The Lines of Color Aren’t Always Clear

Linda Ueki Absher

Portland 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

MasterfileExcellent 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

Organizations/Associations

Project Race: www.projectrace.com

Organizations/Associations

MAVIN: www.mavin.net

Organizations/Associations

Swirl: www.swirlinc.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 lists

Creating more interest in the subject? Web 2.0

Explosion 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

Thank You!

Linda Ueki Absher: absherl@pdx.edu