the 2000 US Census was the first time that people of mixed race were able to
that people of mixed race were able to
that people of mixed race were able to indicate more than one race and that
indicate more than one race and that
indicate more than one race and that year more than six point eight million
year more than six point eight million
year more than six point eight million Americans chose to identify themselves
Americans chose to identify themselves
Americans chose to identify themselves that way fast forward to 2008 and I’m in
that way fast forward to 2008 and I’m in
that way fast forward to 2008 and I’m in middle school and still dreaming of one
middle school and still dreaming of one
middle school and still dreaming of one day becoming president you can imagine
day becoming president you can imagine
day becoming president you can imagine how excited I was when I heard about
how excited I was when I heard about
how excited I was when I heard about Obama the possibility of our first
Obama the possibility of our first
Obama the possibility of our first mixed-race president by the time of our
mixed-race president by the time of our
mixed-race president by the time of our mock election Obama had already gone
mock election Obama had already gone
mock election Obama had already gone from our first mixed-race president to
from our first mixed-race president to
from our first mixed-race president to our first black president my
our first black president my
our first black president my thirteen-year-old mind was racing if
thirteen-year-old mind was racing if
thirteen-year-old mind was racing if he’s mixed then he’s not black he’s
he’s mixed then he’s not black he’s
he’s mixed then he’s not black he’s mixed who decided he was black
mixed who decided he was black
mixed who decided he was black unfortunately my questions went unknown
unfortunately my questions went unknown
unfortunately my questions went unknown unnoticed and unanswered as I saw the
unnoticed and unanswered as I saw the
unnoticed and unanswered as I saw the shift in perspective that this knew in
shift in perspective that this knew in
shift in perspective that this knew in my opinion less accurate label left on
my opinion less accurate label left on
my opinion less accurate label left on my fellow classmates at my predominantly
my fellow classmates at my predominantly
my fellow classmates at my predominantly african-american middle school so thus
african-american middle school so thus
african-american middle school so thus far I’ve intentionally left you in the
far I’ve intentionally left you in the
far I’ve intentionally left you in the dark about my own racial makeup have you
dark about my own racial makeup have you
dark about my own racial makeup have you started to make your own inferences if
started to make your own inferences if
started to make your own inferences if so when do you think they started was it
so when do you think they started was it
so when do you think they started was it when I first came out on the stage and
when I first came out on the stage and
when I first came out on the stage and if so did it change when I implied that
if so did it change when I implied that
if so did it change when I implied that I was of mixed race when I began talking
I was of mixed race when I began talking
I was of mixed race when I began talking about the 2008 election regardless of
about the 2008 election regardless of
about the 2008 election regardless of your internal answers to those questions
your internal answers to those questions
your internal answers to those questions I’m going to list my racial makeup in
I’m going to list my racial makeup in
I’m going to list my racial makeup in the order the people are least likely to
the order the people are least likely to
the order the people are least likely to list when guessing I am Mexican white
list when guessing I am Mexican white
list when guessing I am Mexican white and african-american my grandmother is
and african-american my grandmother is
and african-american my grandmother is Mexican and she married a white man and
Mexican and she married a white man and
Mexican and she married a white man and they eventually gave birth to my mother
they eventually gave birth to my mother
they eventually gave birth to my mother who is half white and half Mexican my
who is half white and half Mexican my
who is half white and half Mexican my biological father is african-american
biological father is african-american
biological father is african-american growing up people were always quick to
growing up people were always quick to
growing up people were always quick to assume that I was some part
assume that I was some part
assume that I was some part african-american which makes sense since
african-american which makes sense since
african-american which makes sense since my outwardly my outward appearance is
my outwardly my outward appearance is
my outwardly my outward appearance is you know darker skin curly hair more
you know darker skin curly hair more
you know darker skin curly hair more stereotypically african-american
stereotypically african-american
stereotypically african-american features but I grew up in a primarily
features but I grew up in a primarily
features but I grew up in a primarily white household so I felt mostly white
I grew up with my mom and I’m gonna call
I grew up with my mom and I’m gonna call him my dad the man who raised me
him my dad the man who raised me
him my dad the man who raised me often times I felt wet on the inside but
often times I felt wet on the inside but
often times I felt wet on the inside but I realize as growing up living as an
I realize as growing up living as an
I realize as growing up living as an adult now and America that though I may
adult now and America that though I may
adult now and America that though I may feel white on the inside
feel white on the inside
feel white on the inside my darker features and more
my darker features and more
my darker features and more african-american features will cause
african-american features will cause
african-american features will cause people who are quick to judge a book by
people who are quick to judge a book by
people who are quick to judge a book by its cover to put me in a category that I
its cover to put me in a category that I
its cover to put me in a category that I don’t put myself in you can see now I’m
don’t put myself in you can see now I’m
don’t put myself in you can see now I’m 22 now and it still makes me
22 now and it still makes me
22 now and it still makes me uncomfortable when I go out to dinner
uncomfortable when I go out to dinner
uncomfortable when I go out to dinner with my family I will think about kind
with my family I will think about kind
with my family I will think about kind of are people thinking that I am adopted
of are people thinking that I am adopted
of are people thinking that I am adopted are they thinking that I am just a
are they thinking that I am just a
are they thinking that I am just a family friend and I can see how this
family friend and I can see how this
family friend and I can see how this picture – me at the top isn’t cause for
picture – me at the top isn’t cause for
picture – me at the top isn’t cause for many questions but when you add me and
many questions but when you add me and
many questions but when you add me and it kind of changes the dynamic I mean
it kind of changes the dynamic I mean
it kind of changes the dynamic I mean not for us but for the outside world and
not for us but for the outside world and
not for us but for the outside world and it was the outside world they gave me a
it was the outside world they gave me a
it was the outside world they gave me a little bit of trouble the summer of 2015
little bit of trouble the summer of 2015
little bit of trouble the summer of 2015 it was my first summer of chemistry
it was my first summer of chemistry
it was my first summer of chemistry research at Furman and I it was also the
research at Furman and I it was also the
research at Furman and I it was also the first summer that there was a lot of
first summer that there was a lot of
first summer that there was a lot of controversy about the Confederate flag
controversy about the Confederate flag
controversy about the Confederate flag still being flown over the Statehouse I
still being flown over the Statehouse I
still being flown over the Statehouse I will be completely honest and lets you
will be completely honest and lets you
will be completely honest and lets you know that my interest in politics did
know that my interest in politics did
know that my interest in politics did not start until the summer after my
not start until the summer after my
not start until the summer after my sophomore year so I had a general
sophomore year so I had a general
sophomore year so I had a general understanding of what was going on but
understanding of what was going on but
understanding of what was going on but mostly felt like I had no dogs in that
mostly felt like I had no dogs in that
mostly felt like I had no dogs in that fight so when I pull up to the 7-eleven
fight so when I pull up to the 7-eleven
fight so when I pull up to the 7-eleven outside the back gates of Furman I took
outside the back gates of Furman I took
outside the back gates of Furman I took note of the two white males in their
note of the two white males in their
note of the two white males in their white pickup truck with the huge
white pickup truck with the huge
white pickup truck with the huge Confederate flag setting out the back of
Confederate flag setting out the back of
Confederate flag setting out the back of it but no more notice than I would to
it but no more notice than I would to
it but no more notice than I would to any other loiterers at a gas station so
any other loiterers at a gas station so
any other loiterers at a gas station so I get out of my car I’m pumping my gas
I get out of my car I’m pumping my gas
I get out of my car I’m pumping my gas and all of a sudden I hear someone
and all of a sudden I hear someone
and all of a sudden I hear someone yelling lynching and I think to myself
yelling lynching and I think to myself
yelling lynching and I think to myself oh that’s a word you don’t hear every
oh that’s a word you don’t hear every
oh that’s a word you don’t hear every day and I look around and realize that
day and I look around and realize that
day and I look around and realize that it’s the two white men from the back of
it’s the two white men from the back of
it’s the two white men from the back of their truck and they’re looking at me
their truck and they’re looking at me
their truck and they’re looking at me and they’re yelling lynching in my
and they’re yelling lynching in my
and they’re yelling lynching in my direction I’m ten dollars worth of gas
direction I’m ten dollars worth of gas
direction I’m ten dollars worth of gas in I brought
in I brought
in I brought please stop pumping gas trying really
please stop pumping gas trying really
please stop pumping gas trying really hard not to look too flustered and I
hard not to look too flustered and I
hard not to look too flustered and I Drive away it’s a summer after my
Drive away it’s a summer after my
Drive away it’s a summer after my sophomore year when I find myself at
sophomore year when I find myself at
sophomore year when I find myself at Furman again conducting chemistry
Furman again conducting chemistry
Furman again conducting chemistry research when I decide to go to a poetry
research when I decide to go to a poetry
research when I decide to go to a poetry slam hosted by local slam poet in the
slam hosted by local slam poet in the
slam hosted by local slam poet in the area I get to the event I walk into the
area I get to the event I walk into the
area I get to the event I walk into the room and everyone in attendance is
room and everyone in attendance is
room and everyone in attendance is african-american I immediately feel my
african-american I immediately feel my
african-american I immediately feel my armpits beginning to sweat as I become
armpits beginning to sweat as I become
armpits beginning to sweat as I become hyper aware of my whiteness I soft smile
hyper aware of my whiteness I soft smile
hyper aware of my whiteness I soft smile as I make my way to a table at the front
as I make my way to a table at the front
as I make my way to a table at the front of the room and I sit down and I see
of the room and I sit down and I see
of the room and I sit down and I see that there’s a TV in the corner playing
that there’s a TV in the corner playing
that there’s a TV in the corner playing a black-and-white documentary that
a black-and-white documentary that
a black-and-white documentary that looked like it was about slavery so I
looked like it was about slavery so I
looked like it was about slavery so I pretend to be super enthralled in this
pretend to be super enthralled in this
pretend to be super enthralled in this until the slam poet that I know comes
until the slam poet that I know comes
until the slam poet that I know comes forward and welcomes us to the
forward and welcomes us to the
forward and welcomes us to the Juneteenth poetry slam in a strange turn
Juneteenth poetry slam in a strange turn
Juneteenth poetry slam in a strange turn of events I ended up being one of the
of events I ended up being one of the
of events I ended up being one of the judges for the evening and so here we go
judges for the evening and so here we go
judges for the evening and so here we go the first slam poet comes up she’s got
the first slam poet comes up she’s got
the first slam poet comes up she’s got tears coming down her face she gives
tears coming down her face she gives
tears coming down her face she gives this heart-wrenching poem about slavery
this heart-wrenching poem about slavery
this heart-wrenching poem about slavery and black oppression that I just shrivel
and black oppression that I just shrivel
and black oppression that I just shrivel up inside some of you may know what you
up inside some of you may know what you
up inside some of you may know what you intend this but at the time I had no
intend this but at the time I had no
intend this but at the time I had no idea
idea
idea Juneteenth is the celebration of June 19
Juneteenth is the celebration of June 19
Juneteenth is the celebration of June 19 1865 when the enslaved people of Texas
1865 when the enslaved people of Texas
1865 when the enslaved people of Texas were finally set free this is a whole
were finally set free this is a whole
were finally set free this is a whole two and a half years after President
two and a half years after President
two and a half years after President Lincoln gave his Emancipation
Lincoln gave his Emancipation
Lincoln gave his Emancipation Proclamation that set among all slaves
Proclamation that set among all slaves
Proclamation that set among all slaves free in January of 1863 I was to say the
free in January of 1863 I was to say the
free in January of 1863 I was to say the least completely overwhelmed I had I was
least completely overwhelmed I had I was
least completely overwhelmed I had I was in this room with all these strong
in this room with all these strong
in this room with all these strong emotions and I just felt like an
emotions and I just felt like an
emotions and I just felt like an intruder on this significant day and the
intruder on this significant day and the
intruder on this significant day and the lives of these people I just felt like I
lives of these people I just felt like I
lives of these people I just felt like I just didn’t know I was not raised with
just didn’t know I was not raised with
just didn’t know I was not raised with the same sense of awareness of the past
the same sense of awareness of the past
the same sense of awareness of the past that was inherent to these African
that was inherent to these African
that was inherent to these African American people so in the first
American people so in the first
American people so in the first situation I was being viewed as other by
situation I was being viewed as other by
situation I was being viewed as other by a group that I always thought I had been
a group that I always thought I had been
a group that I always thought I had been a part of and not in the same way that
a part of and not in the same way that
a part of and not in the same way that the people in my elementary middle
the people in my elementary middle
the people in my elementary middle school always questioned me with their
school always questioned me with their
school always questioned me with their childlike curiosity
childlike curiosity
childlike curiosity this was misplaced anger and hatred that
this was misplaced anger and hatred that
this was misplaced anger and hatred that it seemed a few minutes spent getting to
it seemed a few minutes spent getting to
it seemed a few minutes spent getting to know me could not do much to prevent in
know me could not do much to prevent in
know me could not do much to prevent in the second situation again I just I
the second situation again I just I
the second situation again I just I didn’t have the same understanding of
didn’t have the same understanding of
didn’t have the same understanding of the past and there was no way for my mom
the past and there was no way for my mom
the past and there was no way for my mom and my dad both of mostly kind of white
and my dad both of mostly kind of white
and my dad both of mostly kind of white background to prepare me for that
background to prepare me for that
background to prepare me for that situation as a kid growing up the most
situation as a kid growing up the most
situation as a kid growing up the most common question I often heard was so are
common question I often heard was so are
common question I often heard was so are you adopted and oftentimes I would say
you adopted and oftentimes I would say
you adopted and oftentimes I would say no and the follow-up question was always
no and the follow-up question was always
no and the follow-up question was always something along the lines of well what
something along the lines of well what
something along the lines of well what are you then and the first time I heard
are you then and the first time I heard
are you then and the first time I heard this question it really rattled me
this question it really rattled me
this question it really rattled me because I was in the sixth grade at a
because I was in the sixth grade at a
because I was in the sixth grade at a new private school after spending my
new private school after spending my
new private school after spending my entire elementary career and a
entire elementary career and a
entire elementary career and a dominantly african-american middle
dominantly african-american middle
dominantly african-american middle school and it didn’t help that my mom
school and it didn’t help that my mom
school and it didn’t help that my mom and dad had just given birth to my
and dad had just given birth to my
and dad had just given birth to my brother who you saw here looks just like
brother who you saw here looks just like
brother who you saw here looks just like them but quickly I was able to remember
them but quickly I was able to remember
them but quickly I was able to remember that year at the time when I learned
that year at the time when I learned
that year at the time when I learned that there were other people in the
that there were other people in the
that there were other people in the world and that I was going to be able to
world and that I was going to be able to
world and that I was going to be able to figure out what being Alexis was like
figure out what being Alexis was like
figure out what being Alexis was like before I kind of move forward I don’t
before I kind of move forward I don’t
before I kind of move forward I don’t want you to leave this conference
want you to leave this conference
want you to leave this conference thinking that people of mixed race are
thinking that people of mixed race are
thinking that people of mixed race are just black and white or even mostly
just black and white or even mostly
just black and white or even mostly looking like me so I’m going to show you
looking like me so I’m going to show you
looking like me so I’m going to show you some pictures of people of mixed race
some pictures of people of mixed race
some pictures of people of mixed race and before I kind of show you what their
and before I kind of show you what their
and before I kind of show you what their races are I just want you to watch your
races are I just want you to watch your
races are I just want you to watch your mind are you starting to try and guess
mind are you starting to try and guess
mind are you starting to try and guess what their races and if so you know what
what their races and if so you know what
what their races and if so you know what information are you using to kind of
information are you using to kind of
information are you using to kind of make your inferences so first we have
make your inferences so first we have
make your inferences so first we have Michael and John Michael and Michael is
Michael and John Michael and Michael is
Michael and John Michael and Michael is half African American and half Asian
half African American and half Asian
half African American and half Asian Americans specifically Korean and his
Americans specifically Korean and his
Americans specifically Korean and his half-brother John is half
half-brother John is half
half-brother John is half african-american and half Syrian next we
african-american and half Syrian next we
african-american and half Syrian next we have Anand Anand is half white and half
have Anand Anand is half white and half
have Anand Anand is half white and half South Asian specifically Indian
South Asian specifically Indian
South Asian specifically Indian and growing up he felt like he
and growing up he felt like he
and growing up he felt like he identified most strongly as Indian
identified most strongly as Indian
identified most strongly as Indian because he grew up in an Indian
because he grew up in an Indian
because he grew up in an Indian community in America and he was able to
community in America and he was able to
community in America and he was able to go to an Indian High School in or go to
go to an Indian High School in or go to
go to an Indian High School in or go to high school in India but he felt that
high school in India but he felt that
high school in India but he felt that his identification as Indian was
his identification as Indian was
his identification as Indian was frustrating for others because he felt
frustrating for others because he felt
frustrating for others because he felt that he didn’t fit the label of Indian
that he didn’t fit the label of Indian
that he didn’t fit the label of Indian phenotypically or linguistically next we
phenotypically or linguistically next we
phenotypically or linguistically next we have Donna and Kim Hunter two sisters so
have Donna and Kim Hunter two sisters so
have Donna and Kim Hunter two sisters so Donna and Kim are half white
Donna and Kim are half white
Donna and Kim are half white specifically German and half black I
specifically German and half black I
specifically German and half black I think this is really interesting because
think this is really interesting because
think this is really interesting because I know plenty of people who are half
I know plenty of people who are half
I know plenty of people who are half black and white and they look a lot more
black and white and they look a lot more
black and white and they look a lot more african-american than Donna and Kim do
african-american than Donna and Kim do
african-american than Donna and Kim do and in their interview they expressed
and in their interview they expressed
and in their interview they expressed that they were often given the label of
that they were often given the label of
that they were often given the label of white whether they wanted it or not and
white whether they wanted it or not and
white whether they wanted it or not and how that was very frustrating for them
how that was very frustrating for them
how that was very frustrating for them because they had a hard time connecting
because they had a hard time connecting
because they had a hard time connecting to their black heritage and they often
to their black heritage and they often
to their black heritage and they often felt that they were not oppressed enough
so now that your definition of
so now that your definition of mixed-race is hopefully sufficiently all
mixed-race is hopefully sufficiently all
mixed-race is hopefully sufficiently all jumbled up I would like to bring to your
jumbled up I would like to bring to your
jumbled up I would like to bring to your attention some issues that are kind of
attention some issues that are kind of
attention some issues that are kind of more recent so I was recently scrolling
more recent so I was recently scrolling
more recent so I was recently scrolling through my news feeds when I saw some
through my news feeds when I saw some
through my news feeds when I saw some conflicting headlines about Colin
conflicting headlines about Colin
conflicting headlines about Colin Kaepernick something like the awakening
Kaepernick something like the awakening
Kaepernick something like the awakening of Colin Kaepernick and my father stood
of Colin Kaepernick and my father stood
of Colin Kaepernick and my father stood for the same reason that Colin
for the same reason that Colin
for the same reason that Colin Kaepernick sits now I thought okay well
Kaepernick sits now I thought okay well
Kaepernick sits now I thought okay well I should look into this a little bit
I should look into this a little bit
I should look into this a little bit more and if you don’t know Colin
more and if you don’t know Colin
more and if you don’t know Colin Kaepernick as a football player who
Kaepernick as a football player who
Kaepernick as a football player who recently decided to sit during the
recently decided to sit during the
recently decided to sit during the national anthem instead of stand as a
national anthem instead of stand as a
national anthem instead of stand as a silent protest against a country that he
silent protest against a country that he
silent protest against a country that he felt like oppresses people of color
felt like oppresses people of color
felt like oppresses people of color Reese I was going through and I thought
Reese I was going through and I thought
Reese I was going through and I thought okay well this is interesting because
okay well this is interesting because
okay well this is interesting because one as someone who doesn’t watch
one as someone who doesn’t watch
one as someone who doesn’t watch football I did assume that Colin was
football I did assume that Colin was
football I did assume that Colin was african-american and so when I started
african-american and so when I started
african-american and so when I started looking into some images I saw that he
looking into some images I saw that he
looking into some images I saw that he was mixed and I was extremely excited
was mixed and I was extremely excited
was mixed and I was extremely excited because I thought okay great this is
because I thought okay great this is
because I thought okay great this is someone of mixed race using their
someone of mixed race using their
someone of mixed race using their influence to talk and help people of
influence to talk and help people of
influence to talk and help people of color
color
color but then I did a little bit more
but then I did a little bit more
but then I did a little bit more research and I found some other people
research and I found some other people
research and I found some other people saying that they thought it was
saying that they thought it was
saying that they thought it was disingenuous for a millionaire
disingenuous for a millionaire
disingenuous for a millionaire especially one raised comfortably by a
especially one raised comfortably by a
especially one raised comfortably by a white family to speak out on black
white family to speak out on black
white family to speak out on black oppression and so at first I thought to
oppression and so at first I thought to
oppression and so at first I thought to myself okay well who feels this way
myself okay well who feels this way
myself okay well who feels this way white people black people and after some
white people black people and after some
white people black people and after some research I saw that white people thought
research I saw that white people thought
research I saw that white people thought that it was not okay for someone of
that it was not okay for someone of
that it was not okay for someone of mixed race to speak out on black
mixed race to speak out on black
mixed race to speak out on black oppression but black people also thought
oppression but black people also thought
oppression but black people also thought it was not okay for someone of mixed
it was not okay for someone of mixed
it was not okay for someone of mixed race to speak out on black oppression
race to speak out on black oppression
race to speak out on black oppression because he didn’t actually know their
because he didn’t actually know their
because he didn’t actually know their struggle and I’m over here as a person
struggle and I’m over here as a person
struggle and I’m over here as a person of mixed race myself at a complete loss
of mixed race myself at a complete loss
of mixed race myself at a complete loss for words so basically here we are in
for words so basically here we are in
for words so basically here we are in 2018 and we’re still all about race our
2018 and we’re still all about race our
2018 and we’re still all about race our president is promoting a ban on
president is promoting a ban on
president is promoting a ban on immigrants we may be sealing they were
immigrants we may be sealing they were
immigrants we may be sealing they were seeing the repeal of daca and we have
seeing the repeal of daca and we have
seeing the repeal of daca and we have white supremacists feeling a very real
white supremacists feeling a very real
white supremacists feeling a very real need to come forward
need to come forward
need to come forward we can’t know everyone’s lived
we can’t know everyone’s lived
we can’t know everyone’s lived experience and I hope that or today I’ve
experience and I hope that or today I’ve
experience and I hope that or today I’ve given you some examples that range from
given you some examples that range from
given you some examples that range from personal testimony to American history
personal testimony to American history
personal testimony to American history that hopefully show you just how nuanced
that hopefully show you just how nuanced
that hopefully show you just how nuanced race really is I’m not here to tell you
race really is I’m not here to tell you
race really is I’m not here to tell you that I think that people mixed race are
that I think that people mixed race are
that I think that people mixed race are the future or the key to the end of
the future or the key to the end of
the future or the key to the end of racism I only hope that by incorporating
racism I only hope that by incorporating
racism I only hope that by incorporating people of mixed race into our
people of mixed race into our
people of mixed race into our conversations that we can maybe move
conversations that we can maybe move
conversations that we can maybe move past racial categories to a racial
past racial categories to a racial
past racial categories to a racial spectrum and eventually offer brace
spectrum and eventually offer brace
spectrum and eventually offer brace altogether I think that the best way to
altogether I think that the best way to
altogether I think that the best way to solve a complex problem is by looking at
solve a complex problem is by looking at
solve a complex problem is by looking at it from various angles and perspectives
it from various angles and perspectives
it from various angles and perspectives when did excluding Intel intelligent
when did excluding Intel intelligent
when did excluding Intel intelligent Minds
Minds
Minds ever win someone a Nobel Prize thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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