Heritage

I am not ashamed to be what I am. Myriads of generations prior to mine have been to the extent where interchanging any another race with their true one seemed to be the only bearable alternative. Some of my fellow brethren still do.


This is not to say that I see no reason behind their actions, their mindset of inferiority. We live in a biased world, and the evidence can be found all around us. Society has always given African-Americans a rough time of it, made them suffer beyond the mind's limitations and berated them until their psyche surmised a less painful way of living.


If time were to rewind one-hundred years back, I cannot say that I would not consider turning my back on my identity.


Yet despite the belief that we are straight-up black, our heritages varies as much as anyone else's. Some African-Americans can trace their roots to the Revolution and prior. Others did not leave the African continent, by choice or without, until centuries after the initial slave arrival in the 1600's. Many have European ancestry because of liaisons masters had with slave women. To be honest, this vestige of mixed-up heritage is symbolic, because it not only represents the majority of us, but summarizes the mentality of black people perfectly.


In most of the African-American community, showing even a partial affinity for anything not stereotypically "black" (unfairly) constitutes this notion of treachery. Well.


I'm about 10% Filipino, 2% Irish, French, and mainly, ostensibly black. I love my heritage and do not hesitate to defend it or declare it to the world. I got teased extensively for my love of anime in middle school, and badmouthed for embracing the "Asian" rather than black. Heh. It was not so, but I am glad I realize their ignorance now for what it is.


I could have 0% Irish heritage or Filipino heritage, and walk around with the national anthem on my shirt in Gaelic, or bear a backpack that says 'Pride in the Philippines' with purple Sharpie. Not belonging to a culture but showing respect and love for it is not rejection of your own. Nor is it turning your back on it in treason; it is what a worldly person should be able to do without question. It is cosmopolitan and quite fun. Fuck haters, man. I like my lupia and maki rolls. We have differences, but they should be adored and accepted.


P.S. I love my folks. But I just don't know about some of 'em, mayn.


~End