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15 Percent

Posted on: Wednesday, June 26, 2013

My sister introduced me to a new tumblr yesterday, We Are the 15 Percent, which features photos of mixed couples and families. It was created in response to ridiculous backlash from the Cheerios commercial which features a multi-ethnic, mixed race family. I think it can be hard for a lot of people to understand how this might make me or other mixed people or couples feel. It brings tears to my eyes, actually. Because no matter where I am, what country or state or neighborhood, I am always the minority. I am almost always the only one that looks like me. I am the confusing one, the one that people struggle with more than usual to put a label on, usually assigning me the wrong one. Black people don't consider me black. White people know I'm not white. I've had Indian people think I'm Indian. White people say I'm "some sort of Asian," (direct quote) Latina, Hispanic, Black, Native American. Pretty much anything that could fit my dark but not too dark skin and sometimes straight dark hair. Being mixed, a mix of whatever and however many parts, is the real minority in the world. I have never had a community with which I could relate, where I was not a visual rarity. So to see these pictures, of people like me, babies like I was and couples like me and my husband, it really feels like I have a place, for the first time. And that, if you can imagine, is a pretty big feeling.

<the creators of the page- Michael, Alyson and little Alexandra>

And here is a picture of my family.

What a good day for love today is, eh? :)

- From the desk of Mrs. M

5 comments:

  1. Your post brings tears to MY eyes! Thank you for this.

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  2. Love, Love your post! I'm white, he's black. I have 3 children who are 1/2 white, 1/2 hispanic. He has 2 daughters who are black and 1 daughter who is 1/2 white and 1/2 black. We live in the south where it's still not wildly accepted. We deal with the comments, the stares but at the end of the day it's makes us and our children stronger...again, love this..thank you for sharing

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  3. I'm so in love with that page too!

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  4. Nicole Adkinson-CalopietroJuly 1, 2013 at 7:26 PM

    You have brought tears to my eyes! So wonderful to find a place, a forum, where someone understands! Beautiful!

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  5. This is a really great forum. Unfortunately, it seems you've had some hard times, but I'm glad that you have found a place that makes you happy to see that you are not alone, we are many. My husband is White, I'm Black, and we have a two year old daughter. I would never want her to go through what you've gone through, thank you for sharing your story. I'm so happy that there are people willing to let it be known that there are many beautiful happy families out here that are interracial. I especially like to see the older couples, like your parents, because they paved the way and struggled for us all today. And they made it through!! Thanks again for sharing!!

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