I'm sorry because when she talks about her family, she doesn't mention the Choctaw side. It's good that she knows who she is and isn't told otherwise, but it's sad that she can't show off both of her heritages proudly. Maybe it's because she's still young and just doesn't know how to handle such situations (and I don't blame her), but I think she should follow Ms. Bea's advice . Although both ladies are not accepted as Choctaw and judged solely on their black skin, Ms. Bea wears Choctaw on her sleeve. Tuchina avoids such conversations because it puts her in a bad light and it must be exhausting to keep explaining things that go in one ear and out the other. But I think it's sad because it's almost like she's removing half of her identity because it's easier to live that way in American society. She shouldn't have to explain anything in the first place, but she certainly shouldn't feel repressed. If you ask Ms. Bea about her family, she will explain the Black and Choctaw sides. It wouldn't matter if you didn't agree with the Choctaw side, because to Ms. Bea, your opinion of who she is didn't matter to her. Only her opinion of who she is mattered. However, you asked her a question and she