GUEST ROOM | The Gift of Duality

I am bi-racial. I live in two worlds — two worlds that will always define who I am. When people ask me, “If you had to choose between being Black and Latino, which would you choose?” I answer, “I am 100 percent Black and I am 100 percent Latino.” No separation exists. Before coming to this conclusion I struggled to solidify my identity. I thought to myself, “Where do I, the half Black half Mexican kid, fit in?” Now, as I reflect on my childhood experiences I embrace my racial duality and understand that being bi-racial puts me in a unique position to create a special identity for myself apart from race.