Black, White, and Shades of Grey: Mixed-Race Social Coping Responses to Segregation on Campus

• In Event: 130 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 03. Mixed Race Studies

Abstract

Mixed-race persons have a unique dilemma in that they have to reconcile more than one racial identity when trying to navigate social environments. While most people have to reconcile race and class, as well as political values, all of this is made more complex when one is mixed race—particularly if their races are on opposite ends of the social hierarchy. It has been well-documented that mixed-race persons have an array of experiences, with many feeling pressured to “pick” a side as they grow up (Zack, 1995; Brown, 2001; Parker & Song, 2001; Bayor, 2003; Winters, 2003; Renn, 2004; Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2008). In socially segregated spaces, where people divide themselves by race as well as group affiliations (i.e. fraternities, sororities, religious or political groups, etc.), all students develop ways to navigate separate communities. This project, then, aims to understand the impact of social segregation on mixed race students. Using semi-structured interviews and photo elicitation, this research illustrates the social coping strategies utilized by mixed race undergraduates at both a public and a private university to deal with issues of self-segregation within the University community, providing a greater understanding of the power of racial identity and social acceptance when mixed-race persons attempt to navigate the diverse communities found at universities.

Author

• Shantel Gabrieal Buggs, University of Texas-Austin