MRKC - NASPA

MRKC MULTIRACIAL KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY

Navigating Borderland Communities in a Monolithic Paradigm

NASPA MultiRacial Knowledge Community E-Book April 2020

A Letter from the Research and Scholarship Co-Coordinators

Dear Community, As a relatively new knowledge community, the MultiRacial Knowledge Community constantly seeks ways to empower and help build community among its members; so, in 2015, the "MRKC iBook project" came to fruition. This year, we are ecstatic to bring back the E-Book, in hopes that we can address the ongoing conversation, what does it mean to find community in monolithic paradigms? Over the last year the MRKC leadership has grappled with what it means to uplift and support two distinct communities, both of which are often excluded from larger racial narratives and conversations. In choosing this theme, "Navigating Borderlands: Finding Community in Monolithic Paradigms," we hoped to capture the nuanced experiences of both transracial adoptees and multiracial people. We would like to acknowledge the work of Gloria E. Anzald?a and her work on Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (1987) and the parallels our communities are able to draw upon to support in contextualizing our experiences. As Asian American transracial/transnational adoptees, we are deeply drawn to Anzald?a's (1987) Borderlands Theory. While our experiences differ from the one's Anzald?a discusses in her work, we resonate with much of what she speaks of and see the parallels between our different experiences. We feel it is important and timely to share these stories. This year's E-Book includes a culmination of scholarly essays and research pieces, personal reflections and narratives, and poems and spoken word. Each piece amplifies the experiences and voices of multiracial students and transracial adoptees, as well as the challenges in navigating a borderland community. We are so grateful for the time and energy that brought this to fruition. We hope you not only enjoy but can take these stories forward with you in both your personal and professional experiences. With love and in solidarity, Willa Mei Kurland and Hannah Hyun White 2019-2021 MRKC Research and Scholarship Co-Coordinators

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, we would like to thank all our contributing authors. Thank you for your time, energy, love, and labor that you have put into crafting these deeply personal and powerful pieces of work. This ongoing conversation about finding community in

monolithic paradigms would not be possible without each of you. We also want to recognize that many of these pieces are written or inspired by your own truths and experiences, and it is a privilege to be able to read each of these pieces and have a

glimpse into your narrative.

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to our fellow MRKC Leadership Team members that supported us in the editing and feedback process. To Abby Chien, Caleb Howell, Sharon Jackson, and Sara Kan-Caldwell, thank you for your time and care in providing thoughtful feedback and edits and supporting us unconditionally during

the creation of this year's E-Book.

Lastly, we would like to recognize Selina Bustillos; one of MRKC's Communication CoCoordinators. Selina took our vision for this year's E-Book and made it a reality. There are no words to express how truly grateful we are to the time and energy she put into

creating this beautiful E-Book. Thank you, Selina for your trust and patience in us.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: POEMS Dear Mixed Girl and other inner discourse I once thought I would never vocalize............... 6 Lorene Fisher

CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH Transgressing Borders and Embracing the In-Between: A Transracial Asian American Adoptee's Autoethnographic Reflection Inspired by Gloria Anzald?a................................ 11 Aeriel A. Ashlee

I am Black but... Complexities of Being a Marginalized Multiracial and Implications for Practice....................................................................................................................16 Nicole Belisle and Michael Dixon

Mixed-Race & Mixed Experiences: Analyzing Support for Mixed-Race Students in HigherEducation Institutions................................................................................................ 22 Suzanna Stockey

Defining Blackness Through Lived Experiences............................................................. 29 Kevin Wright and Brianna Miloz

CHAPTER 3: NARRATIVES The Never-Ending Performance: The Role of Identity & Personal Narrative as a Diversity Educator.................................................................................................................. 35 Benjamin Beltran

What's in a Name?: My Racial Atravesado Story........................................................... 38 Juan Cabrera

You Belong Too: Creating Community for Multiracial Students.........................................42 Lisa Combs, Kinana King, David Lescano, Ethan Chiu

What's in a Home......................................................................................................46 Mecia Lockwood

5 Stages of Hapa-ness................................................................................................49 Cory Owen and Rachel Miho Christensen

Multiraciality in Graduate Preparation Programs............................................................53 Kamrie J. Risku

MULTIRACIAL KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITY E-BOOK, APRIL 2020

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