Indian | Indian/Cuban/Jamaican

Photo credit: provided by subject - selfie

I identify as Indo-Jamaican. My Dad is fully Indian and my Mom is Indian, Cuban and Black. My Grandmother on my Mom’s side is Cuban and Indian and Granddad is Black. My parents were born and raised in Jamaica. They also met in Jamaica. Combining their cultures was effortless, everything fit just right.

To be honest, while growing up in Jamaica it was normal seeing interracial relationships. I thought it was awesome. My parents didn't have any worries. A Jamaican motto is "Out of Many One People". There is unity of the different cultural minorities inhabiting the nation. I think society reacts favourably to mixed-race people. I've dating outside my race/culture before. It didn't work out. My partner is the same race/nationality as me.

Being mixed-race affords me the luxury of not being defined by one ethnic backgrounds in other people's eyes. I am able to draw on a wide range of cultural experiences. I have however experienced challenges in my life while going to school in the United States. I migrated to Florida in 2005 at the age of eleven. Middle school was hard on me. I was trying to adapt to the environment. I tended to be by myself most of the time. Kids will come up to me asking if my hair is real and pull on it. They would also yell "You're not from here, go back to where you're from and speak English". At lunch I would close my hands, eyes and pray over my food before consuming it. They would always glare at me talking under their breath. In high school, things got a little better. I stood up to bullies.

I haven't visited Cuba or India as of yet, I am closer to the Jamaican culture.

If I had the opportunity to be reborn, I would like to keep on living my current life and recover my youth. I would hope not to remember my old past life, it would be very hard on me being a kid with such memories. If I were to be born again without those memories, my mental health would be in check. Currently battling depression and anxiety. Luckily, I have a wonderful guy in my life who's very supportive.