Dads in the Mix
My name is Joshua Berg. I am white, my wife is black and we have two biracial daughters. My extended family includes members from almost every continent on Earth and represents multiple ethnic identities. In short, we are representative of what is gradually becoming the typical American family. Welcome to my column about raising mixed race children.
The numbers of interracial marriages and unions resulting in mixed heritage traditions are numerous and increasing exponentially. If Norman Rockwell were alive today, he’d need a more complex palette indeed. But, the issues of these families are often overlooked, as this country and the world cling to outmoded ideas of race wherein concerns, legitimate as they may be, of exclusively whites, blacks, Asians, Hispanics and any other homogeneous groups fill the spotlight.
Even as we have started a new and exciting chapter in American history with the election of a bi-racial president, we still confront and discuss race in this country from a very bilateral perspective – your race or mine. I would like to open a discourse from the point of view of one human race first. In fact, most of us, even though we identify with a single race, are not “purebred.” Maybe looking at ourselves as more similar than different while still recognizing and respecting our differences will bring us closer together as human beings.
Shifting the outlook and mindset of people is best accomplished through the education of children. That is why I am so excited to start a conversation about raising children of multiple backgrounds. I will bring to the table my experience from the perspective of a father of biracial children by addressing issues like racial identity, stereotyping, portrayal of race in children’s media, definitions of beauty, health, education and much more.
It wasn’t until 1967 that people of different races were allowed to marry in this country, which we should celebrate as we continue to work toward the right to marry for all. And, it was a mere nine years ago that the census allowed for Americans to check multiple race boxes to describe their heritage (and my kids think there should be an alien race box for me). At that time, it was reported that over seven million people identified as mixed race. However, the issues of this now much larger and rapidly growing community are still not a significant part of the national or international dialogue. As my children grow up a part of what is referred to as “Generation Mix,” I hope to do my small part to engage people to participate in what I know will be a lively discussion of issues facing families like yours and mine. Let’s get in the mix!