Aloha Hip Hapa Homeez,
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| the poet ponders |
HAPA Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and, of course,
Presidents’ Day (George and Lincoln). February is a terribly busy month for
being so short. In keeping with things quick and fast, please enjoy the
following interview with Kahlil Crawford (Fontaine).
Seriously, Your Hip Hapa
has been acquainted with Mr. Crawford, an artist and poet who heads Latin Music
Booking, since about 1999, when he first contacted me about Watermelon Sushi.
Since then, we’ve both grown along with the mixed-race movement. Please indulge
yourself and enjoy this sweet treat.
Q: Kahlil, who are your
parents and how did they meet?
A: I have three parents--my
father remarried--who all met in Chicago (my hometown). My birth parents were
high school sweethearts. I identify my Father as Afro-Créole; my birth Mother as Huguenot; and, my other Mother as Afro-Irish/Celtic.
Q: Were you aware of your
mixed-race heritage as you were growing up?
A: I grew up upper-middle
class in Chicago. I was always aware of my mixed heritage, more so on my
Father's side, yet never beyond the context of family history awareness. I
was not politicized as a mixed-race person. It was always more of a
historical or conversational footnote, something to discuss privately
around family heirlooms or at reunions.
When
my family began attending Carnavale, we became Créolized. New
Orleans/Mardi Gras culture became predominate in our home. Créolité
Louisiane is my cultural essence.
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| mixed-race neighborhood? |
Q: What kinds of
neighborhoods did you live in?
A: I grew up in Hyde
Park-Kenwood, undoubtedly one of the more integrated and academically oriented
neighborhoods in Chicago. Mixed-race families were, and are, a common
sight and normal to the neighborhood dynamic.
Q: You said you were not
politicized as a mixed-race person growing up. How did you eventually
become politicized?
A: The Boricua instilled
in me “Mulatto Pride, Loyalty & Self-Defense”.
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| in solidarity, alone |
Q: What do you consider the
biggest issue for people who are multigenerational mixed-race?
A: I have always believed
the greatest issue facing the mixed-race community is solidarity. Advancing solidarity has been the backbone of my
activism from day one...much easier spoken than achieved.
Q: As a poet and
artist, how do you convey your mixed-race messages through art?
A: Right now I'm repping my
Native side. I belong to the Métis Nation. Check us out. Mitakuye Oyasin.
Q: What significant
contributions have you made to the mixed-race movement, if any?
A: I am proud of having
written for the now-defunct mgmix.com (MyGeneMix) with Chance Kelsey. I am now a member of sblendedblend.com.
Keepin’ it on the real, Hip
Hapa Homeez, thank you for your short attention span this month. And, please check
out our Watermelon Sushi website and like our Facebook fan page. You can also
watch a video of our Hapa*Teez t-shirts on YouTube and like our fan page.
And, while you’re on YouTube, look for our War Brides of Japan version 1 and version 2 videos with its
own fan page. And, remember to join our Hip Hapa Homeez group page to add your
voice to the mix, so to speak.
HAPA February!
Your Hip Hapa,
Yayoi
