What does adversity mean? Difficulty, hardship, misfortune,
etc. But what does this mean for someone who is biracial?
From the moment I was born, I knew I was different. Being
born in NYC, everyone looked like me, sounded like me. I was a reflection of my
community; however, moving to California changed my perspective of self and how
I view my community.
No one looked like me, curious stares peering into my soul
trying to figure out my mixture compilation. My mother would tell me “they’re
staring at you because you’re beautiful” to comfort my securities.
But no one knew that this insecurity would turn into
adversity that I would have to fight everyday. You see, no one told my mother
and father that I would have to face identification crisis.
My white classmates assumed I was black, and my black
classmates knew I was mixed, but with what they would ask. Growing up I got the
same old tired questions, “what are you?” and as I got older, that question
became an icebreaker or a question men would use to hit on me. And by default
because I’m Puerto Rican, men found me attractive. Yet, they were confused
because I didn’t look like a typical Puerto Rican. (Meaning, I didn’t look like
J. Lo or Rihanna).
And to add another layer to this already confusing identity
crisis, add in the typical missing father. I didn’t meet my father until my
freshman year of high school. And on top of that, I went through life walking
the streets wondering what my father looked like, did I look like him, did he
look for me, etc.
At the end of the day, growing up in a single parent home is
already difficult, especially when you’re going through an identity crisis.
However, as I grow older, I get closer to figuring out whom I am, what I like
and what I like to do.
Adversity can be a positive as it forces you to become a
stronger, independent individual. And until I am Super Woman, I will continue
to fight the uphill battle of adversity everyday.
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