The reversal of laws forbidding interracial marriages combined with societal changes has resulted in a growing population of multiracial individuals. A multiracial person is defined as "someone with two or more socially distinct racial heritages—one or more from each parent" (Nishimura, 1998; Root, 1992). Because multiracial people have more than one racial heritage, they often face unique identity developmental issues, which stem from feeling socially forced to identify with only one of their racial identities.

     Feeling forced to negate part of their racial identity can begin within the family, if they are encouraged to identify a certain way. Because of this, it is important within the family context for parents to support and educate their children, regarding all their racial heritages (Miller & Miller, 1990; Nishimura, 1998; Pinderhughes, 1995). Outside of the family, society often views them according to how they physically appear and if they do not identify as such, it makes life harder. Although being multiracial can allow for greater freedom among social groups, it often serves to isolate them from feeling that they belong to any group at all. Because of this multiracial persons often prefer to live in areas that have a large number of interracial families, which makes it acceptable to identify as multiracial (Kerwin, Ponterotto, Jackson, & Harris, 1993; Pinderhughes, 1995).

     A study conducted by N. J. Nishimura (1998) reveals some of the issues that multiracial college students are faced with in accepting their multiracial identity. Some of the issues that arose during the focus sessions included:

• Race is an ever-present issue—messages like "color doesn’t matter" are unrealistic.

"In the second grade I got into an argument with a peer of mine and he called me a ‘zebra’. I had no clue what he meant."

• Identity development is an ongoing dilemma—multiracial students often struggle to fit into different racial groups.

"There were times I did not feel like I totally belonged to that group (African American students)…the White kids saw me as Black, and the Black guys saw me as White, either way I was ‘screwed."

• Role models are important for multiracial students—they feel it is important to have someone that can empathize with their particular situation.

"If someone had been there to guide me through, encouraging me to accept being biracial, it would have been easier."

• Identity development is a complex process—Identity development is difficult for multiracial students but helps to give them a new awareness and understanding of identity, which most people cannot understand.

"Being multiracial allows you to have a perspective that they (monoracial people) can’t have. It’s not always easy growing up. Now, I know a lot about identity, but maybe because I have had to deal with it a lot more."

    How a person deals with their racial identity differs from person to person. Within multiracial identity there are numerous racial groupings—creating diverse racial identities. In addition, some multiracial persons may feel most comfortable associating with only one of their ethnicities; thus, it is impossible to generalize all multiracial persons although general themes emerge regarding the difficulties that tend to accompany being multiracial. It is important to allow each individual the option of identifying themselves however they feel most comfortable.

     What is apparent is that there is a greater need for both research and education regarding the unique issues that multiracial persons deal with. Continual research is so important because the experiences that multiracial persons have are continually changing as society changes. It is through increased education and societal acceptance of a multiracial identity along with the growing number of multiracial persons that we may eventually be able to break down the racial barriers that still exist today. 

There is a need for further research on...

• how to meet the needs of multiracial persons both as children and as adults.
• the positive aspects of being multiracial and how multiracial persons help to break down the racial barriers in society.
• regional and national differences in the acceptance of multiracial individuals.

   The Association of MultiEthnic Americans fights to break down these barriers and through their efforts they have helped to change the government's system for filling out Census forms. Multiracial individuals when filling in racial and ethnic information will now be able to check off multiple racial categories on government forms and agencies that are funded by federal monies. Prior to this multiracial persons have had to follow the "one-drop rule," which did not allow for multiracial persons to acknowledge their true racial heritages.  The publicity that will be used to educate the public regarding this change will help provide greater acceptance and understanding of interracial families and multiracial persons. 

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