Biracial Children In The Line of Fire
Student
Harding University
Among the human race, a continuing war of status and selfishness is slowly destroying the reflection of ourselves. Afraid of what we may see, we no longer look in the mirror, yet we persist to live the life of hate and segregation. Our principle and conviction loads our words, fists, and guns. We shelter and guard our children from diversity and we tuck them in bed at night with stories of our own perceived stereotypes. It is a never-ending battle that is continuing to each generation.
Even though America is founded on diversity and each one of us is of a different culture, race is still an issue. Even more so, interracial couples are producing children with mixed races and ethnicities who will inevitably face the double jeopardy of racism placing them in the line of fire of this never-ending battle.
Mixed, formally known as biracial (members of two different races) or bicultural (members of two distinct cultures), is an increasing race in today’s society. The 2000 US Census Bureau reported an estimated 6.8 million people are identified as a mixed-race who consists of 2.4 percent of the US population. Also, Lena Ko stated in Early Childhood Education that multiracial children account for four percent of all children less than 18 years of age and the number is continuing to grow.
With this in mind, our society system does not fully comprehend anything but mono-racial; forcing children to chose one race and reject the other. The Multiracial Experience by M. Root vowed that it is a "misguided assertion by some that the biracial person is lucky to have a choice of which race with which to identify fails to recognize that dual race heritage is not a matter of choice; the act of choosing one racial heritage over another necessarily evokes feelings of disloyalty and incongruity." Unfortunately, biracial children not only encounter racism, but they will experience it from both sides of their heritage. A child of both Caucasian and African decent is seen as "too white" or "too black" and will an ongoing battle racism, criticism, and having to chose one race.
Some biracial children may have a difficult time developing a self-concept and an ethnic identity if they do not receive a sense of a strong family and social support. Twenty-five percent of biracial children show evidence of poor adjustment; including low self-esteem and behavioral problems, which is documented in The Multiracial Experience. "There is a significant risk of rejection, loneliness, anger, feeling different or even freakish, and even experiencing guilt or shame at the perceived failure to incorporate all aspects of one’s racial heritages," which was stated by P.Y. Clark in Exploring the Pastoral Dynamics of Mixed-Race Persons.
A biracial person should embrace both heritages and have the right to define and form one’s own experience without another person’s point of view. P.Y. Clark stated, "A complete person, moves beyond racial percentages and thus accepts one’s flexible, adaptable identity as being whole, not less than half."
We cannot change the past, but we can change the future. In order to prevent discrimination is to acknowledge it. Acknowledge that there is still racism and acknowledge any of our own discriminations. J.J Lewis once said, "Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself." We then can precede educating and implementing other diverse cultures in our everyday lives, schools, and communities. The more we are knowledgeable and active in other cultures, the more we are to welcome them.
We are all victims in this time of war. Our eyes and our ears are no longer virgins and we are faced with reality. The reality that the ones we love are dying in the blood shed of hate and status. The reality that we are given so little time and we go to war with it. The reality that we are different and we should glorify our individuality, but also rejoice in being united as brothers and sisters. When will you put down your own gun and stand to fight against hate and segregation? We need to protect our future by protecting our children. There are so many colors of the world, how bright and how beautiful. Embrace it.