Back to Ask the Experts Page Back to NYSCCC Home PageA reader writes:
I really appreciate the time you are taking to address people's questions on transracial adoption. I grew up knowing some people that were transracially adopted. I am interested in knowing if biracial children who would be considered "passing," meaning they look more white, have more or less problems feeling comfortable being a part of white families. I am curious because I have an acquaintance who is in this situation. She grew up in a predominantly white community with a very supportive family, but sometimes I wonder if that would make it easier to feel accepted in the community she grew up in. Can you suggest some articles or books that relate to this issue?
John Raible answers:
There are more and more resources available about multiracial people and the mixed-race experience. You might start looking for them at your library or online. I recommend the following books as a good place to start reading:
Funderburg, Lise. Black, White, Other: Biracial Americans Talk About Race and Identity.
Kaeser, Gigi and Peggy Gillespie. Of Many Colors: Portraits of Multiracial Families.
O'Hearn, Claudine Chiawei (editor). Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural.
Raible, John and Sonia Nieto. "Beyond Categories: The Complex Identities of Adolescents," in Adolescents at School: Perspectives on Youth, Identity, and Education, edited by Michael Sadowski.
Also, here are some useful web sites:
Association for Multi-Ethnic Americans, online at www.amea.org
Mavin at Foundation, online at www.mavin.net/index.html
The Multiracial Activist, online at www.multiracial.com
To share your experience or thoughts on this topic, or to submit another question, please click here.
Back to Ask the Experts Page Back to NYSCCC Home Page
7/21/03