Teen Talk
francis November 12th, 2006
For as long as I can remember, I have been constantly asked what problems I have, being biracial. I have been asked this by television reporters, newspaper and magazine writers. Each time I have been lucky enough to answer that I have had no problems. It is very frustrating for me when everyone seems to expect me to have problems just because my of race. To me, race does not matter. If someone does not like me, I hope it is not because of my race, and I am not about to blame it on my race. I have to take responsibility for my imperfections, not just assume that my problems are all because of my color. I can’t change my color, but I can change my ways. I have been turned down by many interviewers simply because I am too normal. Why can’t we let everyone know that biracial people are just like people of all other races: why can’t they know we are normal?
I have friends of all races and we do not let our differences get in the way. Why should they? The color of our skin has nothing to do with our personalities. I feel it is a typical stereotype to think that a biracial child has got to have lots of problems. We are not allowed to be normal in the public’s eye.
I received a call from the cable network Nickelodeon a few months ago, and was interviewed for a program they wished to produce on biracial children. One of the first questions they asked me was, “what problems do you have being biracial?” When I told the interviewer that I could not remember any problems, she lost interest in me, and I was not used in the program. I was angry because if they only use biracial children with problems, what kind of message does that project? If all of the children used for these programs have problems, then people are going to expect that all biracial people have problems. That just strengthens the stereotype.
It is easier for society to think that people who are different have problems, than to accept them as normal. I don’t understand why this is so, and hopefully in the near future, biracial children will be accepted as normal. Biracial children are not the only minority stereotyped as having problems. My best friend has a physical handicap, but overlooking her handicap, she is completely normal. She is popular in school and has a high grade-point average. When I am with her, I forget about her handicap and she forgets my being biracial. It is important that no one expects something of a person based just on their race, religion, disability, age, gender or any other difference. We shouldn’t judge anyone.
Maia Benjamin Wardle