I consider myself Xicanx - Mexican American - although growing up, I hid behind my white skin, a luxury that my own brother could not do, because his skin is so much darker than mine. I knew this was privilege, but, as a child, I wanted to assimilate and be like everyone else. As I got older, I began to embrace my racial and cultural heritage.
The comments from the Native speakers resonated with me the most - if you have one drop of black blood, you are black, no matter how light skinned you are. If you have one drop of non-Native blood, you are less native. I feel this way, mixed, not white enough to be white, not brown enough to be brown. My cousins call me guera and coconut, although those are at odds, like me.
Silke, thank you for sharing your perspective. I've never even thought about what it would be like to be a different shade than my family (obvious white privilege alert), and what that would mean for family dynamics and self-worth.