Mannie
I met Mannie (IG: @manniemendez) after a screening of Ari Aster’s Midsommar. We were actually sitting beside one another in the theater, but it wasn’t until after the film was finished that I bumped into Mannie in the Arclight parking garage, asked him if he was PartBlack, and told him about The PartBlack Project. I handed him my card, and we parted ways. Within the hour, I received a text saying that Mannie was down to participate in the Project. I drove out to his neighborhood, Jefferson Park in South Central Los Angeles, and we walked around and captured a few moments in front of whatever caught our eye. Mannie spoke to me about his dreams of acting, his dreams of writing movies, the industry people he had met working his day-job in Larchmont Village, and I really do hope all of Mannie’s dreams come true. He is a kind, sensitive soul with a great sense of humor. Mannie is raising funds to help pay for a pretty cool acting program he was recently accepted into, and I encourage anyone who can contribute to do so at his Fundraiser.
Q: Do you identify as Black? White? Mixed? Something else? Please describe your ethnic/cultural background.
A: My name is Emmanuel Mendez , first generation born in the states. My father was born in Puerto Rico while my mother hails from an island called St.Croix , U.S. Virgin Islands and I identify as mixed.
Q: What countries have you traveled to, and how does your physical appearance influence how people treat you around the world?
A: I’ve traveled to Japan only and my personal experience was a positive one. Everyone was very courteous and always greeted me with smiles and would even grab my hand to guide me places. I actually had one occasion where this old japanese lady saw I was lost and took my phone to see where I was headed and walked me a full 30 minutes to my destination (a coffee shop). She then sat with me at the shop and we had coffee together, yet exchanged no words just a blissful silence and after she was done smiled at me and left. There were a few occasions were people blatantly took pictures of me, but I kinda figured that would happen while I was there.
Q: Which part of your background do you identify with and/or who are you closest to in your family?
A: Its easier for people to identify me as black, but for me im always aware of both of my cultures and embrace them equally. As for whom im closest with in my family it would be both my brother and sister. Which is a trip, because growing up none of us were truly close, but once I hit 18 it was as some weird paradoxical shift occurred in the universe and we were suddenly all cool with each other like we were in some family sitcom. I love it though, we’re all in different areas of the world and have this group chat together and connect everyday.
Q: What are your thoughts on descriptors like light-skinned, high yellow, Mulatto, etc?
A: I actually hate it, because colorism is such a real thing. I recently read “the willie lynch letter 1712” and although its fake, you would think it’s real. I feel like when the black community takes 5 steps forward there’s always something that brings us 10 steps back and colorism is just another way to divide us; even though nowadays I think most of it is used as jokes, but these jokes aren’t really bringing us together.
Q: Growing up, do you feel that you experienced unique challenges being PartBlack?
A: Something that was an extreme challenge was finding where I fit in. Earl sweatshirt has a line where he says “too black for the white kids and to white for the black.” and I felt that in my own right with my two cultures, however it didnt phase me, it actually allowed me to embrace being alone and learning how to be open minded and embrace all types of people. I didnt want anyone to feel left out like I did just cause I didnt fit a certain type. This lead to me meeting friends from all cultures and all walks of life, in high school you couldnt put me in a stereotypical group such as nerds, jocks , emo or whatever, because I was hanging out with all the kids. It taught me not to judge anyone.
Q: Have you ever felt that your life would be easier if you were just one ethnicity?
A: I never even put thought to this , to be honest I love having two ethnicities because it allowed me to dive deep into two different cultures. Culture in my eyes is one of the most beautiful things this world has to offer, its essentially why people love to travel so they can also get a taste of it. I think life is easier being from more than one because i get to understand the perspectives of multiple cultures from an early age.
Q: When was the first time someone referred to you as or directly called you a nigger?
A: Oh man gotta love these, the first time was probably in middle school. Middle school is the most cruel era of children because its when theyre trying to find themselves and hormones are happening etc. There just cruel for no reason so i’m sure it was around this time and some kid thought it was funny.
Q: What would you tell your 12-year-old self?
A: Remain confident in yourself. The biggest obstacle at the end of the day is you. You are your own worst enemy and as long as you know that and stay out of your own way nothing can hold you back.
Q: What has been the most annoying or frustrating thing about being PartBlack?
A: People trying to touch my hair , even black or puerto rican people cause its a tad bit different.