Nearly every Friday night (and many Saturdays and most Sundays) I can be found at the Arclight Cinemas Hollywood. I am familiar and friendly with many of the folks who work there, one of them being Whitney. Greeting people as a hostess at the Arclight restaurant & bar, Whitney is someone who I approached about The PartBlack Project after striking up a short conversation and learning that she is mixed. She agreed to be featured on the PBP, and in the time between her agreeing and us shooting, I discovered her blog, Whitney’s Writings, and was immediately impressed with her wit and charm as a writer.

Q: Do you identify as Black? White? Mixed? Something else? Please describe your ethnic/cultural background.

A: I identify as Mixed ever since I was a child. Growing up when we would have to put our races on our Star testing I would always ask to put both black and white and would always get in trouble. But I would put both no matter what. My dad is African- American and my mom is German and Native American, very white. In college, a basketball teammate from the south told me that I am black and I corrected her saying “no I am mixed.” She was so upset that I identified as mixed> I never understood why it bothered her so much.

Q: Which part of your background do you identify with and/or who are you closest to in your family?

A: I do not have many extended family members. Growing up it was my mom, younger brother, and my dad who travelled a lot for work. I grew up in Orange County so I identify with my white side more because of the environment I was raised in. I wanted to experience more culture and diversity so I accepted a basketball scholarship to Seton Hall in Newark, New Jersey. There is where I interacted with both races and began to learn more about my culture.

Q: What are your feelings on the N-Word? Do you use it?

A: I don’t use that word. I don’t feel comfortable being around it and I ask for people to not use it.

Q: Has ethnicity played a factor in your romantic relationships?

A: Growing up in Orange County, the boys were intimidated by my curves, height and ethnicity. Once we graduated, I had three boys tell me that they had a crush on me but were nervous to act on it.

Q: When was the first time someone referred to you as or directly called you a nigger?

A: I was walking down the street and heard that word. I turned around and noticed that I was the only black person in the area in Orange County. I remember getting very warm on the inside, almost heated in a way. I was 15 and very confused as to why someone felt the need to yell racial slurs at a complete stranger let alone a teenager.

Q: Can you discuss some ways friends or family have made your life more difficult?

A: I hang out with a lot of white people. I feel that they do not understand the struggles of being PartBlack. I live on the eastside because I do not feel comfortable on the westside. My friends do not understand why but diversity is comforting to me. My nail lady who I have been dedicated to moved from Downtown LA to Santa Monica. The first time I visited her, I felt all eyes on me because I stood out like a sore thumb.

Q: What would you tell your 12-year-old self?

A: You are beautiful. One day, you will have role models who look like you and become one yourself.

Q: What has been the most annoying or frustrating thing about being PartBlack?

A: People reminding me that I am “whitewashed.” Growing up in Orange County and raised by a white mom, I sound different from say a black person who grew up in Los Angeles. I am aware of it and have accepted it. I just wish other people did.

Q: What is your funniest or fondest memory that involves your ethnicity?

A: I am an athlete. When I was in seventh grade I was trying out for a high school travel team. The parents were making fun of me and making comments that I do not belong there. My white mom was sitting next to them. During a water break, I went up to her and asked for my water and went back to play. She looked at the parents and smirked and continued to watch me try out. I made the team.