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At first glance, the American flag is just a simple rectangle of polyester that's made up of fifty white stars in a blue

rectangle at the top left corner of the flag and thirteen red and white horizontal stripes that fill up the rest of the flag. However, the flag is so much more than just a simple design that's pleasing to look at because each part of the flag signifies a different property of the United States. The stars represent the fifty states, the red and white lines are symbols of the thirteen British colonies, and the colors on the flag all reveal traits that the country prides in. The white shows the characteristics of goodness and innocence, the red reveals the property of courage and fearlessness, and the blue represents determination, justice, and attentiveness. When I look at a flag from a country, such as one from Korea, Peru, Uganda, Ireland, etc., I immediately picture in my head what a person from that country might look like, what the country is like as a whole structurally and socially, what type of food a person from that country might eat, and where on the map the country is located. A flag represents an entire country with just one glance, and it seems for most other countries besides the United States, you can look at a flag and picture people who look similar, who eat similar food, who are in the same culture, etc. However, this is where the American flag is especially unique because it reveals unity in diversity. One can't look at the flag and picture what an American would be like because the country contains so many different cultures, races, foods, etc. This unity in diversity is found in those who are biracial as well, due to the fact that they are a mix of two cultures and races. Consequently, the U.S. is the true home to them and they can see themselves in the American flag because it is a place

where being a racial mutt is very common. Therefore, biracial people should feel truly comfortable being who they are in this country, right? Although in theory this sounds pleasant and even logical, it is not always the case, and, because biracial people are so unique, they go through many struggles with identity and daily life. On the other hand, those who are biracial have an upper hand in other aspects of the social and cultural scene. As a half Hispanic, half white girl myself, I had an interest in exploring what other biracial people struggled with and found beneficial due to their racial composition. I conducted three interviews of different biracial people: Kali, a half Asian, half white girl, Kyle, a half black, half white guy, and Kessie and Evan, my half white, half Hispanic siblings. There seemed to be certain similarities in the types of difficulties that each of them faced, but also differences in what had happened how each ones coped with it. Interested in what each person had to say about each topic, I asked very similar questions to each person, but replies varied slightly because each one were of different racial backgrounds. To start off each interview, I made small talk and then began with asking What kind of social struggles do you go through as a biracial individual? Each person had a different response. Kali responded, Well, theres many different assumptions that people make. Many times Asians see me and immediately want to speak in Korean, which I only know words of, and be friends with me. Sometimes, I have to show some of them that Im white too, have a diverse set of friends from different races, and dont just want to be in an Asian click. However, with white people, I run into many guys who arent

attracted to Asian girls and I always feel like I have to be aware about how I am or am not fitting an Asian stereotype. For example, theres the stereotype that Asians are bad at driving, but Ive never been in a car accident even though all of my friends have. Even with that track record, Ive always felt that I have to prove my driving competence to others. On the other hand, Kyle mentioned, Well, there are the usual stereotypes that I get for being part black from white people and part white from black people. Its not too bad, but there are just some sly side comments that I have to tell myself to ignore. As a half white guy, I hear from black people about how Im too white or how Im whiter than I am black because I speak grammatically correct or because Im of a decently high economical status. On the other hand, from white people, I get some racist comments for being half black, but in general, its not that bad because Im not full black or full white. Lastly, Evan replied, I feel out place with the Hispanics clicks at our school because Im not fully Hispanic and I dont speak Spanish. I fit in better with whites even though Im not fully white. Each person referred to struggles dealing with the assumptions other people made on how they thought that Kali, Kyle, and Evan should be based on their looks, heritages, and ethnicities. Kali was assumed to be really in touch with her Korean heritage, to be able to speak the Korean language, and to only want to spend time with people who were from Korean heritage, even though that wasnt how she felt towards her Korean heritage herself. Similarly, Evan referred to how he looked more white than Hispanic, so other people didnt see him as Hispanic, but rather

white. Therefore, he fit in better with whites than with Hispanic clicks. On the other hand, Kyle was judged and discriminated based on each race he was from people from each race, even though he really didnt fit either category of race. Each response revealed the real life hardships that those who are biracial go through. The responses reminded me each time of the struggles I had gone through because of my racial composition. I, myself, never felt like I could be considered a true Hispanic because I have light skin and look more white than Hispanic. On the other hand, I related with Kyle because I was playfully ordered many times to mow someones lawn or called a beaner or Mexican, even though Im half Peruvian. It had definitely been annoying sometimes because people thought it was funny, but I just shook it off because I knew they were just being ignorant and it didnt even apply to me because Im Peruvian and not Mexican. Speaking of fitting into different cultural groups, I was led to ask the interviewees how they felt about the cultures they belonged to. Each person replied with a spectrum of different answers depending on how connected to their culture they were. I dont really see black culture and white culture as distinct cultures, but rather of the same culture. My family is made up of a black dad and a white mom and has its own culture. Thats what culture I am a part of. Although I say this, Id say a benefit of being biracial would be that I relate to others better, especially foreigners, because I definitely know what it means to feel like the odd ball out. I can connect with white people and black people better too because I am both, and therefore, understand both races personally, Kyle mentioned confidently.

Kali responded immediately, Well I love Korean food, but personally if I could cut out white food completely, I would. I also love how I have a history from my Korean side of the family. I hear stories about how my relatives came to America on the Mayflower as immigrants and fought in the Korean War, but I also feel guilty for not being more cultural or connected with my Korean heritage. On the other hand, I really enjoy being white and being a part of that culture because it makes it easy to connect to other white people here. I think some of the benefits of being biracial are that its easier to get along with minorities because theyre in the same boat as me, and I can fit in with other white friends who cant relate to minorities because I am still white too. I dont feel really connected to Peruvian culture because I dont celebrate any Peruvian holidays. I wish I were more in touch with my Peruvian side because I really like the festiveness of the culture, the family parties, and the colors! I really like the colorful outfits that mountain people wear, Kessie responded referring to the traditional clothing worn by people who reside in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Evan, on the other hand, replied, I dont really know about the Peruvian culture because Ive only been to Peru once, but I wish Papa taught us Spanish because its annoying not understanding what our family talks about on his side of the family. As I listened to each response, I realized how Kali, Evan, and Kessie each struggled with guilt or disappointment they felt for not being in touch with their non-white half of their race. As a biracial individual, one has to split their time being involved in and connecting with each race. Therefore, the individual isnt as

connected to either culture as would a person who is just from one race, for example, one who is full Korean or full Peruvian. I had gone through this same guilt and disappointment because I am not a native Spanish speaker, so I dont have an accent while speaking the language and am called a gringo. I wished I couldve grown up dancing at parties in Peru too so that I would be better at dancing salsa, merengue, etc. Living in America makes it harder to connect with the non-white side of race because one is separated from the other country of origin completely and consequently does not experience to the full extent that side of their race. On the other hand, what I discovered from Kyles response was that those who are biracial sometimes feel as if they are of their own distinct type of culture. Ive felt this same way as well because my family is made up of a Hispanic father and Caucasian mother, so our mixed family has been my own type of culture, different from the usual distinct cultures, such as Hispanic culture or white culture. Those who are biracial are connected in the fact that they are of two different races, and therefore, experience identity struggles and others preconceived notions of what they are supposed to be like, but in a way every biracial person is different because they are of different races. A race is defined as a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group. Thus, biracial individuals make up their own race because they have same type of dual history, they understand what each other goes through involving identity issues and others assumptions, and they are of the same type of divided culture. Therefore, since biracial individuals are of their own unique type of culture, others should be more aware of this, and consequently, not have preconceived

notions nor try to categorize biracial individuals into either one of their cultures of origin. The biracial race is one that is very diverse, but unites the diverse people into one category, which is what the U.S. flag does for the mixed cultures in its country. Those who are biracial can connect through biracial cooking, sharing their feelings on blogs and commenting on them, and revealing their feelings through skits on videos. The U.S. is a home for those who are biracial and although they go through obstacles, it is a place where they can fit in and find others of their same race.

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