What Century is it?: Inter/Multiracial Families Continue to Create Controversy

I was surprised, actually more like shocked, to read about the racist outburst in response to a new Cheerios ad featuring a multiracial family composed of a biracial girl, a white mother and a black father. (Disclaimer--I grew up in Canada so am often shocked by some of the political/social dynamics in the U.S.) See the ad here. Although "thumbs up" to the new ad outnumbered "thumbs down" by over 12 to 1, the vitriol of some of the comments led General Mills to shut down the comments on Youtube, although the ad will continue to air on TV.

Inter or multiracial families have become much more common in recent years.  For instance, a recent Pew Center research report indicated that interracial marriages grew from 3% in 1980 to 8.3 % in 2010.  Of course, this doesn't include the many non-marital families that include members of multiple races. And yet apparently they continue to be viewed by many as abnormal, or even wrong.

I am in the middle of a new book by Angela Onwuachi-Willig, According to our Hearts: Rhinelander v. Rhinelander and the Law of the Multiracial Family (see here).  Angela looks back, to the infamous New York case involving a "wealthy white blueblood" and the working-class woman of mixed-race background who married in 1924. In Part one of her book, Angela outlines their relationship and the later annulment trial.  Part two outlines some lessons from the Rhinelander case for black-white intimate relationships today.  Drawing on employment discrimination cases as well as interviews and polls, the book posits concludes that interracial families continue to be treated unequally. According to our Hearts is engrossing and a fascinating read, particularly given current events from Cheerios ads to pending marriage equality cases.