"The evolution of the United States into a multicultural nation is becoming undeniably noticeable. There has been a significant increase of interracial marriages in our country. Between 1960 and 1998, the proportion of interracial marriages increased 6 fold (U.S. Census, January 7, 1999) adding to the increasing numbers of biracial children. Due to the unique characteristics of biracial children, researchers observe that these youths may face identity conflicts and pressures to select and identify with only one of their ethnic heritages, leading to identity problems that manifest during adolescence. The objective of this study is to identify factors that may contribute to the development of positive self-identity of biracial youths. My perusal of the literature indicated that there appears to be a tendency with biracial research to focus on supporting the notion of the potential negative implication that a biracial person may face due to their unique characteristics. Rather than investigating the negative implications of being biracial, this study focused on distilling factors contributing to the development of positive self identity in biracial youths. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of the complexities of biracial individuals' identity development. Participants were 10 biracial youths between the ages of 19 and 24 in Alaska. A comparison between the results of the self-esteem and ethnic identity measures with the interview answers were analyzed for any consistent patterns and relationships that may contribute toward a positive identity. It was found that factors such as socio-economic status and parental education were helpful toward identity development; more importantly, protective factors that helped to resolve conflicts regarding racial/ethnic identity and social marginality during adolescence were identified"--Leaf v.

"Resilience in adolescents is the achievement of positive outcomes and the attainment of developmental tasks in the face of significant risk. This study identified protective factors promoting resilience in the development of positive self-identity in biracial youths. The rapidly rising biracial youth population is a vulnerable group facing potentially higher risks for mental health and behavioral issues compared to their monoracial counterparts. Identity development, a central psychosocial task of adolescence, is a complex task for biracial youths since they must integrate two ethnic identities. For biracial youths, mastery of the psychosocial identity developmental task can be daunting as they face stressors such as racial stigmas and negative stereotypes, which may lead to identity problems manifesting during adolescence. Sixteen biracial individuals ranging from age 18 to 29 years participated in this qualitative research project. Comparisons were made to identify patterns and themes for factors affecting self-esteem and ethnic identity level among the participants. Brought to light were culturally-based protective factors stemming from individual, family, and social domains promoting psychosocial resilience in fostering healthy biracial identity resolution. Risk factors unique for the biracial population were also identified. The findings underscore the importance in understanding how the environment shapes and influences the ways biracial youth negotiate their dual identity. The research results can be integrated into appropriate prevention and intervention techniques for application by professionals and families to further healthy identity resolution in biracial youths"--Leaf iii.

Beyond Black: Biracial Identity in America is a groundbreaking study of the dynamic meaning of racial identity for multiracial people in post-civil rights America. Kerry Ann Rockquemore and David L. Brunsma document the wide range of racial identities that individuals with one black and one white parent develop, and they provide an incisive sociological explanation of the choices facing those who are multiracial. Stemming from the controversy of the 2000 census and whether an additional "multiracial" category should be added to the survey, this second edition of Beyond Black uses both survey data and interviews of multiracial young adults to explore the contemporary dynamics of racial identity formation. The authors raise social and political questions that are posed by expanding racial categorization on the U.S. census. Book jacket.

As the multiracial population in the United States continues to rise, new models for our understanding of mixed-race children and how their conception of racial identity must be developed. A wide divide between academics who research biracial identity, and the everyday world of parents and practitioners who raise and deal with mixed-race children exists. This book aims to fill this gap by providing an extensive synthesis of the existing research in the field, as well as a model for better understanding the unique process of racial identity development for mixed-race children. Raising Biracial Children provides parents, educators, social workers, and anyone interested in multiracial issues with an accessible framework for understanding healthy mixed-race identity development and to translate those findings into practical care-giving strategies.

Although America has been experiencing a biracial baby boom for the last 25 years, there has been a dearth of information about how racially mixed people identify and view themselves as well as relate to one another. Racially Mixed People in America bridges this gap and offers a comprehensive look at all the issues involved in doing research with mixed race people, all in the context of America's multiracial past and present.

A guide to the latest research on how young people can develop positive ethnic-racial identities and strong interracial relations Today’s young people are growing up in an increasingly ethnically and racially diverse society. How do we help them navigate this world productively, given some of the seemingly intractable conflicts we constantly hear about? In Below the Surface, Deborah Rivas-Drake and Adriana Umaña-Taylor explore the latest research in ethnic and racial identity and interracial relations among diverse youth in the United States. Drawing from multiple disciplines, including developmental psychology, social psychology, education, and sociology, the authors demonstrate that young people can have a strong ethnic-racial identity and still view other groups positively, and that in fact, possessing a solid ethnic-racial identity makes it possible to have a more genuine understanding of other groups. During adolescence, teens reexamine, redefine, and consolidate their ethnic-racial identities in the context of family, schools, peers, communities, and the media. The authors explore each of these areas and the ways that ideas of ethnicity and race are implicitly and explicitly taught. They provide convincing evidence that all young people—ethnic majority and minority alike—benefit from engaging in meaningful dialogues about race and ethnicity with caring adults in their lives, which help them build a better perspective about their identity and a foundation for engaging in positive relationships with those who are different from them. Timely and accessible, Below the Surface is an ideal resource for parents, teachers, educators, school administrators, clergy, and all who want to help young people navigate their growth and development successfully.