an honest convo about my racial identity

After a full week of #AAPIMonth heritage events, this conversation surfaced on the pod first and I wanted to share my thoughts here as well! the podcast discussion will be in tomorrow's (tuesday may 21st) episode and I provide a lot more context and history around my family's experience in the internment camps. I've had to do a lot of my self discovery offline, but with the timing of AAPI Heritage month there's been an influx of AAPI related ~feedback~. Hoping that some of you can relate to my thoughts and struggles with my racial identity and being of mixed descent.
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[@mystical_pegasus]

Lauren, about your racial identity, NO ONE but you can have a say it in. You are freely able to label yourself however you see fit whether it's Asia, multi-racial, bi-racial, Canadian, etc. As a bi-racial/multi-ethnic person, I have totally feel you on how someone's words can affect you greatly based on how you act, your habits, dress, etc. There is no one clear way to act as an individual let alone a person who has multiple intersectionalities for their identity.

[@valerieniemela6822]

I had no idea about your grandparents. I have so much respect and honor for any and all people who lived through WWII in North America and were treated like criminals purely for their physical appearance. And so much respect and honor for their children and descendants for living without pure hatred for the people who wrongly imprisoned them. It's hard to put my words together properly. I guess I'll end it with this: thank you for being honest and real. And respect for you and your heritage!

[@nataliexx2]

Lauren, my daughter is half Italian and half Filipino. I am Italian and my husband is Filipino. You are who she looks up to being someone who looks like her. She is a sophomore in HS and has watched you for yrs. As her white mom my heart hurts for her when people misidentify her. She gets Latina all the time. It upsets her when she tells them she is half Filipino they tell her same difference. Its like they are disregarding who she is. Its heartbreaking as her momma. I can’t wait till she gets home from work and watches this. I know she will feel seen. She gets white washed all the time. Especially by our extended family and it’s so upsetting. Thank you bringing attention to this❤ like i said i know my babygirl will feel seen after watching this:) lets her know she is not alone. And thats huge for a 16 yr old who is already going through enough just being 16♥️

[@leahchan4863]

as someone who is also half asian, half white and has struggled a lot with feeling/being viewed as whitewashed I really resonate with your perspective. You are truly inspiring. No matter what anyone says, you solely define your identity and that may change as time goes on. I really appreciate you discussing this with us. Much love Lauren ❤❤

[@Unsureshelby]

As a half white, half Filipino I totally feel this. My sister is white passing so I had to work through a lot of resentment because we grew up in a predominantly white community and I was the token Asian kid. I’m considered the white cousin on the Filipino side which I also have to work through. Thank you for speaking on this and I need to listen to hat pod episode 🖤

[@chrisa4989]

Observing your bond with Remi is truly heartwarming. Your friendship exudes authenticity, kindness, and mutual support 💖

[@cehsiee]

Can we talk about blueberry muffin being the absolute star! Love you Lauren, Jeremy and doggos ❤

[@krystlerae74]

I stopped breaking down the math for my ethnicity and it’s been an experience and quite freeing. I am this and I am also that. I can be both at the same time. I don’t have to justify to anyone why I look the way I look and neither do you. Even if we don’t share the same Background, I still you as representation. 💜

[@user-lj2ri6ps9l]

Thanks for sharing your story! These conversations are so important. If you are open and willing, I am conducting a research project about Asian American racial identities as it pertains to online content creators. Your insights would be invaluable. I emailed you the details! Thanks!

[@huhhhh5508]

not you seeing the first east asian drag race winner up front??? during the year of her reign??? omg two asian icons!!!!!

[@stephchew]

i'm Chinese, but living in Australia i also get called white-washed. i know it's not the same, but soo many people feel like you around the world, in different ways of course - i'll never know what it's like to be half-Chinese, for example. but at meals with my in-laws' friends, they say 'she's ABC (Aussie-born Chinese)', and often the friends don't even attempt to talk to me after hearing that just because they know i can't speak Mandarin/they're insecure about their own English. it's sad, because i look and sometimes still get treated Chinese, but i feel very Aussie! and on the flip side, i still embrace my heritage but get treated fully Aussie by Chinese people!

[@katherinewatanabe]

Thank you so much, Lauren, for talking about your experience as a biracial individual! I know I was so excited when I found you years ago and found out that you are also half Japanese like me! It was so inspiring for me to see someone like you represent someone like me. I have struggled my whole life with being biracial and not feeling like I could own or say that I'm either race because I'm only half. And my grandmother was also in an internment camp in Topaz Arizona. There is so much history, depth, and importance to both my races and I think as an adult I see that more now. But I truly felt so understood by watching you and your life online. Thank you for speaking on this! ❤

[@casperthefriendlydog4857]

I've been watching since the very beginning, and have felt like I coule always relate to you. I'm Asian-Canadian, living in St. Catharines, and I'm currently pregnant with a child who will be mixed. Being Asian-Canadian is already hard enough, being mixed is a step further that can be incredibly complex. Your (and your family's) experiences matter, and you sharing your life is really impactful. Thank you for sharing!

[@meidy9415]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, I’m so sorry your family had to go through such a difficult and horrifying time. You are such a huge inspiration for me and helped me so much in discovering my own identity and loving myself. Love you so much girliii 💕💕💕

[@jenbyers3840]

Thank you for sharing your family history. I'm half Cup'ik, so I should be considered American. However, growing up in a small farming townI was made well aware I was different. I was one of 3-5 non-white kids growing up in the town my dad brought my mom to after they married. When she was young, the Jesuits came, gave them new Amaericanized names & made them quit their spiritual beliefs, forced them to learn English, set up an Americanized school & wear "American" clothes. They even moved their village to "New Chevak." My mother was so devastated she prayed to move to the lower states & she chose not to share much of her cultural heritage with my brother & I. Again, thank you for sharing & being so honest. Lots of ❤️

[@oliviaholmes2705]

Lauren, I just wanted to express the gratitude I have for your sharing. Your family's history and the intergenerational traumas through the dark and real histories of Canada is something that is so real and I am sure it shows up in indescribable ways. The resilience that your grandparents have deep within their spirits most definitely lives on in you. You have started such an important conversation here. Thank you for you courage and your thoughts, I am listening intently. Love you Lauren <3

[@snackie.]

Thanks for sharing some insight into your family's history. I learned about the Japanese internment camps in school and it's definitely stuck with me as an Asian growing up in Vancouver. Simply seeing the property values today and knowing some of that generational wealth was taken away from Japanese-Canadians by our gov't is an injustice that I feel hasn't been reconciled for all the displaced families. I hope you and your family consider archiving your collection in Vancouver as well.

[@bh2420]

Thank you for sharing. Your message is so important and inspiring for others who feel a bit lost in their identity. I am Chinese, my parents are from Hong Kong but I have been born and raised in the UK. Similar to you, grew up in a very white area. There were 2 other Chinese girls in my year and that was it. I have been told on occasion “yeah but you’re basically white”. Never knowing it could trigger something inside of me that people deem me as white when I feel and am, Chinese. I discovered you years ago from your Wanderlust videos with he-who-shall-not-be-named but it introduced me to the Asian girl squad. Seeing you girls represent us in the world is so important and so refreshing. I still follow you guys and it makes me feel a little less lonely being in a white area. Watching you all (especially Remi) celebrate our different Asian cuisines and our heritage is so important for young people to normalise this if they also feel like me. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@kyliecheng]

Hi Lauren, thank you so much for sharing about your thoughts on your racial identity. It was super insightful to hear a little more about your family's story, and if you are willing, I think it would be really awesome if you could go into more depth about the things your grandparents faced and the journey to you and your story in another video! Thank you for being such a great role model for us young Asian kids in the past who have all grown with you into adults!

[@madisynvenable3205]

Thank you for sharing something so personal with us 🥹☺️🧡 I would love to hear more on your family history and the things that you know! Loved this vlog and love you 💛 Keep killing it 😎