you have that ethnic look.

have you ever heard that? i have. my friend kyle said that to me when i told him about my heritage. i'm cape verdean.

for those that dont know, cape verde is a group of islands off the coast of west africa. my grandma's parents were immigrants. i'm 1/4 from there, 1/2 south carolina creole and 1/4 whatever my people from rome, ga are.

but back to my story. people tend to get this, "oh, that explains it" sense of clarity when i tell them of my family history. apparently i dont look like the average black girl. africans ask me how long i've been in america. when i start speaking spanish it really throws them off.

honestly i dont know what i am racially. the islands were a major port for the slave and spice trades, as well as refuge for people run out of their home countries. think of a country. make it real obscure. yep, they were there.

so ethnic is right i guess. generally ethnic. i have my theories as to my heritage: my grandma said her grandma was a jew, so we could be spanish- they fled during the inquisition. i think i look ethiopian, but i'm the only one who does in my family.

i philosophise that since i am so racially mixed i should be accepting to all other races and cultures. i may very well be insulting myself and my people. i think that african americans- the ones born here- should be mindful of that theory because we really dont know where we came from originally. not to sound all "world peace" or anything, but it could make us better people.

did i mention my boyfriend is french? our kids will be so hot.