The Lines of Color Aren’t Always Clear
Linda Ueki AbsherPortland State University Library
Overview
Multiracials: is there a definition? Who are they? History and Stereotypes Major Research Topics Issues regarding research and access Resources
Print/OnlineWeb/Web 2.0
Multiracials: A Definition?
US Census: technically no “multiracial” or “biracial” category
“Instead of allowing a multiracial category…. the OMB adopted the Interagency Committee's recommendation to allow respondents to select one or more races when they self-identify”
Has never used the same race categories for more than three consecutive censuses
Multiracials: Who Are They?
2.4% of the U.S. population Mostly from Generation Y (5-24)
42% of multiracials are under 18• Might be due to changing attitudes towards
identitySecond Largest Group? Baby Boomers!
Most common identification?White and another race
Who Are They? (continued)
Location: 40% live in the WestLive in large metro areas in large,
diversely populated states Education (25+ age group):
22% -- Some college (21% total US)12.6% -- Bachelor’s degree: (15.5%)26.7% -- Less than an HS degree
• Compare with total US %: 19.6%
History and Stereotypes
Then: Tragic Mulatto Sayonara/Love is A Many Splendored Thing Evil (Temptress/Rapist/Violent) Amerasian Orphan Sage/Mystic (Native American)
Now: Beautiful/Exotic (models, celebrities, etc) Sexual Sad and Confused – Tragic Mulatto redux
The Reality
Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm
The Reality
Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm
The Reality
Images courtesy of Kip Fulbeck: http://www.seaweedproductions.com/hapa/default.htm
Major Research Topics
Identity Intersection with other identities (gender,
class, age, etc.) “Passing” and appearance issues
History/Politics Categorization, census, laws, etc.
Adoption Families Relationships
Interracial Studies Research: The Poor Stepchild
Not a separate field of studyUsually subsumed under other fields
Works clustered mostly in the Social SciencesSociology, Psychology, Social Work,
Education, etc. Fiction/Memoirs Juvenile Literature
Interracial Studies Research
The Bible: Multiracial America : a resource guide on
the history and literature of interracial issues / Karen Downing, et al
As a Field of Study…. New field of research
Most published within last 15-20 years Difficult to locate materials using traditional
library tools Inconsistent terminology LC Subject Headings & Classifications Results often muddied with off-topic retrievals
• Eurasian” – geology, etc.• “Interracial”– labor organizing, groups, etc.
Some materials may be biased, inaccurate and/or offensive
LC Subject Headings
LC Subject Headings: Old? Outdated? Offensive?“Children of interracial marriage” “Racially mixed children” ”Racially mixed people”
Outdated subject headings still linger in records
• e.g., “Miscegenation”, “Mulattoes”, etc.
LC Classifications: The Poor Stepchild
Many resources located in the E184-E185.98 rangeE184: “Elements in the Population”
--“racial, ethnic and religious groups that have significance in the history of the US”
E185-E185.98: “African Americans” HQ777.9: “Racially mixed children” HQ1031: “Interracial offspring”
Notable Authors/Works
Maria RootOne of the earliest published scholars
on multiracial identity Black, White, Other: Biracial
Americans Talk about Race and Identity, Lise Funderburg
Half and Half: Writers on Growing Up Biracial and Bicultural, Claudine O’Hearn
Databases
Dissertation Abstracts Best resource re interracial issues as a
distinct research area No subject headings; ever-changing
keywords Ethnic Newswatch
Features articles from ethnic and minority presses
Not quite as strong as an academic resource Subject headings have changed
Databases (continued)
PsycInfoSubject Heading: Interracial Offspring
• Not applied consistently Masterfile
Excellent general resource“Multiraciality”??
The World Wide Web
More defined topicHundreds of sites dedicated to all
aspects of this topic Less academic, reliable info Loop: more mulitracial/biracial folks
finding information and each other, the more information and interest generated.
Notable Websites - General Information
Stanford University: Research Quick Start Guide: Ethnic Identity
Resources By and About Interracial & Multi-Cultural People: www-personal.umich.edu/~kdown/multi.html
Notable Websites - General Information
Stanford University: Research Quick Start Guide:library.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/adams/shortcu/ethi.html
Online Journals: Interracial Voice
Interracial Voice: www.webcom.com/~intvoice/
Online Journal: Multiracial Activist
Multiracial Activist: multiracial.com/site
Organizations/Associations
Association of MultiEthnic Americans (AMEA): www.ameasite.org
Web 2.0
MySpace! (http://myspace.com)Several biracial/multiracial groups
mixedrace.com Youtube.com
Several videos of Jen Chau of Swirl.com (“Addicted to Race”)
MySpace: Hapas
http://groups.myspace.com/hapas
MySpace: Mixed Race
http://groups.myspace.com/mixed
mixedrace.com
YouTube.com: Addicted to Race
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TJ8WXxnN0TI
Conclusions
Traditional resources and avenues of researchFragmented, inconsistentUsually tacked on with another area of
studyGrowing interest evidenced by
Dissertation Abstracts
Conclusions
World Wide WebMore resources begin appearing
• Guides, associations, electronic listsCreating more interest in the subject?
Web 2.0Explosion of interestDemand will probably drive the
development of information resources
Questions?
Online resources and links:http://del.icio.us/absherl/multiracial
Presentation: http://web.pdx.edu/~absherl/jclc/jclc.ppt