What Are You?: Voices of Mixed-Race Young People

I find it really sad that in a culture like the United States where we claim to be a "melting pot" we still haven't managed to get over who melts, and how they melt, as well as with which groups they mix with in the melting process. Speaking as a culturally-diverse young woman, about to graduate from college, I think it is of invaluable importance that people feel good about their cultures, feel free to express them and be given the respect they deserve. One point that was raised in WHAT ARE YOU? that I can definitely relate to is the scrutiny people experience when on the receiving end of other's judgments and prejudices. I am Polish/Latina/Lebanese and I can't tell you how many times people have said, "You don't look (fill in the blank)." The world has to realize people come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and the images projected on the boob tube, in the movies and in music are not a fair representation of all people. They are just a cross section of examples. We need to be open to the diversity of all. Then, maybe we can come to accept ourselves through accepting others.


More racial obssesion   April 26, 2004
 10 out of 67 found this review helpful

Here is more writing on the obsession of Americans with race. In Europe their is no race, their is just people, but here in America people cant go five minutes without wondering about race and race relations, as if it is the single most defining item in life. this book analyzes so-called 'biracial' kids and the trouble they have when posed the question 'where are you from' or 'what is your heritage'. The answer should be as simple as 'Cleveland' and 'Asian and white'. But this book convolutes the subject by making it seem like 'biracial' kids have lots of trouble. The reality is the only one giving them trouble is books like this that make them feel different and out of place and put emphasis on their 'racial differences'. In reality 'biracial' is not even the correct word for children of two races. Rather the correct word is 'American citizen' because these children aren't actually two races, if anything they are like most of us, they are a blend of cultures and heritage. For instance lets say the kid is Mexican and black. Then the kid is actually Spanish, Indian, African and maybe even part Anglo-Saxon, and probably has some moor blood as well. So the kid is not really 'biracial' and the very term in itself is racist.

So in the final analysis this book does little to help children like myself, who are mutli-culture, and does more to harm then heal.

(...)


I wish it had been on the shelves when I was a teen.   October 23, 2001
 16 out of 16 found this review helpful

I had been waiting for this book all of my life and when I found it and read it I wished it had been on the shelves when I was a teen and young adult. It is enlightening and enriching to finally hear the many voices that exist outside of the boxes. As an American born in this country who constantly heard and still hear, "Where are you from?" on a regular basis, I highly recommend this book to all adults who have lived through the mixed race reality and for their children who are mixed race.


Inside Her Head ...   April 15, 2001
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Reading this book made me remember a biracial childhood friend. As young children, we thought of her as no different from the rest of the kids in the neighborhood. However, as we got to high school, people wanted to define her, wanted her to define herself. She didn't. I admired her for that. I always wished I could've felt comfortable enough with her to find out just what was going on inside her head during those times. After reading this book, now I feel that maybe I have a glimpse of that. This book will help anyone who is not biracial have a better understanding of the thoughts and experiences of those who are.