by blane harding director of advising, recruitment, and retention colorado state university
TRANSCRIPT
by
Blane Harding
Director of Advising, Recruitment, and Retention
Colorado State University
10.2
2.4
0.4
35.3 34.6
6.8 - Americans Who Check More Than 1
Box
211.4
Americans Who Check More Than 1 Box Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino American Asian American
Native American Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
White
Individuals who are biologically or culturally from two or more races, ethnicities or cultures
Individuals with dual or multiple heritages; may have dual-minority (e.g., Black-Latino) or majority-minority (e.g., White-ethnic) combination
Frequently experience some form of rejection from immediate and/or extended family members
Anxiety regarding dual (or multiple) racial heritage Internal conflicts due to having parents from different
racial/ethnic groups Problems choosing relationship partners due to racial
complications May experience oppression as people of color and by
people of color Tensions with one or more racial group based on
ambiguous affiliation Pressure to identify with only one group based on
physical characteristics Racial Dissonance: The inability to answer the
question, “Who is my reference group?” Marginalization: A sense of feeling connected to both
worlds but not a full member of either
Identity formation in general usually begins in teenage years and lasts until early to mid-20’s
Racial/Ethnic/Cultural identification is a core part of self-identity
Physical factors such as skin color, physique, facial and hair features influence racial identification
Group status may influence desire for membership Exposure to cultural customs increase knowledge of
and identification with a group Positive relationships with both parents Racial awareness may develop more slowly in biracial
children Access to multiracial peer group Acceptance from others of the label “Biracial or
Multiracial” Biracial role models
Scientists have evidence against race as a biological concept
Greater genetic variability exists within populations in skin color, eye color and hair texture
Race has strong political implications for arranging hierarchical social order
Caucasians have historically been placed at the top, with Asians next, Native Americans, and then Africans at the bottom
Biracial individuals may internalize conflicts between groups
Groups of nearly equal status allow for greater social and economic mobility, e.g., Asians & Americans, increasing likelihood of acceptance from both
White supremacy and institutionalized racism may inhibit biracial identity development
The reality of group oppression is a unique consideration for African descendants
Personal identity needs should be balanced within political context
Bicultural/multicultural: the ability to identify with more than one culture
Able to live in a satisfying manner within two groups
This ability preceded by strong sense of identity
An option for everyone, not just biracial people
Bicultural individuals may be successful in more than one cultural group
They may possess strengths in their ability to handle conflict and stress
Increased confidence from balanced identity
Increased tolerance for ambiguity, change, and diversity
Considered “bridges” between cultural groups
Leaders in social change
Multiracial individuals have the right to self-definition
Multiracial individuals must resist the oppressiveness of choosing only one heritage group
The right to be complex, ambiguous, and to change over time and situations
The right to claim membership in multiple heritage groups
The right to prioritize membership with one group
The right not to justify cultural classification
May experience a sense of being different (physical appearance, name, foreign birthplace, language, values and beliefs of parents) - often asked by others "What are you?" May experience self as not fully belonging to any of the comparison groups May have difficulty incorporating two different heritages into one identity May experience racism from two ethnic groups May have difficulty dealing with integrating two distinct parenting styles and beliefs May experience pressure from one parent to identify more with his/her race that with the other parent's.
Often identify or over identify with one parent and one racial group while developing ambivalence toward the other parent. May feel embarrassed by this other parent's race. May have feelings of guilt or embarrassment about family and self-racial differentness. May have difficulty finding others who understand their struggle (i.e. parents, peer, or friends). May experience social pressure to identify with one group and label self as such (many black children experience pressure to identify as "black" even if they prefer to identify as "white" or "mixed").
May attempt to separate off aspects of themselves in response to loyalty and acceptance needs. May experience or exhibit the following problems: poor academic achievement, off task behavior, poor social skills, negative attitudes about adults, social isolation, "chip-on-the- shoulder" attitudes, aggressive behavior toward
parents, sadness and depression, intra-familial conflicts,
substance abuse, psychosomatic disorders, and suicidal
ideation and behaviors
The 1990 census allowed Americans to choose only one of five race categories. The ethno-racial pentagon. The 2000 count was the first to let people choose more than one category, increasing the number of race classifications to 64.
Nationally, just over 2 percent, or 6.8 million of the country's 281.4 million people, identified with more than one race. Of the 6.8 million, 42 percent, or about 2.9 million, were under 18.
Stage 1: Conformity stage: prefer dominant cultural values over those
of their own minority racial/cultural groupStage 2: Dissonance stage: growing awareness that racism does exist and that not all aspects of minority culture is bad and
majority is goodStage 3: Resistance and Immersion stage: completely endorse values of their minority culture and reject dominant cultureStage 4: Introspection stage: individual experiences conflict between loyalty and responsibility to minority cultural group and need for personal identity and autonomyStage 5: Integrative Awareness: inner sense of security, greater flexibility, and strong sense of self-worth, confidence, and autonomy. Individuals become bi-cultural/racial and support all aspects of their identity.
Stage 1: Personal identityStage 2: Choice of group
categorization: awareness of difference and dissonanceStage 3: Enmeshment/denial: struggle
for acceptanceStage 4: Appreciation: self-acceptanceStage 5: Integration: assertion of an interracial identity
Cu
ltural
Attach
men
tRacial Ancestry
Political Awareness & Orientation
Physical
Appearance
Early Experiences & Socialization
Spiritu
ality
Soc
ial &
H
istor
ical
Contex
t
Oth
er S
ocia
l Id
enti
ties
Choice of Racial
Identity
Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed PeopleBy: Maria P.P. Root
I have the right Not to justify my existence in this world. Not to keep the races separate within me. Not to be responsible for people’s discomfort with my physical ambiguity. Not to justify my ethnic legitimacy.
I have the right… To identify myself differently than strangers expect me to identify. To identify myself differently from how my parents identify me. To identify myself differently from my brothers and sisters. To identify myself differently in different situations.
I have the right… To create a vocabulary to communicate about being multiracial. To change my identity over my lifetime –and more than once. To have loyalties and identification with more than one group of people. To freely choose whom I befriend and love.
Update your forms – allow for “more than one box”
Support a mixed-race student organization– unique needs not necessarily met by usual advocacy organizations
Consider your questions – Why are you asking? Is it necessary? Would you ask the same question of everybody? What are the possible implications of your question?
Be aware of the issues – deconstruct your assumptions about race and identity
Prepare for the changing demographic within the classroom – new perspectives will shift classic discussions