lets discuss my black identity + deadbeat father: a short thread

as a mixed BLACK woman (and by black i mean someone of African descent with a darker complexion/skin color), i am very much involved in black issues + black power movements; i am serious in pursuing an undergraduate major or minor in african-american studies bc that’s my CULTURE

however, i am not automatically recognized as black because i’m ~light skin~ (it’s not an inherently bad thing it’s just... colorism.) and i recognize the privilege that comes with my more medium/tan skin!! however, it’s really awk when i attempt to claim this identity...

and people shut me down with “but ur not really black cuz ur black dad isn’t even around/didn’t raise you” etc. — now. the past couple days have been ROUGH for the black community with ahmaud arbery’s case, george floyd’s murder, and amy cooper being an absolute, blatant ~racist~

i fully understand where those comments come from !! i’m not going to lie, my dad *IS* A DEADBEAT LMFAO !! and my mostly serbian/turkish/moroccan(?) mom DID raise me and DID take care of me for the majority of my life! what you fail to recognize is ... I’M STILL BLACK LMAOFNDLS

i’m just as black as zendaya, barack obama, blair imani, jordin sparks, meghan markle, alicia keys, OR ANY OTHER MIXED BLACK FOLX!! to think that i cannot stand up for my community just bc my dad (who is the black parent) was not present in my life is simply ridiculous and absurd

i honestly don’t really care anymore if i’m recognized as black by other people or not. i claim my black identity when it’s convenient, when it’s not convenient, when it’s relevant, and when it’s not relevant BECAUSE THAT’S SIMPLY WHAT I AM. i’m not sorry for not fitting into...

your preexisting notions of what a black person is and/or looks like. i’m still black. i’m here to empower my community. i’m here to uplift my people. and i’m here to stand against the police brutality and racism that claims the lives of my friends and family on the Daily

i don’t need to have been raised by my black father to feel as though i get a say in this as a black person. i don’t need to have been raised by my black father to be in touch with my black heritage or history. i don’t need to be raised by my black father to be black. i am black.

i’m tired of reminding people or reiterating the fact that i am black. yes, i am biracial — but black nonetheless. my father didn’t raise me, BUT I’M STILL BLACK. my father is a deadbeat, BUT I’M STILL BLACK. i’m black regardless and i don’t need a father to affirm that for me.

in conclusion, what have we learned from this thread? we have learned that i have daddy issues and that i’m a black woman who is tired of having to reclaim that identity bc of said daddy issues. thank you.