All Mixed Up? Myths and Realities About Multiracial Professionals
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
This is a little teaser video I put together to help publicize a workshop I’m presenting at The Partnership’s 2007 Annual Winter Conference in Boston on Thursday, December 6th. To find out more and/or register for this event, click here.
All Mixed Up? Myths and Realities About Multiracial Professionals
“She doesn’t know if she’s Asian or white!” “He has major identity issues.” Chances are you’ve heard others talk about mixed race people using simplistic stereotypes like this. The reality is that being multiracial is a complex, multi-layered experience. In this session, Carmen Van Kerckhove identifies some of the common assumptions made about mixed race people, points out why these are untrue, and discusses some of the implications that the growing multiracial population has on the workplace.
WHAT ATTENDEES WILL LEARN:
- Why identifying as multiracial is not a racial “cop-out”
- What the one-drop rule is and how it continues to influence our view of race today
- Why the rise of multiracial people and interracial couples cannot be taken as evidence that racism is declining
WHAT TOOLS ATTENDEES WILL TAKE AWAY:
- Find out what ”racial scripts” are and how they influence your interactions with others
- Discover why some multiracial professionals don’t like it when people ask them, “What are you?”
- Learn why there is so much inconsistency in the way multiracial people are classified on official forms.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of 
ilikebeingafan wrote:
This is great Carmen! Why haven’t you (and others) submitted stuff like this for the “Winnies” awards for video bloggers ? (-:
http://www.youarethewinner.org
Just saw the link and heard they need content for the official website and awards party in LA.. Be great to see you, Jay Smooth, and the other videobloggers of color represented in this– no time to be camera shy when others get their fame! Good luck…
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 7:33 am ¶
Cynthia wrote:
You do realize that children of immigrants have “identity” issues too, right?
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 10:04 am ¶
islandgirl550 wrote:
Someone said this to me the other day…
” You’re black and Cuban with a little Asian mixed in? But you don’t look like J. Lo?!!!! How can you be Cuban too? You’re so dark.” Wanna know what my response was? Don’t think it’ll be appropriate to type….
Carmen, I’d love to attend when you have one of these conferences in NYC!!!
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 10:29 am ¶
Black Strawberry wrote:
When are you going to the west Coast! I wanna go!!!!!!!!!!! waaaaaaaaa! (just jokeing) but still!
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 11:28 am ¶
Sara no H. wrote:
I second Black Strawberry — come to San Diego some time, yeah? This looks awesome and I hate to think I’m missing it over a measly thing like airfare.
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 4:01 pm ¶
Wendi Muse wrote:
this looks awesome!
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 4:28 pm ¶
TheLostGirl wrote:
Are people still singing this same old song? Really? Oh, wow. P.S. How is a really racist trailer gonna get people to sign up… did I miss something!?!
Posted 21 Nov 2007 at 6:33 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
TheLostGirl, the video includes some of the common myths that exist about multiracial people - myths that I then break down and challenge in the workshop. And yes, unfortunately people are still singing this same old song, as you put it.
Posted 22 Nov 2007 at 1:13 pm ¶
TheLostGirl wrote:
Carmen, seems I did miss something then (sorry). Keep up the great work and good luck with the workshop!
Posted 22 Nov 2007 at 7:41 pm ¶
SolShine7 wrote:
The song selection is perfect!!! Corbin Bleu’s “Mixed Up” is one of my favorites.
Posted 25 Nov 2007 at 12:23 am ¶
Roger Green wrote:
As of 11/26 pm 4 pm, the video’s MIA.
Posted 26 Nov 2007 at 3:56 pm ¶
Leslie wrote:
Can you tell me if you’ll be at other conferences like The Partnership’s 2007 Annual Winter Conference in Boston? I’d like my organizations senior leaders to attend (west coast locations would be even better!)
Posted 30 Nov 2007 at 5:31 pm ¶
Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:
Hi Leslie,
That’s the only confirmed workplace-related conference I’m speaking at so far, but if that changes I’ll let you know.
No west coast conferences yet.
Posted 30 Nov 2007 at 5:55 pm ¶