Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

Biracialism is used to indicate a racial ancestry comprised of two “races.” The term generally refers to first-generation persons of “mixed race” heritage, i.e., individuals who have parents of socially defined , distinct racial groups. Biracialism is sometimes used interchangeably with multiraciality or “mixed race.” Social scientists are concerned with the myriad meanings of biracialism in private and public spheres. Micro-level analyses delve into the process of racial identity development and how biracial persons construct their racial identities in social interaction. Macro-level analyses examine how race is measured and its role in demographic statistics, government policies, and state politics. “Mixed race” ancestry, steeped in the legacy of colonialism and slavery, is not a new social phenomenon, but biracialism is a relatively young concept. The emergence of “biracialism” reflects a growing acceptance – or at least, recognition – of “mixed race” populations, and illustrates the successful lobbying of biracial persons and interracial families to dismiss single-race classification schemes as inadequate for identifying or categorizing people of “mixed race” heritage. An increasingly diverse global society is characterized by growing rates of immigration and interracial unions. Coupled with shifting racial boundaries, a new cultural space has opened up for biracial individuals ... log in or subscribe to read full text