In our society, it is often seen as brave and commendable to challenge popular beliefs and opinions that may make others uncomfortable. Dissenting voices have the power to disrupt the conformity of the majority, even when that majority is heading towards an illogical outcome. Unfortunately, being a black sheep is not always a choice, as some individuals are born into a position that challenges society’s narrow definition of what it means to belong. America, in particular, struggles with an unhealthy fixation on categorizing people by race, reducing complex human experiences to checkboxes on a census form. But what if fitting into just one category fails to capture the entirety of someone’s identity?
Sage Steele, a former anchor on ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” recently settled a free speech lawsuit with the network. In a thought-provoking discussion on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Steele opened up about her experience with race and her public comments about embracing her biracial identity. She recounted a moment on “The View” in 2014 when Barbara Walters expressed disapproval of Steele identifying as biracial instead of solely as black, like former President Barack Obama. This incident, along with Steele’s later revelation about being forced to get the COVID vaccine to maintain her job, led to her removal from ESPN.
During her emotional conversation with Kelly, Steele revealed, “I am so fortunate to be loved equally by my white family and my black family. Yet, people often assume that I hate myself, my black father, and my black family because of my biracial identity.” She passionately defended her right to have her own opinion about her background and expressed pride in both sides of her family. Steele also highlighted the frustration of being forced to choose only one racial identity, leaving no room for the complexity of biracial individuals. She noted that if she had claimed to be solely black, she would have been celebrated, but her acknowledgment of her biracial heritage faced controversy.
Steele’s experience resonates with me on a personal level, as I have a biracial son who also struggles with the idea of having to choose one part of himself over the other. It is disheartening that society expects biracial individuals to deny half of their existence in order to fit in. Steele was expected to maintain a public facade that favored one side of her family while privately loving both equally. This expectation reflects the social application of the outdated “one-drop rule” that classified individuals as black based on even the slightest trace of black ancestry. Although this legal principle no longer holds, society still adheres to it when it comes to biracial people.
If Obama had identified as white and dismissed his black heritage, he would have faced backlash for being anti-black and accused of self-hatred. However, this expectation does not apply in the reverse situation. This double standard effectively enforces the one-drop rule. People who accuse Steele of rejecting her black identity fail to recognize her desire to embrace her uniqueness as someone who transcends racial boundaries simply by existing. To truly love oneself, it is essential to love all aspects of who we are.
Steele’s careful consideration of not neglecting any part of her family is admirable. As a father of a biracial child, I understand the discomfort of having our loved ones choose one side over the other solely to appease societal norms. I have always encouraged my son to embrace his uniqueness and prioritize building good character rather than conforming to the expectations of strangers. I believe it is a disservice to deny him the love and support from both his black father and white mother. Love should not be compartmentalized based on race; it should simply be.
While Steele may have provoked the disapproval of the majority, she refused to blindly follow them off the metaphorical cliff. Her courage to challenge societal norms and embrace her whole self is commendable. It is important that we continue to question and challenge the limitations society places on our identities, allowing room for individuality and inclusivity.
Adam B. Coleman, the author of “Black Victim to Black Victor” and the founder of Wrong Speak Publishing, sheds light on the importance of embracing diverse identities and challenging societal expectations. Follow him on Substack: adambcoleman.substack.com.
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