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.
White Privilege from Two Views:
By Donna Stringer
When Peggy McIntosh first published her paper on White Privilege and Male Privilege in 1988 I, like many Whites, was astounded at the list of privileges she identified. I could see my life in the entire list—many items I had been acutely aware of for many years. Others I had not thought of. And since then, I have added many to my own list.
I grew up in an Irish immigrant, working class family. We lived in a rural area. Our nearest neighbors were ten miles away. I attended an eight-grade, three-room, thirty-student school. We did not have television or newspapers. I was supremely isolated. I saw my first person of color in high school. In retrospect, we were fairly poor but like many others it never occurred to me that I didn’t have much in the way of material benefits. It also did not occur to me that I had any privileges.
I am the birth mother of three white sons. I am also a “child of the 60’s” and gained much of my information and social activism during those years. I learned about racism from friends of color who gave me a brutally honest, and loving, education about their lives. I was slow to make the connection to my own life. With no small embarrassment I would have to say that I understood the issues intellectually but not emotionally.
By the time my three sons were in middle school I was a single parent and social activist. My sons “invited” me to quit attending parent nights at school because they were embarrassed by my tirades about the lack of appropriate history in their textbooks and the failure of teachers to educate them about issues related to social justice.
And then I got another view—and a real opportunity to internalize the power of my own privilege. I married an African American man and we have a son—and grandchildren. I became aware of how differently we were treated in public places: when we eat out with others who are also White, my husband is almost always the last one served. When we go to retail stores together, but shop separately, he is often asked for photo ID to cash a check or use a credit card. I am virtually never asked for verification of my identity.
And children. Every mother knows how important children are. I was aware that when my sons were out at night that I didn’t really relax until they were home. But there is a major difference. When my White sons are late coming home, I get irritated at their failure to watch the time. When my husband or African American son is late, I am terrified about what might be happening to them.
My opportunity to experience two worlds—both Black and White—has been a gift. It has allowed me to be far more aware of my White privilege—and to insist that others be given the same privileges—at least when I am around to see it.
Contact our offices at: eds@executivediversity.com for more resources or to schedule a workshop on incorporating diversity into your workplace.
