Actor and Activist Avan Jogia Ignites Much Needed Conversation On Race With His Debut Poetry Book “Mixed Feelings”

Placing a label on people automatically puts them in a singular category that many find difficult to differentiate the nuances that make up the human race. With shows like ABC’s Mixed-ish and Avan Jogia‘s premiere book of poetry and short stories of race and identity, a dialogue about being biracial is opening to spark a conversation about going beyond what we appear to be on the surface and connecting with people despite of what they look like.

Jogia’s Mixed Feelings book officially released on Tuesday, September 17 and since then the actor and activist has traveled to cities like: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Beaverton, New York, Storrs, and Philadelphia to promote his work of art with an interactive book signing where he read aloud some excerpts.

I like Avan as an actor and have supported his work since his Victorious days on Nickelodeon, so there was no question about purchasing his book. The biggest thing on my mind though was with the subject matter being about biracial experiences; could this be a book that I would enjoy or even relate to?

Today’s America is a melting pot of individuals who come from all walks of life. We are a beautiful combination of many races that some take issue with just from they way certain people look. I’m not mixed, but as a black woman with “mixed features” ( green eyes, freckles, and light skin) I could definitely identify with some of the stories in the book and the feelings of not being deemed enough because of that way I look; especially where I grew up in a predominantly black community.

Reading through the 133 paged book, filled with striking illustrations and personal photos from Jogia, it felt like a written documentary showcasing a boy who questioned where he fits in society as a product of a biracial union to a man who no longer gave a fuck about trying to blend in to a mix of preconceived notions about what it means to be a whole human. I loved how Avan not only used poetry to emphasis his experience growing up biracial, but also gave a platform for others to share their stories with brief anecdotes.

Avan creates a dialogue about identity and embracing “the good mix” you are being a combination of your parents with titles like: “My Complexion Is Complex,” “The Kids Aren’t All White,” “Sorry Susan,” (One of my favorites) and “The Mixed Person’s Prayer” in Mixed Feelings.

“They really want us to pick a side and I’m not about it. I’ll try my best to keep on saying that as loud as anyone cares to listen. I think we live in a world that is, nuance has been steamrolled. If I can be a radical protector of nuance and subtlety, if there is such a thing, then that’s what I want to be,” Jogia said during his book tour stop in Philly on Friday, September 27.

If you’re mixed, or if you’re not, Mixed Feelings is a book that will get you thinking about how we see and treat other people who look different and encourages the need for empathy now more than ever.

Avan Jogia’s Mixed Feelings collection of poems and stories is available for purchase where books are sold. For more information about the book and to subscribe to Avan’s newsletter for updates on upcoming projects visit www.avanjogia.com.

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