Growing Up Biracial Part 1

Racism. It sucks. It is a horrible awful act that hurts millions of people all the time. Not only is it offensive, and damaging, it's also a pretty tough topic to talk about. Which is why I decided to sit down and write this article, because a lot of people won't. Don't get me wrong, I never just woke up and thought, "Wow, what a beautiful morning, let's talk about something that makes people uncomfortable. Oh, I know, racism!" It doesn't work like that. It actually wasn't till quite recently that I decided to finally voice my opinions. The thought that spurred on this decision occurred when I first heard the news that Meghan Markle was going to be England's first biracial princess. After I finished my happy dance, I sat down to think about why I was so happy with this game changing princess. Mainly, because as little girl, I was (and still to this day) obsessed with Disney princesses. I had all the dolls, all the costumes, and all big dreams any Disneyprincess' had. But even from a young age, I noticed something. There were no biracial princesses.

Yes, Disney was created back in a time where a black, let alone biracial princess in a kids film was unheard of. They have come along way, especially with princesses of other races. Princess Tiana was the closest thing I had to a princess look-a-like. Yet still, there wasn't a princess that looked like me. As I grew older I started writing spinoffs and backstories for Disneycharacters. I began to think of how cool it would be to act in a live version of these Disney characters.

"Oh I could be her...oh wait. I could pass for that one...well actually."

I couldn't ever be these characters that I feel in love with, that were such a huge part of my life, because I looked different. I kind of just accepted that fact, it's not like I could force Disney into making a biracial princess. (fingers crossed they will someday.) But now, I don't have to accept that fact anymore. Not even a cartoon princess, but a real life biracial princess has taken the scene. Even as an adult, seeing someone like me become a princess, brings so much hope.

To some it may be silly, like seriously, out of your life, you want to be a princess? Like that's ever gonna happen. It's true, I will probably never be princess. My feet are too big for glass slippers. I don't have any magical abilities. And for some unknown reason, my off-key singing hasn't attracted any handsome, available princes. So, I'll probably never be Princess Emily. But that's not the point. The point is, seeing someone like me doing something that I didn't think someone like me could do, is incredible. Just the thought of knowing you can go after what you want, irregardless of race, is such an empowering feeling.