Date
6-17-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Daphne Washington
Keywords
Multiracial, Biracial, Identity, Racial Division, Monoracial Lens
Disciplines
Counseling | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
Recommended Citation
Jackson, Carissa N., "A Qualitative Study of Multiracial Individuals Sharing Black and White Racial Identities Within the Southeastern United States" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8632.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8632
Abstract
Racial identity can be complex, especially when considering those with a biracial or multiracial identity (Holliday, 2019). American society often conceptualizes race through a monoracial lens, leaving individuals with multiracial identities marginalized, sometimes forcing them into an unchosen identity and resulting in a potential loss autonomy (Albuja et al., 2020; Albuja et al., 2019; Harris et al., 2021; Mitchell, 2022; Rozek & Gaither, 2021; Song, 2021). The purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand social, emotional, mental, and relational impact of living in a monoracially lensed society on individuals with Black and White multiracial identities in the southeastern United States. For the purposes of this study, a Black and White multiracial identity included people identifying as Black, White, and other races (e.g., Native American, Latino, Filipino). A transcendental methodological approach was applied to understand the effects of racial division on the multiracial person. Six participants participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. Five primary themes emerged: Acceptance, identity, and marginalization, reflecting participants’ desire for acceptance and feeling more fully seen when personally known beyond initial racial perceptions. Fluidity of racial identity, in which participants described shifts in how they presented across social settings, often through code-switching that was not always intentional; Family dynamics, which highlighted participants’ understanding, acceptance, and expression of their multiracial identity were influenced by their upbringing and family relationships; Impact of societal events, in which participants described their responses to racially charged national events (e.g., George Floyd); and Pride in racial identity, in which participants expressed pride in their multiracial heritage and their perceived ability to bridge understanding across racial groups.
