If you ask most people what they know about me, they would definitely be able to tell you that I am biracial and, most likely, also be able to tell you what I am mixed with.
My ethnicity is one of the first things I tell people about myself. It’s nearly always my ice breaker at corporate functions (that, and my unusually long name), I’ve been known to tell parents I just met at the playground while our kids play together what my mix is and I also make sure I bring it up in all my interviews.
Before it was the “it thing” to focus on DE&I initiatives, to seek out applicants of color and to hire for inclusivity, I was your token minority hire. If they hired me they could check multiple boxes with just one new headcount. I was a woman, a minority, two or more races, one of which was part black, I was from an urban area, went to a city college. If they hired me they hit the jackpot. I make sure my very ethnic full name is big and bold at the top of my resume and I work in my biracial status into the interview since I know they can’t legally ask me what I am.
Why would I do this when others tend to hide or shrink who they are? Because I am proud. Like, extremely proud. That's all it is, really. Pride. Plain and simple. I am very happy to be who I am and am very happy to stand up proudly. If I could hire my own billboard announcing my ethnicity, you know I would. I want everyone to know what I am, who I am and where I come from because it’s awesome being me. I combat my racial ambiguity by being very vocal about my races and my background. I never want to be mistaken for something I am not so I beat everyone to the punch and announce it right off the bat. Hi, I’m Brittany and I’m biracial. Now please make that left turn.
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