Racial identifications are continually influenced by and constructed through one’s environment. Building on Jean Baudrillard’s “The Precession of Simulacra” and Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space, this thesis argues that houses and clothing are the material objects that allow characters Birdie Lee from Danzy Senna’s Caucasia and Helga Crane from Nella Larsen’s Quicksand to construct their mixed race identities. Birdie Lee’s childhood home is the place where she develops a mixed race identity. When she leaves that home, she is forced to take on simulacra in order to pass for white. Without a stable childhood or adult home, Helga Crane’s wardrobe becomes the space where she unconsciously develops a mixed race identity. Her clothing choices allow her to simulate an entirely black identity that masks her mixed race heritage. Ultimately, the fates of Birdie and Helga are determined by whether or not they can occupy a space that is accepting of their mixed race identities. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A narrative inheritance is comprised of the stories told by family members that are received by a younger generation and used to help construct identity. According to the communication theory of identity, identity is formed through communication. Additionally, the storied resource perspective looks at narratives as a major method of creating and maintaining identity. This study looks at the kinds of narrative inheritance concerning race that people in multiracial families receive and possible ways it affects racial identity formation. Findings from 12 semi-structured interviews indicate that narratives of racism, cultural pride, and hardship are prevalent in multiracial families. Additionally, findings show that varying family structures may affect the transference of racial narratives between generations, which can in turn affect how multiracial children choose to identify themselves racially.

The present study integrated Critical Multiracial Theory (MultiCrit) and Minority Stress Theory and examined the associations between racial identity invalidation, a racial stressorunique to biracial or multiracial individuals, internalized racial oppression and self-esteem in a sample of 211 biracial Asian-White emerging adults. The study specifically explored four domains of internalized racial oppression unique to biracial individuals (internalized racial inferiority, minority identity shame, distancing from minority identity, colorism). The study also sought to examine whether racial socializations strategies unique to multiracial families(multiracial identity socialization, navigating multiple heritages socialization, preparation for monoracism socialization, and race-conscious socialization) moderated the relationship between racial identity invalidation and internalized racial oppression. Results from a path analysis indicated that there was a significant positive relationship between racial identity invalidation and minority identity shame, a significant positive relationship between internalized racial inferiority and self-esteem, and a significant negative relationship between minority identity shame and self-esteem. Minority identity shame also significantly mediated the relationship between racial identity invalidation and self-esteem. Preparation for monoracism socialization significantly moderated the relationship between racial identity invalidation and minority identity shame. Implications for future research and clinical practice with biracial Asian-White individuals are discussed.