1/32nd Cherokee

My favorite sister duo explain the nuances to being the token Asian in a friend group and in being perceived as a minority----though they are also half white. They discuss struggles with body dysmorphia and being asked to represent all the "other" races because of their skin tone.

Part 2 of 2

My friend Jen and I have a similar story: we both grew up thinking we were part Native American. But after a DNA test, Jen's family discovered they were not as native as they thought. Jen and I discuss what it's like to have a cultural identity ripped away and when appropriation is appropriate.

My friend Sarah from Oklahoma works on the reservation and taught me a few things about the hardships that some of them face and the importance of the Cherokee language for her identity. She discusses being bi-cultural and delving into her Cherokee heritage and having waring blood between all her ancestry.  

I ask the world what they think about identity, and my new friend from Jamaica responds. She talks about the many cultures in her country and how to navigate they navigate hardships. She also introduces me to Patwah (Jamaican Creole), which is not something I master. 

My cousin is half Mexican and half white, but traumatic events prevented her from growing up with much Mexican influence. She describes how coming to terms with her identity has changed over time. 

We also discuss an ongoing saga that affects whether my last name is my true genetic last name or a last name of mysterious circumstance. 

Sisters Alisa and Jeanie discuss living in a bi-cultural household. Even though their mother speaks both English and Japanese, they struggle to connect with their mother's inner life. 

Part 1 of 2

My good friend Liz considers herself too ordinary to be a good guest, but we dive pretty deep anyway. We discuss learned helplessness, various bootstrap scenarios, and white guilt. 

Also, she describes what it's like to be related to the Peanut Man-of-the-Year

My family gets in a group to discuss different ties to slavery, being proud by proxy, and DNA results, but my dad reveals that his legal last name may not be his biological last name. 

WHAAAAT??!? I have feelings.

My mom and I unpack some family legends, but she is much more blasé about the Cherokee connection than I. 

Also, I discover a bunch of my ancestors were deserters. 

 Grandma and I chat about family origins---but I leave with soooo many more questions. I'm inspired to add a Footnote segment.