Growing up in an Interracial Family - Research Paper Example

Growing up in an Interracial Family The historical evolution of the human civilization would expose several traits and factors that people created to assert their supremacy over their fellow human beings. While physical torture, military oppression, war are some of the most explicit traits to prove the issue of supremacy, on the other hand, it was also realized that fear cannot be the only instrument that remain as a dominating factor for a long time unless proper reasons behind adopting the steps of domination can be established. The only way to justify the ways of oppression is to prove others inferior and at the same time it also needs to be ensured that they keep observing themselves at such a derogated condition. The sole way to ensure such social inferiority can only be done if people are proven to be inferior from their socio-cultural bringing and they can be taught that they are destined to remain as subjects of oppression. Division of the entire humankind in names of race, cast, and religion is one of the most supported rational to achieve this goal for those people, who wish to remain at top of the social hierarchy and enjoy the benefits of the society to the best extent possible by depriving others. While people or a particular community are taught from the socio-cultural perspective that both as individual or as a race they are inferior to other group of people, pointing out at their social and cultural traits of inferiority, or not acknowledging their culture adequately and making it evident that compared to the so-called superior groups their culture does not have any relevance to the progressive course of time, it becomes really tough to ignore such lessons. Evil of such discrimination becomes even more evident while the issues of discrimination are both pointed out and practiced for centuries and gradually its effects run so deep within the sinews of socio-cultural existence that the oppressed community as well as majority of its individual starts accepting the argument of superiors. Despite the fact that several anthropological and sociological explanations have cited the deep connection of human biological instincts with racial classification to assert their respective supremacy, “... groups - primarily races, classes, and sexes – arise from inherited, inborn distinctions and that society, in this sense, is an accurate reflection of biology” (Glass and Wallace 341), however, there is no denial of the fact that racism or racial division as an institution has received its potential through socio-cultural construction. Compared to the earlier times, while discrimination in the name of race used to be a random and common affair, in the modern social context, signs of such discrimination have become much implicit but have not been annihilated entirely. As it has been mentioned before, centuries of oppression, and gradual development of social superiority and inferiority exist so integrally associated with human psychology as well as people’s perception of one another that on frequent occasions the tensions of racial conflict attract attention. In this context, it would be wrong if it is suggested that there has not been any improvement in this arena. People’s observation to other races has changed considerably indeed and liberal approaches are socially appreciated in case of interracial relationship. The flourish of universal brotherhood and modernist intellectual movement has convinced people to see beyond the scope of racial discrimination; consequently individuals have also been encouraged to appreciate the aspect of human entity, rather than just being focused on someone’s racial identity. Such improvements have considerably contributed to the development of interracial families. While on one hand, growing up in an interracial family provides sufficient scope to a child in the context of enhancing his moral and socio-cultural flexibility as well as tolerance, on the other, the ill-traits of racial tensions as well as orthodox approaches that society has taught its inhabitants for long period of time, automatically prevents a child from apprehending the proper nature of family, leading to problems like, mistrust, behavioral confusions and existential crisis. Gradual Exploration of the Evil of Racial Bias: The socio-cultural backdrop of the United States is considered to be highly cosmopolitan and diversified as its demography comprises inhabitants from different cultural traditions, namely, ethnic whites, African Americans, Hispanics and Asians. While in the earlier times, the American society was dominated by ethnic whites, in the modern times, explicit traits of such so called social hierarchy have lessened to a greater extent. Years of mutual cohabitation have resulted in empathy and adoption of flexible approaches towards other races and their cultural approaches and finally socio-cultural intercourse has resulted in development of interracial families. However, the issues of cultural difference were not entirely overlooked and on frequent occasions, these aspects become conspicuous. While the elders mostly conflict with each other from the perspectives of superiority or asserting their supremacy over others, children are often victimized by being trapped within such cultural conflicts. An interracial family existence though is capable of providing several benefits, unfortunately, those remain unrecognized and the issues of conflict become mostly conspicuous. In the book, Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy who Discovered He Was Black, the protagonist William’s life story can be cited. He regarded himself basically as a member of the ethnic white society but his father actually was an African American. Despite his parents were married but proper empathy towards their respective race did not exist and finally they broke off; consequently, William’s mother marries another white man. William can be viewed as a real life manifestation of numerous such children, who have witnessed such interracial conflicts throughout their childhood and their quest for the search of their respective identity has remained unfulfilled: “William’s story illustrates the unique lesson about race and intimacy that interracial intimacy can yield. Williams and his brother must struggle to form personal identities in a segregated world” (Moran 2). While American legal system, in the early stage, was against the development of interracial families, has finally encouraged development of such systems. Interracial families “are formed by the marriage of partners from different races, or by transracial adoption. Even though American culture is highly conscious of race, there is no scientific definition of race of ethnic group. Because interracial families challenge stereotypes based on race and color, they sometimes provoke opposition from their extended families, friends and the larger community” (Balter 330). The consciousness of interracial difference among parents run so deep into their respective existence that once a child is born or is adopted, they often express their concern regarding adaptability of the child in social and professional course of life. However, in this context psychologists have asserted that children from interracial family background do not encounter adjustment problems (Balter 331). Unless parents from different racial background do not attempt to contradict each other over racial issues and learn to inhibit in proper harmony and empathy, issues related to adjustment can easily be avoided. The key point to solve the problems of growing up in an interracial family lies in the fact of ensuring a child that he is no different from rest of the society or his family is not an alien existence from rest of the society. It has been admitted that children from interracial families “…might have a more difficult transition to adolescence, however, as they work to incorporate two or more racial or cultural identities” (Balter 331). However, these issues do not really affect future of the child and can be overcome easily if mutual empathy or respect among parents or other elder members of the family, can be ensured. In case of developing a better social existence, contribution of interracial families have also been evident as it has been suggested, “Interracial families’ strengths lie in their efforts to embody social equality and colorblindness, and in their efforts to create a community of similar families” (Balte 331). The Challenges of Interracial upbringing: While the benefits of interracial upbringing are celebrated widely and on frequently occasions, both socially and psychologically developments of interracial families have been supported to a great extent, the real scenario is far removed from reality, pointing at the issues of complication. While on several occasions it has been seen that parents are conflicting over their racial identities, members of an extended family have adopted quite an hostile approach and they always have discouraged the traits of interracial existence, “Interracial families frequently experience a variety of challenges and conflicts from within the family system as well as from society. These challenges and conflicts can involve the stress between parents who display some of their own hidden racial prejudices or from children who react in a respectful way toward their parents for their mixed race. Extended family members who disapprove of the interracial relationship can also create conflict and hardship” (Bevilacqua, Dattilio, and Jongsma 157). While, due to their interracial existence, children often suffer from identity crisis, especially during their transition period, social antagonism over their interracial upbringing often worsens the situation. In addition to this, if the child finds that his parents also have their respective complexes towards their separate racial identities and rather than providing him with complete attention, they are busier in contradicting each other on different aspects, then the child starts suffering from various types of psychological problems, such as, social inferiority complex, alienation, different and contradicting layers of perception, disbelief, jealousy, mistrust, and attention seeking desire that remains always dissatisfied (Bevilacqua, Dattilio, and Jongsma 157). Parents, on the other hand, also experience different types of behavioral complications from the child that prevents them from communicating properly with them, such as, inability to explain the reason for interracial marriage, stubbornness from children that gives less space to share the child’s problems especially during the transition period, reflection of racial prejudices towards child, parent-child hostility and frequent insults from child as he empathizes over his dissatisfaction regarding his mixed racial identity (Dattilio, Jongsma, and Davis 213). In this context of the paper, while reflecting over the issues related to growing up in an interracial family, an interview has been conducted over people from different racial backgrounds, hailing from different age groups. This interview has attempted to provide a comprehensive understanding about situation of people, while growing up in an interracial family backdrop. A set of questions has been prepared and while put those to fifteen people from different races, they have shared their experience from diverse perspectives, providing a scope to reevaluate the benefits and drawbacks of growing up in an interracial family. The Questionnaire: What are the benefits that you have experienced while growing up in an interracial family? What are the negatives that you have experienced in the same setting? How the society and your family members have treated you? Does your interracial upbringing make you feel content, happy or proud? How would you explain the parent-child relationship in the same set up? Do you think your appreciation of cultural differences or your personal cultural flexibility has been benefitted due to such upbringing? If you have a choice, would you feel enthusiastic enough to pursue the same choice as your parents have made? Which are the ways you think that can enhance the scope of interracial upbringing in a better way? The Participants: Keeping in mind the issue of non-disclosure of personal identity, only first name of the interviewees, their respective age and their ethnic or racial background will be mentioned in this context. Each of the fifteen interviewees has refrained from providing consent to reveal their complete identity mainly due to social and family problems that they might encounter in consequence. The age group of participants in the interview varies from fourteen to twenty eight. The main reason behind conducting the interview among people of such vast age limit is that to receive the diversity of perception and how such perception have changed from one age group to another, with respect to their varied social and racial identities. Name of the participants are as follows: Patrick (Ethnic White, 14 years), Raymond (Ethnic White, 17 years), Elizabeth, commonly addressed as Beth (Ethnic White, 25 years), Timothy (Married, Ethnic White, 27 years). Charles (African American, 25 years), Bruce (African American, 15 years), Serena (African American, 20 years). Estefan (Hispanic, 14 years), Jose (Hispanic, 19 years), Armada (Hispanic, married, 28 years), Fabio (Hispanic, 22 years). Genco (Asian, 15 years), Chandan (Asian, 20 years), Lily (Asian, 19 years), Kanna (Asian, 20 years). In case of each participant even they are from different ethnic and racial groups, they have remained within an interracial family set up. While members of the ethnic white group, some of them have enjoyed the ethnic culture both from their parents, contribution of their extended family has kept them in close association with the interracial family setting. Timothy is married to an African American person, who is working in a leading US corporate establishment. In case of members from African American, Hispanic and Asian groups, each of them have been brought up in an interracial family. Outcome of the Interview: While the ethnic whites were questioned according to the questionnaire, adolescents like Patrick and Raymond have agreed that their interracial background has helped them to adopt a flexible approach towards others culture both in school, high school and college scenario. In case of social mingling they also enjoy certain kind of facility compared to others as they realize the kind of response that members of other racial backdrop are expecting from them. In both cases it has always not been true that they lacked support from their parents but their extended family members have often attempted to influence them with particular racial bias. Simultaneously, people outside their family, and other associates, especially members of white ethnic identity, aware of their interracial family, often have reflected biased approach in their treatment. In case of Beth and Timothy, the situation is more complicated as they are women and with their open minded observation towards appreciation of interracial family or their support for interracial marriage they are often criticized. Timothy, as she fell in love with an African American and chose to marry him, has been abandoned by her parents and also has been deprived of receiving paternal social recognition (Childs 109-111). In case of all four people, they have agreed that considering the situation they encounter from the society they find it better not to persuade the path of interracial family existence and though Timothy is married and also receives a great deal of support from her husband, sometimes, in her mind she is compelled to think that she has made a wrong choice, and wishes to get rid of the present situation. The interview with African American participants has revealed the fact that though each of them has parents from different racial backgrounds and their extended family members also comprise a mix of ethnic white and Afro-American background, however, during times of crisis or certain decision making, the invisible traits of racial tension, respective superiority as well as claim for equality becomes evident. During these times, they not only receive a feeling that their parents actually become different and treat them in an entirely unfamiliar way but also they encounter a great deal of difficulty in communicating with them. They also have pointed out, while making a choice they often face a great deal of difficulty and confusion because they have observed if their choices are even slightly inclined towards any particular racial trait, either of their parents feels bad or displeased and they also clearly express their agitation (Douglas, and Douglas 210-214). They also have admitted that despite their complete realization of the fact that interracial family helps to a great extent in developing moral and social flexibility, however, each of them personally is not benefitted. Serena has even gone to the extent of arguing that while there is no real life application of such theories then people should not reply over interracial relationships and keep themselves away from being engaged into such relationship, at least pondering over the kind of plight that children may encounter in future. Experience of the Hispanics is quite different as they are not even considered to inhabit in a nation, where the majority of population is ethnic white. Starting from their language, to culture, rituals and food habits, everything is considered to be derogatory and criticized upon. The male interviewees, despite the fact that they have hailed from well educated families and have the capacity of appreciating the traits of so-called sophisticated existence, are often socially criticized as inferior. It has also been pointed out on several occasions that irrespective of their high education and intellectual capacities they are incapable of producing any social benefits and in longer run they will surely be a part of antisocial activities. They even have pointed out such incidents that as children if they committed mistakes, either of their parents criticized them harshly, even inflicted physical abuse and also observed them hopeless as they bear Hispanic traits with their behaviorist approach. Finally their reaction finds a close similarity with the observation of an acquaintance that Maureen T. Reddy mentioned in the book, Crossing the Color Line: Race, Parenting and Culture, in clear language: “I don’t think a white person can really assimilate; the color line doesn’t work that way. I’m still white. I think I stand on the color line itself, not on the other side of it. Or maybe I’m like a bridge, stretching across the line, touching both sides, but mostly in the middle somewhere” (Reddy 5). In case of people with interracial upbringing, having an Asian connection, situation is not equally complicated for them as that of the African Americans or Hispanics. It is not that they have been widely accepted by ethnic whites. Traits of racial bias are still there. However, their deep connection with their respective culture and tradition as well as religio-philosophical observation has contributed to a great extent in their upbringing. Most of the Asian ethnic philosophies preach the importance of practicing tolerance and this very aspect exists so deep into very entity of Asian people that on several occasions through the chance of conflict arises, tolerating nature among either of parents often prevents the situation from turning to worse. The issues like parent child communication and respect among relationships also have been provided with adequate attention. Thus, despite the fact that in external society, people growing up in interracial society with Asian connection, enjoy a greater deal of support, compared to their Hispanic or African American counterparts. Results the interview find quite a close connection with the arguments presented by Guiyou Huang in the book, Asian American autobiographers: a bio-bibliographical critical sourcebook. (Huang 2001). Conclusion: Reflection over the entire situation regarding growing up in an interracial family makes it clear that irrespective of all its benefits, an interracial upbringing has its ills and interestingly such negatives have been created due to differences in personal perspectives or unwillingness of the society to accept human beings as separate entities, rather than just representatives of certain race. It has been a spontaneous urge of every human being to observe himself as a supreme creature or to establish his community as well as cultural traits better than others. Though residing within an interracial setup, on several occasions, it becomes impossible for people to accept the fact that as an individual entity, every human being is unique and represents a new dimension of the diversity that the world is replete with. Consequently, growing up in an interracial backdrop offers several complications for the common people, especially for the adolescent or youth section of a family. On the other hand, if an empathetic outlook can be maintained and respect for other cultures can be encouraged, an interracial family becomes perhaps the most effective medium to preach the lessons of universal brotherhood and also ensures a better future for the entire human generation on a broader scope. Works Cited Balter, Lawrence. Parenthood in America: an encyclopedia. N-Z, Volume 2. Oxford: ABC-CLIO. N.D. Bevilacqua, Louis J. Dattilio, Frank M. and Jongsma, Arthur E. Family Therapy Homework Planner. 2nd Ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons. 2010. Childs, Erica Chito. Navigating interracial borders: black-white couples and their social worlds. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. 2005. Davis, Sean D. Jongsma, Arthur E. and Dattilio, Frank M. The Family Therapy Treatment Planner. 2nd Ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons. 2010. Douglas, Barbara and Douglas, David. Marriage Beyond Black and White: An Interracial Family Portrait. Illinois: Baha'i Publishing Trust. 2002. Glass, Ronald David. and Wallace, Kendra R. “Challenging Race and Racism: A Framework for Educators.” The multiracial experience: racial borders as the new frontier. 2nd Ed. London: SAGE. 1996. Huang, Guiyou. Asian American autobiographers: a bio-bibliographical critical sourcebook. 2nd Ed. California: Greenwood Publishing Group. 2001. Moran, Rachel F. Interracial Intimacy: The Regulation of Race and Romance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 2003. Reddy, Maureen T. Crossing the Color Line: Race, Parenting and Culture. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. 1996. Read More