Taking Back a Term of Hate

But what does that mean?

Hi, my name is Jazz, my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I am a biracial, queer, non-binary, and neurodivergent choreographer. All those elements make up who I am in both definition and action. For the purpose of this site, an ability to redefine what was once used from hate and push to create a safer place for myself and others like me.

I went with the name iamreallyapanda because of the fact that I am biracial. I am black. I am also white. I am not one or the other, I am both. Hence, panda, a term that has been used as hate in the past (though perhaps not as terrible as some other terms). I stand very solidly on my racial identity because people have tried to erase it before. Yes, I am light skinned and white-passing but that does not mean I am not black. I have seen far too many people decide that you are not part of a group based on the look alone and the phrase “you’re not ____ enough”. The color of one’s skin does not erase one’s genetic link. Just because I can be white-passing doesn’t erase my connection to my racially connected culture.

Anyways, I will be graduating soon, which means losing this site, and haven’t used this blog as much as I had hoped through my education. I am hoping to change that this coming year. I am mostly going to use this site for choreographic content, academic work, personal experiences, and pretty much whatever feels right to add!

There may be content that is biased and that is because it is not my goal or my job to report unbiased work here. After all, it is a personal blog.