25 Oct The Presidential “Mixed-Race”

By Farzana Nayani

It’s hard not to examine the perception and role of race, following the 2008 US Presidential Election, given President Elect Barack Obama’s role in the spotlight. An American born in Hawai`i to parents from Kenya and Kansas, Barack Obama represents the intersection of cultures and the coming together of ethnic diversity. So then, why is he referred to as “America’s First Black President”?

This statement has been disputed for two main reasons:

Research on previous US Presidents including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Calvin Coolidge suggests that their family histories, though perhaps not publicly acknowledged, revealed African-American ancestry (DiversityInc, 2007). Secondly, if Barack Obama has parents from multiple backgrounds, is he still considered “Black”?

Multiracial and multiethnic individuals have the ability – and may have the preference – to identify with more than one ethnic group. This decision can change over time, and can also vary among siblings within the same family.

Outside influences such as others’ perception of physical appearance, acceptance by one’s cultural communities, and media representation of who tends to belong to which group can shape an individual’s self-perception. This fluidity of identity can be perceived as complex or confusing by others – and even by the individuals themselves, but – can also be a natural “coming and going” between cultures that can be a bridge between cultural, religious, and ethnic communities.

Historically, conventions like the “one-drop rule” and federal law that prohibited intermarriage in the United States until mere decades ago (Loving v. Virginia, 1967) have shaped the tolerance of interracial relationships. Across the country, movements formed in support of statistically recognizing multiracial and multiethnic individuals, culminating in the ability to “check more than one box” on the US 2000 Census form.

As for Barack Obama’s ethnic identity –

When asked at a public event in 2007 how he self-identifies, Obama replied: “I self-identify as African American – that’s how I’m treated and that’s how I’m viewed. I’m proud of it.” Later, in an article written for a magazine on the topic of patriotism, Barack describes his upbringing as a “young man of mixed race” (Parade; July, 2008). As demonstrated here, the identity of a multiracial person can change over an individual’s lifespan, and also depending upon one’s environment.

In your own workplace, here are some suggestions for creating an inclusive environment for multiracial colleagues:

• Start and support an employee resource or affinity group for multiethnic and multiracial individuals – many companies do not yet have this outlet as an offering for employees. With existing resource groups, make sure that events and meeting times are not in conflict with one another, as this could prevent attendance by individuals of multiple heritages – forcing them to choose one meeting over the other, since they cannot attend both at the same time.

• Encourage an open understanding of individuals who are multiracial, multiethnic, transracially adopted and who are in interracial relationships. Listen to how they identify themselves before assuming their affiliation with a certain group or culture.

• Utilize proper terminology and descriptions that are accepted by the individual. Some individuals prefer to be called “biracial” or “mixed-race”, whilst others prefer to belong to a single cultural community, or may emphasize their “multicultural” household or upbringing.

• Incorporate a variety images in both print and online materials, to show the diversity amongst the families, cultures, and individuals in your company and community.

• Connect with local community organizations and get to know the educational resources available to you and your colleagues.