Mixed Race Studies

AFR 108: What Passes for Freedom?: Mixed-Race Figures in U.S. Culture

Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Spring 2013
Cross Listed as AMST107, ENGL108

Vincent J. Schleitwiler, Assistant Professor of English

The idea of a distinct category of individuals identified as “biracial,” “multiracial,” or “mixed-race” has become increasingly prominent over the past few decades, despite the inescapable fact that the existence of children of interracial couples is by no means new. Indeed, historically speaking, notions of “racial purity” are a relatively recent invention—what might now be called “race-mixing” is older than the concept of “race” itself. Why, then, has the figure of the mixed-race person been receiving so much attention? Why is this figure imagined as somehow novel or unprecedented? Is there something different about the contemporary social experience of children of interracial couples? Why do people who do not share this experience take so much interest in it? Our pursuit of these questions will take us back to earlier periods in U.S. history, and to different figures appearing at the borders of established racial categories, such as the “tragic mulatta” or the “passing” figure. Most of our readings will be drawn from African American literature and works by other writers of color, but you should also expect a substantial amount of scholarly writing on theories and histories of race. These readings will lead to some highly charged discussions—which will not always end comfortably, or with everyone in agreement. Because this course is writing-intensive, we’ll spend significant time developing writing skills, with an emphasis on collaborative learning.

Through Mixed Eyes: The Biracial Experience and The Current State of Race in America

Williams College
2009-05-22
163 pages

Riki McDermott

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honors In Sociology

President Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009. For many, this election served as a turning point in American history. His inauguration represented hope and change, and drew attention to the ways in which race relations have evolved with time. That being said, his election fails to tell the complete story. His presence distracts us from the racial injustices and inequalities that continue to plague American society. However, the case of biracial Americans draws our attention back to the controlling racial forces that proceed to haunt social institutions, interactions, and identities. Biracial Americans figuratively and literally serve as bridges between different races, thus signaling the importance of their interpretations of modern race relations. Through their eyes, we are able to better understand and assess the current state of race in America.

Table of Contents

• Abstract
• Dedications and Acknowledgements
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Initial Identity Formation of Biracials
• Chapter 2: The Renegotiation ofBiracial and Ethnic Identity
• Chapter 3: The Transformation of Biracial and Multiracial Passing
• Chapter 4: Interpreting the Realities of Racial Misidentifications
• Bibliography

We are currently living in the era of multiracialism. Whether we are aware of it or not, American culture is becoming saturated by multiracialism. The United States 2000 Census revealed that out of 281,421,906 individuals, 6,754,126 of them self-identified as multiracial. The sheer number of individuals of mixed race currently existing within the United States can therefore serve as an initial illustration of how multiracialism is growing in American culture. With a growing number of mixed race individuals, the likelihood of coming into contact with multiracials increases, thus intensifying the presence of multiracialism in American life. However, the media furthermore contributes to the spread of multiracialism today. As Americans we’ve come to depend on the media to keep us connected to the world outside of our own realm of experiences, resulting in its highly influential nature. Thus, whatever the media chooses to focus on, or however the media decides to spin a story, it generally dictates what the general American thinks about. As a result, when the media decides to focus its attention on two highly respected and distinguished men in American culture, who just happen to be multiracial, America listens…

…Biracial and multiracial individuals occupy an interesting space within American society; a space in which many of these individuals are forced to think about race with great frequency, as a result of our society not accounting for and recognizing many of the specific racial make-ups of multiracial individuals. This is problematic for mixed race individuals who desire for their specific racial make-up to be socially acknowledged, but who find it difficult to assert themselves within a social context dominated by distinct monoracial categories. I have found that as a result of having to deal with this dilemma, individuals of mixed races dedicate a lot of time to thinking about the social realities and consequences of race. Furthermore, I think individuals of mixed races serve as a metaphorical turning point between the past and the future. The past of this country was monoracial individuals, despite the fact that biracial and multiracial individuals existed, who were socially unacknowledged as such. And the future of this country is multiracial individuals, many of whom will be unaware of their exact racial make-up, due to a long legacy of racial mixing. Thus, multiracial individuals are now living within a society that continues to be dominated by a monoracial mentality, even though we claim not to be.  I therefore view these individuals as being able to sympathize with the monoracial tendencies of the past and present, as well as the multiracial tendencies that have begun to surface and will continue to emerge in the future. For these reasons, I see biracial and multiracial individuals as a group whose insights about the present and future state of racial America are especially crucial for a sociological analysis…

Read the entire thesis here.