If I had a dime for every person who wrongly assumed my race and nationality, I'd have enough money to pay myself reparations. It's the half-Black part for me because that's totally incorrect. I am an all-Black woman who has one African American parent and one Latino parent. I only know this is confusing to some people because there are generally several follow-up questions. "Where are you from?" they ask. I tell them, "New Jersey." "Where are you really from?" they ask. "New Jersey is a real place," I respond. And we go back and forth until they ask where my parents are from. Dissatisfied with the answers, New York and Louisiana, they undoubtedly hit me with, "No, what's your nationality?" Now, as if I didn't already say that I'm from New Jersey, this street reporter will be surprised to learn that I am American. That snippet of an actual ongoing conversation is the story of my life. That's why I threw my fist in the air when I read a response from frustrated Olympian, Naomi...
