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Understanding Multiracial Identity: History, Stereotypes, and Research Topics

Explore the complex nature of multiracial identity, from history and stereotypes to major research topics such as intersectionality and passing issues. Learn about notable authors and databases for further study.

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Understanding Multiracial Identity: History, Stereotypes, and Research Topics

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  1. The Lines of Color Aren’t Always Clear Linda Ueki Absher Portland State University Library

  2. Overview • Multiracials: is there a definition? • Who are they? • History and Stereotypes • Major Research Topics • Issues regarding research and access • Resources • Print/Online • Web/Web 2.0

  3. Multiracials: A Definition? • US Census: technically no “multiracial” or “biracial” category “Instead of allowing a multiracial category…. the OMB adopted the Interagency Committee's recommendation to allow respondents to select one or more races when they self-identify” • Has never used the same race categories for more than three consecutive censuses

  4. Multiracials: Who Are They? • 2.4% of the U.S. population • Mostly from Generation Y (5-24) • 42% of multiracials are under 18 • Might be due to changing attitudes towards identity • Second Largest Group? Baby Boomers! • Most common identification? • White and another race

  5. Who Are They? (continued) • Location: 40% live in the West • Live in large metro areas in large, diversely populated states • Education (25+ age group): • 22% -- Some college (21% total US) • 12.6% -- Bachelor’s degree: (15.5%) • 26.7% -- Less than an HS degree • Compare with total US %: 19.6%

  6. History and Stereotypes • Then: • Tragic Mulatto • Sayonara/Love is A Many Splendored Thing • Evil (Temptress/Rapist/Violent) • Amerasian Orphan • Sage/Mystic (Native American) • Now: • Beautiful/Exotic (models, celebrities, etc) • Sexual • Sad and Confused – Tragic Mulatto redux

  7. The Reality Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm

  8. The Reality Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm

  9. The Reality Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm

  10. Major Research Topics • Identity • Intersection with other identities (gender, class, age, etc.) • “Passing” and appearance issues • History/Politics • Categorization, census, laws, etc. • Adoption • Families • Relationships

  11. Interracial Studies Research: The Poor Stepchild • Not a separate field of study • Usually subsumed under other fields • Works clustered mostly in the Social Sciences • Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Education, etc. • Fiction/Memoirs • Juvenile Literature

  12. Interracial Studies Research • The Bible: Multiracial America : a resource guide on the history and literature of interracial issues / Karen Downing, et al

  13. As a Field of Study…. • New field of research • Most published within last 15-20 years • Difficult to locate materials using traditional library tools • Inconsistent terminology • LC Subject Headings & Classifications • Results often muddied with off-topic retrievals • Eurasian” – geology, etc. • “Interracial”– labor organizing, groups, etc. • Some materials may be biased, inaccurate and/or offensive

  14. LC Subject Headings • LC Subject Headings: Old? Outdated? Offensive? “Children of interracial marriage” “Racially mixed children” ”Racially mixed people” • Outdated subject headings still linger in records • e.g., “Miscegenation”, “Mulattoes”, etc.

  15. LC Classifications: The Poor Stepchild • Many resources located in the E184-E185.98 range • E184: “Elements in the Population” --“racial, ethnic and religious groups that have significance in the history of the US” • E185-E185.98: “African Americans” • HQ777.9: “Racially mixed children” • HQ1031: “Interracial offspring”

  16. Notable Authors/Works • Maria Root • One of the earliest published scholars on multiracial identity • Black, White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk about Race and Identity, Lise Funderburg • Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural, Claudine O’Hearn

  17. Databases • Dissertation Abstracts • Best resource re interracial issues as a distinct research area • No subject headings; ever-changing keywords • Ethnic Newswatch • Features articles from ethnic and minority presses • Not quite as strong as an academic resource • Subject headings have changed

  18. Databases (continued) • PsycInfo • Subject Heading: Interracial Offspring • Not applied consistently • Masterfile • Excellent general resource • “Multiraciality”??

  19. The World Wide Web • More defined topic • Hundreds of sites dedicated to all aspects of this topic • Less academic, reliable info • Loop: more mulitracial/biracial folks finding information and each other, the more information and interest generated.

  20. Notable Websites - General Information • Stanford University: Research Quick Start Guide: Ethnic Identity • Resources By and About Interracial & Multi-Cultural People: www-personal.umich.edu/~kdown/multi.html

  21. Notable Websites - General Information Stanford University: Research Quick Start Guide: library.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/adams/shortcu/ethi.html

  22. Online Journals: Interracial Voice Interracial Voice: www.webcom.com/~intvoice/

  23. Online Journal: Multiracial Activist Multiracial Activist: multiracial.com/site

  24. Organizations/Associations Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA): www.ameasite.org

  25. Organizations/Associations Project Race: www.projectrace.com

  26. Organizations/Associations MAVIN: www.mavin.net

  27. Organizations/Associations Swirl: www.swirlinc.org

  28. Web 2.0 • MySpace! (http://myspace.com) • Several biracial/multiracial groups • mixedrace.com • Youtube.com • Several videos of Jen Chau of Swirl.com (“Addicted to Race”)

  29. MySpace: Hapas http://groups.myspace.com/hapas

  30. MySpace: Mixed Race http://groups.myspace.com/mixed

  31. mixedrace.com

  32. YouTube.com: Addicted to Race http://youtube.com/watch?v=TJ8WXxnN0TI

  33. Conclusions • Traditional resources and avenues of research • Fragmented, inconsistent • Usually tacked on with another area of study • Growing interest evidenced by Dissertation Abstracts

  34. Conclusions • World Wide Web • More resources begin appearing • Guides, associations, electronic lists • Creating more interest in the subject? • Web 2.0 • Explosion of interest • Demand will probably drive the development of information resources

  35. Online resources and links: http://del.icio.us/absherl/multiracial Presentation: http://web.pdx.edu/~absherl/jclc/jclc.ppt Questions?

  36. Thank You! Linda Ueki Absher: absherl@pdx.edu

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