The Multiracial Identity Podcast

Introduction

What is the Multiracial identity? In the introduction to The Multiracial Identity Podcast, the host Robert Cox shares what the Multiracial identity means to him, in hopes of starting a conversation about what it means to the Multiracial community in America.
A community that is, as of 2023, almost 34 million strong.
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Episode 1: The Start of a Movement

Thanks for listening to The Multiracial Identity Podcast. In this very first episode of what will be an ongoing series of podcasts, Robert is joined by Susan Graham.
The founder of Project RACE, the main multiracial rights advocacy group for the last 30 years, Susan kicks us off by telling us her story. It started in 1990, it continues until today, and it details the foundation of the modern multiracial rights movement in America.
But first, a school enrollment in Georgia inspires a mother to advocate for her Multiracial son and daughter.
 
 
Links:
ProjectRACE.com
bethematch.org

Episode 2: How’s your health?

How’s your health as a Multiracial person in America?
Over and under dosing from common drugs, added donor complications, special neonatal concerns, Multiracial adults and children face challenges that many in the community are unaware of, mostly because of the lack of research by the medical establishment on and for Multiracial people.
Robert is joined again by Susan Graham of Project RACE for Episode 2 to discuss the medical implications of the Multiracial identity not being officially recognized by the US government.
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695719/
 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9316411/
 
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776936
 
https://bethematch.org/
 
https://projectrace.com/
 

Episode 3: With friends like these...

Robert and his returning guest Susan Graham of Project RACE talk about an issue that has affected both the Multiracial community as a whole and many Multiracial people personally: bigotry from people of color.
Continuing their look into Multiracial history, Susan and Robert discuss a key congressional hearing that took place before the census in 2000. Susan recounts how particularly Black politicians, and groups representing people of color and marginalized populations, openly fought against the Multiracial classification being added to the 2000 census.
Why? Was it really a concern for proper statistical aggregation? Or was it just plain, old bigotry.
 
https://www.c-span.org/video/?88402-1/census-2000-racial-classifications
 
https://bethematch.org/
 
https://projectrace.com/
 

Episode 4: It's time to #makemultiracialofficial.

With a key decision just months away about whether Multiracial with a capital “M” will be officially recognized by the United States government, 2024 must be a year of advocacy for the Multiracial identity.
In episode 4, Robert wraps up his talk with Susan Graham of Project RACE about the beginnings of the Multiracial rights movement and about the last time the infamous Directive 15 was under review: the years leading up to the 2000 census.
Susan shares some of the experience and knowledge she’s gained during her over 30 year fight, on the local and national level, to make Multiracial official. Knowledge and experience that informs the current advocacy and that can benefit any important cause working to affect change in government.
Multiracial Heritage Week is June 7th thru the 14th with Loving Day falling on the 12th. It’ll be here before we know it, but we do have time to come together as a community and advocate for ourselves and our children.
 
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/02/25/the-changing-categories-the-u-s-has-used-to-measure-race/
 
https://bethematch.org/
 
https://projectrace.com/
 

I was a TOMR now I'm a SATA?

In an earlier than expected announcement, the Office of Management and Budget has informed us all of what changes with be made to the infamous Directive 15 list of officially recognized racial groups in America. Few are surprised that Multiracial with a capital “M” isn’t on it.
In episode 5, Robert talks about the decision and his feelings about going from a person who chooses two or more races, to a person who can select all that apply. From a TOMR to a SATA. After 24 years of two races or more, the fight for an officially recognized Multiracial identity continues.
 
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2024/04/updates-race-ethnicity-standards.html#:~:text=The%20updated%20standards%20now%20require%20that%20the,identify%20with%20multiple%20race/ethnicity%20minimum%20reporting%20categories.
 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/29/2024-06469/revisions-to-ombs-statistical-policy-directive-no-15-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and#:~:text=OMB%20initially%20developed%20SPD%2015,surveys%2C%20and%20Federal%20administrative%20forms.
 
 
https://bethematch.org/
 
https://projectrace.com/