The Brock Family
I was born and raised in the deep south. There’s a lot to be thankful for in my sleepy small town. You won’t find tea any sweeter than ours, and there are never any traffic jams. But as illuminated by recent events, like Ahmuad Arbery’s murder, we’ve still got a lot of work to do down south to achieve equality and justice for people of color. My parents and I have been turned away from churches. Sometimes people don’t want to sit by us in restaurants. I’ve been laughed at and referred to as a ‘mixed-breed mutt.’ For a long time, this upset me. I was ashamed. I didn’t understand why this happened, and I most definitely didn’t feel celebrated. Project RACE was one of the first places where I felt welcomed and accepted, exactly as I was. My family wasn’t ‘too black’ nor were we ‘too white.’ We were a beautiful blend of cultures and customs. Multiracial Heritage Week is always an important reminder that families like mine deserve to be celebrated. There is a spot for us, and it isn’t in the ‘check other’ box. Each year, I hope that at least one new interracial family will join in on our celebration. A special kind of magic manifests itself when you begin to live your truth unapologetically. I truly believe that Multiracial Heritage Week is an invitation to join in on the magic of the movement.
Lexi Brock