On Identity: Mixed Race, Memoir and Mental Health: with Hollay Ghadery, Editor and Author

Hollay Ghadery is the author of Fuse, a memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health. Her fiction, non-fiction, and poetry have been published in various literary journals, and she is currently the Reviews Editor of Minola Review.

In this episode, Hollay and I talk about what it means to grow up mixed-race and mixed-culture, the fastest growing demographic group in society. We discuss the connection between mixed race and mental health, a theme that both of our memoirs address. We also touch on how creativity can foster a sense of belonging, how much our families actually read what we wrote and whether recovery is really ever possible… or even desirable.

For more on the theme of mixed identity, read the story “Racial Imposter” in my upcoming book Bones of Belonging (now available for pre-order).