Mixed-race people open up on how their families were racist to them and it's an eye-opener
Biracial people are sharing how their families constantly made race an issue which traumatized many as they grew up.
Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey has thrown light on institutional racism, pointing to deep-rooted issues within the Royal family and the media. One of the striking moments in the interview was when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed that at least one member of the Royal family was concerned about the color of their child's skin. Markle, who's biracial, revealed that her race was a factor in the treatment meted out to her and her son, Archie. Prince Harry also backed up comments made by Meghan. The couple was also told that Archie wouldn't be receiving the royal title of Prince, which also denied him security. "In those months when I was pregnant, all around the same time...we have in tandem the conversation of [whether] he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. And also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born," said Meghan, reported Hollywood Reporter. She also revealed that she contemplated suicide as she felt increasingly alienated and oppressed within the rigid structures of the royal family.
Many biracial people could relate to what Meghan Markle was experiencing and revealing the many instances of racism meted out to them by the 'white' side of their respective families. Biracial people opened up after Twitter user, Kemah Bob, drew attention to the fact that many mixed-race people often experienced racism from their own families. Here are some of the many tweets elaborating on the various experiences of racism they experienced from within the family.
1.
Someone on my white side knitted me a gollywog and brought it to the hospital when I was born https://t.co/upAo8yniuE pic.twitter.com/95tl3u69SJ
— Jaime Jarvis (@jaimejarvis) March 9, 2021
2.
When I asked my mother why I was darker than her she laughed and told me I had fallen asleep in the sun for too long. I told people that story til I was 8 and a Black person explained it to me
— VelaVoterFarmerPersonTv (@DrtyHandsHustle) March 9, 2021
3.
When me & my brother were kids, we'd get dropped off by my mum at my grandparents. My grandad thought we were the neighbours kids that they baby sat (only my grandmother & immediate aunts/uncles/cousin's knew- but they all kept the secret & i'd be hidden when external family came
— charley 🇯🇲 🇮🇳 (@Charley_Beeox) March 10, 2021
4.
Agreed at 8 Years old my man called me a golly & when my mum was furious she hit back with ‘I’m her Nan I can call her what I like’ also had to listen to a lot of ‘ foreigners coming over crap’ but was then told ‘sorry love, your dad is a nice guy though’ No longer family ofc 🙃
— Izabelle Lee (@IzabelleLee_) March 8, 2021
5.
My mother was constantly told to get back on the banana boat & I remember the malicious phone calls when I was a kid from relatives shouting "paki" & other racial slurs down the phone as my grandmother didn't think she was good enough for my dad! such w⚓s the lot of them 🤬🤬🤬
— Sarah Collins⁷ (@SarahAMC72) March 9, 2021
6.
Also parents who allow their children to be around their racist relatives. That’s a BIG one. Just because your relatives seem to have “come around” to your mixed race child that doesn’t mean they aren’t still racist.
— woman not female (@Stellaa_Mariss) March 9, 2021
7.
When I was younger and I used to visit my mums side they were so ashamed to have a half black grandchild they kept us locked in a room and we wasn’t allowed to go out for guests to see us. From as young as 3 they kept telling my mum to bleach my skin. We never spoke to them again
— Saph🇮🇳🇯🇲 (@saphmar_) March 9, 2021
8.
When I was growing up I loved so much of my Black and Japanese heritages but I was often told by my family that I wasn’t Black and that was really damaging to me so this is a conversation that really needs more attention!
— iamkyami 🖤 (@iamkyami) March 9, 2021
9.
I love my moms side but I had cousins who made jokes saying to use my skin as black sharpie, being the best player at hide & seek because I was dark, jokes about my curly hair or being able to climb things like a monkey. They said it was harmless but as a Kid it hurt
— 🌞Carol (@cher_thel0ve) March 10, 2021
10.
This hits hard. I was never allowed to bring up race because my family "don't see colour" and I'm not "really" black. A lot to talk about but there's never space to do so without wading through hurt white people's feelings first. Thank you for bringing this up.
— Cassi Moghan Photography (@Cassi_Moghan) March 9, 2021
11.
We’re always treated differently, especially my older brother. It only got better for my younger brother and I because we were both white passing as we got older, but it still comes out. I’ve still got cousins asking if my dad sewed my clothes in a sweat shop etc.
— 🌟guarding all the yarn🌟 (@yarnguardian) March 10, 2021
12.
My friend constantly has to protect her children from her side of the family making nasty and racist comments. Her 6 year old son had an identity crisis because his g-dad kept saying his father was ugly and black, meanwhile the son is spitting image so now he thinks he’s ugly
— #MaterialasticBEECH (@NaughtiNick) March 9, 2021
13.
I remember my cousin at like 7 years old sobbing quietly bc her nonblack (Latina) mother never learned how to style and care for afro-textured hair, so my poor cousin would be forced to sit there as her mother tore a plastic brush through her hair for at least an hour at a time
— creo/dj✨COMMS OPEN IN CARRD✨queenofthefaces (@CreatorTan) March 9, 2021
14.
I am thankful that my moms side of the family has never been...intentionally racist 💀 but I do remember one time I was in the car with my Tia and Nina, and my Tia went on a rant about how black men date out of their race and asked me “why don’t they date their own kind” I was 6 pic.twitter.com/I1iWZdKwc7
— Amaiah🌧 (@harryscxmsock) March 9, 2021
15.
my white grandma gave me this doll when i was a kid and said that "she reminded her of me" https://t.co/XGcSYtTs4l pic.twitter.com/VR6tvhiQiM
— Jester ♿ 🏳️🌈 (@IWillStabGod) March 9, 2021
16.
I remember my white mother gossiping with her friends and slut-shaming women from her social circle for having sex with black men. I didn’t often speak up, but I did then.
— Jessica Li (@J_VSLee) March 9, 2021
I played dumb and asked her what she meant, she just ignored me and continued.
We have to talk about this. https://t.co/ABr8qURlQk
17.
Some parts of my Caucasian dad's side basically disowned my Filipino mom, my sibling and I until my early teens. One of my grandparents used to randomly call my home phone and MY CELL and would say "fuck you" then hang up. Those calls always brought me to tears. https://t.co/lOUkVyu3LP
— :) (@jkphotosnstuff) March 9, 2021
18.
My white grandparents wrote me out of their will. My white cousins got houses and cars.
— ashley fairbanks (@ziibiing) March 9, 2021
It’s weird to be white passing in some spaces when your white family was clear from day one that you were NOT white enough for them. https://t.co/zDWQXRKHwv
19.
If I had only counted how often the n-word was dropped in front of me by my relatives, well knowing my father is Black. "But you're not really black, you look like you've been on vacation/exotic" Dismissing the racism I experienced in school... my oh my.. 🙄
— Jamie S 🌈 | commissions open (@scientistclone) March 9, 2021
20.
But now they’re dead and it’s still my last name prrrr pic.twitter.com/c4iQQVvGPC
— 444✨ (@cashappmehoe) March 9, 2021
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