Where are you from? America

How would you describe your race/ethnicity? Dad is Black Mexican/ French Polynesian; Mom is Mexican / Spanish

Do you identify with one particular aspect of your ethnicity more than another? Have you ever felt pressure to choose between parts of your identity? No one thinks I look Mexican but it's the one ethnicity shared by parents so I present myself as that. My father is Black, Mexican, and his family is from French Polynesia. My mother's father is Spanish and Mexican. I don't know anything about my French Polynesian roots because no one alive speaks Tahitian or shares the desire to learn about it. There's just "Latino Pride" and that's it. There's also a lot of anti-blackness in both sides of my family, especially my mother's side.

Did your parents encounter any difficulties from being in an interracial relationship? Yes, my maternal grandparents wanted my mother to get an abortion when she was pregnant with me. My paternal grandmother hated my mother before she was pregnant just because. Things changed for both sides of my family once I was born since babies bring people together.

How has your mixed background impacted your sense of identity and belonging? I had a feeling of superiority when I was younger since I didn't have a strong accent and was very good in English. A lot of anti-Mexican and anti-blackness before I learned I needed to embrace my heritage, not think I'm above it.

Have you been asked questions like "What are you?" or "Where are you from?" by strangers? If so, how do you typically respond? All the time. No one ever thinks I'm Mexican. I have gotten "Asian" a lot, and people usually go to Pilipino instead of French Polynesian. I have worked in retail which brings me into interaction with a loooot of people of all races and have even met a Native American woman who thought I was native. I used to think it was a "compliment" to not be Mexican-passing and would gush and say thanks. Now, I say "I'm not Asian, I'm Mexican." I don't like the hassle of explaining the ratios or percentages.

Have you experienced people making comments about you based on your appearance? Not much. I live in a very Latino-heavy city and area thankfully. And I know Spanish so even if people don't believe I'm Mexican, I can speak the language and people are usually convinced then.

Have you ever been mistaken for another ethnicity? Yes. Filipino is probably the most followed by Native American by non-Native Americans and 1 Native American woman. I think this is the Pacific Islander blood in me that no one would suspect.

Have you ever felt the need to change your behavior due to how you believe others will perceive you? In what way? I try to speak Spanish in Mexican restaurants despite me knowing they also speak English even if I'm with friends. But that's okay. I feel like Latinos in America hold onto their culture very tightly and I have gotten a lot of disappointed lectures and looks from my dad's side of the family for not practicing Spanish more around them when I was a teenager.

What positive benefits have you experienced by being mixed? I look "exotic" and interesting. I surprise people when I let them know I can speak Spanish.

Have you changed the way you identify yourself over the years? Yeah, I don't say Mexican and French Polynesian anymore because most people will then go "Ooooh! Where's that? What is that?" because I don't have much "knowledge" about my own culture and feel like I'm faking it. So I just say Mexican.

Are you proud to be mixed? Yes but I don't tell people I'm mixed. I just know I am.