Ask the Experts!!

A Reader Writes:

How would you raise a biracial child? My nephew is black/white. He lives with his father who is white but he is married into our Mexican/Native American family. What do you think regarding his awareness to the obvious color difference? Children at school are pointing it out to him now so I am concerned.

Michelle Johnson Answers:

First of all, it is good to start thinking about everyone in your family in ethnic, rather than racial terms, since we are all of the human race. Your nephew has African and European ancestry, and will most likely be seen as African American by those he meets. How his parents choose to incorporate their own heritages does not negate the fact that society will see him as a Black man, regardless of how light his skin color is.

Adults surrounding your nephew should not be alarmed that children notice a difference between him and other children. This is obvious, and not something that can be denied. What should concern you more is if this awareness leads to teasing or isolation based on prejudice. If this is indeed the case, conversations must begin about racism, and appropriate responses to it both among your nephew's peers as well as the adults who have socialized them to discriminate on this basis.

Your own ethnic heritage, as well as your similar experiences can provide a foundation for your nephew to understand his own culture, and I advise you to begin incorporating positive images of African American culture into his life (leaders, teachers, films, books, music, foods, etc.). Remember that ethnic identity includes more than tangible forms of culture, and also in the case of your nephew, that all the cultures represented in his family are rich and contain many alliances which have formed the moral character of this nation.

 

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