Socially Embedded Identities: Theories, Typologies, and Processes of Racial Identity among Black/White Biracials

Abstract

Current research on racial identity construction among biracial people derives primarily from small convenience samples and assumes that individuals with one black and one white parent have only two options for racial identity: “black” or “biracial.” Rockquemore's (1999) taxonomy of racial identity options is used as a framework to synthesize existing research and to generate hypotheses that are explored using survey data from a sample of 177 biracial respondents. The findings support a multidimensional view of racial identity by illustrating that biracial people make various identity choices, albeit “choices” that are differentially available due to an individual's structural iocation.

Forbidden identities: A qualitative examination of racial identity invalidation for Black/White Biracial individuals

“…Despite either mode of identification, Biracial individuals experience identity invalidation. For example, Biracial individuals who might identify as Black may find their racial authenticity and identity called into question (Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002;Tashiro, 2002;Romo, 2011). Furthermore, Biracial people may have an ambiguous identity that prompts people to question their identity by asking "what are you?"…”

“…Moreover, invalidating experiences have led Biracial people to feel that they could not choose their racial identity freely, that others perceived the Biracial group negatively, and that their component racial groups were not harmonious (Lou et al, 2011;Sanchez, 2010). Moreover, identity invalidation has been thought to hinder healthy identity development (Buckley & Carter, 2004;Khanna, 2004;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002;Tashiro, 2002) and often arises as a unique and vulnerable form of stress in Biracial people's discussions of their experiences of discrimination (Harris & Khanna, 2010;Miville et al, 2005).…”

“…Two notable exceptions provided a general overview of some of the effects of invalidation and its relationship to racial identity. Specifically, Rockquemore and Brunsma (2002) created a categorization system for Biracial identities, and examined how invalidation interacted with these identities. In this study, individuals who were validated as Biracial were more likely to be part of White social networks than Black ones.…”

“…This stressor occurs when an individual is placed into a racial category that does not align with the racial category with which they personally identify (Lou, Lalonde, & Wilson, 2011;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2004). Identity invalidation can take the form of accusations of racial inauthenticity, imposition of racial categories, and forced choice dilemmas (Buckley & Carter, 2004;Gillem & Thompson, 2004;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002).…”

“…It decreases self-esteem, promotes negative affect and resentment towards the perpetrator of invalidation, inhibits racial identity development, and contributes to negative mental health outcomes (Rockquemore, 2002;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002;Townsend et al, 2009). For this stressor to be understood, so that it can be dismantled, the characteristics of racially invalidating experiences must be studied from the perspective of Biracial individuals.…”