Senior discusses her challenges being biracial

Many students throughout the nation deal with the effects of racism. Senior, Veronica Terrell feels the effects of racism through being biracial, containing members of two racial groups. Terrell has experienced the challenges of racism throughout her life with family members.

   “My great aunt, for example, has never been accepting of my parents or their relationship,” Terrell said. “To grow up not knowing why you don’t speak to a family member because the person you are is not accepting of you can be very challenging for my entire family.”

   Growing up biracial, Terrell has had the opportunity to learn two different cultures. She has also had the challenges of what race she wants to identify as and what others believe she should identify as.

   “Growing up with two different cultures is different because you see people who are truly not supportive of interracial couples,” Terrell said. “I want to identify as the two races I am, but when people say, ‘you are too light to be black,’ or, ‘you are too light to be black,’ it hurts. People constantly tell me who I can or can’t be, based on what I look like.”

   Although Terrell has faced racial challenges in her family life, she has not felt the effects at Hinsdale South High School in Darrien, IL, where she attends school.

“In school majority of people accept me,” Terrell said. “I have yet to encounter someone who has been racially discriminating.” Story by Lilyan Wray.   

Arms by her side, senior Veronica Terrell stands up for the racism issues throughout the country, on Wednesday July 12. “I believe that all lives are important and matter, but this movement helps express the importance of specifically black lives,” Terrell said. “As they are going through a tough and at times discriminating time.”