“We are obsessed with naming ourselves because for so long we were named by others.” – Angela Davis
This ongoing photo project is the result of my efforts of to explore the mixed-race experience in Canada. “How do other self-identified mixed Canadians name themselves?” is the question I am asking and by portraying mixed faces across Canada, it is my desire to:
- challenge stereotypical depictions of mixed people
- expose the diversity of mixed people in Canada
- emphasize the importance of self-identification
- dismantle racial constructs
The photos are in random order & so far I have been fortunate enough to meet delightful mixies in British Columbia (Hapa-Palooza 2011) & Ontario. Over the years I hope to include someone from every province & territory.
Thank you to those who have been so generous as to share your truth and vulnerability through the lens of my camera, I am forever grateful. You are each unique, wonderful and look exactly how you’re supposed to. Despite how you may have felt in the past or how you feel now, never cease to let all your colours shine. PS – if you ever want to change how you identify, just let me know, I know how it is.
Exhibitions:
- 2012-2013 (International): “Defining Moments: Discovering our Canadian Stories”
- Fall 2012 (Toronto): “Rooted in Regent Park: Open to the World”
- February 2013 (Toronto): “Faces In Between“
- February 2013 (Ottawa): “Defining Moments @ Winterlude“
- March 9 2013 (Toronto): Feminist Art Conference
I am a product of a mixed black and white family that has been here in Toronto since 1913 from Chicago on my father’s side. My grandfather was Afro-American, Native American and Irish decent. His skin colour was darker. My grandmother was a 1/4 Afro-American and Caucasian. She was very light with hazel eyes and blonde hair. Her father was 1/2 Afro-American and 1/2 Caucasian. His father was a plantation owner from Leitchfield, Kentucky. Her mother’s family was mixed and lighter from Richmond Virginia. My mother was light-skinned and her father was light. Her family came from Barbadoes to Sydney, Nova Scotia in 1908, then to Montreal in 1918. Her father’s 1/2 brother, however, was dark-skinned. That side is French, British, Irish, African and were descendents of the Arawak Indians who were indigenous to Venezuela and Barbadoes before being ethnically cleansed and literally wiped out by the Europeans. I am 57 years old and lighter-skinned. One more piece of information: I was born and raised in Toronto through the 50′s and 60′s and know what racism was like back then because of my mix. I never quite fit in with black or white, (so to speak).
Thank you for publishing this information.
Hey,
Thanks for taking the time and effort to explore this issue. I am half Trinidadian (of Indian descent), and Scottish, but born in Canada. I’ve spent a good portion of my life hearing how I didn’t belong to either culture (interestingly, including many Trinidadians of African descent who disliked the Indian aspect and said I wasn’t a ‘real’ Trini because of that), and been called the derogatory names of so many other cultures. I’ve also had to bear with people trying to identify and telling me “Ohhhh, well yeah, my great grandfather was English, and my moms family has some Scottish, I’m mixed too”…..I’ve finally just taken to turning around and looking behind me when people ask me what my background is…. “Uhhh… A brick wall.”
For a long time I’ve also stayed away from “Mixed” discussions because it usually just involves further racial categorizations (ie: hapa, half black-half white) which I still don’t belong to. So I appreciate the non-categorized approach you have here. Because, where am I going to find an Indo-Caribbean Trinidadian Caucasian-Scottish Canadian group… besides me and my brothers?
On the bright side, it’s allowed me to see the utter frivolity in discriminating based on race.
Anyways, if you’d ever want to use my face for the project, I’d be glad to participate. (I live in Hamilton)
Keep up the good work.
hi, my name is natasya, im sottish,chinese and indonesian. i live in indonesia now. my hobby is write a poem. ok, may i introduce my family? my mother is sottish and chinese. my father is indoneisn . ilive with my father and my grandparent.
scottish i mean im sorry not sottish but scottish ….. i’m just wrong just a typo.