Lena Foster
@LenaFoster · 0:48
Experiences of growing up mixed raced
Join this
conversation
Download the Swell app and instantly add your voice.
Hey, Swallow, I'm wondering today if there's anyone out there also on here who can share a bit of their experience being mixed race. I know myself and I'm half Danish and half Mexican, and I guess a little bit on my dad's side, which is the Mexican side. There's some Native American, but I always get really strange comments and stuff. So I'm kind of wondering, what are other people's feelings and experiences being mixed race?
Lena Foster
@LenaFoster · 4:47
I've gotten many strange comments in my life for many different things, but I have to say probably the strangest that I ever get is about what trace I am. And honestly, I'm getting these comments from people, people who I've even had friendships in the past with. So it's very strange to see what kind of people even ask these things. I've been called a half breed. I think it was when I was little and my parents just completely connected ties with that person
I just spent a lot more time with my mother's side of the family. I used to spend more time with my dad's side, but it was usually around Christmas, and there was usually hardly any opportunity to be introduced to this Panamanian culture. Sometimes my Aunt Sandy would make platinums, but that was pretty much the extent of it, but I still experience those weird comments you were talking about, and I experienced them all throughout
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
I relate to a lot of what has been said. And thank you so much for asking this question because I think this is a very important conversation. My entire life. I was asked, what are you and am black and white, but I'm white. Passing ish I don't know. Some people tell me that I look white
Lena Foster
@LenaFoster · 2:16
Thank you so much for sharing. I really do hope more people join this. Well, because this is not something I get to see that often, and it's just really nice to hear other people talk about it. So yeah. Thanks. I have to say when you said it's a gift and a curse, I really felt that mostly because I can completely relate with being light skinned and having the ability to better like the privilege
Lena Foster
@LenaFoster · 0:50
I do feel like a lot of the issues I have faced being mixed raised involve trying to find a place to belong. So yeah, I think a lot of it is about finding that community. It doesn't really matter to me if it's a mixed race community or not. I mean, I think that would be definitely helpful, but as long as they accept me in how I identify as a white Chicana Yaki native woman, I don't know. Yeah. Thanks for replying
Join this
conversation
Download the Swell app and instantly add your voice.