Mixed-Race Identity in Today‘s Culture & How It Can Impact Those Working in the Legal Industry

“The way mixed-race people have been portrayed and thought about historically to the present has been very contradictory,” says Dr. Sika Dagbovie- Mullins, Author of Crossing B(l)ack: Mixed-Race Identity in Modern American Fiction and Culture. Growing up in a mixed household, Dagbovie-Mullins has always been intrigued by mixed-race identity. Through her work as an author and African American literature professor, she continuously challenges traditional claims about biracial identification through a concept she calls “black-sentient mixed-race identity.” In today’s episode, Host Alex Valencia and guest Dr. Sika Dagbovie-Mullins sit down to discuss the ways in which biracial identities are portrayed in modern culture. 

In recent decades, America has seen an increasing influx of biracial representation in fictional work and pop culture, but conversations around race are still uncomfortable for the average person, specifically white Americans. While we are seeing an increase in representation, Dagbovie-Mullins encourages people to take a deeper look into the messages being portrayed. There are many instances where pop culture is obsessed with fetishizing biracial people, specifically black and white. Dagbovie-Mullins explains the purpose of these fetishes as a way for America to deal with the fears and anxieties of dissolving whiteness. 

Through her writing and analysis of pop culture figures, Dagbovie-Mullins challenges the race rules set in America by being attentive to the way personal paths collide with public perceptions. She explains that It is entirely possible to display the desire to be free of race roles, and people can be both black and mixed- race, without resisting black consciousness. 

While there has been significant change in recent decades, there is still a lot more work that needs to be done to close the racial gap. Tune into this week’s episode of The We Do Marketing Hour podcast for a deep analysis of mixed-race identity and how it can impact those working in the legal field. 

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Quotes:

“I see myself as both mixed-race and black, and I don't see those things as opposed. Some people read those as separate, I read those as complementary to each other.” (11:21-11:35)
“Whatever ethnicity we are, we should be talking to our kids about race because the reality is there is a lot of tension, and it's better to kind of be informed and comfortable about talking about it, then uncomfortable and pretending that we're all fine.” (20:06-20:20)
“The way mixed-race people have been portrayed and thought about historically to the present has been very contradictory.” (01:11:07-01:11:13)
“Representation matters, no matter who you are.” (01:16:52-01:16:55)

Default Links:

Guest Profile - https://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/english/faculty/dagbovie/ 

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