Tell Me Who To Be
Nishi Patel
If you identify as bicultural, you most likely were raised in a household that nourished two
cultures. But, this rarely means that someone is 50 percent one culture and 50 percent the
other. As a first generation American in an Indian family, I never really felt like I was American
enough or Indian enough. Having gone through most of my schooling in India, I was always
the odd one out, because I was the American. But, after moving back to the United States,
I didn’t feel American enough either. That’s when I realized that being bicultural is more
of a spectrum—where you land depends on how you were raised and your choices in life.
Tell Me Who To Be is a printed zine that features a collection of stories from people of color
who have struggled with their bicultural identity. Through the use of expressive typography,
handwriting and digital illustration, the zine creates an overall personal experience for the
reader. It is also supported by an Instagram account, @tellmewhotobe, that introduces
each story and will promote other resources about biculturality. The project aims to
spark conversations about bicultural journeys between people with similar and different
backgrounds to support and celebrate each other.
