Breaking barriers by being multi-racial

By: Rayn Phillips

Northeast High School is a melting pot of cultures. Students of all races and heritages roam the halls and speak dozens of languages. Being a multi-ethnic school is often regarded as one of Northeast’s selling points. Being a multi-ethnic student however, comes with more than a few challenges.

Junior Jailing Dan, is African American and Chinese and has faced much persecution because of “who and what” she is.

“Growing up attending an all African American school was difficult for me, especially because I wasn’t fully black. As a child I was teased a lot, they would call me names like “blackenese,” tell me that I wasn’t black, and would make fun of my eyes,” Dan said. “They didn’t even ask me if I was mixed, it was like they already knew. It was hard growing up because I wanted to fit in like everyone else, kids were just mean.” 

Through the teasing and other insulting slurs, Dan stayed strong. Her grades never faltered and she always was and still is an honor student. Dan believes that the teasing was a way to strengthen herself. 

“Eventually, yes, this has made me a better person because I realized that God didn’t put me here for everyone to like me.” 

Dan didn’t hide her ethnicity and instead embraced what had made her different from everyone else instead of seeing it as a hindrance. She is proud of her Chinese heritage and takes part in the annual Chinese New Years celebration with her family. 

Although ethnic diversity can be viewed with negative attitudes, sophomore Ashley Hagood never really faced much of a problem. She views her ethnicity positively. 

“Being multiethnic actually helps me relate to more people, but sometimes I feel like it’s categorized, like to my Spanish friends, I’m Cuban Ashley or to my Black friends, I’m Black Ashley,” she said. She also feels as though being multiethnic has opened up many doors for her in society. 

“School scholarships are offered to multiracial, Latina and African American children,” she said. “Plus it’s always a topic of conversation like ‘Hey where are you from, what is your race?’ Whenever I answer them with the three races (mom’s white, dad’s black and Cuban), the reaction is ‘Oh my goodness, all that!’” 

Ashley has always brushed off any derogatory comments about her heritage. 

“Even though I was never teased, there was always someone who had something smart to say. ‘So, you’re a mutt,’ they would say, but you know what it doesn’t bother me!” 

Sophomore Kristoph Montague is Caucasian and African American. 

“Sometimes I am teased because people are just plain ignorant. You’re always going to run into those people who just don’t like you ‘cause you’re a breed of an interracial couple or some other stupid reason. I try not to lose myself in other people’s hate. Let them go throughout the world with a clouded view because I’m aware and proud of it.”
The teasing doesn’t only come from other students.

“One time a neighbor of mine didn’t like me hanging out with his son because I was part black, part white. He didn’t have a full problem with black people or white people being white himself, just the mix of the two, I felt like I was just some hate breed or spawn or something, I felt really angry because of this situation and how my neighbor reacted.”

Montague admits that being multi-ethnic can make life more difficult.  

“At times I’d feel insecure about it. It was hard to have a complete balance in your mind about your culture. Sometimes you could feel that you’re losing touch with either culture. Also, other people make it hard because they stereotype you, saying stuff like you can’t do that because you’re black or you can’t say this because you’re white. It’s really hard to find your own voice when other people want to speak for you.” 

However, Montague tells of the benefits of being multi-racial.

“Being multiracial has definitely opened doors for me; I might find a whole lot of people that I can relate to and some people that are interested in me being multiracial. In my opinion I think there will be plenty of more opportunities and doors to face as I grow and I’m gladly welcoming them as they come.” 

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