JTA details struggles he faces as biracial man in America

Former Warriors forward and beloved Bay Area native Juan Toscano-Anderson has one of the most admirable and respectable stories in basketball. 

From undrafted to playing in leagues across Latin America and then to the G League, Toscano-Anderson’s life came full circle when he joined the Warriors and won a championship with his childhood team during the 2021-22 NBA season. 

But as the world has come to learn, it’s always bigger than basketball. 

That became evident when Toscano-Anderson graciously represented Mexico at the 2022 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest in Cleveland with customized kicks and a Warriors jersey that was patterned with the Mexican flag’s emblem and colors. 

And when he loudly and proudly waved the Mexican flag during the Warriors Championship Parade after becoming the first player of Mexican descent to win an NBA championship. 

How about when he refused to “shut up and dribble” and instead led a Black Lives Matter march in his hometown of Oakland with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson beside him? 

Toscano-Anderson, whose father is Black and mother is Mexican, never has been one to shy away from who he is, whether that’s his culture or where he grew up. 

But as much as he tries to proudly represent both his Black and Mexican roots, it sometimes never feels like enough for Toscano-Anderson, whose biracial background has caused him to be discriminated against on both sides of his culture. 

Toscano-Anderson sat down with Draymond Green and actor Rome Flynn on a recent episode of Uninterrupted’s “Throwing Bones,” and opened up about some of the issues he faced growing up and continues to face to this day. 

“One thing I always tell people is that growing up biracial, it’s a tough place, but I never really talk about that because I’m not crying for help,” Toscano-Anderson began. “But even as a kid, from Mexicans, they were very racist toward me and my brother. And kudos to my brother, he’s my hero. I was too young to really understand, and he always stood up for us. 

“The other Mexican kids were getting away with [stuff], we were the last ones to get fed, stuff that I didn’t understand being three years younger than my older brother.”

It’s not an issue that's unheard of in Latin communities. Afro-Latinos and mixed Latinos have been known to be mistreated more than white Latinos or Latinos of lighter complexion. 

And it’s unfortunate when it’s someone like Toscano-Anderson, who is so unapologetically proud of his Mexican roots -- even after becoming an NBA champion and making history -- being discriminated against by his own people. 

But things haven’t been such a walk in the park for Toscano-Anderson and the Black community, either. 

“And also from Black people, I do experience some colorism," Toscano-Anderson continued. “Leading into when I did the protest, people were saying I wasn’t Black enough to lead a protest. But when I step out to corporate America, I’m a [n-word] bro. I got ways. I’m Black. The way I talk, the way I walk, I’m a [n-word]. You know?” 

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It's hard to imagine being so prideful of who you are and where you come from, yet not being fully accepted on either side. But the truth is that's the reality of many, many people living in America. 

It hasn't been easy, but Toscano-Anderson is doing his best to continue being himself. All he can do now is hope for a better future for children like him to not grow up in the environment he did. 

"I’m just learning to be me and be me unapologetically," he said. "It ain’t even really about me anymore, it’s about the young kids out there that used to feel the same way that I felt and my brother felt when we were kids. Because I remember it used to hurt my feelings, but I was such a good kid that I would kind of just let people have their opinions, but it would hurt my feelings." 

Green told his friend and former teammate that his story is "powerful" and "amazing", and JTA being biracial has made the things he has done even that much more impactful. 

Even though Toscano-Anderson isn't rocking a Dubs jersey anymore after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, the No. 95 he wears across his chest and the Black and Mexican roots he carries with him will be with him forever. 

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