Irish/Unknown | Jamaican
I am mixed White Irish & Jamaican, Caribbean. I am non-religious, but spiritual/gay man. My mom was adopted and is half Irish and something else we are unsure of, but we assume of Caribbean/ African descent, as she has Caribbean/African features but is very light-skinned. I knew from a very early age that I was different, as my mom was adopted into a White family as a mixed-race child. This meant that my extended family were also White. My Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents were all White with a very English cultural background upbringing from the (60/70’s). My biological Father was from Jamaica but wasn’t on the scene for long, my Mom then married my Step-Father when I was 5, and since then he has been my father figure. People are always curious as to what my heritage is, which normally has the above story. This also makes you different and stand out from the crowd, especially the crowd and circle I grew up in. I feel being mixed-race made me stand out for modelling/ dancing opportunities / working in the states / working with children. Being the ‘token’ made me be relatable to people that others couldn’t sympathise or communicate too. I feel that the above only affects individuals that it allows to affect. I have felt like I can’t relate to the above at times, but they have been how I seen myself in those categories. Now I don’t want to blend into society, I like to make and pick and choose my own trends. And I decide how and who I want to interact with work colleagues and clients. Sometimes there’s certain things only I can pull off because I’m mixed race, and I’m happy with that. I can’t be number 1 in everything, but I can for the things I want to be in. If I had the opportunity to be reborn I would want to return the exact same way I was. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had hardship growing up, but due to that I have a story to tell and I feel I’m either able to educate or relate to a wider circle of people. The only thing I would like to know and still could find out, is my Moms adopted background. Even though it affects me it’s not my direct story, so it has been a joint decision to seek.
Want to read more? – Subscribe here #mixedracefaces