If you ever stumble across my personal blog on Wordpress, you'll see my screen name "halfcoffeehalfcream". However, it is not just because I love coffee; I'm multi-racial. My dad is Afro-American, and my mom is Caucasian. (We have other stuff, too, but I won't make it complicated.)
Nonetheless, when people aren't quite sure what you are, you inevitably bring out their curiosities. They ask questions, make comments, give compliments, and you don't mind being the center of their attentions for a few moments (as long as they aren't creepy about it).
No matter the combination, here's common phrases you can't avoid when you're a mixed kid.
"What are you mixed with?"
When you don't blend in with the aesthetics of the stereotypical crowd, people will stop you, and they will question you. Then, they are either really surprised or really intrigued by your answer. Regardless, you'll still have those people who just assume you're one thing or another, and they'll address you as such.
(Ma'am, I don't speak fluent Spanish. Please stop.)
"You don't looked mixed."
*no response*
"Can I touch your hair?"
You love a good scalp scrub at the barber shop or hair salon just as much as the next person, but those people are supposed to your my head. Stranger, thank you for telling me how cool/pretty my hair is, really, but I don't know you, soooo.. No touchy.
(A pregnant woman feels uncomfortable having you touch her stomach, and I feel the same about my hair.)
"Is your hair real or a weave?"
No, dude. These frizzy naps are all mine. Ain't nobody payin' for this.
"You have a lot of freckles."
O.M.G. NO WAY. Definitely didn't see these things plastered all over my face. Thanks for the heads up!
"You're the lightest/darkest one here!"
I... uh... didn't notice...
"You're white/black side came out."
Girl, boo.
"Is that really your mom?"
Not sure why you think I would lie about that... but yes, that short white lady is my mother. Yes, I know I look absolutely nothing like her. No, I am not adopted.
"What's your family like?"
My answer? They're nuts just like everyone else's families.
Yes, the sides of my family are drastically different physically and ethnically, but when it comes down to it, they're all the same. I mean, I always eat good, and I see the same cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. each time everyone gets together. We all drive each other insane, but the love is real, and I wouldn't trade any of them (or my racial cocktail) for anything.