For many Americans, current events have brought great reflection and have raised questions regarding social awareness and conscience.
Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma was once a biracial kid growing up in Flint, Michigan. Through his current platform, he’s seeking to shed light on racial inequalities and misconceptions.
Being only 24 years of age and a member of one the most marquee franchise’s in sports, it’s understandable the trepidation that arises with finding your voice.
In a well crafted and vulnerable piece for the Players Tribune called “Ain’t No Sticking to Sports”, Kuzma illustrates the challenges of being a mixed kid seeking acceptance in society.
I was raised by my mom in Flint, Michigan. Our neighborhood was blue-collar, and pretty much all black. We lived right across the street from a General Motors plant.
I’m mixed (my mom is white and my dad is black), and as far as my identity growing up, it was really in the eye of the beholder. When I was a kid, some of the black kids in my neighborhood would say, “You’re not black.” But then when I got to Bentley High, all of a sudden I’m like one of the only black kids at an all-white school. I heard all kinds of racist things, racist jokes.
None of those kids saw me as anything but black.
I’m sure a lot of biracial kids have that kind of similar story of not being black enough for the black kids and not being white enough for the white kids. As a kid, you don’t know the history behind all that. You can only really see the situation like the black community is telling you, “You’re only half of us.” While to the white community, you’re just black, or worse — you’re a nigger. (They actually said stuff like that in front of me when I was in high school.) So, yeah, for me just personally, growing up, I got hit from both sides. It was what it was.
Kuzma later elaborates on the intricate nature of white privilege in everyday society.
Flip the pages for his thoughts on white privilege.