Impact of Identity Invalidation for Black Multiracial People

Abstract

Multiracial people report repeated experiences of racial identity invalidation, in which their racial identity is rejected by others. The current study examined whether the race of the perpetrator of these invalidating experiences matters in determining the impact of invalidation. A sample of 221 Black multiracial people was recruited to take an online survey investigating their experiences of identity invalidation, levels of cultural homelessness, and challenges with racial identity. Participants reported that Black people invalidated their racial identity the most, and they were most hurt by invalidation perpetrated by Black people. Finally, those whose experiences of identity invalidation were mostly perpetrated by Black people, as opposed to other racial groups, were more likely to exhibit racial homelessness and challenges with racial identity. Results highlight the importance of racial identity affirmation by the Black community for Black multiracial individuals.

Biracial Group Membership Scale

“…This question is important to address in order to understand the size, scope, and heterogeneity within current definitions of Blackness, which has implications for the community's resource allocation and political power (Rockquemore & Laszloffy, 2003). Furthermore, addressing whether Biracial people are accepted within Black spaces has implications for the racial identity development, belonging, social support, and discriminatory coping, and subsequently, the mental health, of Biracial individuals (Franco & Franco, 2015;Shih & Sanchez, 2005;Sanchez, 2010). The present study is thought to create a foundation for addressing this question, through the development of the BGMS.…”

“…Also, further replications of the scale with diverse samples should also include additional measures of reliability, such as test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity. Future research might determine predictors of perceptions of Biracial group membership so that Biracial people might be able to seek out specific affirming spaces within the Black community, as Biracial people often experience racial isolation and affirming relationships have been found to prevent against discriminatory experiences (Franco et al, 2016), and affirmation by Black people has been shown to be particularly important to Biracial people's racial identity (Franco & Franco, 2015). In a qualitative study conducted by Franco et al (2016), some factors found to contribute to Black/White Biracial people's rejection included their White heritage, and their non-racially prototypical phenotype and failure to perform racially stereotypical behaviors.…”

“…Specifically, because the Biracial community is dispersed, often the Black community is the only racial home with which Biracial individuals can identify (Franco & Franco, 2015) and as a result many choose to identify with their minority ancestry (Townsend, Fryberg, Wilkins, & Markus, 2012). A racial home provides Biracial people with belonging, identity development, and a place to cope with racial stressors (Binning, Unzueta, Ho, & Molina, 2009;Miville, Constantine, Baysden, & So-Lloyd, 2005;Sellers, Caldwell, Shmeelk-Cone, & Zimmerman, 2003;Vivero & Jenkins, 1999); thus, rejection by the Black community could hamper Biracial people's racial identity development and put them at psychological risk (Franco & Franco, 2015). Secondly, because rejection by Black people pushes Biracial people away from establishing a Black identity (Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002), Black people's rejection of Biracial individuals may lead to fewer Biracial individuals identifying with their Black identity, and subsequently, has implications for the size and political clout of the Black community.…”

“…Consequently, the loss of a Black community for Biracial individuals has negative influences on their racial identity, and mental health (Franco & Franco, 2015;Samuels, 2009). Thus, it is important to examine whether Biracial people continue to be accepted as members of the Black community and the purpose of the current study is to create a measure that assesses this: the Biracial Group Membership Scale (BGMS).…”

History, place, and racial self-representation in 21st century America

“…These include, among other things: what the person looks like (Doyle and Kao 2007; Herman 2004; Khanna 2004), what they’ve been told and by whom (Brunsma 2005; Childs 2006; Franco and Franco 2015; Roth 2005), their social connections and cultural exposure (Khanna 2004; Liebler 2001, 2004; Miville et al 2005), what other people assume about them (Campbell and Troyer 2007; Rockquemore and Brunsma 2002; Penner and Saperstein 2008), and their experiences with discrimination (Miville et al 2005; Waters 1999). Each of these factors is moderated by other characteristics such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, nativity, and characteristics of others nearby (Alcoff 2006; Penner and Saperstein 2013; Porter et al 2015; Root 1990, 1996).…”