In Japan, I’m a hafu; in Hawai’i, I’m hapa. I’m a poi dog, mixed plate, mixed race, Eurasian.

I’m a hybrid or a half breed or a mongrel or a mutt.

Being more than one race is a joy not a cut.

I embrace who I am. I don’t have to think twice, I like butter and shoyu on my rice.

 

 

About

Margaret Speck Ogawa was born in Washington D.C. to a Japanese American mother and a German/Irish/French American father. Her family moved to Honolulu when she was eight years old, allowing her to grow up in an environment rich in cultural experiences across multiple ethnicities. After graduating from the University of Hawai’i, she worked in the banking industry, then moved to Evanston, Illinois where she earned an MBA from Northwestern University. Margaret lives in the Seattle area and is currently working on her master’s degree in creative writing and literature from Harvard University. 

She enjoys all forms of creative writing and likes to incorporate diverse characters and cultures into her writing. Margaret believes in enrichment through diversity and is inspired by the wide breadth of human stories waiting to be told. She is passionate about her family, friends, writing, reading, and travel.

Photo credit: Dirk Rohrbach

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