Julien J Marion | Your mixed heritage matter 1 of 2 @JulienJMarion | Uploaded October 2022 | Updated October 2024, 21 hours ago.
You!
I can tell you’re not from here.
They would say that and I would hide inside ashamed. Like they’ve found out and again I don’t have a side.
I was born and raised in the Congo. 🌍
At 12, we left for Belgium because of war. 🇧🇪
At 17, I left for the USA 🇺🇸to pursue my 🏀 hoops dream.
Throughout that journey, I’ve often been singled out because I was “not from there”.
In Africa, my black friends would tell me, I’m white and my white friends would tell me that I’m NOT white. 💔
In Belgium, same story.
In the US, they would say the same thing but put a nuance to it. You’re “light skin”.
Along the way, there would be the jokes about, how I’m just a mutt. If everybody had to go back to their country I didn’t really have one so 🌊.
It created this sense of inferiority to others. Because I didn’t really have a home, no “side” is really my side, no land is really my land, no home is really my home…
Being a mixed kid presents it's on sets of challenges.
I struggled with that big time, it even fueled me as an athlete to prove them wrong. Until, I found my worth in Him, my purpose in then, my superpower, and my strength in me by mixed heritage.
I’m not black
I’m not white
I’m mixed
I’m from Africa, Europe, and the US.
My home is where my family is.
And my family is everywhere.
So now when they say:
You!
I can tell you’re not from here.
I respond with a smile you’re right, I’m from everywhere. ❤️
————
PS: If you’re still where I was, and feel inferior because you don’t look like them. YOU MATTER.
Your mixed heritage, background, and voice MATTER.
You were not meant to blend in, you were meant to STICK OUT. ❤️
If you need me, I’m here.
#mixedkids #perspective #diversity #inclusionmatters #adversity #perseverance #diversityandinclusion #diversitymatters #unity
You!
I can tell you’re not from here.
They would say that and I would hide inside ashamed. Like they’ve found out and again I don’t have a side.
I was born and raised in the Congo. 🌍
At 12, we left for Belgium because of war. 🇧🇪
At 17, I left for the USA 🇺🇸to pursue my 🏀 hoops dream.
Throughout that journey, I’ve often been singled out because I was “not from there”.
In Africa, my black friends would tell me, I’m white and my white friends would tell me that I’m NOT white. 💔
In Belgium, same story.
In the US, they would say the same thing but put a nuance to it. You’re “light skin”.
Along the way, there would be the jokes about, how I’m just a mutt. If everybody had to go back to their country I didn’t really have one so 🌊.
It created this sense of inferiority to others. Because I didn’t really have a home, no “side” is really my side, no land is really my land, no home is really my home…
Being a mixed kid presents it's on sets of challenges.
I struggled with that big time, it even fueled me as an athlete to prove them wrong. Until, I found my worth in Him, my purpose in then, my superpower, and my strength in me by mixed heritage.
I’m not black
I’m not white
I’m mixed
I’m from Africa, Europe, and the US.
My home is where my family is.
And my family is everywhere.
So now when they say:
You!
I can tell you’re not from here.
I respond with a smile you’re right, I’m from everywhere. ❤️
————
PS: If you’re still where I was, and feel inferior because you don’t look like them. YOU MATTER.
Your mixed heritage, background, and voice MATTER.
You were not meant to blend in, you were meant to STICK OUT. ❤️
If you need me, I’m here.
#mixedkids #perspective #diversity #inclusionmatters #adversity #perseverance #diversityandinclusion #diversitymatters #unity
