Raising a biracial child

When you look around, you see an abundance of color. There are primary colors, and colors that are created only when you mix one with another.

When you look around, you see an abundance of people. There are people with light skin, some with dark, but they are all the same in that they are human, living life to the fullest and wanting to share that life with others.

Bi-Racial children, in most cases, have no classification that is just for them on school forms. They are forced to be one race or to be an "other." There are more books and movies and television shows that depict and feature bi-racial children and inter racial families, but the fact that society still does not recognize a bi-racial individual is very vivid.

My daughter is bi-racial, though I like to refer to her as multi-cultural. Her dad is African American and I am Caucasian. When I fill out papers for school, I hand write "bi-racial" under other. I was recently told that for statistical purposes I had to choose only one race for my child. I refused, stating that since there was an "other" choice, then that was what I would select.

You can be unquestionably male or female. You can be without a doubt tall or short, with blue or brown eyes, dark or light skinned. But when you are bi-racial the classification is questioned and challenged.

My cultural background is mixed, yet there is no question that I am Caucasian. When people see my daughter they are curious because her skin is darker and her hair kinkier than mine. When told she is African American and Caucasian, the first question is usually 'how will you raise her.'

I am now re-married. My husband is Caucasian; fair skinned, blonde and blue eyed. Next to my daughter it is like night and day. When we are all out together, there is never any question about her being our daughter, maybe because she and I are so obviously mother and daughter. Yet, there are those who know and inevitably ask, 'but how will you raise her.'

I will raise my bi-racial child to know right from wrong. I will teach her courtesy, respect and love. I will support her in all that she does and be there to help her in the down times.

Studies have shown that children raised in families other than their own race have had no academic or emotional setbacks. As for culture, children learn what they are shown and taught. If you expose your children to your cultural beliefs and the beliefs of other cultures, they will accept and know of them and make sensible decisions for their own lives.

In my two religion and bi-racial home, we celebrate all holidays and have items of many cultures. In December, my daughter enjoys sharing in celebrations of Hanakuh, Kwanzaa and Christmas. Other times of the year allow for other celebrations, recognitions and always lots of learning and sharing.

People speak their minds. It is their American right. I merely ask why they speak of race contamination, impurity and spew words filled with misunderstanding, mistrust and vulgarity. Instead, they should be striving to learn about their own culture and what their culture shares with others.

We are all of one race; the human race. We have different cultural backgrounds, different skin colors and different religions. Together we can make the world a wonderful place and fill it with unique colors and personalities. Alienated by race and color tones, we will be distant and separate, not able to form the unique colors that make up a rainbow of wonderful people.