being stereotyped as a young biracial woman

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Being Stereotyped as a Young Biracial Woman
My mum is black and my father white but I look more white than black. People from my extended family question my legitimacy in the family. Women peer would demand that I stand on one side. According to them, I cannot be both black and white. I have been subjected to stereotypes that are related to black and white history. Some of my colleagues say that I cannot be a strong black woman because I am not black. There are instances where my black friends have described me as a non-threat to the police because I look whiter. Men also describe me as beautiful and attractive by the fact that I am of mixed-race.
I always felt like I don’t belong in either community and in my own family. I felt confused when people question whether my black mother is really my mother. I ended up doing things that would increase my blackness like using beauty products meant for black women and going to a black beauty salon. According to Gaither et.al (779), “biracial individuals are more susceptible to stereotypes when an identity associated with a negative stereotype is more active than the other”. I struggled with identity because of being stereotyped by both mono-racial blacks and whites. I sometimes felt ashamed of the white side. Sometimes I felt invisible especially in social settings where people will seek out mono-racial since they felt more comfortable.
Most of the question I heard while growing up is “what are you”? Which I would respond that I am human.

I will also explain to them the history of racial injustice was brought out by human choices. We can learn to make better choices for humanity and overlook physical differences. When people ask me if I belonged to one of my parents I would always refer them for confirmation. Regarding the claims of being a strong black woman, I would address the situation by claiming my uniqueness as an individual with different capabilities. I would use the psychological viewpoint on beauty and describe it as something which is in the mind and eyes of the beholder. There are many factors that make a person than just the colour of the skin and the appearance of their hair.
Works Cited
Gaither, Sarah E., et al. “Priming White identity elicits stereotype boost for biracial Black-White individuals.” Group Processes & Intergroup Relations 18.6 (2015): 778-787.