For Savannah, growing up Black in a white family came with unwanted questions

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For years I struggled with my identity, frequently looking in the mirror and asking myself, "Who am I?" I often felt out of place with people my own age growing up in Fredericton — it wasn't just my interests that made me stand apart, but the colour of my skin too.

I couldn't ignore the fact that I'm Black and my family is white. I was raised by a single mother, and in family photos or at get-togethers I'm aware that I stick out and look nothing like my grandparents and aunts and uncles. To us that is the norm, it's not a problem. Race was never a big deal in our household.   

But over the years, endless amounts of questions poured in from my peers and complete strangers about why my mom is white.

"Wait, your mom's white?" 

It often left me feeling embarrassed and ashamed that our skin colours don't match.  

I shouldn't have to explain my family situation, yet I feel the need to. So I would like to put in print once and for all that I am Black, my mom is white and no, I am not adopted.