Claiming an Identity on the 2010 Census

We've finally received our 2010 census form to fill out. I've been waiting for it for a while now. I started worrying that it wasn't going to come. I hoped I wouldn't need to take drastic measures and hunt someone down and insist that they count me and my little blasian. LOL. As most people know this years census is key for the mixed race community. But for me the census this year holds a special meaning since this is the first time I'm filling it out as a mom.

We received the short form so not much info was required. Still I was excited to see the new options in the race category. For myself I stuck with the basic Afro-American. No need to confuse people by claiming West Indian. Though I was tempted since they had a section for "other" race. LOL

For my son my I happily check off Black AND Korean! I bettcha whoever or whatever recording my info will have some fun with that! How wonderful is it that children like my son can now check off all the races that apply to them. Heck, if one of their races isn't there they can fill it in! Wonder if anyone claimed a new race? It could be argued that someone who is biracial could be a new and separate race...but that's radical thinking...still it's something to wonder.

As I happily scribbled our info onto the census form, my son decided to "inspect" what seems for him to be just another piece of paper. As I sat there, he peeked over the top of the page at me. I smiled at the site of him. His head covered in a curly Afro that remains in a tussled state. I look into his Asian eyes that are filled with a question of...what is mommy doing? I reached for him and showing him the form, I explained that he's no longer just an "other". This form now and in the years to come will give him the choice to define who he is.

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Come Join the Biracial Family Twitter Party

Join Us for Our Biracial Family Twitter Party

Place: Online via Twitter

Date: Friday, March 26, 2010

Time: 9p-10p EST

Hosts: @euphorialuv , @Quiskaeya and @Jamericanspice

Topic: Teaching Biracial Children About their Identity. We hope all multiracial families (Black, Asian, Latin, White, Other) will join us as we discuss political, social and parenting issues related to being a biracial or parenting a biracial.

Purpose: To provide parents & biracials an opportunity to talk about biracial identity to help build a stronger multiracial/multicultural community. Some questions open for discussion are:

1. As a parent of a biracial how do you help your child self-identify? Ex: books, events, playgroups etc
2. If your child chose one identity over another would it offend you?
3. Are your children equally accepted by both sides of the family?
4. Do you feel the one drop rule is still widely thought and accepted with regards to biracials?
5. Do you consider how society will identify your child? Does this effect how you teach your biracial child to self-identity?
   

RSVP: http://twtvite.com/6a0u27

Even if you do not have a twitter account you can still join the conversation. The discussion will stream through tweetchat (http://tweetchat.com). You can set up an account with them and jump right into the action.

To participate be sure to follow @euphorialuv , @Quiskaeya and @Jamericanspice. Also be sure to tweet with the hashtag #BiracialFamily between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. EDT.

Please feel free to spread the word to other multiracial/multicultural groups. Hope that you will join in for a time of learning and sharing.

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Racial Remembrance During Holiday Traditions

The time before the holiday is so hectic trying to get everything done so things can be perfect for family and friends. As I listen to friends share how they added elements from their cultural to make their holiday special...I wondered about my mixed race and multi cultured family.

During the 2008 holiday season my son was very young. I didn't celebrate Thanksgiving and beyond the obligatory photos with Santa, I really didn't do anything for Xmas either. In 2009 I started thinking how to add aspects from my son's three cultures so we can celebrate more as a family.

Last year, I still didn't follow the American custom for Thanksgiving. Instead I wanted to start a tradition of awareness about the Native American Indian and Alaska Native during this time. After some research, I found out about the exhibition IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas . I decided to take my son to The National Museum of the American Indian here in NYC to see their current exhibit. While he's young and cant fully understand, it's about starting our own tradition for the holidays. Besides he had fun =)

While changing traditions for Thanksgiving was simple enough, how to tackle Xmas since the whole family wants to be involved and celebrate with Daniel. To their credit my family knows that I try to do my own cultural things with my son. They may not fully understand why, but they'll indulge me as long as they can spend time with Daniel. LOL

For Xmas 2009, we didn't do a lot of the American Xmas things. We had no tree, no xmas decorations, no exchange of presents. But we did have the family gathering, eating, drinking and most important oral story telling. My family shared stories of life back in Guyana, the funny things family members did as children and finally their memories of my son life. I was really touched as each person shared their memory of my son from birth till now.

My son has forever changed the racial makeup of our family tree. My sons children will have African Caribbean, African American and Korean ancestors to remember. Yes, my son's biracial link to his fathers culture makes him unique within my somewhat monoracial family, but his story will always be added to the family tradition of remembrance.

Supporting the Native Americans for Thanksgiving

I've never really been a fan of Thanksgiving along with the major other holidays. It's weird to me that people celebrate something based on misconstrued history. We all know what happened to the Native American Indians after they saved the lives of the pilgrims.

I guess some people just over look that little fact and claim this holiday as a time to be thankful for things in their lives. Well I was never one to over look little facts.

As usual I side with the Native Americans this Thanksgiving as I've done in the past. I refuse to celebrate this "holiday" and what society "suggests" I should be doing around this time.

This year I'm very concerned about trying to raise a socially aware child. I want Daniel to know and honor all people and their cultures. So I started researching online what I can do with him since this month is National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

While I can't claim any connection to the American Indians of the USA, I suspect I have some claim to the Native Indians in Guyana in my family history. I suspect more on my father's side of the family but it could be from either of my parents. Anyway, I'm not the only one. Did you know that many African Americans can claim having Native American ancestry? There's currently an exhibit that highlights this invisible story

The exhibition IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas is a collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition Service (SITES).

African and Native peoples came together in the Americas. Over centuries, African Americans and Native Americans created shared histories, communities, families, and ways of life. Prejudice, laws, and twists of history have often divided them from others, yet African-Native American people were united in the struggle against slavery and dispossession, and then for self-determination and freedom.

For African-Native Americans, their double heritage is truly indivisible.

You can check the exhibit tour schedule to find out when it will be in your area. Since I can't travel to the DC exhibit I'm going to visit the The National Museum of the American Indian here in NYC with my son this month and see what cool activities they have.

 Join me if you like =)