Ask the Experts!!

An 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?

 

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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.ameasite.org

Mavin at Foundation, online at www.mavin.net

The Multiracial Activist, online at www.multiracial.com

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