What are you? What am I? What are we? Bridging and Bonding in Multiracial Online Spaces

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 13: Multiracial, Transracial Spaces, and Navigations

Abstract

Research on multiracial communities remains limited, despite the increasing visibility of multiracial identities. This study examines how multiracial individuals build and sustain community in online spaces, focusing on the subreddit r/mixedrace and the TikTok community #mixedtok. Using ethnographic methods adapted for digital environments, this research explores how these platforms foster meaningful connections among individuals navigating complex racial identities. The study identifies three key mechanisms that support community formation: (1) appreciation posts that shift focus from grievance to celebration, offering emotional validation often lacking in offline experiences; (2) the transformation of the “What are you?” question into introspective “What am I?” dialogues, encouraging identity exploration within supportive environments; and (3) the cultivation of multiracial literacy, where individuals share knowledge about race, identity, and belonging beyond traditional monoracial frameworks. These findings highlight how digital spaces serve as vital sites for multiracial understanding and can facilitate new racial knowledge for monoracial and multiracial people alike, offering new perspectives on racial solidarity, community formation, and the evolving nature of belonging in contemporary society.

Author

• Ian Anthony Waller, University of California-Santa Barbara