Multiracial in America

[Anonymous]

I wanted to share the following interviews and clips I saw on the MSNBC site. First, my own extended family is multi-hued. Secondly, with such an international area as the DC metro area, I think it's enlightening and important to help our own mixed race/mixed culture children to grow into confident adults. We can do that by being able to address some of the issues and topics that may come up as they start going to school and interacting with other kids & adults who may ask some confusing questions about their identities.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24765917

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing. As a black mom with a bi-racial child, I am always interested in what other young people have to say about their experiences growing up bi- multi- whatever-racial in America.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to thank you for posting this!! This series is wonderful and some truely imspiring things were said. I come from a multi-hued family and married into another, and my kids are bi-racial, so all of this is very relavent. And relavent for all, because, as the last clip says, I do believe that we are the family of the future. Thanks!

[zumbamama]

thanks for a nice read. I can relate to the girl who couldn't decide which race box to check, they usually say "check one." When I was growing up, I'd ask my parents, what do I put? White? Pacific Islander? My dad said, just check "Other" and then on the line where it says "please specify" write "Human."

[Anonymous]

you're the future - that makes us the past?!

[Anonymous]

This is interesting.

Signed,
New Mom of a Half Indian, 1/4 Korean and 1/4 White baby!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you're the future - that makes us the past?!

For simplistic people, yes. For the larger picture people, it's social evolution.

[Anonymous]

As half of a multiracial couple with multiracial children, I really liked this article too:

http://www.peggyorenstein.com/articles/2008_mixed.html

[Anonymous]

As a parent of 2 white-as-can-be young children, what can I do to make children of all hues feel confident? Obviously, I do the basic things like explain to my children that people come in all colors, but what else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of 2 white-as-can-be young children, what can I do to make children of all hues feel confident? Obviously, I do the basic things like explain to my children that people come in all colors, but what else?

Your children are a hue too. In my daughter's classroom a "white-as-can-be" may be the minority. Just be factual. If we treat all children equally and all hues the same, by the time our children grow up, all they will know is equality.

[Anonymous]

I actually think one of the things you can do is not bring it up or focus to much on your kids multiracial peers "skin color and difference" unless your kids actually ask or want to talk about it. The biggest gift is to help them see multiracial kids as kids first, humans, and then if the discussion of race or culture comes up. You can also cite your own culture and how your kids have certain features due to their ethnic origin, help them see how big the world is so that brown doesnt seem so different. I have 2 biracial children and dont mind when older kids/people are very curious as to their background, comment on their features, etc, but I dont like it when they make a social commentary on my kids skin color in front of my kids. I have a baby and a 3.5 yo and the baby is darker than the 3.5yo, and people comment on such outloud in front of my toddler which I dont appreciate. Skin color has not come up in our discussions with our toddler yet, but obviously we know it will someday soon as a multiracial family. For now we think it's so cool that our son has 8 cousins all of different tones and he just sees them as his cousins....kids are remarkably refreshing in their ability to see others as humans first and not put them in boxes until society teaches them how to!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of 2 white-as-can-be young children, what can I do to make children of all hues feel confident? Obviously, I do the basic things like explain to my children that people come in all colors, but what else?

The absolutely biggest thing you can do is to ensure that your own business, social and other circles are not homogenous. Also, travel early and often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of 2 white-as-can-be young children, what can I do to make children of all hues feel confident? Obviously, I do the basic things like explain to my children that people come in all colors, but what else?

Your children are a hue too. In my daughter's classroom a "white-as-can-be" may be the minority.

I understand that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent of 2 white-as-can-be young children, what can I do to make children of all hues feel confident? Obviously, I do the basic things like explain to my children that people come in all colors, but what else?

Mom of biracial child/interracial marriage, chiming in.

Take the next step -- that people of different colors come together to make families. Teach them that some families have members that have the same (similar) skin color, and that others don't. Still families, nothing odd or curious about the latter.

With all sincerity, thank you so much for asking. With mom asking these questions, I think your kids will be great people. Keep up the good work, mama!

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the OP who shared the link. My DH and I watched it this evening. We are an interracial couple (Caucasian/ Asian) and have a one child. It was fascinating to hear the various stories. We are lucky to live in a location with such diversity though ... it never ceases to amaze me the number of biracial and multiracial kids I meet here in the DC area. I think the world is changing especially in metropolitan areas such as ours.

Nevertheless, I have had a few experiences where people have questioned whether my child is adopted or commented, "what a nice tan." (yeah, like my 10 month old goes sunbathing).