I am the Biracial Narrative | Veronica Clay | TEDxRockhill

Black and white are nice colors but are they nearly enough to describe racial identity? Through a series of spoken word poems and narratives, Veronica illustrates what it means to be biracial in America and the depth of the biracial experience. Veronica Clay is a published author and spoken word artist, receiving the Merit Award for Spoken Word in the National Fine Arts Festival. While studying English at Rockhurst University, Veronica works to shed a light on the ill-explored biracial experience in America. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@cheryllridley6216]

Thank you! I'm biracial, & I've been asked again & again to choose a side. I refuse to . I will not deny my mother, nor my father.

[@cakesinthecity]

Yes!!!!

[@barbieojeda454]

I was on the verge of tears listening to this! I’m biracial, Mexican and white, but Veronica really struck a cord in me. I am so proud of her for addressing the stress and grief the racial polarization of America is putting biracial people through. Excellent Ted talk!

[@dancewomyn1]

Yes!!! As a 63yr old biracial woman, it is amazing that this talk must happen at all in 2019, but here we are, still. It is a relief to hear these words. It is particularly a relief in a time where more divisions than ever are happening amongst us in the form of acronyms like, BIPOC to name one of many....I don't see a place for biracial because there isn't one in that acronym, POC is simply not enough because it still asks us to put ourselves in the position of canceling out one half of yourself.. I don't want to cancel out any part of myself ever again. Thank you for posting. :)

[@cakesinthecity]

Yes!

[@aliciaw1140]

Yesss!!! I have been saying all of this for YEARS and have never met anyone who truly agreed and had the nerve to share it with the masses!!! Thank you!!!

[@gabrielleharris8371]

Yess I loved it definitely needed to hear this for the longest

[@thenobleone-3384]

The world will force us mixed race people to choose a side. Today I don't view myself as a color my skin is brown and I don't act like my race at all. And I don't like people who force people to act like their race. I was always different.

[@nikicarrie4071]

Me too

[@maserati925]

This ted talk is everything 🥰

[@cush_129]

You healed me you saved my life

[@sarahphillips8884]

Man it's so hard being mixed. Sometimes it hurts

[@nikicarrie4071]

It does

[@tiffanyjackson1196]

Thank you ❤️✨

[@tylonahambrick2837]

This video needs to viral

[@mikek3925]

Love this!

[@haydenweaver8871]

I actually wanted to listen to this because I am biracial and sometimes I struggle with it and sometimes I love being biracial

[@Vaporwaving]

Finally someone said it

[@donovanlord8567]

Check out Heartaches by Donovan Lord on Barnes and Noble and Amazon - also deals with being biracial through poetry.

[@abbybreyer332]

Amazing!!!

[@Ohsnapitzann]

I'm nigerian and irish I can relate to these issues.

[@Therocket6521]

How in G’s name does this TT have the least amount of views and should be TOP 5 all-time!! 👆🏾❤️

[@mic187x2]

Who is the princess?

[@eggchin22x78]

You lost me at 4:40

[@timbo7873]

Why? ...Not your specific Mix?

[@bdmenne]

Multiculturalism is exhausting. Please stop moving around the planet.

[@kathryns4836]

You are not the bi-racial narrative, you can only speak for yourself. As I, can only speak for me. Everyone has different experiences. My children are bi-racial and are nowhere near the drama queen you seem to be. You are no more special then anyone else on this earth. God made us all equal, and we all have struggles. Enjoy your life, work hard, love and laugh. Stop looking in the mirror. Most people don't care what you look like, just what's inside.

[@jessieperson]

Well, then speak for yourself. Don't speak for your kids. Let them speak for themselves.

[@withtaniafox]

@Kathryn S Did you read the other comments? If you had you’d have seen the solidarity of the mixtie commenters. I’m sure your children were made with love and without regard to race; as hopefully we all in this thread were. But we also live in a society where people think it’s ok to ask a particular group of people “WHAT are you?” so often that if you google the term you’ll get pages and pages of mixed peoples’ stories. We are *bonded* by a dehumanizing question. And if your response to a person telling you both the struggle and the joy of being mixed is to call them a “drama queen”, it’s no wonder they wouldn’t tell you how confused, hurt or offended they’ve been. I hope for the sake of your children that you watch this with them and ask them what *they* think and how they feel.

[@kathryns4836]

@@withtaniafox Ms Fox, I'm not always good at explaining things sometimes, and I do apologize. But I believe if someone asks you something about yourself, I'm guessing, it's usually an innocent question. I used to waitress, and one day some men came in speaking with an accent I didn't recognize. They were from Hungary and didn't seem bothered by the question. I had a couple come in, also with an accent, I forgot the country but it was a Spanish accent. I'd heard a lot of Spanish accents but not like theirs. They explained there are different dialects depending where someone was from. Again, had a very nice exchange with them. I moved from up north to further south, and have had quite a few people (because I got a job working with the public) where I was from. Never felt any of these exchanges were meant to be insulting. People will always be curious of each other. Think of all the interesting conversations and friendships that were created because of this. Sometimes you just have a feeling that someone seems really nice and so you look for a reason to speak with them. They might have on a nice outfit, pretty hairstyle, nice suit. I'm not saying every interaction is positive, but I'm just saying most probably are. And we all ARE different from each other - God has a wonderful imagination! Sad to think we can't ask about them sometimes. Pretty soon nobody will be talking to each other out of fear of being taken wrong and then we'll all be living in our own little bubble. To me, I find that heartbreaking. I'm sorry I offended you. I should have taken more time on my other comment. I realize we all have different experiences.

[@timbo7873]

​@@kathryns4836what part of America did you raise your children and how old are they?

[@kathryns4836]

@@timbo7873 Connecticut and they're 29 and 31. One just became a VA state trooper and the other lives in Los Angeles in the hopes of becoming an actor. Obviously, bad timing. (smile) Good, honest, hardworking young men.