Interracial Experience

The number of black-white mixed marriages increased by 504% in the last 25 years. By offering relevant demographic, research, and sociocultural data as well as a series of intensely personal and revealing vignettes, Dr. Brown investigates how mixed race people cope in a world that has shoehorned them into a racial category that denies half of their physiological and psychological existence. She also addresses their struggle for acceptance in the black and white world and the racist abuses many of them have suffered.

Brown interweaves research findings with interviews of children of black-white interracial unions to highlight certain psychosocial phenomenon or experiences. She looks at the history of interracial marriages in the United States and discusses the scientific and social theories that underlie the racial bigotry suffered by mixed people. Questions of racial identity, conflict, and self-esteem are treated as are issues of mental health. An important look at contemporary mixed race issues that will be of particular interest to scholars, researchers, students, and professionals dealing with race, family, and mental health concerns.

Offers significant new insights into the lives, struggles, frustrations and joys of mixed race people whose marginal social position has created a unique set of psychological challenges.

Booknews

A practicing psychotherapist in New Jersey, Brown specializes in treating interracial, cross-cultural, and inter-religious families. Here she explores the experience of growing up as part white and part black in the US, based on interviews with 119 young adults. She considers such aspects as racism, racial identity and self-esteem, the family, love and color, and being well. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

URSULA M. BROWN is a psychotherapist in private practice in Montclair, New Jersey.