The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain
In the 2017 Danzy Senna novel, New People, the mixed-race protagonist is described as a white ‘passing’ mixed-race woman who interprets the death of her adopted Black mother as a symbol of the death of her Black identity. The book’s themes parallel ongoing multiracial political debates that explore...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Rhianna Garrett |
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| description | In the 2017 Danzy Senna novel, New People, the mixed-race protagonist is described as a white ‘passing’ mixed-race woman who interprets the death of her adopted Black mother as a symbol of the death of her Black identity. The book’s themes parallel ongoing multiracial political debates that explore the extent to which mixed-race people with proximity to whiteness perceive individual agency in identity negotiations. This paper examines how mixed-race people in Britain discuss the experience of loss and separation, thereby demonstrating how loss and separation interact with their sense of self. Employing a content and thematic analysis of 19 stories from the British-based organisation Mixedracefaces, my findings show that the mixed-race respondents saw their racially marginalised family members as critical connections to their own. Thus, a process of identity de/construction was instigated when they experienced a loss that perpetuated and/or challenged monoracism. I argue that we must disrupt oppressive monoracial paradigms of ‘race’ that uphold monoracial whiteness and prevent mixed-race identity agency. Through mixed-race counterstories, we can reveal further generational histories of struggles, resistance, love, and refusal in Britain. I intentionally provide a safe space for the millions of mixed people looking for connection through this experience. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-24ae5aebce8f4e0abd65194bb17e96dd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2313-5778 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Genealogy |
| spelling | doaj-art-24ae5aebce8f4e0abd65194bb17e96dd2025-08-20T02:21:10ZengMDPI AGGenealogy2313-57782025-04-01924410.3390/genealogy9020044The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race BritainRhianna Garrett0Geography and Environment, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TT, UKIn the 2017 Danzy Senna novel, New People, the mixed-race protagonist is described as a white ‘passing’ mixed-race woman who interprets the death of her adopted Black mother as a symbol of the death of her Black identity. The book’s themes parallel ongoing multiracial political debates that explore the extent to which mixed-race people with proximity to whiteness perceive individual agency in identity negotiations. This paper examines how mixed-race people in Britain discuss the experience of loss and separation, thereby demonstrating how loss and separation interact with their sense of self. Employing a content and thematic analysis of 19 stories from the British-based organisation Mixedracefaces, my findings show that the mixed-race respondents saw their racially marginalised family members as critical connections to their own. Thus, a process of identity de/construction was instigated when they experienced a loss that perpetuated and/or challenged monoracism. I argue that we must disrupt oppressive monoracial paradigms of ‘race’ that uphold monoracial whiteness and prevent mixed-race identity agency. Through mixed-race counterstories, we can reveal further generational histories of struggles, resistance, love, and refusal in Britain. I intentionally provide a safe space for the millions of mixed people looking for connection through this experience.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/9/2/44mixed raceidentitylossBritainconstructionwhiteness |
| spellingShingle | Rhianna Garrett The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain Genealogy mixed race identity loss Britain construction whiteness |
| title | The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain |
| title_full | The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain |
| title_fullStr | The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain |
| title_full_unstemmed | The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain |
| title_short | The De/Construction of Identity: The Complexities of Loss and Separation for Mixed-Race Britain |
| title_sort | de construction of identity the complexities of loss and separation for mixed race britain |
| topic | mixed race identity loss Britain construction whiteness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/9/2/44 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rhiannagarrett thedeconstructionofidentitythecomplexitiesoflossandseparationformixedracebritain AT rhiannagarrett deconstructionofidentitythecomplexitiesoflossandseparationformixedracebritain |