KimI am a 43 year old school counselor. I am muultiracial to say the least, however, when people ask me about my ethnicity (and they ask all the time), I just tell them black and white. My background includes European (my mother, now deceased was primarily Austrian and Italian?) and African American (my father who looks black, has American Indian, English, and Egyptian blood). Both of my parents were born in the U.S. I grew up in the Midwest where there were many mixed marriages. I have had my share of teasing about my ethnicity, growing up but have obviously survived it. I now live in a part of the U.S. that encompasses many different ethnic backgrounds (a veritable melting pot of cultures). I have two beautiful children who are proud of their ethnic diversity, and am divorced from their father who is Creole but considers himself Black. I am now remarried to a mistiso (sp?) Philipino-American. People have mistaken me for Jewish, Puerto Rican, Italian, you name it, however, Blacks, more than not, know that I am part black. I have dark brown, long curly hair, freckles and light skin. I have hazel brown eyes and my nose is the feature that shows my blackness. I have friends of many different ethnic background. Some blacks openly have a problem with my ethnicity. I have also found that some whites are not as open with their thoughts even though they probably feel the same way. I seem to be more accepted and am most confortable with people that look like me, regardless of their background because of disappointment throughout the years that I have had with making friends. The friends that I do have, a diverse mix, some black, some white, some hispanic (spanish speaking) friends are wonderful. My best friend is Mexican-American and accepts me for who I am. I welcome your comments and conversation.