thank you for sharing! ❤
I call y'all Daywalkers.. All the strengths and none of the weaknesses. I know the world can be cruel on all sides but your beauty is in your ability to see all.
I'm Eurasian, and I get the "You don't count as Asian" comments too. My dad didn't raise me so I grew up in an exclusively Asian household. I've learned how to be unashamed and unapologetic about my heritage as an adult. If you don't think I'm Asian, then you don't get to see the tasty lunch I brought to the employee break room! 🤪
It's not the same bc both groups have pale skin
I am half italian and I am more like a mulatto than a white person . Many white people say they have half or less italian and I notice most look English or Irish but not me. I have the stronger gene that comes from Turkey and that does exist in Italian DNA.
I been called an olive nigger, a Mexican by other italians even because of my last name not sounding like theirs even though it was total italian. They called me a Mexican.. I could never win.
And if people weren't being openly racist. They were sure picking on me for that reason but disguise it as something else
It was extremely slow for me to make friends in my suburban high school in Massachusetts. It was either going to take a long long time or never. The older kids were nicer, my class was distant and more cliquish or gangsta cliquish even. Pale white kids acting like gangsta wannabes. How John Cena came off is real life in towns. Those kinda racists all over the place up there.
@@truthteller4659 Not necessarily. There are dark-skinned Asians. Colorism is huge in many Asian countries, and people in the west often only think of China, Japan, and Korea.
@@truthteller4659You do know Indian people are considered Asian as well, right?