Blog Post 12 Black and Multiracial individuals and Families

Black and Multiracial Individuals and Families        

    The United States and multiracial individuals have had a precarious relationship throughout the course of history. Our country has continuously cast out these members of our society through attempts to stop interracial marriage, considering multiracial children illegitimate, etc. Although conditions are improving, this does not diminish the struggles multiracial people have had in the past, or change the fact that many people still face discrimination.   

    Multiracial people may identify as multiracial, but they may not. They may have a singular identity, protean identity, transcendent identity, or a boarder identity. Identity could be tied to physical appearance, cultural knowledge, family, or other factors. Individuals who are multiracial might experience racism very similar to those people of color face. Multiracial people may be "white passing" and not face much discrimination because they appear to be white. Since they have different races, multiracial individuals might feel as though they do not fit into any one group or struggle to find people the relate to completely. However, they may also be ore sensitive or aware of cultural cues, understand different views points more fully, or accept others more fully and be more tolerant of differences. 

     Much like multiracial individuals, Black people face their own set of challenges. The article entitled "Meeting the Psychological Health Growth Needs Of Black College Students Culture Resonance and Resilience" by Helling and Chandler deep dive into the specific experiences Black students face at college. While also facing the typical emotional, academic, and social challenges every college student faces, Black students also face "discrimination, stereotype threat, imposterism, alienation, stigma, cultural mistrust, and feelings of isolation". The article cites that mirroring could be helpful, as well as cultural resonance, fostering resilience, and expanding the range or psychological wellness resources specifically for students of color, just to name a few. The reading also touches on the need for more people of color on staff in universities and that these individuals could probably help Black students in more effective manner (at least in the case of mirroring). 

           Family life is a prevalent part of these aforementioned topics. Structural racism has had a large effect on family life and structures, particularly with Black individuals. Today, many families only have one parent, and a main contributor of this is structural racism. There are more men than woman, and this is in part can be connected to a heightened number of black men who are incarcerated, have lower levels of education, death, job insecurity/unemployment, etc. There is also little reason to marry, as marriage does not offer any financial benefits (marriage is not attainable for many low income people), and Black communities have a stronger emphasis on kinship, rather than marriage. As it would fix so many things in our country, the end of structural racism would go a long way to improving opportunities for Black individuals and families. Also more of an emphasis of providing more support in areas with lower incomes, larger rates of poverty, etc.