Between Worlds: The Mixed-Race Experience

This post was inspired by a heartfelt note I read on Substack. The writer shared their pain of feeling disconnected from both sides of their racial identity—and it hit me hard. I’ve lived that too. Here’s what came out of that moment:

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I’m mixed-race myself. And I’ve been in those rooms where I felt the unspoken divide—where the white side didn’t claim me fully, and the Black side didn’t either. There’s always this invisible wall, and a voice that says: “You’re not like us.”

And it hurts. Because the truth is—we are. We are like them. We do belong. We come from both, and we carry both.

I remember once being told, “This is why people shouldn’t mix races—mixed kids end up with identity disorders.” As if our existence is a problem. As if we’re a glitch in the matrix. It’s ridiculous. And it’s rooted in fear, not reality.

“We don’t get to fit into neat boxes—so we build our identity from the inside out. That’s not a weakness. That’s power.”

We’ve had to take deeper introspective steps to truly understand who we are. No one hands us a ready-made identity—we craft it ourselves. We become rich in heritage, resilient in self-awareness, and deeply connected to multiple worlds.

And honestly? I sometimes think people who aren’t mixed can see that. That we carry more—more ancestry, more culture, more depth. We are bridges between worlds. And perhaps that stirs something in them. Maybe even jealousy. Because we can walk between spaces with a fluidity and understanding they may never have to develop.

Those of us who were conceived in love carry proof that people can love across race. We are proof. Our very being dismantles the myth of separation. Racism lives in small, fearful minds—but we don’t.

It’s not always easy. Some days, it hurts more than others. But being mixed is something to be proud of. Every lineage that runs through you is a thread in a powerful, personal tapestry.

You are not less—you are more.

To every mixed soul trying to find their place: I see you. And I hope these words wrap around you like comfort.

With love,

Mary

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Credits: the post that inspired these words:

By RS Stephens: https://substack.com/@cosmicmuse/note/c-115981244?r=45josu&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action