Social Justice for Mixed Folks

Mixed Folks and Social Justice: Intersection!

Hi friends!  I noticed that the “Mixed Lingo” posts have been pretty popular (part 1, part 2, part 3).  My work as an intern at my school’s multicultural center introduced me to social justice and the terms that I put in the “Mixed Lingo” series.

In this post, we’ll get acquainted with social justice and how it applies to multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed folks.

Social Justice: (definition found here)

Race-Related Intersection

Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 2

How Can Mixed Folks Respond to the Question: "So What Are You?"

Hi mixed race and mixed ethnicity friends!  Let's continue our discussion on how mixed folks can respond to the somtimes hurtful question "So what are you?"  Below are a few methods you could use when dealing with this issue.

Yahoo! News Article: Mixed-Race Relevant?

"Rise of Latino population blurs US racial lines" - A Yahoo! News Article

Hey mixed kids!  How's Monday treating you?

Guidelines - "So What Are You?" part 1

Dealing With the Question: "So What Are You?"

It is time, my mixed friends, to tackle the dreaded question, "So what are you?"  Let Jared Padalecki's face convey your feelings.

As a multiracial, multiethnic, blended, mixed teen, college student or otherwise young person, I'm sure you've been asked this question before.

Maybe an acquaintance heard you refer to yourself as latino then later as asian and calls you on it.  Maybe someone's been sneaking glances at you and finally owns up to it, saying that they can't figure out what race and/or ethnicity you look like.  Whatever the lead in might be, the conclusion's often the same: "Wait, so what are you anyway?"

Similar to the “I don’t find ________s attractive” post (found here), we’ll discuss the ways: 1) how “so what are you?” can be hurtful to mixed folks, and 2) how you, someone who identifies as mixed, can respond in a series of two posts.  In this first post, we’ll look at why asking such a question can come across as hurtful to mixed folks.  Ready, go!

 

What Makes “So what are you?” Hurtful?

Online Resources: The MAVIN Foundation

A Look by "Growing Up Mixed" at:

The MAVIN Foundation

Hey friends!  Here's another installment of the "online resources" series.  Last time, we looked at "Multicultural Familia," a great website for multiracial, multiethnic, interracial, blended, mixed issues in current events and overlapping social justice spheres.  Check out the "Multicultural Familia" post here if you missed it!

Let's look at The MAVIN Foundation's website as a resource for you, the fierce, fabulous mixed teens, college students and otherwise young people of today!

MAVIN: "The Mixed Race Experience"

Mixed Lingo - Part 3

Even More Mixed Lingo!

Hey mixed friends!  Let's keep the ball rolling and expand our vocabulary!  (We're such good students, aren't we?) :P  Here are even more multiracial- and multiethnic-related terms!  (Part 1 here and Part 2 here.)

Mixed Terms for your Reading Pleasure

"Help!  My Extended Family Just Doesn't Get My Mixed Heritage!"

"Why do you ________?  Is it because your mom's _________?"

"Your hair doesn't look like our side of the family's.  It's all ________."

"But you're also ________.  So why don't you ________ like us?"

Sometimes family members (including us!) don't get it right.  You don't want to alienate everyone who says something like the above, but you also want to change how some of their comments/questions come off as hurtful.  Life as a mixed person: it's tough!

Here are some tips for resolving your "extended family vs. mixed heritage" issues!

Resolving Extended Family and Heritage Issues Like the Awesome Mixed Person You Are!