Biracial identity is a journey of discovery and rejection. Keep politics out of it | Opinion

As the rigid racial politics of our country are challenged by an increasing number of people who identify as biracial, we need to change how we treat those who choose to identify differently from previous generations. Particularly in the last three months, biracial identity has been a flashpoint in the mainstream media.

In the rap beef of the summer, Kendrick Lamar chose to attack Drake’s biracial identity in songs about the Canadian rapper. Lamar even called Drake a colonizer. He believes Drake’s experience as a biracial kid from Toronto invalidates his credibility as a hip-hop artist.

Opinion

Model and rapper Amber Rose surprised many people by speaking at the Republican National Convention and devoting her allegiance to former President Donald Trump. There were many things to take away from her wacky speech, but instead, MSNBC personality Joy Reid decided to focus on Rose’s biracial identity.

“I don’t want to say she’s Black because she has said she’s not, so I don’t want to say this Black woman,” said Reid.

“This woman who is of whatever race that she has claimed said she’s not Black, but (the RNC) brought somebody whose whole career is based in Black culture.”

In a post via X that has now been deleted, Rose slammed Reid for her comments.

“Hi @JoyAnnReid I’ve never said I wasn’t black I said I identify as biracial. I’m not going to (invalidate) my white father to make you feel more comfortable. Stop being a race-baiter. ur (sic) president does enough race-baiting for all of us.”

Whatever any of us may think about Rose, the comments directed at her by Reid open a window into the rejection that biracial people experience while living their true selves.

Biracial is a legitimate identity yet the journey to self-discovery is often met with derision.

The complicated B-word

Navigating my identity in the South, a region drawn with color lines, felt like being a piece to a puzzle that changed every day.

“Aren’t you part white?” my Black friends would ask me. My white friends would ask the same question, but vice versa.

So at 20, I decided that I wanted to identify as biracial. I never knew my Black father growing up. The only relatives I knew were from the white side of my family. I’m fully aware that my appearance is Black, from my thick curly hair to my beautiful melanin skin. But I wanted to honor both sides of my identity. So I claimed my identity. I’m biracial.

But it wasn’t until a Thanksgiving dinner when I met the family of my now ex-girlfriend, that I truly understood the isolation and rejection my identity can cause. My ex is Black, I was meeting her family for the first time and a family friend of hers sat next to me. We got to talking, it was a casual conversation when I mentioned I was biracial. The eye roll she gave will haunt me to my grave.

“Oh you biracial,” she said with sarcasm.

I was confused as to why that garnered such a reaction. As she continued to question my decision to identify as biracial, more people kept coming to the table, agreeing with her that my decision was a mistake.

One gentleman at the table told me I could not identify as biracial. I had to “choose one.”

His demand stunned me as he, the woman and the rest of the table looked at me, waiting for me to pick a side.

I told him that I didn’t have to choose. They just sat and stared at me and then I got up and left.

That experience was a critical point for me and my identity. I had to withstand berating, questioning and ridicule all because of how I identify. How fair is that?

Race should not be limited to a binary and restrictive idea. And for it to be a base for polarizing politics is not acceptable.

Politicizing race is wrong

The back and forth between Rose and Reid highlights the political laziness around race. It’s speculated that Rose has lost sight of who she is or what she’s doing by supporting Trump.

Rose’s political thinking doesn’t have many commonalities with me but I firmly believe her experience, and her identity as a biracial person should not become a political talking point.

Rose and the other thousands of biracial Americans have a right to their identities.

To be biracial is not withdrawing from the Black experience or distancing from it. I have found that being biracial is about honesty and being comfortable with everything that makes you who you are.