[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] at first glance when you look at me what
at first glance when you look at me what
at first glance when you look at me what do you see you see my skin the color of
do you see you see my skin the color of
do you see you see my skin the color of sand you see my full lips small nose and
sand you see my full lips small nose and
sand you see my full lips small nose and my sandy red and brown coarse hair when
my sandy red and brown coarse hair when
my sandy red and brown coarse hair when people encounter me most of the time
people encounter me most of the time
people encounter me most of the time it’s with the statement you look exotic
it’s with the statement you look exotic
it’s with the statement you look exotic or you’re pretty and then after the soft
or you’re pretty and then after the soft
or you’re pretty and then after the soft introduction of compliments comes the
introduction of compliments comes the
introduction of compliments comes the hard-hitting question out of burning
hard-hitting question out of burning
hard-hitting question out of burning curiosity what are you where are you
curiosity what are you where are you
curiosity what are you where are you from no like where are you really from
from no like where are you really from
from no like where are you really from what are your parents where are they
what are your parents where are they
what are your parents where are they from
from
from is that a tan no but your hair is kinky
is that a tan no but your hair is kinky
is that a tan no but your hair is kinky so you must be black oh you’re mixed and
so you must be black oh you’re mixed and
so you must be black oh you’re mixed and out of all of these questions asking my
out of all of these questions asking my
out of all of these questions asking my name seems not to be the first and
name seems not to be the first and
name seems not to be the first and sometimes not even one of them this
sometimes not even one of them this
sometimes not even one of them this makes me curious curious as to why the
makes me curious curious as to why the
makes me curious curious as to why the what are you question lingers in the
what are you question lingers in the
what are you question lingers in the mind for those that we cannot categorize
mind for those that we cannot categorize
mind for those that we cannot categorize those who seem to be ethnically
those who seem to be ethnically
those who seem to be ethnically ambiguous categorization is a part of
ambiguous categorization is a part of
ambiguous categorization is a part of human nature we do this with shapes and
human nature we do this with shapes and
human nature we do this with shapes and colors for instance and then we do this
colors for instance and then we do this
colors for instance and then we do this with people we want to be able to
with people we want to be able to
with people we want to be able to understand those that are different than
understand those that are different than
understand those that are different than us
us
us but without speaking to them as a
but without speaking to them as a
but without speaking to them as a multiracial woman I get the what are you
multiracial woman I get the what are you
multiracial woman I get the what are you question quite often ironically however
question quite often ironically however
question quite often ironically however getting asked this annoying question at
getting asked this annoying question at
getting asked this annoying question at least gives me the opportunity to have
least gives me the opportunity to have
least gives me the opportunity to have an open conversation about race that
an open conversation about race that
an open conversation about race that would not occur otherwise the
would not occur otherwise the
would not occur otherwise the my sisters and I they also get the what
my sisters and I they also get the what
my sisters and I they also get the what are you question a lot we are each very
are you question a lot we are each very
are you question a lot we are each very different people
different people
different people and interestingly enough in the past we
and interestingly enough in the past we
and interestingly enough in the past we have all identified with black or
have all identified with black or
have all identified with black or african-american it hasn’t been but
african-american it hasn’t been but
african-american it hasn’t been but within the past few years that we have
within the past few years that we have
within the past few years that we have changed our identification to
changed our identification to
changed our identification to multiracial but this is upon the
multiracial but this is upon the
multiracial but this is upon the realization that we could in fact be
realization that we could in fact be
realization that we could in fact be both black and white two of the most
both black and white two of the most
both black and white two of the most predominant identifications that we
predominant identifications that we
predominant identifications that we associate ourselves with this is because
associate ourselves with this is because
associate ourselves with this is because of our parents to different people on
of our parents to different people on
of our parents to different people on two ends of the racial spectrum that
two ends of the racial spectrum that
two ends of the racial spectrum that instilled a set of values that taught us
instilled a set of values that taught us
instilled a set of values that taught us to embrace both of our culture’s that we
to embrace both of our culture’s that we
to embrace both of our culture’s that we are very much part of I remember that
are very much part of I remember that
are very much part of I remember that very awkward conversation with my dad
very awkward conversation with my dad
very awkward conversation with my dad when I expressed to him that I only
when I expressed to him that I only
when I expressed to him that I only associated with black you should have
associated with black you should have
associated with black you should have seen his face
seen his face
seen his face one of disappointment as if I have been
one of disappointment as if I have been
one of disappointment as if I have been neglecting a piece of me by only
neglecting a piece of me by only
neglecting a piece of me by only associating with one ethnicity one
associating with one ethnicity one
associating with one ethnicity one culture
culture
culture why can’t you be both he asked and
why can’t you be both he asked and
why can’t you be both he asked and honestly I wouldn’t be able to answer
honestly I wouldn’t be able to answer
honestly I wouldn’t be able to answer nor understand why I couldn’t in fact be
nor understand why I couldn’t in fact be
nor understand why I couldn’t in fact be both until a few years later after I’d
both until a few years later after I’d
both until a few years later after I’d been educated formally and informally
been educated formally and informally
been educated formally and informally about race and identity I have also had
about race and identity I have also had
about race and identity I have also had conversations similarly with my mother
conversations similarly with my mother
conversations similarly with my mother when BET’s annual black girls rock award
when BET’s annual black girls rock award
when BET’s annual black girls rock award show came on television one year I asked
show came on television one year I asked
show came on television one year I asked her mama do I count like do I get to
her mama do I count like do I get to
her mama do I count like do I get to celebrate being a black woman even
celebrate being a black woman even
celebrate being a black woman even though I’m not fully black and what she
though I’m not fully black and what she
though I’m not fully black and what she said I will never forget Sierra you are
said I will never forget Sierra you are
said I will never forget Sierra you are a woman of color you came from me a
a woman of color you came from me a
a woman of color you came from me a black woman and without me you would not
black woman and without me you would not
black woman and without me you would not be here
be here
be here you are no better or any less than black
you are no better or any less than black
you are no better or any less than black because you are half white or have light
because you are half white or have light
because you are half white or have light skin you are indeed both and you have
skin you are indeed both and you have
skin you are indeed both and you have the right to embrace both of those parts
the right to embrace both of those parts
the right to embrace both of those parts separately as well as together this
separately as well as together this
separately as well as together this journey and finding my identity and who
journey and finding my identity and who
journey and finding my identity and who I am
I am
I am persisted with these conversations with
persisted with these conversations with
persisted with these conversations with my parents questions about my identity
my parents questions about my identity
my parents questions about my identity actually stemmed from surveys like this
actually stemmed from surveys like this
actually stemmed from surveys like this the more formally explicit version of
the more formally explicit version of
the more formally explicit version of the what are you question the version
the what are you question the version
the what are you question the version that gets to dodge the conversation
that gets to dodge the conversation
that gets to dodge the conversation about Who I am which cannot be expressed
about Who I am which cannot be expressed
about Who I am which cannot be expressed simply by checking black or in my case
simply by checking black or in my case
simply by checking black or in my case what is most commonly expressed as bi or
what is most commonly expressed as bi or
what is most commonly expressed as bi or multiracial the problem with this survey
multiracial the problem with this survey
multiracial the problem with this survey is the perpetuation of the one-drop rule
is the perpetuation of the one-drop rule
is the perpetuation of the one-drop rule it is not written on the survey but ever
it is not written on the survey but ever
it is not written on the survey but ever since I entered the school system it had
since I entered the school system it had
since I entered the school system it had been an unspoken rule that I must check
been an unspoken rule that I must check
been an unspoken rule that I must check black and to avoid checking the white or
black and to avoid checking the white or
black and to avoid checking the white or Caucasian box one of the biggest factors
Caucasian box one of the biggest factors
Caucasian box one of the biggest factors as to why I had trouble associating
as to why I had trouble associating
as to why I had trouble associating myself with the white racial identity it
myself with the white racial identity it
myself with the white racial identity it was like a forbidden Pandora’s box that
was like a forbidden Pandora’s box that
was like a forbidden Pandora’s box that I was shunned from opening because then
I was shunned from opening because then
I was shunned from opening because then people became confused like my teacher
people became confused like my teacher
people became confused like my teacher in the third grade when I asked her if
in the third grade when I asked her if
in the third grade when I asked her if it was okay to check white I have also
it was okay to check white I have also
it was okay to check white I have also been guilty of asking the what are you
been guilty of asking the what are you
been guilty of asking the what are you question in fact a few years ago after
question in fact a few years ago after
question in fact a few years ago after watching one of my sisters middle school
watching one of my sisters middle school
watching one of my sisters middle school basketball games I was speaking to one
basketball games I was speaking to one
basketball games I was speaking to one of the referees that had happened to be
of the referees that had happened to be
of the referees that had happened to be working her game and in the middle of
working her game and in the middle of
working her game and in the middle of glorious basketball conversation I
glorious basketball conversation I
glorious basketball conversation I nervously asked excuse me sir but what
nervously asked excuse me sir but what
nervously asked excuse me sir but what are you he smiled and looked at me I am
are you he smiled and looked at me I am
are you he smiled and looked at me I am an American he said and thinking this
an American he said and thinking this
an American he said and thinking this was some sort of game I responded with
was some sort of game I responded with
was some sort of game I responded with okay so what is your race
okay so what is your race
okay so what is your race he responded with homo sapien a human I
he responded with homo sapien a human I
he responded with homo sapien a human I asked one question after another until I
asked one question after another until I
asked one question after another until I ran out of questions that I thought were
ran out of questions that I thought were
ran out of questions that I thought were valid I gave up and I asked myself was
valid I gave up and I asked myself was
valid I gave up and I asked myself was it really that important to know the
it really that important to know the
it really that important to know the ethnic identity of this man I thought
ethnic identity of this man I thought
ethnic identity of this man I thought that what are you question was an
that what are you question was an
that what are you question was an appropriate approach in asking another
appropriate approach in asking another
appropriate approach in asking another ethnically ambiguous looking person
ethnically ambiguous looking person
ethnically ambiguous looking person what are you because the same question
what are you because the same question
what are you because the same question had been asked of me my entire life I
had been asked of me my entire life I
had been asked of me my entire life I didn’t understand until later that what
didn’t understand until later that what
didn’t understand until later that what he was trying to tell me was that it was
he was trying to tell me was that it was
he was trying to tell me was that it was not about his skin colour it was more
not about his skin colour it was more
not about his skin colour it was more about who he is and not what he appears
about who he is and not what he appears
about who he is and not what he appears to be after this encounter I realized
to be after this encounter I realized
to be after this encounter I realized that it wasn’t so much that his skin
that it wasn’t so much that his skin
that it wasn’t so much that his skin colour and combination of stereotypical
colour and combination of stereotypical
colour and combination of stereotypical racial features is what intrigued me the
racial features is what intrigued me the
racial features is what intrigued me the most but it was the person that he
most but it was the person that he
most but it was the person that he showed me that was more intriguing than
showed me that was more intriguing than
showed me that was more intriguing than any race category could have been I have
any race category could have been I have
any race category could have been I have been blessed with the ability to
been blessed with the ability to
been blessed with the ability to witnessed firsthand both sides of a
witnessed firsthand both sides of a
witnessed firsthand both sides of a black and white world
black and white world
black and white world I see the differences between a white
I see the differences between a white
I see the differences between a white man in today’s society and a black woman
man in today’s society and a black woman
man in today’s society and a black woman in today’s society and I’ve experienced
in today’s society and I’ve experienced
in today’s society and I’ve experienced the cultures associated with each of
the cultures associated with each of
the cultures associated with each of those groups essentially both of my
those groups essentially both of my
those groups essentially both of my parents are American however the
parents are American however the
parents are American however the difference comes with the perception of
difference comes with the perception of
difference comes with the perception of what it means to be black compared to
what it means to be black compared to
what it means to be black compared to white in America as a multiracial woman
white in America as a multiracial woman
white in America as a multiracial woman I feel as if I have been tasked and
I feel as if I have been tasked and
I feel as if I have been tasked and acting as a bridge between the two races
acting as a bridge between the two races
acting as a bridge between the two races but that task has less to do with race
but that task has less to do with race
but that task has less to do with race and more to do with how we are to
and more to do with how we are to
and more to do with how we are to approach and interact with one another
approach and interact with one another
approach and interact with one another in spite of it now with all of the
in spite of it now with all of the
in spite of it now with all of the stereotypical racial stereotypes
stereotypical racial stereotypes
stereotypical racial stereotypes associated with each race fest there is
associated with each race fest there is
associated with each race fest there is a threshold of fear that one must cross
a threshold of fear that one must cross
a threshold of fear that one must cross in order to escape the initial tyrants
in order to escape the initial tyrants
in order to escape the initial tyrants of subconscious prejudice now how do we
of subconscious prejudice now how do we
of subconscious prejudice now how do we get past these and I’m not
get past these and I’m not
get past these and I’m not anyone a racist however because we live
anyone a racist however because we live
anyone a racist however because we live in a world whose history involves a lot
in a world whose history involves a lot
in a world whose history involves a lot of racial discrimination I don’t think
of racial discrimination I don’t think
of racial discrimination I don’t think it’s any question that even if we don’t
it’s any question that even if we don’t
it’s any question that even if we don’t mean to sometimes our thoughts can be
mean to sometimes our thoughts can be
mean to sometimes our thoughts can be influenced by racial ethnic and cultural
influenced by racial ethnic and cultural
influenced by racial ethnic and cultural stereotypes but then again how do we get
stereotypes but then again how do we get
stereotypes but then again how do we get past these how do we look further than
past these how do we look further than
past these how do we look further than skin-deep and surpass even the slightest
skin-deep and surpass even the slightest
skin-deep and surpass even the slightest fears of our differences well given that
fears of our differences well given that
fears of our differences well given that I have lived with two different racial
I have lived with two different racial
I have lived with two different racial families I can give some advice as to
families I can give some advice as to
families I can give some advice as to how I know that I am a particularly
how I know that I am a particularly
how I know that I am a particularly light woman and I have noticed that this
light woman and I have noticed that this
light woman and I have noticed that this gives me a sort of advantage and
gives me a sort of advantage and
gives me a sort of advantage and instances that are highly dominated by
instances that are highly dominated by
instances that are highly dominated by white people living with my father’s
white people living with my father’s
white people living with my father’s family and growing up in that
family and growing up in that
family and growing up in that environment I have become aware of
environment I have become aware of
environment I have become aware of things such as music food table manners
things such as music food table manners
things such as music food table manners and even conversations which are
and even conversations which are
and even conversations which are appropriate in this environment and in
appropriate in this environment and in
appropriate in this environment and in then and being half black I am given a
then and being half black I am given a
then and being half black I am given a certain social acceptance that allows me
certain social acceptance that allows me
certain social acceptance that allows me to be relatable to the black community
to be relatable to the black community
to be relatable to the black community and the minority identity as a whole I
and the minority identity as a whole I
and the minority identity as a whole I can it relate to one black experience
can it relate to one black experience
can it relate to one black experience one and this allows me a relatability
one and this allows me a relatability
one and this allows me a relatability that to all other black people but then
that to all other black people but then
that to all other black people but then I also experience a sort of hostility
I also experience a sort of hostility
I also experience a sort of hostility from both groups on one hand I am too
from both groups on one hand I am too
from both groups on one hand I am too dark and out of place or my hair isn’t
dark and out of place or my hair isn’t
dark and out of place or my hair isn’t straight enough to fit in with white
straight enough to fit in with white
straight enough to fit in with white peers I am shunned from having
peers I am shunned from having
peers I am shunned from having conversations which make colorblind
conversations which make colorblind
conversations which make colorblind white people uncomfortable and on the
white people uncomfortable and on the
white people uncomfortable and on the other hand I am too light not black
other hand I am too light not black
other hand I am too light not black enough a house slave a pet to the white
enough a house slave a pet to the white
enough a house slave a pet to the white man someone show that shows up in rap
man someone show that shows up in rap
man someone show that shows up in rap music videos and on mainstream
music videos and on mainstream
music videos and on mainstream commercials because I am NOT dark which
commercials because I am NOT dark which
commercials because I am NOT dark which is something that is deemed not
is something that is deemed not
is something that is deemed not beautiful in the world that we live in
beautiful in the world that we live in
beautiful in the world that we live in today I hear things like that’s that
today I hear things like that’s that
today I hear things like that’s that light-skinned stuff or you talk white
light-skinned stuff or you talk white
light-skinned stuff or you talk white and the one that hits the hardest you’re
and the one that hits the hardest you’re
and the one that hits the hardest you’re not black something which is expressed
not black something which is expressed
not black something which is expressed by both black and
by both black and
by both black and my people but I do not let this
my people but I do not let this
my people but I do not let this discourage me from embracing the
discourage me from embracing the
discourage me from embracing the cultures in which I was raised in I am
cultures in which I was raised in I am
cultures in which I was raised in I am both and my advice to all of you is not
both and my advice to all of you is not
both and my advice to all of you is not to assume do not assume that someone has
to assume do not assume that someone has
to assume do not assume that someone has lived one lifestyle or one life
lived one lifestyle or one life
lived one lifestyle or one life experience based on their skin go forth
experience based on their skin go forth
experience based on their skin go forth and ask their name have a conversation
and ask their name have a conversation
and ask their name have a conversation ask those uncomfortable questions and
ask those uncomfortable questions and
ask those uncomfortable questions and for those answering those uncomfortable
for those answering those uncomfortable
for those answering those uncomfortable questions answer with your truth each of
questions answer with your truth each of
questions answer with your truth each of our experiences are unique to the self
our experiences are unique to the self
our experiences are unique to the self and not one of them should reflect on an
and not one of them should reflect on an
and not one of them should reflect on an entire group of people it is okay to be
entire group of people it is okay to be
entire group of people it is okay to be intrigued by someone’s racial identity
intrigued by someone’s racial identity
intrigued by someone’s racial identity someone’s racial differences but it is
someone’s racial differences but it is
someone’s racial differences but it is not okay to approach them as if they
not okay to approach them as if they
not okay to approach them as if they were only these things our identity is
were only these things our identity is
were only these things our identity is deeper than our skin and when we
deeper than our skin and when we
deeper than our skin and when we acknowledge the exterior as well as the
acknowledge the exterior as well as the
acknowledge the exterior as well as the person on the interior we are
person on the interior we are
person on the interior we are encouraging inclusivity and then when we
encouraging inclusivity and then when we
encouraging inclusivity and then when we encourage inclusivity we are making
encourage inclusivity we are making
encourage inclusivity we are making reality I diverse reality for all people
reality I diverse reality for all people
reality I diverse reality for all people and opening up an abundance of
and opening up an abundance of
and opening up an abundance of opportunity for everyone I want you to
opportunity for everyone I want you to
opportunity for everyone I want you to see my hair to see the coils I want you
see my hair to see the coils I want you
see my hair to see the coils I want you to see my gap the combination of beige
to see my gap the combination of beige
to see my gap the combination of beige and brown that my skin takes on and my
and brown that my skin takes on and my
and brown that my skin takes on and my freckles but then I want you to hear me
freckles but then I want you to hear me
freckles but then I want you to hear me listen and learn instead of assuming my
listen and learn instead of assuming my
listen and learn instead of assuming my ethnicity is very much a part of my
ethnicity is very much a part of my
ethnicity is very much a part of my identity but it is not the only part
some that think that my racial identity
some that think that my racial identity is interesting thinks that this makes my
is interesting thinks that this makes my
is interesting thinks that this makes my character is such but this is not true
character is such but this is not true
character is such but this is not true it is Who I am that will intrigue you
it is Who I am that will intrigue you
it is Who I am that will intrigue you far more than my skin ever could because
far more than my skin ever could because
far more than my skin ever could because in learning about Who I am you will
in learning about Who I am you will
in learning about Who I am you will realize that I do not fit the stereotype
realize that I do not fit the stereotype
realize that I do not fit the stereotype you will realize that as a multiracial
you will realize that as a multiracial
you will realize that as a multiracial woman despite stereotypical popular
woman despite stereotypical popular
woman despite stereotypical popular belief I am NOT
belief I am NOT
belief I am NOT used I know exactly who I am I am Sierra
used I know exactly who I am I am Sierra
used I know exactly who I am I am Sierra born and raised in Arlington Texas an
born and raised in Arlington Texas an
born and raised in Arlington Texas an American I am a multiracial woman I am a
American I am a multiracial woman I am a
American I am a multiracial woman I am a sister and a daughter a student and an
sister and a daughter a student and an
sister and a daughter a student and an athlete my my spirit is as free as the
athlete my my spirit is as free as the
athlete my my spirit is as free as the coils in my hair
coils in my hair
coils in my hair I am empathetic and I am very dramatic
I am empathetic and I am very dramatic
I am empathetic and I am very dramatic both of my exterior and my interior
both of my exterior and my interior
both of my exterior and my interior characteristics make up my identity and
characteristics make up my identity and
characteristics make up my identity and all are inclusive not one of them can
all are inclusive not one of them can
all are inclusive not one of them can stand alone and define me all of these
stand alone and define me all of these
stand alone and define me all of these pieces make up Who I am so when you meet
pieces make up Who I am so when you meet
pieces make up Who I am so when you meet someone when you see someone different
someone when you see someone different
someone when you see someone different than you think not about what they are
than you think not about what they are
than you think not about what they are and instead ask who are you thank you
and instead ask who are you thank you
and instead ask who are you thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment