Mixed Race Studies

Being mixed-race is a blessing

Just Analise
2017-11-08

Analise Kandasammy

Being mixed-race is a blessing in disguise.

True it can be uncomfortable, annoying and hurtful but the lack of comfort that comes from being mixed-race can be a positive, transcendent life experience.

A human who belongs to a specific ethnic group builds a sense of belonging inside of a culture or people from that culture. For mixed race persons like myself, we have no such belonging, no such home and so it is this feeling of not belonging that makes us feel like we are not worthy or lovable as a human being.

However, let’s turn that upside down…

Read the entire article here.

Tips To Make Mixed Kids Feel Like They Belong

Just Analise
2017-08-23

Analise Kandasammy

Being a parent is the toughest job in the world. In fact, it’s the toughest job in the world which doesn’t have a retirement age.

So I’m putting it out there. I am not a parent and it is not my intention to tell people how to be better parents. In fact, I dislike judging people’s parenting styles (although I have from time to time because I’m not perfect). But what I do know is what it is like to be a mixed race kid trying to figure out where to belong in this world and trying to figure it out with no guidance.

I know that you think that by ignoring ethnicity altogether it might be better for your kid. After all, you are teaching him/her to love and respect all people, but it also does a disservice not to educate them about society and how to navigate the judgemental comments and intrusive questions of others. When you teach them how to to do this, you are teaching them to not absorb what people think and to not focus on it. When you teach them how to do this, you are teaching them self love and how to be a leader and an educator of others…

Read the entire article here.

3 Ways to Boost Your Self Esteem About Multiracial Hair

Just Analise: Exploring and Embracing Authenticity in Life, Culture + Business
2016-01-31

Analise Kandasammy

My multiracial hair.

Sometimes it’s admired. Sometimes it’s a source of contention.

Loved or hated, my hair undeniably me…

Read the entire article here.

The Dougla View: The Taye Diggs Mixed Son Controversy

Just Analise: Exploring and Embracing Authenticity in Life, Culture + Business
2015-12-06

Analise Kandasammy

In case you missed it, about a month ago, African-American actor, Taye Diggs caused an uproar all over cyberspace when during an interview he explained how he would hate for his son to be confused about his racial identity, since people would consider him black and not black and white. That omission would deny his son his mother’s racial identity, Diggs argued.

To which I say…

Read the entire article here.

Mixed Emotions About My Mixed Heritage

Just Analise
2015-09-02

Analise Kandasammy

When you truly love yourself you are released from the chains of trying to be someone you are not.

How many times have we heard – if you can’t love yourself, you can’t truly love anyone else? How many times have we heard we need to have self worth and be confident? How many of us feel true self love? Everyday? Well certainly not me.

I am ashamed to admit I was ridden with self hatred for years. Hated the colour of my skin, hated my hair, hated my body, hated my personality – man I couldn’t say one good thing about myself. I was constantly in a place of not meeting expectations and having to constantly keep up appearances for people in my life.

“For as long as I’ve known myself I’ve wrestled with identifying with a race. I am from 4 generations of inter racial unions and needless to say very mixed.”

I have always identified with black women since I was a child. Hell, I even thought I was black, you know especially since one drop of black means you are black too…

Read the entire article here.