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I am Caucasian.
My first mom was white and my first dad is black. Physiologically I am just as much white as I am black so from now on I will introduce myself as a Caucasian.
Soon after, the men in little white Good Humor man jackets will cart me away.
I often get asked, if I am biracial why didn’t I choose to identify with my white side versus my black side. My quick answer is I didn’t know I had a choice.
When I was 8 years old my family and I moved from our black neighborhood to a white neighbor where I was the only black child on our block. In the initial meeting with the neighborhood boys, my secret was found out. They all took one look at me and immediately discovered I wasn’t white. If I would have known back then that I could have just said, “no no, I’m biracial so just consider me white,” and I would have fit right in easier, I would have considered pointing that out.
The truth is, I am do not appear white and will never pass for white. I have often been mistaken for Hispanic and even middle eastern, but never white.
When I was a child I made a conscious choice or actually the choice was made for me. Everything and everyone around me told me I was black. I was perceived as black so I identified as black. But just because I identified with black doesn’t mean I despise white. I am very proud of the black community I am a part of but that doesn’t mean I loath the white community. I can hear someone asking, “What about your pride for the white community?” My answer although it may be incomplete is simple. I never felt a part of the white community so I never developed that sense of pride for the white community, but again that doesn’t mean I don’t respect it.
So from now on maybe I will introduce myself as Kevin Hofmann, the biracial with black leanings. Who knows?
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I kinda think like the new way of introducing yourself. I hate to admit it Kevin, but was feeling bad for my friend as she seemed to be getting no part in your life. I would never want anyone to think that your race as you see it makes any difference to us. We love you for who you are and what you have become. You will always be the tiny baby that I held in my arms the tiny that I kissed good byel. the grown man that I kissed hello and never forgoten son that Helen cried about and the wonderful man you have grown up to be. God Bless you and yours.
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Sorry for the mispellings but I think you know what I mean.
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I miss your writing voice and can’t really get into your new video format. Wish you’d go back to writing at least some of your posts.
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Serita,
I was just trying something different. How about if I post do both. When I post the video blogs I will also post it in written form so you have the option?
Thanks for the feedback.
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Hi Kevin,
I also miss the writing — youtube is blocked from my work site!
Thanks,
Mary
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Kevin,
I tend to agree with Serita. I just am able to absorb things better if I can read it. Though I like the videos, if you could publish the “transcripts” that would be great. No matter what format it comes, please continue. I always get so much from your thoughts, and I usually have to let it sit for awhile and think about the topic with my bi-racial daughter. Thanks for just being you, and sharing yourself with us!
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“I often get asked, if I am biracial why didn’t I choose to identify with my white side versus my black side. My quick answer is I didn’t know I had a choice.”
I hear this about Barack Obama a lot. People wonder aloud (often critically) why he “ignores” his Irish and German heritage and identifies with black.
When I hear people say this, I am going to say: As if he has a choice?
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So true.
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I always enjoy your perspective, Kevin!
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Kevin:
The was nicely put. My ten year old adopted biracial son and six year old adopted biracial daughter are definitely comfortable in our mostly white neighborhood. But If ask them, they will respond that I’m a young Black Man and I’m a young Black woman. We help them to celebrate their black heritage, and we also help them to celebrate our shared Germanic Heritage. We take our son to a black barbershop so that he is always looking his best. What is sometimes difficult is that we see ourselves as the loving family that we are even as we get glares from others. We were much more sensitive to the glares when we were a much younger family. We are looking forward to seeing you next week. Take care and keep posting. By the way I’m really enjoying your book. Warm regards, Erich
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