In a recent incident that has evoked painful memories for the growing population of Americans who identify as more than one race, former president Donald Trump's remarks questioning Vice President Kamala Harris's identity as a Black and South Asian American woman have sparked outrage and deep reflection. Individuals who identify as multiracial recall their own experiences of feeling misunderstood and pressured to choose a single racial identity, with Trump's words serving as a painful reminder of the ongoing struggle for recognition and acceptance.

For many like Adam Shoemaker, an Episcopal priest living in Charleston, S.C., who is Arab American with an Egyptian father and a White mother, Trump's remarks were a painful reminder of the dehumanizing questions they faced as children. Shoemaker emphasizes that no one should have the right to dictate or categorize another person's racial identity, as it undermines their lived reality and perpetuates racism.

During a Black journalists conference in Chicago, Trump's racist comments about Vice President Harris caused gasps from the audience. He questioned her racial background, stating, "I didn't know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don't know, is she Indian or is she Black?" These remarks struck a chord with the more than 33 million Americans, approximately 1 in 10, who identify as two or more races, according to the 2020 Census.

Despite the growing numbers of multiracial individuals, many feel fundamentally misunderstood. Trump's continuous belittlement of Harris on social media has prompted The Washington Post to reach out to people of multiracial heritage, asking them to share their experiences in the United States and their reactions to Trump's words. The responses ranged from feeling pressured to "choose a side" and embracing a single racial identity, to not feeling fully accepted even when aligning with one group.

Trump's questioning of Harris's right to belong to multiple racial groups has left many feeling newly wounded. Steve Majors, who identifies as both Black and White, recalls being teased as a child and describes feeling outraged, angry, and hurt by Trump's remarks. Many individuals who identify as multiracial and wrote to The Post accused Trump of deliberately misunderstanding and exploiting their freedom to identify as belonging to multiple races for his own political gain. These sentiments were echoed by others who deemed Trump's words "racist," "ignorant," "abhorrent," and unsurprising.

Nitasha Tamar Sharma, a professor of Black and Asian American studies at Northwestern University, views Trump's comments as relying on stereotypes that portray multiracial people as disloyal and inauthentic, fostering suspicions about their identity. Harris's own background exemplifies the complexities of multiracial identity, as she was born in Oakland, Calif., to immigrant parents - her mother from India and her father from Jamaica, with Jamaican heritage tracing back to enslaved Black individuals.

Harris has credited her mother for instilling in her a sense of confidence in her identity as both a Black American and a South Asian American. In her memoir, Harris emphasizes her mother's efforts to make her and her sister proud Black women while also celebrating their South Asian heritage through trips to India. However, not all multiracial individuals share the same clarity of identity, as Rep. Maxwell Frost, who identifies as both Cuban and Black, recounts facing pressure to solely identify as Cuban while on the campaign trail.

The experiences shared by multiracial individuals reflect the challenges and complexities of growing up and living as part of a multiethnic heritage. Louis Cook, who identifies as White and Asian, recalls the difficulties of navigating his biracial identity, facing jokes and expectations from his friends about his knowledge of both racial groups. Trump's attacks on Harris only underscore the lack of understanding among those who identify as a single race about the lives of multiracial Americans.

Sonia Smith Kang, who is Black and Latina, highlights the pushback and lack of recognition in society when she explains her multiracial identity to others. She questions why her identity needs to be parsed out and why her experiences are not heard or understood. The growing population of multiracial Americans, particularly among young people, highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding of the complexities of their identities.

As the population of multiracial Americans continues to grow, it is crucial to foster an environment that embraces and respects their diverse backgrounds. Trump's remarks and the subsequent reactions from multiracial individuals serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for education, empathy, and acceptance in our society.