When I was younger, I absolutely found myself navigating in a sort of binary, Black and white (pardon the pun) way. As I struggled to find my identity within the context of being biracial, I certainly "tried on" both whiteness and Blackness as they were presented to me by family, peers and the media. I've been the lilly white preppy high schooler. I tried on being "urban Black" as that was presented in the early 90s.

As I grew up though, I realized that I don't have to be one or the other. I'm neither and I'm both. The need to pick is something others thrust upon a person to make them feel comfortable. People like simplicity and categories are simple.

Yes, people see me, generally as white. But that can change very quickly when they learn I'm not.

I suppose maybe I'm a bit of a contrarian or a shit disturber because I find my unique appearance and not so unique racial makeup a very powerful tool in educating others about how stupid racism is. If I'm beautiful and brilliant right now (not saying I am, I'm using an example), how does that change when one finds out my dad was Black? Why does it change? I didn't change, but the perception of me did. All I want is for people to learn to think critically, take off the blinders, entertain the possibility that they might be wrong....