This week I am excited for everyone to meet Alix! I got introduced to Alix through her future mother in law, Debby, who is a good friend and neighbor of my parents. It's been great getting to get to know Alix through this process and hopefully one day I will get to meet her and her fiance in real life!

Also as we post this on January 23rd it is Alix's Birthday, so Happy Birthday Alix!!!

- Jen 


Alix Swirl Nation Blog

NAME AND AGE

Alix Davis, 30 (31 on Jan. 23)

 

RACE/ETHNICITY

Via DNA testing - Great Britain, Ireland, Nigeria, Senegal. I’m sure there are few more, but those are the main ones.

 

WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE?

Spokane, WA

 

IS THE COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN NOW DIVERSE?

We only moved to Spokane a few months ago, so I would say there is some diversity, but it seems like a predominantly white community.

 

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

I’m from Modesto, California, but I moved up to Washington five years ago from San Diego, California.

I’m sure if you looked up Modesto statistics, the majority of the community would white, but I grew up with friends with all different ethnicities - white, black, Asian, Hispanic, etc.

 

HOW DID YOUR PARENTS MEET?

My mother met my dad in a college Geology class. He asked her for a paper, and pencil.

 

WERE THERE ANY SIGNIFICANT OBSTACLES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP CORRELATED TO YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

Yes, my mother was fired from jobs, they were refused housing, they were followed by police, and the list goes on. I had to ask my mother a few questions and she just said, “the stories are endless.”

 

HAS YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF YOU BEING MULTIRACIAL?

Yes! I’ve never been treated any different by family for being biracial.

 

DID YOU CELEBRATE TRADITIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF YOUR FAMILY?  

Every year we open Christmas crackers. It’s an English tradition that my grandmother brought over from England when she moved here to be with my grandfather, after WWII. It’s my favorite tradition, and I’m so happy to share it with my new family.

 

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR CULTURAL BACKGROUND?

I couldn’t be prouder to know that a piece of me is from Europe. I love Europe, especially Great Britain, and knowing I’m connected to a place that means so much to me is very special. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

 

WHAT ACTIONS DID YOUR PARENTS TAKE TO TEACH YOU ABOUT YOUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS?

None, that stand out.

 

DID YOU TALK ABOUT RACE A LOT IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

No, it wasn’t a topic in our household. Unless, it had to do with my hair. My mother and I have very different hair types.

 

DO YOU IDENTIFY AS MIXED OR SOMETHING ELSE?

 

I identify as mixed/biracial.


DOES RACE WEIGH INTO WHO YOU CHOOSE TO DATE? 

I’ve primarily dated white men, and my fiance is white. I’ve never dated a black man, but that mainly has to do with who my dad is, and not his race.


WHAT DOES BEING MIXED MEAN TO YOU?

I’m proud to be mixed. I don’t place too much emphasis on it.


DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO ARE MIXED? 

Who’s not mixed? I’ve learned friendship from all of my mixed friends.


ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS YOU ARE REALLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE IN REGARDS TO RACE/CULTURE?

I’m tired of people asking what I’m mixed with before they ask me my name. Hi, I’m Alix!


WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA IN REGARDS TO RACE?

Defining someone by their race or sexuality will be a thing of the past, and that we’ll only learn from our mistakes instead of repeating them.


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