Name: Midajah “Daisy” Smith
Age: 18
Hometown: Liberty, MO
Current Town: Kirksville, MO
College/Major: Truman State University, Psychology
What does being Black mean to you?
“Being biracial (half Black) means everything to me. I don’t mean that I act like it’s my only personality trait, but it is who I am. My race is a part of me and that has never been a bad thing. Have I had to deal with the consequences that come with being biracial? Yes, 100%. But being biracial is a part of who I am, and I love every second of it.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“The first experience I can recall was in 1st grade. I was on the playground at recess and one of my classmates approached me. He had told me that I needed to give up the swing that I was on. When I refused multiple times, he called me the n-word and walked away. Since I was younger, I had no idea what that word meant. To be fair, he probably didn’t either, but he knew it was a bad word. That day, when I got home from school, I got a shortened kid version of the race talk every BIPOC gets.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“There’s so much non-Black POC and white allies need to know, and so much that I want to tell them. First and foremost, they need to know that the Black community appreciates their alliance to the movement. However, since they are allies, it means that they do not suffer directly, nor do they know the struggle that Black people are going through right now. They (the allies) should never be the voice of the BLM movement or be the voice of Black people. They should amplify Black voices and protect Black people, not use them to gain social status or to exploit the situation. Secondly, don’t think that just because you are an ally, the responsibility of educating yourself on these matters has stopped. You need to continue to educate yourself and evaluate your white privilege to see how you can continue to contribute to the movement.”
Do you have a story you want to share about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?
“Colorism is what a lot of people would call a “newer” form of racism, but it has been around just as long as “normal” racism. Colorism is when people who are Black but have lighter complexions are seen as better or higher up than [those with] darker complexions. Because I am biracial and have lighter skin, I benefit from colorism and have known this for a while. I don't really have a story to tell about colorism, but rather a few thoughts on the subject. I know that I have a slight leg up on people with darker complexions, and I use this to help amplify their voices every time. But what some people will try to say is that, because I have a leg up on Black people with darker complexions, that must mean that I don't suffer at all from racism. This kind of narrow and small-minded thinking is what makes racism worse and it’s their attempt to create a divide amongst the Black community. What they fail to realize is that I still suffer at the hands of racism, but in certain instances, I could be seen as better than darker skinned people. In Hollywood, for instance, some or most of the roles that are written for Black women tend to go to lighter skinned women because they are seen as “prettier.” But when you look at things on a grander scale, if there is a role where race is not a main factor, that role will almost always go to a white person. This demonstrates the hierarchy of skin color and beauty."
Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?
“An issue with systemic racism is that people fail to realize the difference between systemic racism and non-systemic racism. While the two may seem similar, their differences become apparent when trying to fix them. Systemic racism normally comes from institutions that were either built on racism or with racist ideals. In high school, I became very aware of something called the achievement gap. This is when there is a clear difference in the ratio of Black and white students in AP or advanced classes. This is also true for women in STEM classes. I’ve been told that I couldn’t handle an AP class because it wasn’t “made for me” or that i don’t belong in an AP class for the same reason. In school, Black people like myself are constantly working against the misconception that Black people are dumb and lazy. This means we have to work two or three times harder than our white peers to prove to everyone that we are just as smart as them, if not smarter.”
Are there any other identities you identify with that you’re okay with sharing (gender-identity, religion, sexual orientation, immigrant, etc.)?
“I am a straight female, and I'm also Christian. When I say Christian, I don’t mean the hypocritical, cherry picking verses, condemning anyone and everyone to Hell type of Christian. That type of Christian is not a true Christian. A true Christian loves everyone and treats everyone how they deserve to be treated cause that’s what God truly wanted. My version of Christianity is very different from others. To most, I’m a bad Christian, whatever that means.”
Do any of these affect your experience as a BIPOC?
“Being biracial and a woman does create a different kind of struggle. We have to match a certain body type, talk and act a certain way, and be strong - but not too strong. We have to follow the narrative that Black women don’t get hurt, and if they do, they can’t let everyone see her struggling. Be independent, but have a man spouse to depend on. I can’t try to be a “boss” because if I’m “too assertive,” then I’m a bitch. We are born with our narrative already written for us and it’s difficult to break free of it.”
In the performing arts, what challenges do you face being a BIPOC in a largely white field?
“In theatre specifically, there are very few roles for BIPOCs, and some of the roles that are available are the stereotypical characters. The issue with theatre is that the roles where race isn't relevant to the plot almost always go to white actors. BIPOCs have to work two times harder to even be considered for the same role as a white person. People always have a built in perception of what a character should look like. Even when race isn’t supposed to be a leading factor in casting, it still is. There's also the issue of white-washing shows. I remember when my middle school did “Hairspray” and “The Dynamites'', which are supposed to be three Black powerhouse singers, were casted as three white girls. Theatre is supposed to be a place where everyone is welcomed and has a place but, in reality, it has a problem with systemic and internalized racism.”
What kind of impact does representation in performing arts have on other BIPOC, specifically younger people?
“Representation in any field is crucial. In theatre and the performing arts, the representation is not the best. By having bad representation, it feeds into the cycle of racism and negatively affects BIPOCs. Young people are very impressionable, and depending on what type of person they are and their age, they could be very visual people. If they are watching a production or even a movie/TV show and don’t see anyone that looks like them, they could think that they will never grow to become whatever that person is. This will create a negative perception of themselves and could lead to them hating what they look like or believing that they can only do certain things or play certain roles. When I was younger I was never exposed to theatre, so I didn’t have much of an interest in it. But once I was exposed to it, I began to fall in love with it. However, there aren’t a lot of roles in non-race based shows where a female of color is most known for the role. When you see shows that are non-race based but almost always have white people playing the leads and supporting characters, as a BIPOC, I start to think that those roles aren’t for me. Shows like “Wicked,” “Heathers,” “Into the Woods,” “Mean Girls,” etc. The less you represent a certain group of people in theatre, the less likely they will be to audition for the shows, leading to the world of performing arts to become less diverse.”
What are you passionate about?
“I feel like I have a lot of passions in life. I want equality for all. I want people to feel safe and respected. I'm passionate about people getting or keeping the rights that they deserve. Overall, I'm just passionate about making the world a better place for everyone in it.”
What inspires you?
“My mom inspires me because she is a very strong woman who has taught me a lot about life and how to deal with it. The thing that inspires me the most is the thought of what could be. The future could hold so many good things, not just for me, but for everyone. Keeping that in mind during times of darkness reassures me that things can get better. Also, I'm very determined to make this world a better place for my younger brothers and for my future children. I don't want them to constantly have to deal with the negative like I do.”
Who do you look up to?
“I look up to civil rights activists like Maya Angelou and Malcom X. These activists stand out to me because they were not only very outspoken but they were very determined to fix the problem at hand. Malcom X and the Black Panthers wanted an end to racism and police brutality by any means necessary. Maya Angelou had a very traumatic life and, after years of silence, she decided enough was enough. She used poetry as her way of reaching people. I look up to two of my friends, Alex Johnson and Bella Cordero. These two women are two of the strongest people I know. they both have gone through so much and they have come out stronger. They are two gorgeous and amazing women that I aspire to be more like. I look up to Starr Carter. Starr Carter is a character in the book 'The Hate U Give.' While I know she is not a real person, she has so many traits that I would like to have.”
If you have something you want to promote (your art, music, business, etc.) do it here!
“I don’t have my own business but don’t forget to support Black owned businesses and buy Black owned products.”
Here are some organizations Daisy would like to promote!
Pretty Brown Girl: https://prettybrowngirl.com/
Color of Change Education Fund: https://colorofchange.org/
Also, please sign every petition you can. Here’s two to get you started:
Stand with Bre (Breonna Taylor): https://go.theactionpac.com/sign/stand-with-breonna?akid=s758314..vbjLus
Here are 20 of Daisy's favorite songs!
Comments