Ayraka Bree Straws
- Joey O'Kelly
- Jul 10, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2, 2020
Name: Ayraka Bree Straws
Age: 20
Hometown: Kansas City Missouri
Current town: Kansas City Missouri
College/Major: Rockhurst University, Exercise Science Major, Pre Occupational Therapy
What does being Black mean to you?
“Being a part of a community that is proud and thriving regardless of oppression.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“[It was] probably with family members. Not all of my extended family is okay with interracial relationships and biracial children, so there are family members who choose not to accept nor acknowledge my siblings and I. There is one specific family member who is outwardly racist towards Black people, period. This person has completely disowned my immediate family and continues to harass us.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“That just ‘not being racist’ yourself is not enough. It is important to speak up when somebody is making racist comments or microaggressions. Have the conversations that make you uncomfortable. Call people out, even if they are your family and friends.”
Want to share a story about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?
“Dating as a woman of color has been a challenge. I have had males straight up tell me I’m cute, but they only date white girls. I’ve had to secretly meet a person I was dating at the time and could not be seen pulling up to their house. I’ve run into Black males who also will not date Black females because they think of them as lesser and stereotype them ‘ghetto’ and ‘loud.’ Then there is a whole other category of males who have used me as their ‘gateway’ into the Black community because they are with a mixed girl.”
Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?
“I had an issue with a substitute I once had in high school. My friend, who is Black, and I were the only minorities in the class. The sub started reading the lesson plan for the day and then he randomly stopped, turned to us, and asked us if we got it. At first, we thought he was just being nice. However, while he continued to explain, he stopped and asked us two more times if we understood. He did not ask anyone else. Once we started working my friend and I were talking to each other in a very low tone. He asked us several times to ‘quiet down’ and ‘turn our volume down.’ The rest of the class would talk loudly at different times and one girl was even yelling, but he never asked anyone else to quiet down. At one point he asked us if we had to read our worksheet out loud to each other to understand it. Then, at the end of class, he asked us to be the last ones out and to turn off the light. Little did he know, the teacher of that class actually loved my friend and I and left the lesson plan with us the day before.”
Does being mixed change your experience, being Black in America? If so, how?
“Being mixed does change my experience because I am not 100% Black, which I think is important to recognize. Because of certain privileges, including colorism, I will not have the same experiences as a fully Black, darker-skinned person. However, I do experience oppression and discrimination, and I still consider myself a part of the Black community. That is why I refer to myself as biracial, but I do not refer to myself as Black. It’s like being mixed is a whole other thing.”
What are your thoughts on colorism?
“I feel like colorism is another layer of racism and another way to divide people. It implies that one individual is better than another simply because of the shade of their skin. Colorism is the promotion of white supremacy because it defines an individual's worth based on how closely their physical appearance reflects white features. Colorism is a good example of how, even though I’m part of the Black community, I am more privileged. This is because I am mixed and have a very light shade of skin. Some members of society ‘prefer’ or ‘tolerate’ me more so than my sisters and brothers of a darker shade, although we are all members of the Black community. It is wrong that it is considered a compliment to tell someone ‘you're not THAT dark.’ It is wrong that there is a common mentality that lightening an animated character's skin tone makes them more ‘appealing’ and ‘likeable.’ It is wrong to only prefer dating lightskins over someone of darker skin because you fetishize their features to define beauty. People need to respect the Black community as a whole, it is no one's place to ‘prefer’ a certain shade of Black.”
What are you passionate about?
“Helping people on their journey towards self acceptance and hyping them up. It's important to me that people are confident in every aspect of their identity.”
What inspires you?
“It is inspiring to see people who don't fear standing up and speaking out. I love to see others embrace the beauty in being different.”
Who do you look up to?
“My best friend, Kayla Jones. Even though she is the same age as me, she has taught me so much and been there for me in so many ways. She inspires and pushes me every day to do better.”
Here is an organization Ayraka Bree would like to promote!
“National Congress of Black Women-Kansas City: https://ncbwkansascity.org/ “
Here are 20 of Ayraka Bree's favorite songs!
Commenti