Greetings!

My name is Carol Zwiebach-Sherman and I am a 26 year old biracial Japanese-German/Jewish woman. I believe that I look mixed, although others have told me that I look Asian or White. My husband is white. I've known him since I was five years old. In fact, we were in the same kindergarten class! My father-in-law warmed up to me very slowly. I have forgiven him, but I haven't forgotten the "endearing" way he used to call me the "dragon lady" or his "charming" habit of asking my husband if he could borrow me every time he had to do some chores around the house. Oy vey! I was raised primarily by my Japanese mother who migrated to the US from Japan. Her intention was to "mainstream" me and my older brother into white society by having us speak English only, naming us "American names" and rejecting her Japanese culture. She honestly believed, and still continues to believe that I can either choose to be white or Asian, and that the "right" choice to make is to be white. I disagree. I think that non-Asian folks think I'm Asian and that most Asian folks think that I am white or mixed. The way that others perceive my race has a profound affect on how I am treated. I don't feel that I have a control over how strangers perceive me. In this racist society, I am a woman of color, period. I am well aware that the restaurant bill never comes to me when I'm out with my husband or my white female friends. I'm ashamed to say that I'm used to getting overlooked. Among those who are close to me, however, I am biracial. This is how I see myself in my private thoughts. I am currently a third year doctoral student in Los Angeles. My research is on racial identification and well-being among biracial adults. If your interested in this, please e-mail me!

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