by Kailin Smallwood
In September, Dr. Helen Steele, director of First Year Experience at UWG, conducted a series titled “From Oreos to Cheerios” as part of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion Multicultural Conversation Series. She spoke on how multicultural Americans are affected by identifying with a specific race “category.”
Dr. Steele stated that 1 in 40 people in the United States identify themselves as multiracial instead of as a “set” race. Her research into recent census data showed that surveyors were allowed to check more than one box for their race. “For many students checking one box is not enough,” she says. “This is a step forward for allowing multiracial Americans to feel comfortable about who they really are.”
It was not until the “Loving v. Virginia” case in 1967 that mixed races were allowed to be publically married. Until this time, Dr. Steele emphasized that many feared the repercussions of marrying a different race. She also noted that even today, in some cultures, being married to a different race has a negative connotation but many are starting to accept the happiness of others. “Race is always evolving and changing, and it was not until the recent censuses that people were allowed to identify with more than one race,” adds Dr. Steele.
Dr. Steele elaborated on “The 50 Experiences of Racially Mixed People” by Maria P.P. Root, a questionnaire developed for a study on biracial siblings conducted from 1996 to 1997. The questions and comments provided insight on how race was directly conveyed between the siblings.
In conclusion, Dr. Steele’s suggestion is that all multicultural Americans should continue to stay positive about their race regardless of the response. “When asking someone their race, others need to realize that a simple word can affect someone negatively,” she says.
