1. Recognize that your psychic health may require self-acceptance of your mixed race and multiracial identity.
A study published in 2015 in Current Directions in Psychological Science by Sarah Gaither found that multiracial children who are “raised to identify with both parents and to understand their complex racial heritage [can] have higher self-esteem than mono-racial people. They are adaptable, able to function well in both majority and minority environments. They are more likely to reject the conception that race biologically predicts one’s abilities, which may, in turn, insulate them from the negative impact of racism or bias.” Source: New York Magazine.
2. Learn about historical figures who were mixed.
One of the things that helped me start to accept the fact that I could not hide from my complicated cultural and racial identity was learning about other mixed-race people of the past. For me, Nella Larsen who also wrote about being black and Danish (like me) back in the 1920s became an important figure. I saw her bravery about talking about being mixed in a racially divided world as a kind of permission. It’s important to feel like you have a history. Seek out mixed historical figures. Here’s one fun resource in The Mixed Experience History Month.3. Read books about biracial people (fiction and non-fiction).
There is an ever-growing literature about biracial and mixed-race characters and people. Read those stories and find yourself! We have a couple of resources here if you’re looking for memoirs or kids’ books. The Mixed Remixed Festival also has its own on-line book club. You should join us and read some great books!4. Watch films featuring biracial and mixed race characters.
Ditto films! It’s an amazing experience to be in a theater and see families that look like your own like the wonderful film, Loving, and now more recently A United Kingdom. Heck, you can find our stories on Netflix too. Stream one now! 5. Connect on-line and in-person with other mixed race and biracial people.
It’s been so amazing to connect with other mixed folks and families on line in various Facebook groups and on Twitter and Instagram. Our favorite way to connect though is the Mixed Remixed Festival. It’s the largest nationwide gathering of mixed families and people held each year in June. You should join us! It’s free!