4 Wonderful Things About Interracial Families

I’ve heard a few mixed-race adults discuss the race-related challenges they experienced while growing up. For example, some struggled with identity, feeling like they didn’t really belong. Others were teased or felt misunderstood.

I’m hopeful that my own children (who are mixed) will never feel this way. There are several reasons why I believe this is a realistic hope. One reason is because the demographic makeup of the typical family is changing. Many of the adults I referred to above are middle-aged or older, so they grew up during a time when interracial marriage was rare. This has changed. In 2015, one-in-six U.S. newlyweds (17%) were marrying a person of a different race or ethnicity. During this same year, 14% of infants in the U.S. were multiracial or multiethnic (source). In other words, my kids are growing up with many other mixed-race children.

A second reason is that my husband and I are intentional about helping our kids develop a healthy sense of identity. In our perspective, race is only a small part of this. We emphasize to our children that they were lovingly made by God (Psalm 139:14). He gave them unique gifts and roles in our family, our community, and our world.

In our society today, I don’t believe that being part of a mixed-race family is necessarily a challenge. Though it may be for some, I think many mixed-race families thrive and love their eclectic compositions. Like me, they have discovered that there are many wonderful things about having a diverse family.

Awesome things about mixed-race families

• Our children have been familiar with diversity from birth. I know some families who live in areas that aren’t very racially diverse. The parents in many of these families have been intentional about using things like books and videos to help expose their children to different races and cultures. One thing I love about being a mixed-race family is that my kids have always known that people come in different colors. They’ve seen various skin colors and hair textures since they first opened their eyes.
• We see what race is and what it isn’t. Most people know intellectually that race is a social construct (i.e., a label used to categorize people but not a biologic reality). However, many people haven’t seen the reality of this in everyday life. Members of mixed-race families do. We see how melanin creates different skin tones, and we see that these skin tones don’t determine a person’s intelligence, traditions, talents, interests, etc. Being in a mixed-race family helps us clearly see that things like language, culture, and proximity make people of the same skin color seem similar, but it’s not skin color itself that creates these similarities.
• We are exposed to varied perspectives and world views. During Thanksgiving dinner last fall, there was a spirited discussion about the film Black Panther. I guarantee that the observations and opinions shared would have been different if we would have been with the other half of our family! The family members surrounding the table were all black, whereas the family members on the other side of the family are white or Hispanic. Having a racially diverse family means that we are often exposed to diverse views. This is thought-provoking and helps us as we form our own unique perspectives.
• We are ambassadors for harmony and unity. This is my absolute favorite thing about being a mixed-race family! In a society where we hear about racial tensions and divisions on the news each night, my family testifies that there is another way. It is not unusual for strangers to walk up to me at the store or library and ask if my kids are mixed. I know that questions like this bother many families (I understand this because it’s not a particularly polite question). However, I don’t mind when people ask because it gives me an opportunity to share about my family. During these conversations, I’m able to share that love, harmony, and unity transcend skin color.

Please note that I don’t share these wonderful things to disparage families who are racially homogeneous. I’m not in any way saying that mixed-race families are superior; I’m simply sharing some of the wonderful things my family has experienced. Each family—racially diverse or racially homogeneous, large or small, traditional nuclear family or blended family, etc.—faces unique challenges and opportunities.

What has been your experience? What wonderful things have you noticed about mixed-race families?

Shared at the following:

Modest Mondays, Wonderful Wednesday, Encouraging Hearts and Home, Thursday Favorite Things, Over the Moon, and Tuesdays with a Twist.