De Silva & Clarke (2007) observe that there is a need to clarify and underscore the significance and uniqueness of institutional racism as an issue in the practice of social work. Furthermore, they cite the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) policy position against institutional racism in their appeal to social workers to act in ways that will limit the effects of such racisms (De Silva & Clarke, 2007). Thus, an analysis of the impact of discrimination on people of multiracial backgrounds along with the impact of multiethnic distinction across the American society is appropriate.
According to Jones & Smith (2001), the 2000 US Census for the first time featured a racial category that enabled people to self-report having multiethnic backgrounds. This change in reporting racial background translated to approximately 2.5% of the American population reporting their mixed ethnic origins. Advancing this notion further, Humes, Jones, & Ramirez (2011), observed a more than 30% increase in the number of self-reporting multiracial individuals and cite the multiracial community as the fastest growing racial demographic. The Pew Research Center (2015) made a similar observation. Then again, change in the racial category reporting approach is but one sign of the racism people of multiethnic origins encounter.
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The impact of discrimination based on race has unique impacts on people of multiethnic origins. Sue, Capodilupo, Torino, Bucceri, Holder, Nadal, & Esquilin, (2007), define microaggression as: “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of color”. Additionally, they are exposed to various forms of overt discrimination. Multi-racial people are not allowed to identify as multiracial, essentially forcing them to pick one racial heritage over another. Townsend, Markus, & Bergsicker (2009), observe that the structure of demographic forms leads to negative self-views among multiracial individuals. This means that the numerous demographic forms available potentially expose multiracial individuals to such views daily.
According to Johnston & Nadal (2010), exclusion and isolation describe a form of microaggression that continuously invalidates the racial identity of multiethnic individuals. This means that multiracial people often feel like they do not belong to the race with which they identify or that they should not identify with their racial and cultural groups. Generally, such discrimination is both frustrating and confusing to the affected individuals.
Social workers need to interrogate how they categorize people and attendant assumptions. Further advancing this notion, De Silva et.al (2007) cite the NASW’s policy position on all forms of racism. On the other hand, families with biracial children need to understand that, by the very definition of multiracialism, getting understanding and acceptance within the family setting may not be possible. Thus, parents, teachers and social workers ought to encourage the formation and publicization of multiracial support networks (Adams, et al., 2013). This is crucial as multiracial support networks are problematic to access and the lack of multiracial role models can impede the racial identity development of such youth.
Institutional racism and microaggressions are examples of daily social realities among people of multicultural backgrounds. Due to their mixed racial heritage, their encounter with racism is singular. Furthermore, considering their relatively small demographic presence, it is easy to see why. However, demographic trends support the notion that the impact of racism against this group should be illuminated and understood with the aim of ending such discrimination. Hence, it is important that social workers check their own assumptions in the context of facilitating the fight against racism.
References
Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, C., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2013). Readings for diversity and social justice . (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Press.
De Silva, C., E., & Clark, J., E. (2007). Institutional Racism & The Social Work Profession: A Call to Action. National Association of Social Workers . Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=SWK1aR53FAk%3d&portalid=0 . Retrieved on September 26, 2018.
Humes, K., Jones, N., & Ramirez, R. (2011). Overview of race and Hispanic origin: 71 2010. 2010 Census Briefs . Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-02.pdf . Retrieved on September 26, 2018.
Johnston, M. & Nadal, K. (2010). Multiracial microaggressions: Exposing monoracism in everyday life and clinical practice. In D. Sue (Ed.) Microaggressions and marginality: Manifestation, dynamics, and impact (pp. 123-144). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Jones, A., N., & Smith, S., A. (2001). The Two or More Races Population: 2000. U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/c2kbr01-6.pdf . Retrieved on September 26, 2018.
Sue, W., D., Capodilupo, M., C., Torino, C. G., Bucceri, M., J., Holder. M., B., A., Nadal, L., K., & Esquilin, M. (2007). Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice. American Psychologist . Retrieved from https://world-trust.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/7-Racial-Microagressions-in-Everyday-Life.pdf . Retrieved on September 26, 2018.
The Pew Research Center (2015). Multiracial in America: Proud, Diverse and Growing in Numbers. Retrieved from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/06/11/multiracial-in-america/ . Retrieved on September 26, 2018.
Townsend, S. S. M., Markus, H. R., & Bergsicker, H. B. (2009). My choice, your categories: The denial of multiracial identities. Journal of Social Issues, 65, 185–204.
