LA Times: Multiracial families see Barack Obama as 'Other' like them

[marmar]

Multiracial families see Barack Obama as 'Other' like them

Some consider the president-elect's rise as a form of vindication in a society that hasn't always been kind to those who aren't easily defined by race.

By Don Terry
November 28, 2008


Reporting from Chicago -- A rainbow runs through Tyler Winograd's veins.

His mother, Maile, is half black and half Chinese American. His father, Jeff, is white and grew up Jewish in Evanston, Ill.

"I always check 'Other' on my college applications," Winograd said.

But on election day, Winograd was filling out a different kind of form. The 18-year-old accompanied his parents to the polling place across the street from their Glencoe, Ill., home to cast a ballot for president for the first time.

Winograd was excited just to be voting -- a simple act of citizenship that his African American grandfather told him people had died for. His parents were even more excited. The head of the Democratic ticket looked like their son. All of the Winograds voted for Barack Obama. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-multiracial-pride28-2008nov28,0,2496216.story

[liberalmuse]

1. Very timely.

I'll have to send this link to my nephew. He is of mixed race and was telling me just yesterday he sometimes checks the 'Other' box because he doesn't want to deny any of his heritage. Or he just doesn't check anything. Of course we were talking about President Obama and the increased threats just because of his skin color and then the discussion moved to how he is mixed race which is very reflective of America today and of the future.

On edit: That's a really good article. I think it's a wonderful thing that this country can have an open discussion on race. Mostly for us older folks. Though my nephew considers himself 'mixed', I'd never thought about it regarding him, he's just my beloved nephew. People of my generation are pretty aware of race. When I was a child, I remember the whispers around me in a grocery store once when a mixed race couple walked by. To my daughter and nephew, it's no big deal.

[jwirr]

2. Yes, my own family is one of those families. It was not hard for us to

see him as more than black. He is that rainbow.

[GreenInNC]

3. my sister in law

My sil is multi racial and is just loving life these days.

[Karenina]

4. Ah, the melting pot!

;-)