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My mother is from California, she was born and raised there. She's a black african american. My father is from Gambia. He moved here when he was an adult.

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My siblings include my oldest half-brother, my older brother, my older sister, me, and my younger brother. We're all African American.

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I've always seen myself as a first-generation African American. my father is from Africa, so I feel a bit more connected to my roots than most.

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Growing up, my neighbourhood consisted of mostly Africans and African Americans. One would assume in a community of mostly African Americans, you wouldn't face discrimination because of your appearance, but I was picked on a lot as a kid. many would tease me for my eye shape, pulling back their eyes and calling me slurs. It's one thing that's stuck with me through the years.

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In middle school, I went to a different school than all my other friends. It was a completely new environment and trying to fit in as one of three black kids in my grade, and the person with the darkest skin in the whole school was difficult.

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Growing up I was mostly close with white and Latino kids. there weren't many African American kids, so I embraced the cultures around me. Now that I'm older, trying to connect with African American people, especially ones my age is difficult. being a black trans guy I feel even more disconnected from my culture. I've been trying to fit in where I don't belong for so long I don't know where I belong. I feel like a puzzle piece that is in the wrong puzzle.