This has been an unprecedented and most historic week.  A new day has truly come, bringing with it a tremendous amount of responsibility for our new President-Elect, as well as for every single American.  Each of us has a responsibility to engage in our communities. We no longer have any valid excuse to complain and watch the world pass us by (not that we really had an excuse before).

While Barack Obama will in 74 73 days become the President of the United States and have the authority and capacity to enact change from above, teach and every one of us has the opportunity to enact change within our own lives.  The one thing I have learned through this election is that grass roots is where sustainable change really occurs.

Lately, I have spent more time than usual talking politics on this blog   I do not view The Diversity Projekt as a fundamentally political blog, at least not directly.  I clearly make a political statement with my chosen subject matter and the ways in which I articulate my position, but I would not consider myself a pundit or political commentator. Not in the least.

Nevertheless, I speak about my life, about my experiences and the world around me.  In doing so, I am often far more transparent than I should be.  I often struggle with how much or how little to share, particularly when it comes to personal and intimate issues.  In those instances where I have chosen to redact myself, I ultimately felt like I was editing myself and my experiences away.

One of the issues I have been extremely open about is my recent family reunion with my birth father.  Someone recently asked how I could be so open about a topic that is so intimate, how I could experience it in public view.  Others have suggested that I not be so public about everything.  After a recent incident, I considered being more private about this recent journey.  However, after much thought, I came to the conclusion that I would be doing myself and others an injustice.

My life up to this point has significantly influenced why I am publicly documenting my experiences. Looking back, I wish I had documented several earlier events – political and cultural awakening as an AfroGerman and the events leading up to the decision to actively search for my birth father.  I have since sketched several aspects of the beginnings of this journey.

I document this journey as much for myself as I do for others who might find themselves along a similar journey. I did not have a road map growing up. Nor did I have anyone to lean on who understood the things I was experiencing or feeling.  I did not have any role models who reflected my duality. I often felt like a one person freak show.

Even today, I struggle considerably with coming to terms and being comfortable with my biracial and multi-ethnic identity. I am not entirely comfortable with the color of my skin or my curly hair.  I feel equally estranged and rejected from my white and black heritage.  Feeling content with living within the margins is something I have yet to achieve.

I hope this blog helps someone, even if that someone is me.