Has This Election Defined Who/What My Kids Are?

I’ve watched a lot of coverage the last couple of days. It’s a very historic time and I don’t want to miss anything. One of the main themes in much of the coverage is “First Black President” or “First African American President”. This is how he is identified in spite of one parent and half his heritage being “White”. Sure, that gets mentioned occasionally, but it is usually in passing.

Since the birth of our first child, this has been a discussion for us. What ethnic group will they be associated with? How would we like them to respond to the question “what (race) are you?” We made the decision early on and if you ask one of them now, they will respond “I am both”. Or sometime Riley might tell you neither. He’d say he is “really light brown”. :) Smart kid. Now we have the media reinforcing the idea that if you are “black” at all, that’s your race. At least, that is how I see it.

Let me ask you a couple of questions. And there are no right or wrong answers as I am asking questions that are in the vein of perception. Do you think of President Obama as black or biracial? When you see a person who you know is the child of an interracial marriage do think think black or biracial? If by some chance those answers are different, why do you think that is so?

And finally, I wonder if this is even something I should think about?

Comments

[schmo]

Rich this is a subject that I am extremely familiar with. I believe that it is each individuals right to choose their own Identity especially for those of us with multicultural backgrounds. I have spent my entire life thinking about this, as do most mixed people. I was once asked by another indian which parts of me were white and which parts of me were indian. I am a proud indian and Chyela chose to call herself white. We both understand that we are mixed. I am proud of my mixed background, I think it gives me a better understanding and appreciation of other cultures. I think that generally the white population is less accepting of mixed children as their own than their minority counterpart. This is why most of us identify with their non white side. However, I feel like mixed people identify with other mixed people the easiest. I now have many mixed friends of several different backgrounds and most of us understand what each other has experienced. I do feel like this is something you have to think about because you can't always ignore your enviornment. I would love to talk to more about this sometime, it is as I said a subject that is very important to me. My kids will no doubt be even more mixed than myself.

[Rich]

Josh,

Good comments. I too think there should be a choice involved. I am wondering if the media is unknowingly taking that away. We've never told our kids what to think, but when they have asked we have stressed that they are both. I think this is good because they are getting positive influence from both sides of the family and I hope they are always proud of both.

[kristine]

I don't see the harm in Obama being called the first African American president. We all know that he is biracial and in fact, that is a big part of his appeal. However, by today's standards he seen as a black man. If he were an ordinary man walking down the street people would assume he was black. And why do we need to define or break down his race every single time he is mentioned?? Because of the racism that still exists. Otherwise it would not be such an issue! Do we break down Bush's heritage at every turn? What about Clinton or Carter? Ford? And to take these remarks further - if we were in slavery times he'd be a slave, not a free white man! No one would care about his many ethnicities because the issue of race would be clouded by the standards of power and superiority. And in many regards, this day is significant and he is being labeled African- American because of the historical struggle of power and prejudice.

Fact is, Obama may or may not identify with the ethnic backgrounds he is made up of and yet in this day and age I think he would be less accepted if he claimed only to be "fill in the blank" while visually we see a black man. It's one of those complexities of being biracial. In high school there was a guy who was ridiculed because he called himself white. He was indeed white and yet his dad was black and he looked more like a black man than any white man! People looked at him like he was crazy!

So really I think what we label ourselves as and who we identify with can be very different and definitely complicated. I think it is beautiful when any biracial person can accept themselves fully for all that they are made up of and realize that whomever and whatever ethnicity they identify with is ok. However, they need to know that the world, unfortunately may label of judge them by other standards. It's sad and difficult but true.

[Rich]

"However, they need to know that the world, unfortunately may label of judge them by other standards. It's sad and difficult but true."

So we sit back and take I guess... How very said that we have to eat what they feed us.

[Rene']

I personally think of President Obama as biracial as I do children of interracial marriages. One of my very, very good friends is biracial and I don't think of her as "black" or "white", simply biracial. The sad thing is that my friend says that growing up she was more "accepted" by black people than white people. I don't think she has that problem near as much now as she did then though.

I think Riley's answer to his race is cute..

[rick]

I think of Rich's kids as sweet,smart, loving, very precious children. A true gift from God. They are my Grandchildren. Rich, i wouldn't even think about it.

[rick]

I think Rich's kids are simply sweet,loving,smart,precious children. a true gift from God almighty. They are my Grandchildren. Rich,I wouldnt even think about it .

[Rich]

I know Dad, you're right. I just hate the duplicity is all. You know I can stand that. :)

Grandaddy as spoken. I'm over it.