Miller, R. L. & Miller, B. (1990). Mothering the biracial child: Bridging the gaps between African-American and white parenting styles. Women and Therapy, 10, 169-179.

     The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the parenting skills needed to help biracial (African-American/white) children handle life effectively. Miller and Miller report that most African-American children learn by the age of six that their color usually arouses "contempt, fear, and derision" more than a positive view, in American society. Because of this, African-American parents have established several parenting techniques—for reasons of survival. First, they refute any cultural messages that only lower self-esteem and efficacy. Second, they endorse a sense of uniqueness. Third, they teach their children strategies for how to deal with racism and help develop coping devices to help them deal with legal and "defacto" experiences of discrimination.

     It is stated that white parents have not needed to use these parenting techniques because of social acceptance of whiteness. Children with mixed parentage, though it is argued still need to be taught the same strategies for survival that African-American children are taught because they are also viewed as a minority by society. African –Americans’ learn to integrate majority values, African-American culture, and a minority group agenda. It is also important for biracial individuals to integrate these competing systems in order to maintain a healthy personal identity that is not dragged down by a faulty societal system of oppression.

             Created by Carrie Ferber and Kayoko Nakamura

Contact information: Katherine Rhoades, rhoadeka@uwec.edu