Heinz 57: The new multiracial identity | Jade Ritterbusch | TEDxEHC

I’ve been called one mix puppy I’ve also

I’ve been called one mix puppy I’ve also been called a Heinz 57 and for those of

been called a Heinz 57 and for those of

been called a Heinz 57 and for those of you who don’t know what that is a Heinz

you who don’t know what that is a Heinz

you who don’t know what that is a Heinz 57 is a mess us up thing now before you

57 is a mess us up thing now before you

57 is a mess us up thing now before you try to make this into a science fiction

try to make this into a science fiction

try to make this into a science fiction double feature I should tell you I’m

double feature I should tell you I’m

double feature I should tell you I’m multiracial now growing up multiracial

multiracial now growing up multiracial

multiracial now growing up multiracial and San Francisco was by no means

and San Francisco was by no means

and San Francisco was by no means groundbreaking in fact compared to some

groundbreaking in fact compared to some

groundbreaking in fact compared to some of my friends I was fairly homogenous

of my friends I was fairly homogenous

of my friends I was fairly homogenous but still as someone who is multiracial

but still as someone who is multiracial

but still as someone who is multiracial you try to find your place in the sky

you try to find your place in the sky

you try to find your place in the sky and where you belong in all of this so I

and where you belong in all of this so I

and where you belong in all of this so I went where anybody would have gone the

went where anybody would have gone the

went where anybody would have gone the dictionary and this is what I got

dictionary and this is what I got

dictionary and this is what I got identity state of being I don’t know

identity state of being I don’t know

identity state of being I don’t know about you but I didn’t know what to do

about you but I didn’t know what to do

about you but I didn’t know what to do with state of being so going into

with state of being so going into

with state of being so going into college I had this idea that identity

college I had this idea that identity

college I had this idea that identity meant it was my state of being and that

meant it was my state of being and that

meant it was my state of being and that became a little bit more complicated

became a little bit more complicated

became a little bit more complicated when I would tell people my racial

when I would tell people my racial

when I would tell people my racial identity of german irish Spanish and

identity of german irish Spanish and

identity of german irish Spanish and Native American which is a completely

Native American which is a completely

Native American which is a completely dumbed down version of it but we don’t

dumbed down version of it but we don’t

dumbed down version of it but we don’t have time to tell the whole story and I

have time to tell the whole story and I

have time to tell the whole story and I would hear things like well what are you

would hear things like well what are you

would hear things like well what are you more of or you can’t be all of those

more of or you can’t be all of those

more of or you can’t be all of those things or your American because your

things or your American because your

things or your American because your grandparents were born here and this

grandparents were born here and this

grandparents were born here and this idea that you could only be one or the

idea that you could only be one or the

idea that you could only be one or the other or more of one compared to the

other or more of one compared to the

other or more of one compared to the other really push me to find out what

other really push me to find out what

other really push me to find out what identity was so identity is not just my

identity was so identity is not just my

identity was so identity is not just my racial identity but it also includes

racial identity but it also includes

racial identity but it also includes your personality your religion your

your personality your religion your

your personality your religion your sexual orientation where you’re from

sexual orientation where you’re from

sexual orientation where you’re from what you really think makes up your

what you really think makes up your

what you really think makes up your state of being so Who am I well I’m a

state of being so Who am I well I’m a

state of being so Who am I well I’m a fourth-generation San Franciscan I’m

fourth-generation San Franciscan I’m

fourth-generation San Franciscan I’m Catholic I am as of may going to be

Catholic I am as of may going to be

Catholic I am as of may going to be college-educated I am a sister of Delta

college-educated I am a sister of Delta

college-educated I am a sister of Delta Rho Delta I am strong will to a point

Rho Delta I am strong will to a point

Rho Delta I am strong will to a point and I am a foodie I literally love food

and I am a foodie I literally love food

and I am a foodie I literally love food I will do anything for food and so you

I will do anything for food and so you

I will do anything for food and so you take this combined with my racial

take this combined with my racial

take this combined with my racial identity and you have this giant

identity and you have this giant

identity and you have this giant snowball going on and what does that

snowball going on and what does that

snowball going on and what does that mean in the big

mean in the big

mean in the big term of this because I’m not the only

term of this because I’m not the only

term of this because I’m not the only one like this in fact there are more

one like this in fact there are more

one like this in fact there are more people who are more mix than I am so

people who are more mix than I am so

people who are more mix than I am so picture this 2002 is the first time in

picture this 2002 is the first time in

picture this 2002 is the first time in the census multiracial people are

the census multiracial people are

the census multiracial people are allowed to put more than one race and

allowed to put more than one race and

allowed to put more than one race and this doesn’t sound like a big deal but

this doesn’t sound like a big deal but

this doesn’t sound like a big deal but this is a big deal for us because for

this is a big deal for us because for

this is a big deal for us because for the first time we don’t have to decide

the first time we don’t have to decide

the first time we don’t have to decide what we’re more of but recently a pew

what we’re more of but recently a pew

what we’re more of but recently a pew research study said that out of 21,000

research study said that out of 21,000

research study said that out of 21,000 American sampled only fifty six percent

American sampled only fifty six percent

American sampled only fifty six percent of those who are multiracial felt proud

of those who are multiracial felt proud

of those who are multiracial felt proud of one or more of their backgrounds and

of one or more of their backgrounds and

of one or more of their backgrounds and when you think of fifty-six percent of

when you think of fifty-six percent of

when you think of fifty-six percent of 21,000 and then the remainder of that

21,000 and then the remainder of that

21,000 and then the remainder of that that’s not quite enough okay one out of

that’s not quite enough okay one out of

that’s not quite enough okay one out of four people have had people come up to

four people have had people come up to

four people have had people come up to them and guess what their ethnicity is

them and guess what their ethnicity is

them and guess what their ethnicity is or tell them what they look more of and

or tell them what they look more of and

or tell them what they look more of and as someone that’s multiracial that’s

as someone that’s multiracial that’s

as someone that’s multiracial that’s really annoying furthermore over 60 over

really annoying furthermore over 60 over

really annoying furthermore over 60 over sixty percent of people have been the

sixty percent of people have been the

sixty percent of people have been the butt of racial slurs or racial jokes now

butt of racial slurs or racial jokes now

butt of racial slurs or racial jokes now you might think with this information by

you might think with this information by

you might think with this information by 2060 our population of multiracial

2060 our population of multiracial

2060 our population of multiracial individuals is thought to triple that

individuals is thought to triple that

individuals is thought to triple that our approach to multiracial individuals

our approach to multiracial individuals

our approach to multiracial individuals is going to become more open-minded and

is going to become more open-minded and

is going to become more open-minded and we will somehow be able to grow that

we will somehow be able to grow that

we will somehow be able to grow that percentage of people who accept their

percentage of people who accept their

percentage of people who accept their identity well I would like to believe

identity well I would like to believe

identity well I would like to believe that but past examples lead me to

that but past examples lead me to

that but past examples lead me to believe that this might not be the case

believe that this might not be the case

believe that this might not be the case in fact we might be pulling back the

in fact we might be pulling back the

in fact we might be pulling back the numbers of people who are proud of

numbers of people who are proud of

numbers of people who are proud of themselves so here are a few case

themselves so here are a few case

themselves so here are a few case studies that lead me to believe we might

studies that lead me to believe we might

studies that lead me to believe we might be pulling it back Spain many of you are

be pulling it back Spain many of you are

be pulling it back Spain many of you are familiar with the fact that Spain had a

familiar with the fact that Spain had a

familiar with the fact that Spain had a civil war what you probably don’t know

civil war what you probably don’t know

civil war what you probably don’t know is that the Civil War was based on 1931

is that the Civil War was based on 1931

is that the Civil War was based on 1931 reforms that were pretty much trying to

reforms that were pretty much trying to

reforms that were pretty much trying to separate church and state well this

separate church and state well this

separate church and state well this doesn’t seem like a big deal to us but

doesn’t seem like a big deal to us but

doesn’t seem like a big deal to us but this was a big deal to the Catholic

this was a big deal to the Catholic

this was a big deal to the Catholic Church who had pretty much reigned over

Church who had pretty much reigned over

Church who had pretty much reigned over Catholic Spain for centuries and they

Catholic Spain for centuries and they

Catholic Spain for centuries and they took a lot of offense to this and that

took a lot of offense to this and that

took a lot of offense to this and that seems small again except they started

seems small again except they started

seems small again except they started take advantage of

take advantage of

take advantage of fact that Catholics were being killed

fact that Catholics were being killed

fact that Catholics were being killed for being Catholic Spaniards and then

for being Catholic Spaniards and then

for being Catholic Spaniards and then the Catholic Church started to back

the Catholic Church started to back

the Catholic Church started to back Franco and the rebels and this Civil War

Franco and the rebels and this Civil War

Franco and the rebels and this Civil War okay that’s one example next example is

okay that’s one example next example is

okay that’s one example next example is Ireland Ireland faced a period of time

Ireland Ireland faced a period of time

Ireland Ireland faced a period of time known as the troubles the civil war

known as the troubles the civil war

known as the troubles the civil war itself was only a year long but the

itself was only a year long but the

itself was only a year long but the troubles were much longer the troubles

troubles were much longer the troubles

troubles were much longer the troubles essentially meant that Irish Catholics

essentially meant that Irish Catholics

essentially meant that Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants were going head to

and Irish Protestants were going head to

and Irish Protestants were going head to head over what it meant to be Irish in

head over what it meant to be Irish in

head over what it meant to be Irish in part because of English rule so out of

part because of English rule so out of

part because of English rule so out of this the IRA comes to part and takes

this the IRA comes to part and takes

this the IRA comes to part and takes advantage of the Irish Catholics who are

advantage of the Irish Catholics who are

advantage of the Irish Catholics who are having their identity suppressed for

having their identity suppressed for

having their identity suppressed for things such as housing food and they’re

things such as housing food and they’re

things such as housing food and they’re essentially being starved out so they

essentially being starved out so they

essentially being starved out so they took advantage of identity suppression

took advantage of identity suppression

took advantage of identity suppression in this case now my next one is a little

in this case now my next one is a little

in this case now my next one is a little bit different this is Russia a lot of

bit different this is Russia a lot of

bit different this is Russia a lot of you are probably familiar with the

you are probably familiar with the

you are probably familiar with the Russian Revolution and often the Russian

Russian Revolution and often the Russian

Russian Revolution and often the Russian Civil War often gets overlooked because

Civil War often gets overlooked because

Civil War often gets overlooked because revolution so let me tell you a little

revolution so let me tell you a little

revolution so let me tell you a little bit about this of a war the Civil War

bit about this of a war the Civil War

bit about this of a war the Civil War was between the red Russians the

was between the red Russians the

was between the red Russians the Communists and the White Russians the

Communists and the White Russians the

Communists and the White Russians the imperialists and when we take a step

imperialists and when we take a step

imperialists and when we take a step further back you have Peter the Great

further back you have Peter the Great

further back you have Peter the Great enacting a beard tax the beer tax

enacting a beard tax the beer tax

enacting a beard tax the beer tax primarily focused on people in the

primarily focused on people in the

primarily focused on people in the southern regions of the Empire who would

southern regions of the Empire who would

southern regions of the Empire who would express what we would consider

express what we would consider

express what we would consider ethnically Slavic identity through

ethnically Slavic identity through

ethnically Slavic identity through growing a beard and expressing that

growing a beard and expressing that

growing a beard and expressing that through their Orthodox religion now when

through their Orthodox religion now when

through their Orthodox religion now when you have years of suppression in an

you have years of suppression in an

you have years of suppression in an empire and the red Russians are telling

empire and the red Russians are telling

empire and the red Russians are telling you that they would like to move to a

you that they would like to move to a

you that they would like to move to a time in which they embrace ethnically

time in which they embrace ethnically

time in which they embrace ethnically Slavic ideals and move away from the

Slavic ideals and move away from the

Slavic ideals and move away from the Western ideals people like Peter pushed

Western ideals people like Peter pushed

Western ideals people like Peter pushed for you’re going to stand behind them

for you’re going to stand behind them

for you’re going to stand behind them because you’ve been oppressed by the

because you’ve been oppressed by the

because you’ve been oppressed by the White Russians so that’s essentially

White Russians so that’s essentially

White Russians so that’s essentially what happened they went with the red

what happened they went with the red

what happened they went with the red Russians are communists against the

Russians are communists against the

Russians are communists against the White Russians the imperialists so that

White Russians the imperialists so that

White Russians the imperialists so that example was a little bit different in

example was a little bit different in

example was a little bit different in that this is an ethnic conflict versus

that this is an ethnic conflict versus

that this is an ethnic conflict versus the previous were religious conflicts so

the previous were religious conflicts so

the previous were religious conflicts so you’re probably thinking what we’ve

you’re probably thinking what we’ve

you’re probably thinking what we’ve moved past that

moved past that

moved past that and I like to believe that I really do

and I like to believe that I really do

and I like to believe that I really do however here are some examples from our

however here are some examples from our

however here are some examples from our own country and I should preface this

own country and I should preface this

own country and I should preface this with I by no means want to get political

with I by no means want to get political

with I by no means want to get political the black lives matter movement the

the black lives matter movement the

the black lives matter movement the Dakota pipelines post protest

pro-immigration pro-islamic protest or

pro-immigration pro-islamic protest or movement and the women’s march now what

movement and the women’s march now what

movement and the women’s march now what do all of those have in common well all

do all of those have in common well all

do all of those have in common well all of those are movements for identity now

of those are movements for identity now

of those are movements for identity now what do those not have in common with

what do those not have in common with

what do those not have in common with the previous ones well I’ll tell you

the previous ones well I’ll tell you

the previous ones well I’ll tell you although these are movements in which

although these are movements in which

although these are movements in which people are challenging the government I

people are challenging the government I

people are challenging the government I and I will say playing devil’s advocate

and I will say playing devil’s advocate

and I will say playing devil’s advocate it’s great for the government because

it’s great for the government because

it’s great for the government because that’s how we grow and that’s how we

that’s how we grow and that’s how we

that’s how we grow and that’s how we have our ideas represented in the

have our ideas represented in the

have our ideas represented in the government these are different because

government these are different because

government these are different because we don’t have someone at the top taking

we don’t have someone at the top taking

we don’t have someone at the top taking advantage of the suppression of those at

advantage of the suppression of those at

advantage of the suppression of those at the bottom so we’re essentially in a

the bottom so we’re essentially in a

the bottom so we’re essentially in a period of a ticking time bomb in which

period of a ticking time bomb in which

period of a ticking time bomb in which we’re essentially waiting for people to

we’re essentially waiting for people to

we’re essentially waiting for people to take advantage of the mass amounts of

take advantage of the mass amounts of

take advantage of the mass amounts of people unhappy with their identity being

people unhappy with their identity being

people unhappy with their identity being suppressed by our government so I just

suppressed by our government so I just

suppressed by our government so I just laid out some pretty heavy news and

laid out some pretty heavy news and

laid out some pretty heavy news and you’re probably asking yourself what can

you’re probably asking yourself what can

you’re probably asking yourself what can you do well you can listen you can

you do well you can listen you can

you do well you can listen you can listen to people like me when we tell

listen to people like me when we tell

listen to people like me when we tell you our stories or what our identities

you our stories or what our identities

you our stories or what our identities are or how we identify you can act there

are or how we identify you can act there

are or how we identify you can act there is nothing wrong with stepping in when

is nothing wrong with stepping in when

is nothing wrong with stepping in when you hear someone making a racial slur or

you hear someone making a racial slur or

you hear someone making a racial slur or joke that by any means shame someone and

joke that by any means shame someone and

joke that by any means shame someone and you can accept the sooner you stop

you can accept the sooner you stop

you can accept the sooner you stop trying to simplify the world around you

trying to simplify the world around you

trying to simplify the world around you the more we can accept our fellow man

the more we can accept our fellow man

the more we can accept our fellow man now I don’t know about you but what I

now I don’t know about you but what I

now I don’t know about you but what I think makes America great is our ability

think makes America great is our ability

think makes America great is our ability to accept and go for the identities that

to accept and go for the identities that

to accept and go for the identities that are multiple in our country thank