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kianamai — Multiracial Identity
#comic
Published: 2017-03-23 04:43:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 59321; Favourites: 2488; Downloads: 76
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EDIT: Hey! I made a kind of extension of this comic on tumblr using a little dog cat named Puppittykianamaiart.tumblr.com/post/16…
Being mixed race is an interesting experience and the experience definitely shapes who you think you are. Because I arguably look more black, despite being 50/50, and it's easier for people to categorize me as such (African American), I just kinda accepted that over time. I started identifying myself as just African American. But that's not who I am. I'm mixed. Both of these things at the same time. Also I'm not even African. I'm Jamaican/Afro-Caribbean. NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN FYI.
But even when I tried accepting that identity, it didn't feel right. I grew up in Hawaii with primarily Japanese traditions and a Japanese American way of life. So I always thought I identified with being Japanese more than anything. But because I didn't look the part, it was never really okay with other people. Same thing on the other side. I don't "sound black" or have black features other than my hair and skin tone (which is also debatable).
The world is so set on being black and white and people having to fit into specific categories. Apparently, it wasn't until 2000 Census that multiracial people could fill in more than one category for race. I remember that always being stressful during SAT tests. Having to either pick Asian or Black. Anyways, I think it's important that you don't have these black and white stereotypes of people and how they're supposed to be whether it comes to race or gender or sexuality or occupation or anything. All people are different. Yes certain stereotypes exist for a reason but don't be surprised when people don't fit them.
Also just... like don't tell multiracial people the kind of things mentioned in the comic^^^ One, it perpetuates a lot of racially charged stereotypes. And two, it just fucks with us lol. It messes with our sense of belonging and identity and for the most part we'll just take it because it happens all the time and what are we gonna do, y'know? Don't try to categorize us. We just are what we are and that's all we can be
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Comments: 653
I hear ya....I'm half white half black and I live in a predominantly white area. I was walking home one day and a lady pulled up and yelled "NIGGER!" I experience a lot of racism especially because I have a black heritage. But don't be ashamed or feel out of place. You are beautiful and very talented.😊
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The history of black/white mixed people in America is such a sad one. It must be a really interesting experience since those races are arguably one the opposite side of the spectrum.
But yeah, usually if you have any black in you and show it in any way, you're categorized as such. That's my experience anyways.
Thank you~
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Yep, and genes are a big reason why that occurs. (Its more often than not that African American traits are dominant compared to other genes)
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No thank you it feels good to talk about these things. My skin is really light and I have light brown eyes but you can easily tell in black because of my hair texture and the way I talk sometimes. Its not that I'm ghetto its just that I talk with a little slang
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Man, im sorry tou gotta deal with crap like that :/
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Yeah me too.... I'm also in foster care which makes it worse. I haven't seen any of my family in 5 years and I've been abused and beaten before
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Holy, im so sorry 
I wish i could do something to help. I cant even begin to imagine what youve been through.
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Thank you for listening and understanding
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Your welcome, and ill pray that your situation gets better. (i hope your not offended by that, its the only thing i can think of doing) Also thatnk you for the watch
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No problem (I'm not offended) 😚
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I can relate. Back in middle school, being someone who is half white and half Japanese, I've been told by a lot of people that I don't look "Asian enough" to be Japanese. Even when I show them my mom, who is Japanese, they become shocked and in total disbelief. Once I was asked if I was Mexican because of my name. To this point, I thought "Well gee really? I didn't know I was a different race than what I was LITERALLY TOLD BY MY BIRTH PARENTS."
Don't fret too much on it. You are the best in both worlds. You have experienced things most others haven't. That should be something to be proud of.
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Daily Show's Trevor Noah talks about being mixed race and how people try to categorize people for it. I see a beautiful human being and a talented artist.
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Wait! You're NOT a blue screaming bird-horse!? I am dissapoint
(kidding, you do you)
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You know, it's funny, I never considered you as anything else than yourself. I don't dwell on your race, or your gender, or your sexual preferences. I just enjoy what you draw and love your spit-fire personality. And that's enough for me.
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You are beautiful :'0 ♥♥ Nai out! o//w//ó
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I remember hearing about people having this sort of problem a few years back. Now listen I am IRISH AS HELL LMAO so I never PERSONALLY had the issue but I did a lot of research on it from mixed people's point of view so I could be sensitive to it when I met them and I think it's definitely logical for it to be conflicting but also people need to chill on their obsession with categorizing themselves and each other based on what's similar and what's different, yeah? We're all people, we can all appreciate a good meme. Let peeps identify as who they are not who you think they should be.
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I feel like it's human nature to want to categorize yourself. If it wasn't, I don't think this would be an issue at all. It's a hard thing not to do. And when other people try to categorize you as well, it doesn't really help. I've definitely gone through an identity crisis or two, trying to figure out which group I fit into but being othered regardless.
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Yeah, totally true, I get that! Humans categorize... well, everything they can really, when you think about it XD
People just need to be more laid back with telling OTHER people what categories they "fit" in. It wouldn't be that bad if they just didn't expect people to fit into their pretty preplanned boxes lmao
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Ngl I have this issue too. I'm half Native American, partially latina, and then some white mix mushed in. Because all my Native comes from my dad's side, who I do not know in the least, all I know of my own culture is stuff I've had to learn entirely on my own, so while I love it, I haven't been properly immersed in my own culture. So I've tried identifying with the Mexican part of my family, that I was raised by, and my surname matches. I also look the part, due to skin tone. But that's like... 1/4th of me. And I'm apparently not really Mexican because I don't speak Spanish. Which I've been told multiple times. Recently.
So \o/ I hear you, honey. You're a beautiful person and an individual. You have a right to your culture and cultural expression just like everyone else. You have support here to be who you are.
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I understand a tiny bit: I'm white-passing 3/8 Native and because I don't have enough of the tribe that still exists to try and explore that side from within, I often feel alienated. I want to know more about that part of me, about where I got my nose and facial structure and clear skin, but because 1/4 of that heritage no longer exists, I can't.
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It's good to get it off your chest Ki. You are yourself, that's all that matter =3
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All I know about you is that you're a good artist, and an even better person.
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TBH I get told I'm White because of my skin and the country I grew up with. They are some Latinos who don't wanna fit in either Black or White and it sucks for us to have to choose ;;. I mean we're all humans sure, and people are judgmental, but what counts is to hell with anyone who tells us what we are or are not and force us to fit in one category. What counts the most is knowing who and what you are and being proud of that!
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have you seen Moana?
"you know who you are."
good comic
(for the SAT tests and stuff put down other)
(they don't have a box for you, it's their problem)
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Oh my god, i go through this all the time. I'm multiracial and ethnically ambiguous so I tend to blend in with most ethnic groups, and whenever i tell people that i'm american, they get all triggered and start saying, "No, no, stop trying to show off! Where are you REALLY from???"
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Well to be fair if they're asking you your ethnicity, then unless you're Native American you're not ethnically American. But if you were born in America, then your nationality is American 
I can't imagine having to explain your ethnicity if you're ethnically ambiguous haha. I guess you'd just say your mixed?? That's what most of my friends say. Or they go through like five ethnicities and stop there haha.
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Yeah, most societies i go into easily overlook me and think i'm one of their own, but when they see my parents it's a whole 'nother story, cuz most people think my brother and I are adopted, cuz I have a white dad, who's actually biracial himself, and an african american mom where i get a couple of ethnicites, including native american from. If I told people I'm arab, they believe me too. Some latinos once mistook me for their own, and some Japanese as well thought i was one of their own up until maoris thought that too when i went to new zealand.
It's kinda funny how these people would just come up to me and start talking to me in their own native language and i'd just be staring at them looking so lost until they realize i understand what they're saying XD
Yeah, i usually tell people i'm mixed, but when they start asking me the specifics, i gotta start going into detail.
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I feel it. Im half African American and half hispanic (puerto rican specifically) and i have had issues with this myself. Glad to know im not the only one who has delt with this issue (i dont meet very many African American mixed race people (mostly because i grew up in predominantly Caucasian neighborhoods/schools).
Honestly, ive come to the realization that ill never be "enough" for one or the other but now i am just ME, and that is enough.
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Thank you for sharing this, as a "pure" white man(not sure how to put that.) Things like this are foreign to me and it's nice to get a perspective on it. I recall a quote from the movie Balto that went: "All he knows is what he is not. If only he could see what he is." If I may be so bold is this what it feels like? I don't mean to sound accusatory I just want to understand feelings that are completely unknown to me.
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It's great that you're trying to understand! An open mind is a great one.
The quote is pretty close to what some people go through I'd say. It's different for everyone really. That quote might work for someone who is, let's say black/white mixed but was only exposed to the white side of their family. Because they most likely don't look quite like the rest of their family, they might think "why am I not white? why do I not look like my family?" They focus on that aspect rather than being able to accept that they're BOTH black and white.
In other experiences, you might be exposed to both cultures but just be judged on your appearance by others which can make you second guess who you're supposed to be (I've experienced both of the above to different degrees).
So it's hard to say since everyone goes through different things. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to understand EVERYTHING at once, but be open to listening to someone if they say something in their individual experience bothers them.
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Being a Hispanic European, I can completely relate.
I speak Spanish. I am far more comfortable being around my Hispanic family. And yet my light skin and blue eyes and height make me white? Nobobdy expects that Mexican side of me.
But I'm not blonde and kind of busty so I'm not completely "white" either?
I dont know tbh
Thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart, for this. It's good to know I'm not alone.
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You're not one or the other, you're both
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Aw thank you Ki <3
In sure I'm not the first, but let me just tell you that you are beautiful. No matter what anyone says, your intentions are good and that's what matters. I'm so glad you figured it out. Thanks again.
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While I will never know what it feels to be in such a circumstance, I can at least encourage you to continue being yourself. It doesn't matters what your ethnic or racial background is, you are still you, and no one can tell you otherwise. For what it matters, I personally see you as an amazing, caring, and kind hearted person who creates beautiful works of art. And that is all I really need to know about you Kilala, I couldn't care less about what you look like on the outside.
That's just my thoughts on the topic... You on the other hand should just keep being awesome.
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it's actually kind of ironic, because if you think about almost everyone in america is a mixed race.
that's SUPPOSED to be what makes America special
is that we're a mixed pot of all sorts of cultures, races, ect.
and yet, we're put in categories based on what our most outward appearance is, despite what culture we were raised with or what we're actually a mix of.
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Right? It's like we're for diversity but not TOOO much
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It really doesn't matter what people think, you know what you are they just too blind to see it by judging your appearance. Be proud of your heritage girl.
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in the end we're all part of one race
the human race
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I know you said not to tell you what you are....but I think you're beautiful and talented.
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Damn right, it's almost like racism is alive and well in just about every community out there.
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This is such a lovely comic,,, I understand your situation and have been in your shoes. c: I'm sorry people have been doing these horrid things to you!
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It's not really horrid and it doesn't come from a place of hate. I feel like it really is how we're taught to think. But it really does have an effect overtime haha
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I mean, it's hurtful. I'm Spanish-Caucasian and I'm technically white passing and I get a lot of the same stereotypes towards me ;;
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Same here~ Spanish (mom side) and German (dad side) almost a pure 50/50 cept my moms grandma was Swedish or sumthin~ I alomst wanna laugh at the odds of me~
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Lol, I'm the same~ Spanish on mom's side and mostly German and English on my dad's side. (Maybe got some Scottish and Irish as well, cause of great grandparents) :3
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