BIRACIAL VS BLACK: Is There A Difference? | STRANGER FRUIT | S1E12 

Biracial people are bi racial and should have their own identity and spaces. There’s nothing wrong with that..

This is silly. Two Black parents = Black; One NB and one Black = Biracial and so on.

Bi-racial people are Bi-Racial with their own unique experiences. We as black people should accept and respect it. Great discussion 👍🏾

We need a biracial community so our voices can be heard and not looked at with annoyance because people think we’re taking their spaces.

Mariah Carey being considered black will ALWAYS be the most unserious thing to me. Idc.

Look I’m a dark skinned black woman, my experience in and outside the community is NOT the same as a biracial person. Hard stop

As a blk woman it is insulting and a damn shame that this question even has to be asked!

Black and biracial experiences can be similar, but they're not the same.

There’s definitely a difference, if you’re mixed acknowledge that.

It’s not fair for Black people to have to share their space with people who can bounce in and out of our community or claim being black when it’s convenient for example, the girl who is an actress who talks about taking advantage of her privileges

Black people don't want other non black people to defend our spaces. We don't need our racial identity to be hijacked. We can define ourselves. We are so divided that we are opening a door that can't be close.

I’m biracial. When I was in school elementary middle and even in high school my teachers would take my exam sheets from state standardized testing and erase other and bubble in black for ethnicity. I have one white parent and one black parent. I’m not just black. I’m biracial I’m both.

This is exactly why biracial people should identify as biracial or multiracial because instead of opting into blackness and just accepting an experience that may not be your experience. You are able to move the conversation for the world to better understand how to approach you and understand you.

Shayvawn gets it ❤ Black people are allowed to protect blackness and preserve it.

Everytime this conversation is brought up I go back to a situation I was in with a guy who was half Black. We were cool and just got out of the BSU but then on our way to catch the bus from school we got into a tense situation with some white boys and he switched up real quick. One second it was "Black power, and " We're one people" but the moment he got to step into his privilege he was biracial and I was Black. It was very clear that he was Black when convenient and could step out of it if and when given the chance but I was confined into that oppression alone 24/7. So yes when I notice other Black people ask what someone is I understand because in that moment the level of hurt and betrayal I felt was insane and even worse the gaslighting he did to try justify how he was so happy to become my oppressor in a heartbeat, I couldnt forgive so that friendship died. This is exactly what happened in many African countries with biracial children. I'm from Cameroon and our colonerzier had this "rape the negro out of the African" campaign when they set up posts for the sole purpose of sexually exploiting Black Women and girls and biracial children born were to be kept for further raping so to breed out all visible traces of Blackness. During tense times many biracial people would weaponize their proximity to the culture to get in and when their White daddies came back they would be first inline to snitch, and turn on any and everyone. If you look at the wealth in my country today after colonization the biracial population segregates itself from the Black population and interbreed and don't associate with the Black people because they believe their white ancestry makes them better and us by default inferior. It's honestly a battle because although biracial people dont choose their identity , neither do we and so to say they are without privilege is insane and also to be lumped into a community with someone who can and has historicallly been shown to potentially be your oppressor, Black people have valid concerns. I'm just annoyed that most of the mixed people who visually present as such in the conversation didn't want to grapple with that fact and instead wanted the narrative to be about their struggles and qaulms with the process of racialization as it pertains to them. Nobody is saying you don't go through things but if white people don't have to care about your struggles, and some are your relatives, why is it then the burdon of all Black people to do so if you won't even acknowledge your participation in our oppression.

The idea of “safety” only plays a role sometimes. But let’s be real, most of the time; people just want to know because they’re nosey. It instantly gives them insight so they can make certain assumptions about you. Same reason why folks act like they need to know your sexuality, dating status, or job.

PLEASE let there be a second part to this video!!!! I'm a white-passing biracial, and I absolutely adored this conversation. It is true that as biracial, we really don't have a space for us to speak on our own racial experiences. However, being that we tend to attract more eyes and ears, due to Eurocentric standards of beauty (and our proximities to whiteness, of course), we end becoming the "bigger" voices in speaking on issues (Mariah Carey, Colin Kaepernick, Jesse Williams Zendaya, Amandla Stenberg, Barack Obama, etc). We are able to infiltrate white spaces, and white people will half-ass listen to us, so we feel the duty to do as much as we can to shake the table. One thing about us "whiter" biracials is that because white people always just assume we them too, they let their guards down, and we get to hear what they REALLY think. I can't even recall all the times white people have openly talked about black people negatively to me and expected me to agree. That's when I love to remind them that I am, in fact, BLACK. And it's wild how they will then become the offended party. I can't also say that black people have never made me feel anything less than welcome. And I do all I can to be a safe space for them. I was raised in the 90s & 2000s (born in late 1986), so I am very steeped in black culture. It's like, even though I look like a white boy, I don't "see myself," so I "consider" (for lack of a better word) myself black. But I am VERY aware the white privilege I have, especially having a darker-skinned brother (whom was often villainized). I'm rambling, but thank you for making this video/holding this conversation.

As an African with pure blood Ghanaian heritage dated back centuries. Yes there is a complete difference within society and social media. Only Americas claim mixed to be black but in the uk there are a completely separate category

I am a 69 year old Black woman, and I have to say that my mind is completely blown away that in 2023, people are in this space, when it comes to skin color. I was born in the cornerstone state and city as it relates to colorism, New Orleans, Louisiana. However, thankfully, I wasn't raised there because I might have developed a complex about my brown skin. Although, my mother would point to the fact that I was her darkest child; however, she didn't treat me any differently than my siblings because of my skin color. I was the youngest, and had a different father than My siblings. My sister was very light and even had blond kinky hair when she was born, and based on pictures, she had that color of hair until probably the age of 9. I never ever, to my recollection, wanted to be her color. All Black people that are descendents of black enslaved people, stolen from Africa, have a percentage, albeit small, of European DNA. When I was coming up, children that had parents of two different races, were referred to as mixed. Not mixed race, but just "mixed". I don't remember there ever being any questions by other children, regarding those children's race. I am disheartened, that this issue of skin color within the black community is still going on. Truthfuly speaking, growing up, I didn't hear as much about colorism as I do now. This issue is just one of the many things that is related to the trauma of slavery. Even though, I never felt what it's like to physically be a slave, my pyche is a whole other story. During Covid, and as a result of Trump's presidency who gave white people permission to be openly racist, and voting rights being on the chopping block, I learned more about racism against black people throughout history in the United States. Aftering listening to the audio version of the book, "Twelve Years a Slave", and as it was a true accounting of his life, after being sold into slavery as he had not been born into slavery, made me realize the STAIN of slavery had affected my life. I had never realized that on a semi-conscious level, that I had felt shame and guilt knowing that I come from formally enslaved people. I logically know that this may not make sense, but emotionally, I feel the weight of what my ancestors had to experience. When I first had heard the theory, that Black Americans are suffering from PTSD as a result of slavery, it made no sense to me. However, now, I feel differently. All the things that Black Americans have suffered through --- slavery, lynching, Jim Crow, discrimination, red lining, etc, it's amazing that we have survived.

I’m sorry, but the comment section made me tear up. I’m biracial, and normally it is always a group of people telling me that I’m just black, or how when a racist sees me, I am colored and the worst kind because they will think I am mixed with white. But I am mixed with Japanese. Anyhow, seeing soooo many amazing comments basically telling me that it is ok to be who I am is refreshing. I’ve never came across more than 2 people to say anything that is in the comments. Even the ones pushing us out lol, i know they mean well and they are right. Should I claim full black when I have never experienced those hardships. I understand all black people will not have the same experience, but the ones that do, tend to dislike me claiming I’m just black. I haven;t smiled and geared up through a comment section before and it is cheesy. But i am appreciative. I don’t want to act like my mother or father do not exist. When I tried to be just black and relate,i changed my clothes and style, mannerisms…for like a month… because everyone called me out on it and said it just isn;t me. I can’t do that because it is slightly insulting. Then the people who stated that it isn’t right to just jump in and out when it is convenient. They are right. Now if you are biracial and grew up in certain cultural areas and it is all you know then, that is different. But like for me, I grew up thinking racism didn’t exist. I found out it did the last couple of years. But thank you to the commenters that understand that biracial needs it’s own place. So we can feel safe and comfortable with who we are.

I don't understand why they need to choose at all, why isn't it okay for biracial to acknowledge the fact that they do have two different cultures. The only people that benefits from this idea of having to choose are white individuals. It makes no sense for black children to grow up an watching biracial children be called black, knowing there's a difference and not able to verbally acknowledge it. I wonder if that contributes to any cognitive dissonance for both black children and biracial children in not being able to acknowledge reality. In the words of iyanla "call a thing a thing." I don't blame Meghan's mom for how she raised her, she is biracial and that's the reality of the situation. I will go as far to say black people calling her black and calling her son who is 1/4 black as "the first black person in the monarchy" is highly disturbing and a continuation of the one drop mentality. Those children look white ASF, the same rules apply for drake's son who is a 1/4 black. Black people perpetuates colorism and maintains it and get upset when light skinned and biracial people cash in.

Just because you look black doesn’t mean you are black. The Latin X community can pick and choose if they are black. So asking what are you and how do you identify, determines if you are allowed to say nword and the conversations I will have. I don’t speak on certain black issues around other communities or ppl who don’t identify as black.

I'm dark skinned and Black.I am constantly ask where I am from and what I'm mixed with. I have natural real long hair. Ive had the horrible experience of having other Blacks try to decide if my hair is real and threaten to cut it off. Light skin and/or Biracial women are not the only ones who go through these things.

I really appreciate this conversation and agree with both sides. Let me just say, from my own experience as someone who is mixed race, something that often happens is that people will tell you that you belong with white people, but white people don’t want us around either, except to have an easy target they feel safe enough to be racist towards. So it's a constant struggle to find your place and it messes with your sense of identity because the options are limited for you. My siblings and I have felt so much despair over this because it's like being told that you're meant to be trapped in an abusive cycle. I totally agree that biracial people are different and we deserve our own spaces where we can express ourselves and find community. And Black people also deserve to protect their identity and their spaces and not have to just accept everyone in. I understand it all. I just wish things could be less complicated.

This is for Shayvawn Webster that spoke about Meghan Markle. Presenting as a mixed race person in a Black family where your mum is the only biracial and everyone else is Black is not the same as BEING a biracial family. Meghan grew up with a Black mother and a domineering White father who was her first provider before Tyler Perry. His money sent her through private school and she lived with him throughout her teenage years. Asking her to say she is just Black, to make you feel good, when she literally has a white father is ridiculous. Meghan Markle is biracial.

I just want to say that I think Donovan is a treasure. He is engaging, he pulls you in, and with his personality he leaps off of the screen. It’s like he’s in front of me having a conversation. He is rare.

This so western, my Zambia audience will agree that as a country we have embraced the biracial people as they are and everyone recognizes that they also have different shades of skin color depending on who they are mixed with. I have never even seen a document that wants you to specify your race it's wild to me damn.

If you were to ask the same question to a group of Chinese People, Or Indian or White - there would be no question, they would very definitely say there is a difference between them and someone who was half black. They would consider the other half, the 'alien half', because its going to bring with it values, beliefs, behaviours etc that they would deem to be different. We are the only race, from my experience, that would consider the introduction of another race as a positive - particularly white. It could be the reason why we have high rates of interracial dating. I know that black women in particular, have the tendency to become completely immersed in social justice issues and it would be easy to just welcome biracial people into the community and under their wing BUT i guarantee that any confusion about who is black and who isn't will hit black women the hardest. To be 100% black (dark skin, 4c hair) etc is only deemed attractive (in the black community) when it comes to black men....black women on the other hand have to be 'mixed' with something to mask their blackness. We have all seen the shows.....where the love interest looks mixed but has a sassy, sexualised dark skin sister or best friend. Putting aside individual feelings, black women need to think about the long term consequences or co-signing their own erasure.

Dr. Donna is speaking facts about not being able to read oxygen levels in darker skin accurately, I gave birth in 2020, I told nurses and doctors I could not breathe, they would check my oxygen levels and say I was good but I kept telling them I felt like an elephant was on my chest, fast forward to 5 days after giving birth and 2 days after being discharged I ended up in ER because I still couldn’t breathe, after doing an X-ray they saw that my lungs were filled with fluid and I was immediately readmitted, a white, woman, obgyn came and apologized for sending me home after I told them I couldn’t breathe

This made me think about our former president Obama. The nation will always view him as "The first Black President of United States". This saddens me because he had to deny his identity. He has a white mother from Kansas and a Black father from Kenya . How is he Black? He is biracial. I can only imagine the pain. Nobody likes to discuss the pain behind denying part of your identity. To those women and men who purposely choose to have a mixed baby so that they can have that "good hair", you are setting your child up for a pain that has yet be discussed in society. That child will be psychological damage.

This conversation was so affirming and calming to me. Not to be dramatic, but my entire childhood/young adulthood has been an identity crisis. I’m a Black biracial, but I can’t pass as white in the states. To make matters more confusing, I am first generation African American. My Blackness is tied to my Luo ethnicity. As the daughter of an American white women, there were certain social ques that I was able to pick up on, but as the daughter of a Kenyan Black man, my dad didn’t really play that shit; so I grew up identifying as Black. Growing up, I floated between race groups easily because of my proximity to whiteness, and often had different groups of friends. However, my two most significant childhood friends were Black or Black biracial (non-white passing), and I did grow up with heavy influence from the southern Black community socially. Adding my geographical location, being in the south, many people in my predominantly white town adhere to the one drop rule (loudly and quietly). Needless to say, my environment also encouraged me to claim Black. I didn’t, until my adulthood, start to question the damage that could be done by not also identifying as biracial. I believe that conversations like this will help define what it is to be Black AND live a biracial/light skin experience.

all imma say is i have never heard of a "biracial white" person - it's always "biracial black"

The first thing I need people to do is stop confusing ethnicity with race. Being Puerto Rican or Dominican or whatever is NOT a race. You can be a black or white Puerto Rican…. Also I really don’t feel like it’s a safety issue when black ppl are asking biracials about their race. It’s more of a wanting to belong issue. Black people have the hardest time gatekeeping their race because the more ppl you claim as “black” the more you feel like you belong. Other races i.e white or Asian know exactly how to gatekeep their race and keep others from infiltrating or claiming their identity. Race is somewhat complicated when it comes to perception. However people make it more complicated than it needs to be. Biracial people should not have to choose or be put into a box. It’s not only dangerous for them but even more so for actual black people when it comes to representation or lack there of.

Biracial Vs White Is there a difference? 🤔🤔 Since we're all deciding to ask stupid questions now 🙄

I'm glad you had non-monoracial ppl share their perspective in the conversation. Often times monoracial ppl like to talk on the mixed perspective or triracial perspective for us mixed folk + are sometimes unwilling to let us voice our opinions on our perspectives growing up as a mixed ppl. As someone that identifies as mixed, I wouldn't feel comfortable telling someone monoracial what their life was like bcuz I haven't lived a monoracial experience but since the mixed community is not too large in the United States, that can sometimes happen there (ppl who aren't mixed telling us what our life was like + what we've been thru when they don't know us at all). Compared 2 North America I've met more mixed ppl in the UK, Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean + South America and find they are more able to share their unique experience growing up mixed without having someone tell their story for them. Not every mixed/triracial person's experience is the same. There's the passing, non-passing experience, asian + white vs white + black, what country/culture they born into, socioeconomics, growing up in a white dom envi. vs growing up in a black dom envi., being born in Japan but not being considered fully Japanese bcuz if one of ur parents is white or black etc etc.

You are the weighted combination of what your parents are, what you choose to be, and what people see you as. It's rare or impossible that one outweighs the other two.

I love the respectful conversation. But, I think it was a miss on Meghan Markle. She is biracial and I feel black people want her to say she is black when she is both and that should be ok. Meghan Markle also never said she didn’t know she was black. She said it was the first time her race was at the forefront. Just an observation. 😊

Let's please stop using lightskin to refer to people who are mixed or bi racial. It is not the same, yet lumped together. There are black people who are lightskinned (not represented on this panel & usually aren't in these discussions). However, the term lightskin is used interchangeably with being mixed. Being raised in a black house as a black child is completely different to having access to a non-black parent/family & their culture.

Meghan is Biracial. This was/is her identity all her life. She didn't ask all these black people to rally around her or support her. She has every right to identify as a Biracial becuz she IS Biracial, not Black.

Two siblings are not exactly the same unless they are identical twins. You only inherit 50% random genes from both parents…so one can have more black or white than the other sibling.

I've always said that if I if I have biracial kids (not that I have any intentions of doing so), I want them to be aware and have a high-level critical thinking skills about their biracialness. The young lady in the brown coat is the perfect example of that. Frankly, had the majority of biracial people I've met acted, thought and spoke like her, the conversation on this subject would be more advanced. Not understanding that Black People need to verify their safety with you , feeling entitled to black spaces and expecting Black People to welcome you with no questions asked is harmful af.

I am mixed.. and people need to stop grouping us in their own pessimistic view points and allow people to be all that they are... embrace love and differences.. don't do what someone has already done to y'all then turn around and do it to someone else because you feel it's acceptable..

I'm 63. I think this is really about numbers. When I was growing up, there were not many biracial people around. They considered themselves Black and were part of the Black community. No problem. Today there are a lot more biracial people and today they want to be recognized as biracial. Some will say, "I'm NOT Black, I'm biracial." The problem comes when biracial people will claim "Black" for their own benefit. My two cents.

Some of this is tough to hear. I’m biracial, half black and half white, but I have pure white skin, there is no indication im black. However, my mother was disowned when she married my father and I was raised exclusively with my black family. A lot of this makes me sound like a villain that needs to pass a test in order to be accepted. Why do I have to fit in your box? It’s almost like I need to have approval on what I can do based on my skin color

Also, an interesting experience is being Black, having two Black parents, neither bi-racial, and still look racially ambiguous but don’t actually have the same experience as a “mixed” or biracial parent, but still having the same privilege as mixed people/light skinned people

Im sorry if you don't have two black parents you aren't Black im sorry thats what i feel

Thank you for letting me sit in! I loved everyone perspective! I loved everything about this episode! Thank you!

Nikki you are wrong, in Jamaica, the term 'coolie' is used to decribe a person who has indian ancestry and it is not meant to be direspectful, "half cast" is used to describe other mixed persons, typically those who are mixed with black and white. None of these terms are used to direspect anyone in the JAMAICAN culture, they are simply racial descriptions.

There is a difference... and that is okay.

Puerto rican is not a race, it's a nationality lol. I hate when people say i'm half black and half puerto rican.

In South Africa🇿🇦 (where we perfected racism) we recognize people who are biracial. They are called "Coloured" AND ITS NOT A DEROGATORY TERM. In that way they ackwoledge their blackness and whiteness. I think its weird that in the US they only go by black🤷🏾 Why deny yourself half of who you are? I also kmow about the 1% drop black rule in the US

Just watched this video and the continuation in the next episode. Great conversation and enlightening for me to hear voices that were represented from the speakers. I also appreciated, that you all allowed each other to speak their perspective, without invalidating someone else's experience or the conversation becoming confrontational amongst each other.

Of course, this is just my experience as a BLACK biracial person. I grew up in a predominately white town, with only 1% Black population. I was never treated as biracial, ppl always assumed Black and if they saw my (white) mom the first thing they’d say would be: “oh I didn’t know you were adopted.” Until I moved to the east coast in my 20s I was never seen as anything other than Black, I was raised Black and my experiences were always coded by my relationship with Blackness. There’s a conversation I’ve seen take place more now that I’m in my 30s and have access to others via social media. It’s one I tend to see lead by other biracial people, mostly women/girls with white moms, and that’s this narrative of “never being Black enough for Black people.” Which is so wild to me, because that’s something I never got. The folks telling me I wasn’t “Black enough” were always white people disappointed after befriending me that I didn’t behave in a way that aligned with their stereotypes of what Blackness meant. I don’t mean to invalidate others experiences, but I often wonder how much anti-Blackness is at play when biracial people are so critical of Black folks. To me this hyper-criticism reads as an entitlement biracial people feel towards blackness, AND/OR a wanting to protect and establish the relationship they have with whiteness as agents of white supremacy. All this to say I really appreciated the conversation y’all had around safety & privilege. Can’t wait for part 2!

20:45 Juice said it best, nobody gets to choose their skin tone so to use skin color as a loyalty meter is going to leave you vulnerable. Observe the character of people, that's how you stay safe.

If you are of a particular age and are foundational black American. You know that in this country no matter how little the fraction of black blood , you were black and passing blacks served an important role of infiltration into white spaces that in many instances saved lives and fed families. It’s very different now.Biracial is a new concept in this country and ultimately divisive. My white passing great aunts always told me as a child that black is not only a color but it is also a heritage and a legacy, at least here in the US. Geography greatly affects this dynamic as well. Coming from a creole section of this country, one learns to discern whites from blacks who present white. When I was growing you could tell white passing blacks from whites by the way observing the demeanor and the eye contact or the lack there of. There were vocal cues that let you know immediately also.

It also has to do with how someone presents/looks. Ive been called Dominican and many years ago Puerto Rican. I am black. My history is African American, my experience is as a black woman. I love our culture and I support my people and our causes. This is a great conversation for us to have as black people and people of color.

As a biracial woman - thank you for covering this topic! You are never black enough or white enough for either community. Over all the bs. I am half and half, I do not care what you label me to help you sleep at night. I also say my mother is black and my father is white...aka - figure it out yourself. Enjoy.

In Jamaica, “coolie” is a term used for people of Indian descent… not biracial people.

I’m mixed and there, and I notice there… is a big difference

I’m mixed, that’s the beginning and end of it

I believe a way to heal this divide is to treat everyone around you with love and to praise and uplift each other for our differences. We try too hard to be like the group because it does feel good to be accepted, but it starts young when children point out differences. We need to teach children that different is okay. Donavan, keep doing your thing bro. This whole show is a service to our community.

Would love to hear Cyn G's take on this topic since the Foxsoul show. Yall should invite her next time❤

We are human that's all that matters. If people can't get with the program it's never changes.

How is this a question? It is a very silly question if anything.

I really wish we would stop calling words and questions violent because when people consider words violent then it justifies responding with physical violence. I'd rather be asked an offensive question or called a bad word than being shot or punched, they are not the same and shouldn't be treated the same one is mean an rude and the other is violent and actually deadly. Whats scary to me is imagining a society where people cant tell the difference between the two because they were taught that they are the same.

Has anyone ever felt like there’s some unsaid competition among lightskinned blacks, biracial and mixed race black people in terms of who’s the lightest? As a biracial black and Puerto Rican, I’m on the lighter side of the spectrum and have had other lightskinned mixed race women say I’m not light because I’m not as light as them. This conversation came up when a coworker was touching on owning our blackness and acknowledged that I was light but not ashamed to own my blackness while others are (aka the mixed race lightskinned coworker preaching only she is lightskinned). Me and my other coworker looked at each other like wow…okay…good for you? and it seems like you hate yourself!

I’m not disagreeing-us mixed people have a completely different experience than the average, dark skinned black individual. Obviously! Usually we’re lighter skinned and we all know the history of how light skinned/white skinned people are seen as more “desirable” or “beautiful.” In the slave days, the children that were the result of the white rape of black slave women, were taken inside and trained to be “white.” Still not necessarily accepted, but they didn’t live in the slave quarters. And to this point, though, if we are expected to embrace our mixed identity, acknowledge our privilege of being able to “jump back and forth” between cultures and such, then we also deserve to be treated with respect to our mixed identity. Those who have two black parents and are dark skinned shouldn’t reject us because our parents decided to mix. I’ve had a lot of experience in my own family of that happening and it created a divide-I don’t know any of my family. I wasn’t accepted or treated kindly by dark skinned black people because I was mixed. And the anger is valid. But don’t take that out on me. It wasn’t my choice to be mixed. So yes, mixed people should absolutely own the biracial experience. And black people shouldn’t judge, exclude, or hate us for that.

I don’t know how this came on my timeline, but I am thankful for this discussion! I posted my own video on my channel 3 weeks ago about my own racial and ethnic ambiguity experiences growing up in New York. I LOVE discussions like this!!!!

I have had the opposite experience. I'm tri racial, and people ask me my background, but then label me as only black. This was a great discussion. I enjoyed listening to everyone's perspective!

As a 1/4 White, Biracial presenting person all I can say is: WOW my jaw is on the floor, I've truly never heard my exact experience represented and to hear it within a minute of this chat was a pleasant surprise!

Biracial vs white. Is there a difference?

I’m half black and half white. I recently had an experience where a kid asked me are you black or white? You look weird. At first I felt offended, but I took it as a teaching moment for her. I told her all colors are beautiful from the whitest white to the blackest black. People have been asking me what I am since I was small. I’m 36 and still get the question.

i find it strange that people with with curly/smooth hair are considered or consider themselves "biracial" but if your hair is nappy, idc how light you or said naps are...ya black! or considered so by others in society.

YES BIRACIALS # NOT BLACK YOU ARE MIXED NOT BLACK.

Love that this conversation is here and love how everyone responds especially the ending

I really appreciate this conversation and I think Donovan is a wonderful mediator and host. I found everyone's perspectives really interesting. One (very small) thing I want to add is that at 24:08 when discussing Megan Markle, Shayvauwn mentions Piers Brosnan, but she means Piers Morgan. Two different guys...Morgan is the problematic one who's been at the helm of the Megan Witch Hunt. Piers Brosnan is an actor, most famous for James Bond. Everything else was really well put and I completely agree. Thank you for the conversation.

Whoever is editing this video ❤ I see you.

Donovan, Virigina historically had the most racially mixed Black slaves. A lot of their descendants inherited wealth. Their parents or grandparents or great grandparents because as the children of the master, they received wealth with their freedom. So that is why you see a lot of that in the DC area.

I don’t n ow how I stumbled across this channel but this is such a good conversation which is nuanced and really goes there. That lady who spoke about the safe spaces and why we ask what people are to know if it’s safe to let them in was such a great assessment of that whole conversation and she also spoke about Megan and articulated very clearly what had been uncomfortable about her for me. She strikes me as someone who back in the day would have passed and gotten on no issues. Even though I live I. The UK as a Jamaican and I see the brutality of the racism which she has faced and I do defend her publicly, privately there is something there. Great conversation. Immediate subscriber.

This is such an interesting conversation for me as a black person who has 2 black parents, but I am VERY lightskined (yes both of my black parents are my bio parents). I have the same worldly experience as biracial black women because I am PERCEIVED as biracial by anyone I come in contact with. Which in my opinion proves that while it is a race issue, it is based in ANTI-BLACKNESS first and foremost. Many different people are bullied in life. But the violence is historical and often deadly when it is based in anti-blackness. So while biracial people do feel attacked by other black people, it isn't a question of your humanity or right to simple exist on this planet as equals. It really is a trauma response of "why doesn't the world see me as worthy of life the same way lightskinned/biracial people are inherently given the right to life?"

I just want to thank everyone in this extraordinary discussion with all of my heart for going into depth from so many perspectives on this experience. It is very powerful medicine.

Everything about this episode was fire and so needed 🤝🏽❤️‍🔥 such educated and articulate minds on this panel!

The tendency to equate biology and genetics with culture is frustrating, especially as someone of mixed race who feels reduced to simplistic labels. It's important to recognize that terms like "white" and "black" are cultural constructs that have been mistakenly attributed to biological or genetic differences. I take pride in not carrying the cultural baggage that often comes with these labels. Despite others' attempts to define me, I remain focused on achieving my own goals and shaping my own identity. Ultimately, my self-perception is more important than anyone else's. However, the endless back-and-forth over who is what only serves to keep people divided and stuck in their own silos. This outdated way of thinking achieves nothing but unhappiness and strife. We cannot simply segregate ourselves into different camps and hope to find happiness in isolation. Instead, it's more beneficial to find common ground and shared experiences that bring us together as a society. Though we may have our differences, we have far more that unites us than separates us.

Amazing and infromative conversation and im so glad that everyone got to share their own opinions and experiences. Like Donovan said, it is really important for everyone, whatever your cultural heritage or complexion to share and exchange information and experiences so that we can break down these binaries. I dont want to live in a world (which sadly we do but were getting there one step at a time) where people feel internal guilt, shame, pressure or hatred of themselves because of society. No one should feel like they are not enough just the way they are.

Can someone point me to where Mariah Carey identified as black? I've never considered her as black.

Donovan is an EXCELLENT moderator. So engaging and so smart. Great discussion!

I am Somali Black African I am glad a came across Donovan channel. He keeps it real 👍🏾

Donovan, this is a great discussion. Btw, you have the most beautiful set on RU-vid!

No shade but the grapevine had better speakers. Most of these folks are people of color who THINK a they know Blackness! Y’all need me on the next episode!

I absolutely loved this but that black girl at the very end I wasn’t feeling her energy from the start it seemed like she was more focused on trying to brush darker skin black peoples experiences to the side to uplift the biracial people. And she’s dark skin herself but maybe she hasn’t gone through much but girl that wasn’t it loved everyone’s opinions other then her it was great.

This video showed in my recommendations. Since I’m biracial (black and white), I thought it’d be interesting to watch. I also think it would be interesting to see this topic discussed with a panel of all males and/or a panel of biracial people from different parts of the US to see if there are differences in their experiences, especially in the formative years. I happened to write a research paper on this topic in grad school, focusing specifically on black and white biracial individuals. I found that how biracial people identify depends largely on their age (born before or after Civil Rights era - for those born before, the one-drop rule still lingers), the region of the US they grew up (someone from the south may have a very different experience than someone on the west coast where it’s more diverse or where Jim Crow laws weren’t a thing), how society and peers view them (society often classifies biracial individuals as black), & what their family taught them they were (some families teach their biracial kids they are one race or the other, or they teach them they are biracial). The 2000 Census was the first-time citizens could classify themselves as more than one race, so prior to 2000 biracial individuals were forced to choose. There are still a lot of forms today that don’t give the option to choose more than one causing further confusion. I remember filling out a standardized test form in elementary school and raising my hand to ask the teacher what I was supposed to put for race. She told me to put black, so I did. As an adult, I identify as biracial if someone asks. It's sad this is still a topic of discussion in 2023, however there is so much history to undo, especially in the US, although I know there is an issue in the Caribbean and South America regarding this topic as well. I’ve had some of the same experiences as those mentioned in the video, so I understand completely. Personally, I’m more racially ambiguous. People know I’m not white, but are often unsure if I’m only black, black and something else, or just something else. Majority of the time though, people think I’m Puerto Rican or Dominican. Occasionally, I’m mistaken for middle eastern. In my early childhood I was raised in the deep south, but we later moved to the Pacific Islands. My experience in both places were very different to the point I didn’t even realize racial tensions were still a thing until after high school when I moved back to the US mainland for a short period of time. From my life experience, I never want to live in the southern US again or raise my kids there.

As a biracial woman, I vacationed in the Dominican Republic. The dark skinned man serving me my morning omelette, said under his breathe with DISDAIN, “Negra!” I was shocked but then amused because I realized he thought he was insulting me. I responded “Yessssss! Negra!!!” with the biggest smile. He looked at me confused. Lol😂 Ps. The dark men worked the grounds, the caramel women were maids, the lightest skinned men and women worked the reception and check in. Latin countries are color conscious to the MAX! I can’t even begin to get into my experiences in my skin, but let me tell you, it is a THING. I appreciate the conversation.

This was beautiful!! Was really missing a Black American perspective IMO. I think people from the old south (1700s) USA may have something to contribute to this discussion. 💕✨

And they need to include FEATURISM a REAL THING

The irony is to acknowledge that biracial offspring being used as an enemy but then create one 😏

27:00: Same thing. I sometimes do the "quick look" or "room scan" to see how many other Black or others of ethnic background when I'm in majority White spaces in case 💩 goes down! If I know no one there I am alert, no afraid or uncomfortable because there is a stark difference.

Like whiteness; blackness and biracialness are exclusionary categories of race. Let’s acknowledge it as such. The days of co-opting, superimposing, & bogarting another’s identity is over.

Another fabulously nuanced dissection and discussion about topics integral to understanding and liberating ourselves and each other. I love it here, can't wait for part 2.

This was great for me. My baby sister is biracial and she has never talked about her experiences. Then again, I've never asked. Shame on me! I sent her this video so we can talk about it. Thank you

The woman with the glasses makes excellent points. I appreciate when someone can address the nuances of this issue.