Biracial Children Are Tired Of Hearing These Things

People have always questioned what I am and now what my biracial children are. Maybe because I look more like my Dad, including the light eyes, having lighter skin, and when I was younger I had curly hair. I’m not sure if you know this about me, but I am biracial. 

Do people ever ask what you are? My biracial children and I get that question fairly often, especially when we travel and we are tired. Want to know what my answer has always been when people ask what I am and also what they are? A person, people. 

What does biracial child mean?

A biracial child is one who represents two separate racial groups. They have a biological mother from one racial group and a biological father from another. 

For example, in case you don’t already know this about me, I am biracial. My Mom is black and my Dad is white, in fact he’s pretty much 100% Irish to be exact. 

What is a biracial family?

To give you a little back story on my biracial family, my parents started dating when they were teens growing up in Philadelphia in the 60’s and ’70s. This was back when black and white people couldn’t even go to the same schools or live in the same neighborhoods.

I was born when they were still in high school, less than a month after they got married. By the time they were 20 they had two kids and were already married for three years. My Dad’s family basically disowned him, while my Mom’s family embraced us.

Growing up our family experienced being forced out of neighborhoods, called a variety of nasty names, stared at, mistreated and more.

My Dad and I were turned away at the DMV when I tried to take the test to get my license because the woman behind the counter wanted more proof I was his daughter (true story). This was all due to my parent’s interracial marriage and my sister and I being biracial. 

My parents have been through a LOT, and have their own stories I hope they’ll tell someday about being an interracial couple and their experience raising biracial children. Thankfully despite all of those things, they stuck together and have been married for almost 39 years.

Now I’m raising two biracial children.

My two wonderful kids had something happen last year while they were out together sledding (and many other things before and after that), which always reminds me that some days nothing has changed… 

Someone questioned our daughter about whether that was really her brother, due to their different skin colors. She was confused and ended up in tears. 

As a biracial woman who has dealt with being questioned my whole life, I am tired.

Even though my kids are only 16 and 10 they are already tired. 

9 Things Biracial Children Are Tired Of:

1. When people ask what they are. 
2. People telling them they can’t possibly be siblings or even related (I gave birth to them both)
3. When were they adopted? (Please don’t assume things)
4. Being stared at or whispered about when we are all out together (If you have a question about my family ask)
5. Questioning whether or not I am really their mom. (Yes I am and you can borrow them anytime you want)
6. People touching my daughter’s curly hair. One of her most favorite books is Don’t Touch My Hair! (Good luck to the person who tries this without asking…)
7. My teenage son really loves when people ask why he is darker than his sister (His father is Jamaican and hers isn’t)
8. Being told they need to pick one race or the other. 
9. Being told they aren’t enough of one race so they don’t fit in. 

I understand people are curious about biracial children, but there are tactful ways if you want to learn more (grab a children’s book with biracial characters), which don’t involve questioning my children, making our family feel uncomfortable or like we don’t belong together because of our mixed races.