_ It was not until I was in my early 40s, when I became a teacher, that I was actually able to embrace my ancestral heritage and form a solid identity. After a few weeks of getting to know my students, they began to ask me “what I am.” As I ran down the list that my father is Honduran and Mayan Indian and my mother is Black, White and French with a dash of Cherokee, I noticed my students begin to sit up straighter. One of my Black male students beamed, “I knew she was one of us!” (this is the same little culprit I mentioned in my introduction; the one who “loved” me! J) and I saw that same expression of pride and acceptance in every face in the room!  They all took ownership of me, which was a significant breakthrough for me! My bi- and multi-racial students and I learned, together, to embrace all of who we are. Mixed race people do not have and should not be forced to choose one ancestor over another.

 


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