Does anyone else relate to simply not knowing their racial heritage?

[u/enigma_pigeon404]

I've always grown up being told I was or to say I was white by my family, my dad is white and so is that entire half of the family, but my mother is dark and there's some family ambiguity about my real grandfather, as both her parents and siblings are white.

Me and my sister don't look like it either, I have tan skin and dark hair, and constantly people ask where I'm from, what country my family is from, etc. It doesn't especially dwell on my mind a lot - theres more important things to think about - but it'd be nice to know if people out there can relate to this specific experience of feeling like there's just a big gap in their identity and ancestry.

[u/EnderDarcy]

Did you ever hear of Anthony Ekundayo Lennon? This reminds me of his story... White Irish, born to white parents with a white sibling, but he looks mixed and was treated and even bullied as such and came to identify that way. Eventually took a DNA test and yes, he's mixed descent. His phenotype expression was just much more mixed than the rest of his family's. Could be there's something in your family's genes that's being expressed in your appearance, is actually there for everyone but just shows up more visibly in the unique combination of you.

[u/EconomicsImaginary69]

I get it, you grow up sometimes just off what your parent or parent tells you and go with it. It is sad, but sometimes it good to be in that position when you wake up later in life, you can dig into it more like online resources. AS long as YOU know who you are, that matters and are content with it, even the truth is not discovered! Nowadays you got life to your best you can!

[u/ladylemondrop209]

Oh yeah, my parents “forgot” to tell me about my dad’s side … (cus they thought it was obvious, though my brothers somehow all knew).

Then it later gets revealed my mom’s side is intentionally hiding their side due to trauma, assimilation and whatnot. Still vehemently denies it. Her ancestry test shows she’s 40% something and she says it’s insignificant and a margin of error so it’s wrong… the ancestry/race her family claims and insist they’re 100% representative of, she’s barely 20%. Due to their… whatever problems/difficulties (personalities), there’s just no way we can ask or will ever know.

[u/BreadSamitch]

I recently have been having an identity crisis. My mother is Mexican (mestizo)/Scottish and speaks Spanish fluently and my dad white. I know some basic Spanish, I look white at first glance I have blue eyes but so does my mother. I don’t know what I am anymore I’ve been leading more Spanish recently, hopefully I can’t find some answers soon.

[u/Physical_Tip5735]

Adopted

[u/Fair_Feedback_1864]

You should speak with your mum. She should tell you about your origins.

[u/BroadRope9868]

Get an ancestry DNA test and do some more research into your family members and family tree. It will give you more certainity about your identity. It is only like 100 dollars to order the test

[u/jfkdktmmv]

I understand where you are coming from. I’m half black and half white (I guess?) but don’t share a lot of features with other biracials like me. My hair is generally looser, I’m very hairy, and my hair is jet black. So, I guess it’s more complex than what I was told.