Name: Casey Johnston
Age: 19
Hometown: Galveston, Texas
Current Town City, MO
College/Major: UMKC (University of Missouri Kansas City), Business Administration Bachelor’s (undecided on the specification)
What does being Black mean to you?
“Being Black to me means having to be incredibly strong in the face of adversity,
especially being not only biracial, but being a woman and gay. So ultimately being Black for me means strength.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“I don’t remember what age I was but I was much younger. My Dad, my soccer friends, and their Mom had all gone into a QuikTrip. We were in a rural area of Missouri because we were driving out of town for a soccer tournament. My Dad - who is white - paid for my things and left while I waited for my friends inside, walking around with them. As they stood in line to check out, I began to walk out to wait for them outside. A clerk yelled at me and asked if I paid for that, I said my Dad did, and they proceeded to question and argue with me. My friend's Mom - who is white - started yelling at them for accusing me. My Dad came in and the guy recognized him and said it was okay. Other than that, I haven’t had too many upsetting experiences regarding racism.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“White privilege is a thing and you should accept that and recognize your privilege. Use it to do things that better the lives or people of color who are at a disadvantage.”
Want to share a story about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?
“Being biracial, more than I’ve dealt with racism I’ve dealt with colorism from both races. When it came to white people I wasn’t white enough, when it came to Black people I wasn’t Black enough all because of my light skin color and physical features. So growing up I faced ridicule from both races quite often. The one I remember most is a time during high school in which a girl tried to tell me I knew nothing about ‘the struggle’ and proceeded to taunt me until we got into a verbal argument and I ended up getting ISS [in school suspension] for a couple days.”
Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?
“Yes, I ran into systematic racism at Liberty High School and at MCCKC [Metropolitan Community College Kansas City]. At LHS, Black students were punished much more severely than white students for the same offenses. They got suspended more easily, and when they were faced with racist remarks and racist behavior from white students, those students never really got punished.”
Are there any other identities you identify with that you’re okay with sharing (gender-identity, religion, sexual orientation, immigrant, etc.)? Do any of these affect your experience as a BIPOC?
“I am a woman, lesbian, and biracial. I feel like that makes me the biggest minority of all. I am the side that lacks equality in each category.”
Do you feel more struggle in being gay or being Black?
“Being gay definitely, but only because of those people who feel like being gay is a choice. You are born a color, you are born a race, in my opinion you are born with a predisposition to have one sexuality or another but most don’t [think that]. People are less likely to give you crap about things they feel you can't control than things they feel like you can. Being gay has always made me more uncomfortable than being biracial for sure. People confusing my gender, looking at me funny in the bathroom, the constant use of the word ‘gay’ or ‘fag’ around me. Little things made the biggest difference.”
Did you ever encounter any issues being adopted into a white family and town?
“It just felt hard to fit in, no specific issues other than that. I never really found my place being different than my family and most of my surroundings, but ultimately I ended up for a while having some good connections with people that looked like me and felt more comfortable, safe, and like I fit in. I’ve worked on relationships with family members and feel I fit in a little more there too but no specific issues really.”
Do you feel compelled to tell your story through music?
“Yes, I love music and the way it moves and speaks to all people without barriers. It's the easiest way for me to express myself and if sharing parts of my pain helps others heal or cope with theirs or just feel a little less lonely than I feel like it's my duty honestly.”
What are your thoughts on the narrative of “Black music” being rap, hip-hop, and R&B?
“Honestly, it frustrates me. If I am being completely honest, I feel like rap and hip-hop especially feed into the racist narrative that society creates around black
people. Not all but many of the mainstream rappers rap about guns, money,
women, and drugs. They promote homophobia, sexism, and violence. It puts
that music into a box that makes it hard for any artist who brings in any other
material but that. That’s frustrating, because I feel Black people especially have so much more to offer and so many other stories to tell. To me it seems sometimes like celebrities, especially Black artists, want to push the narrative society places on Black people to continue to profit because that's what sells and is believed even if it is inaccurate. But sometimes people aren't ready for those conversations.”
What are you passionate about?
“I used to be passionate about sports and now I am more passionate about music.”
What inspires you?
“Within music, listening to other artists and recognizing my growth overtime.”
Who do you look up to?
“My granny, my parents, and the future version of myself.”
If you have something you want to promote (your art, music, business, etc.) do it here!
Music: Cj On Replay https://linktr.ee/CjOnReplay
Here are some organizations Casey would like to promote!
Together We Rise: https://www.togetherwerise.org/about-us/
Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/
Here are 20 of Casey's favorite songs!
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