Racism in America

For a nation flying its diversity flag with boastful pride, the United States exudes historic and current intolerance towards the microcosmic melting pot of mixed children. Self-identity is an unavoidable concern of interracial young persons maturing in present-day America. Society seems concerned with the issue of where the embodiments of multi-races belong as well. Where in the pecking order of society are products of miscegenation placed? For an adolescent already searching for an established sense of self, this impression of being an outsider nationally due to an interracial background significantly affects the coming of age quest.

Life in America is built upon a foundation of connections; an intricate web of relationships molds each person. For an interracial adolescent, ties are explored between child-uniracial persons, child-parental figure(s), and child-self. Mixed-race adolescents must endure what is often perceived as the negative relationship between themselves and the uniracial population. Racism has seeped through generation after generation to reach modern day American society in varying forms of mutation. This inherited hostility is indeed historic and absolutely alive and seemingly directed towards miscegenation. The chasm between multiracial and seemingly uniracial citizens leaves room for racism as well as tolerance. Intense emotional hurdles come with the second type of relationship: parenting a mixed-race child and uniting with someone of another race. The role of the parent and extended family is crucial in development of self-esteem, identity and a sense of belonging within the community. Thirdly, the interracial child’s inner turmoil of self versus self is the most profound and principal struggle in the p...

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...cents' relationship to the uniracial community at large, from which often rises racist views historically embedded in our culture from times of slavery. Parental figures and the extended family can be a source of rejection or guidance, which can significantly prolong or accelerate a positive conclusion of the search for self. Lastly, the most profound struggle in a very trying time, is that of self versus self. Although the interracial child’s life journey within the United States is not a smooth passage by any means, the attainment of a sense of belonging and identity is necessary for coming of age. Rather than creating a rift between the closed racial boundaries of the minority and majority, perhaps in our nation's future miscegenation will not be appended with negative racist concepts since after all, "there are no pure races left anywhere in the world"(Brown 11).