I’m not one that likes to discuss race. I really don’t! However, the topic always comes up when people find out my children are biracial. I never believed that we should be treated any differently due to our race or gender, but I know it happens. In fact, did you know that when I am asked my Nationality/Race and I answer Hispanic-Puerto Rican, companies automatically assume my race is white?! It literally happened while we were filling out the loan documentation for our home, and it wasn’t the first time. For years in the census I had to put other because Puerto Rican was not listed. I have this conversation often with Marcus because my Latino and Hispanic heritage is comprised of African, Taino and Spanish influences. I must ensure that my children understand the entirety of who they are. In our home, Marcus teaches all of us about Black culture, and I teach all of them about Puerto Rican Culture. You’d be surprised how much of this is not taught in schools. So when it comes to raising our daughters, I am trying my hardest to educate and raise them to be wonderful, strong women and it’s getting more and more difficult as they grow and face moments of racial tension in the world.
My biggest fear in life is to have someone question our daughters’ race. I hate that someone will try to tell them that they are not Black or Hispanic enough because they don’t act or look a certain way. My daughters are taught that what is important is to act like young God-fearing ladies, to be respectful and to speak up. I say all this to help someone that feels the struggle of raising biracial children. Stick with what you know, not with everything you hear. Educate yourself because if you don’t teach them, they will learn it from someone else. Some may not understand the feeling and that’s ok, the only thing I ask is for us to focus on raising men and woman that will change the future of our society. That will work hard and change lives, not because they are Black, White, Hispanic or Asian, but because they are being raised as young men and woman of God. This is my promise to my children: I promise to be open enough to have the tough conversations and to guide you to make the right choices, all by being true to morality. To learn with you and have patience when things don’t make sense. I promise to teach you to have the confidence to change the future, to stand up for what you believe in and what is right! To teach you how to protect yourselves when the world lashes out and acts like it has no sense. To work hard and be the example for other children of color! To be proud of who you are and where you come from. Most importantly to represent God in everything you do! Change starts with me and my generation, to educate and raise our children to accept the individuality of others and love all as God loves all.
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My name is Jomaira, I live in the Windy City with my 3 girls and my High School sweetheart Marcus. I love God, creating lifestyle videos, blogging, decorating, organizing and coffee. Everything I share is based on real thoughts and real life experiences!
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