Mixed Race Studies

A phenomenological study of the experience of biracial identity development in Black and White individuals

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
2007-04-23
101 pages
Publication Number: AAT 3312832

Niccole K. Brusa

Racial identity literature neglects biracial identity development. Given the tremendous increase in interracial partnerships and biracial children in the United States over the past three decades and the impact that racial identity has on fostering a sense of self and belonging, this is an important phenomenon to study.

In this qualitative phenomenological study, the process of biracial identity development was explored by interviewing six self-identified biracial first-generation offspring of one self-identified White biological parent and one self-identified Black biological parent. The semi-structured interview questions were organized around five main areas: memorable experiences regarding race, representation of and communication about race in the family and community, racial appearance, the participants’ beliefs about biracial identity development, and general feedback. Consistent with qualitative data procedures, these interviews were analyzed and coded through content analysis for the purpose of developing interpretive themes.

Fourteen themes emerged through the data analysis. External factors and situations such as inquires from other people brought about awareness of race. Participants also reported differences in how race was represented and addressed in their families and communities. Furthermore, some participants experienced racism and prejudice in their communities whereas other participants had positive experiences in their communities. All participants perceived themselves as looking biracial, yet all participants were also perceived by others as racially ambiguous. Other people also associated negative personality characteristics with the participants’ physical appearance. For the women participants, their hair was a defining feature for them when it came to others’ assumptions about their race. In general, all the participants were satisfied with their racial appearance, yet a common realm in which participant’s felt that their biracial appearance became a problem was during their dating experiences.

Participants attributed their biracial identity development to their backgrounds and lack of pressure to define themselves exclusively as one race. Additionally, participants believed that their identity development makes them place more emphasis on others’ personality characteristics rather than other’s race, more open-minded to multiple viewpoints, and more comfortable in multiple environments. Additional feedback from the participants included the theme of external factors such as other people’s attitudes creating challenges in biracial identity development rather than internal conflicts. In addition, implementing an accurate racial classification system was also addressed. This study supports this criticism of much of the literature on biracial identity development because the participants’ reported many positive experiences and personality traits resulting from their biracial identity.

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