By SheelaR

Hey y’all! School’s out for the holidays, and I finally have some downtime to dive into some new content. I stumbled upon the Gotta B Me Podcast, which has me reflecting on some pretty heated discussions about race and identity. While scrolling through TikTok, I saw a lot of black women responding to a recent episode featuring two young multi-ethnic women. These podcasters, coming from backgrounds shaped by diverse cultures, tackled a topic that’s igniting some serious controversy: the aesthetics of black women. 

You know, the conversation around weaves, fake eyelashes, and heavy makeup isn’t new, but the fact that these two young women brought it up has sparked a lot of debate. If I’m entirely honest, I didn’t hate what they were saying. The challenge seems less about the message and more about the messengers. There’s a noticeable trend where multi-ethnic women often feel stuck in limbo—too “other” to fit neatly into either the black or white community. I get it; the struggle is real. I’ve been on both sides of that coin, benefiting from a foot in the door of whiteness, which can rub some people the wrong way. But let’s not confuse my privilege with shame. It’s an uncomfortable reality, no doubt.

Having a black mother gives me a certain safety net, a way to navigate some of these discussions. I cherish my mixed heritage, but it’s frustrating to hear that my voice carries less weight because of my non-black parent. That’s a big part of what makes the Gotta B Me Podcast’s message so divisive. These women are smart and articulate, grappling with the complexities of race in America today. If they had black mothers or two black parents, I wonder if their insights would be received differently. 

Sure, their viewpoints might rub some listeners the wrong way—especially black women who feel like their struggles aren’t fully reflected. But I encourage you to listen closely; if you can get past the initial offense, there’s a lot to unpack and learn from their discussions. You might walk away with a new perspective, and isn’t that worth it? The conversations around race are messy, but they’re necessary. Let’s keep digging.