Mixed Race Families in America by Deepika Chona

Reading various books that deal with families of mixed race got me thinking about the increasing prevalence of mixed race families in our society today. Whereas many children in the past were born to parents of the same racial ethnicity, today it is becoming more common to see children of mixed race. What effects could this new trend have in the future?


I believe that the percentages of mixed race vs. single ethnicity are going to flip so that the majority of families will be mixed rather than identify with one shared ethnicity. Unlike in the past, where certain traditions and rituals could be identified with specific races, there will probably be a greater blending of cultures. I can already see this happening in my extended family. My cousin, who is half American, half Indian, is engaged to an African American. Regardless of what religion or racial ethnicity my cousin's children choose to identify with, they will probably celebrate most of the holidays of their different backgrounds.

To me, this increasing mesh of cultures can prove beneficial to our society, because in America specifically, it would portray the true "melting pot" vision that people like to refer to this country as. Today, this classification is sometimes rejected and the "salad bowl" is embraced in an attempt to more accurately describe the concept that people may be open to new ideas and people but ultimately identify with their own kind.