Justin Hubbard 1st post

1) My personal ethnic and racial heritage i would describe as mixed race. My father is half african american, quarter blackfoot native american, quarter german. My mother is mostly swedish but overall a WASP. Therefore, i have always identified with being multiracial or mixed race.
2) I first became aware of race when i was young. My mom always let us know they we were not just "white" as we looked but that we were mixed race. I remember my skin being very tan and other kids would usually notice.
3) I was always told by my mom that i was part black and should have pride about that. My dad told me that i should be more than just proud of being part black but be proud of all of my ethnicities. I was told by many teachers that race should be accepted and yet then did not believe that i was a minority myself, they didnt get why i wouldnt jsut assimilate with all the other white kids. I was taught about things like MLK day and black history month and i felt wierd expressing my connection to them.
4)My views have changed a little. I feel that we should take pride in ethnicity and race while not making it too important to our identity. When i was a kid i wish i would have just not worried about what everyone else thought of me and just was ok with my own identity.
5)I have experienced racism many times. My parents are divorced but would occaisonally hang out with eachother at my sister and my school events. They always got wierd looks when they were together. I remember one parent who was talking to them saying "oh that's how it works" when they said they were my parents. Towards myself i always felt that i was always "the black kid" with my white friends and the opposite with my black friends. When i was in drumline we all had shirts given to us by seniors with nicknames on the back. While the other guys got cool unique names that noted on their personality i got the name Negrothunder cuz i was the black kid. That really sucked and i felt the only thing unique about me was that they thought i was black, and thats not even how i identified.