In the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain established a caste system in its colonies, dividing people according to their “whiteness.” Mestizo is a relic in the Spanish language from that time. In the Philippines, it has become a neutral term for all people of mixed race, but in Central and South America it still retains its original meaning: the descendants of Spaniards and Indigenous peoples. Particular names for mixed-race people are not uncommon around the world. The Métis people in Canada, the Hapa people in Hawaii, the “taro-sweet potatoes” in Taiwan are all examples.

Taiwan Bookstore presents a series of “mixed literature”.

The experiences of a “mixed” identity actually can resonate with a lot of us: Asian Canadians, the “new second generation” of Taiwan, Indigenous people who grew up in the city, third culture kids… These mixtures of culture, nationality, ethnicity all shape the way they interact with the world.

They are questioned when they speak out about their culture; they are un-belong in their own community, they are foreigners with hard-won passports; they try to break one stereotype, only to fall into another stereotype; they struggle with the questions “What is equality? What counts as discrimination?” in their everyday lives.

How do I become me? 

If you are also searching for an answer, let these literary works inspire you.