Being a mixed race can bring with it a wide range of experiences, cultures and microaggressions, all that can start at a young age. As mixed race people grow up, looking back and processing and working through the experiences when we were children can be incredibly healing and formative to our identities. Farzana Nayani talks about why it’s important to look at this and how mixed race people can start to give some love and attention to our inner mixed kid.
About Farzana Nayani
Farzana Nayani (she/her) is a recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, coach, and speaker for over 20 years. She has contributed curriculum and program design for the Smithsonian and the East-West Center and has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Parents, NPR, the Washington Post, and the LA Times. Farzana is Filipina and Pakistani and is the parent of two multiracial sons and has written the book, Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World. She founded the multiracial community on Instagram called @multiracialmatters.
Small Steps in the Show:
- Take moments to pause and reflect on who you really want to be, how you want to show up and what is comfortable for you.
- Notice how your identity changes, when it changes and why it changes.
- Allow for your identity to shift and change without guilt or shame.
- Remember that other people in your life are on their own journey and understandings around identity.
- Have patience and grace in yourself or with other folks in your life.
- Find opportunities for young people in your life to embrace many parts of their identities.
- Find multiracial communities locally and online to get support.
- Check out Farzana’s book for other resources to find other mixed communities and people.
Mentioned in the Show:
Take the Small Steps Podcast Listener Survey
Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World, Farzana Nayani
Maria P.P. Root’s Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage
Being All of Me, Farzana Nayani
Multiracial Americans of Southern California
Farzana’s Website
Work with Farzana
Follow Farzana on Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter
Multiracial Matters Website
Follow Multiracial Matters on Instagram
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Edited by Bex Carlos
