I've been reading this over a couple of days and hesitated to step in. As the parent of 4 bi-racial (African American/Caucasian) kids I clearly have a bit of a bias. I have discovered (as have they) that the blurring of the lines cause many folks to assume they share heritage. They have been invited to India to meet the family of friends where they look like the cousins.... Italian, Puerto Rican,Native American.... I've fould most folks assume their background is the one they are most comfortable with....

Azizi, I know one of the most startling lessons for me as I learnt to walk between the color lines was the degree of shade conciousness in the African American Community. Even within families a child with darker skin maybe seen as less beautiful. I understand recessives and know as you mix things up all kinds of combinations are possible. But the reinforcement of beauty standards come from all sides. My mom spent years trying to put a curl in my long straight brown hair while my sisters-in-law tried to straighten their's....


We all need to look beyond the features to the spirit. Those I love and respect the most may not (okay I don't think a single one) be a conventional text book beauty but they glow and that reflects back in the relationship.

I grew up in a white New England Mill town. And yes, my children look different than the ones I grew up with... but there is actually a College Club at George Washington University called ReMix with an abundance of members who scatter genomes all over the place. They will define the future. Our past experiences clutter up their vision.