BiculturalBiracial Families By Starlet Taylor Multicultural and Global

Bicultural/Biracial Families By: Starlet Taylor Multicultural and Global Education Dr. Bell

Fast Facts -There have been over 100, 000 biracial (black/white) babies born every year since 1989. -A total of over a million first-generation biracial babies have been born since 1989. -This increase in biracial births is also true among nonblack/white and biethnic babies, such as white/Hispanic, Hispanic/Asian, and white/Native American.

What does it mean to be bicultural or biracial? -Bicultural means having or combining the cultural attitudes, customs and of two nations, peoples, or ethnic groups. -Biracial means having parents of two different races.

Family Values Parents can actively decide how they want their children to deal with their culture, and their attempts to socialize their children culturally can complement – or clash with – the effects of the larger cultural context.

Family Values Cont’d Bicultural families value family just like any of us do. Some bicultural families make sure their children know both sides to their ethnicity while others just focus on the part that they most identify with.

Work Ethic Bicultural and Biracial people have to work harder because they are composed of more than one race. They are constantly having to prove themselves to other races.

Religious Practices Bicultural families try to balance the beliefs, traditions and rituals from each partner's cultural, religious and racial backgrounds.

Education As indicated by the 2000 U. S. Census, the population of biracial and multiracial people is increasing; however, most schools and communities lack a clear understanding of the unique experiences and needs of mixed-race children.

Education Surprisingly, many of our Early Childhood programs do not meet the needs of bicultural/biracial children.

What could the schools do? Schools can provide a curriculum that will fit the needs of our biracial/bicultural students. Educators could provide things such as: -Teach about Multi-racial heroes; -Provide Inter-racial/multiracial books; -Racial/ethnic identity development and self esteem programs -Discuss mixing of traditions, nationalities, languages, and religions -Teach about culture, race, and diversity -Offer diverse Classroom materials -Responding to bias and harassment in a timely manner -Provide Federal and school race forms; -More diverse Field trips and classroom visitors of multi-ethnicities

Stereotypes/Myths -Many people believe that children with a mixed heritage do not constitute a distinct cultural group, and therefore should not be treated separately. -One -drop rule-which implies the slave owners fathered the slaves children, and those children would be considered black and not white. -Only brainwashed biracials identify as black. ex. Barack Obama -Only sellouts identify themselves as mixed. ex. Tiger Woods -Mixed racing will end racism -Biracial people are raceless

References -Nittle, K. N. , Five Myths About Multiracial People in the U. S. www. about. com -Rockquemore, K. A. , Laszloffy, T. Raising Biracial Children. Harvard Educational Review. Lanham, MD: Alta. Mira Press, 2005. 240 pp. -Wardle, Francis. Meeting the Needs of Multiracial and Multiethnic Children. www. earlychildhoodnews. com -www. wikpedia. com