Hello East Portland,
I wrote “Half” reflecting on my identity as a mixed-race person. A few years ago I was asked to play Gilbert Blythe in the Charlottetown Festival’s production of Anne of Green Gables. It was one of the biggest honours of my life.
I was the first person of colour to play that role on a professional stage but I didn’t realize it until after an article came out where the headline read, “JJ Gerber first non-white actor to play Gilbert.” I thought to myself, “That’s not completely accurate.” My dad is white and my mother is black. Culturally I’m both white and black.
As I played the part I had numerous people come up and tell me what it meant to see a person like them on stage. Thinking about it, I realized that I hadn’t ever had that experience myself.
I wrote this song because I’m not just “half,” I’m whole. One side doesn’t take away from the other.
Listen to “Half” on SoundCloud // Spotify // Apple Music
