Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World

Published in 2020
288 pages

epub


Farzana Nayani is a passionate advocate and educator regarding the understanding of culture and race within organizations, schools, and the community. She holds a master’s degree in communications and management from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and the esteemed East-West Center, as well as a bachelor of education and a bachelor of arts in psychology and English from the University of British Columbia. As a certified teacher, former classroom educator, and a multiethnic parent of multiracial children, Nayani has focused on bridging understanding across cultural differences throughout her entire career and personal life.

In her current work as a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and intercultural trainer, Nayani has conducted research, workshops, and curriculum design on cross-cultural topics for two decades. Her work has appeared in Forbes, DiversityInc, LA Parent, the Smithsonian and NPR. She is on the advisory board of Multiracial Americans of Southern California, is a part of the CAUSE Leadership Network, has advised for the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), and is coaching faculty for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coaching Center at The Forum on Workplace Inclusion.

What is this book about?
The essential guide to parenting multiracial and multiethnic children of all ages–and learning to nourish, support, and celebrate their multiracial identity.

While one of the fastest growing demographics in the US is comprised of people who identify as two or more races, parents of multiethnic kids are still seeking practical, accessible, and up-to-date books written just for them. In a world where people are more likely to proclaim colorblindness than talk openly about race, how can we truly value, support, and celebrate our kids’ identity? How can we assess our own sense of racial readiness, and develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing multiracial children today?

Raising Multiracial Children gives parents the tools for exploring race with their children, offering practical guidance on how to initiate conversations; consciously foster multicultural identity development; discuss issues like microaggressions, intersectionality, and privilege; and intentionally cultivate a sense of belonging. It provides an overview of key issues and current topics relevant to raising multiracial children and offers strategies that can be implemented in the classroom and at home, with developmentally appropriate milestones from infancy through adulthood. The book ends with resources and references for further learning and exploration.