A new UCLA study confirms what we already know at Mixed Roots Stories: audiences want diversity on TV, and it’s high time the studios and conglomerates understand this and reflect it in their casting, hiring of writers and of directors and crew. Onward with media that reflects the PEOPLE!
Read the study here: http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/study-finds-that-tv-shows-with-248757.aspx
Grandmothering: Real Life in Real Families is a new book by Becky Sarah (Child Development Specialist, midwife and childbirth educator, Public Health Director for the City of Chelsea, MA and, most importantly, Grandmother). The book offers practical advice to women whose grandchildren’s worlds are very different from the ones they themselves grew up in. The section on Multiracial Families includes references to Loving v. Virginia, the one-drop rule, and why stating that you’re “Colorblind” is not helpful to young children (or anyone, for that matter). Mixed Roots Stories is also very proud to be included as a resource. Take a moment to read the synopsis and reviews on Amazon, and if you enjoy it as much as we do – add it to your collection and to your gift-giving list. http://www.amazon.com/Grandmothering-Real-Life-Families/dp/0989791807/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381004049&sr=8-1&keywords=grandmothering
From npr.org
Mixed race entries are the “single largest category” of submissions for The Race Card Project. Today’s post features a family with Norwegian and ‘Black’ roots. Check out the story and add your six words about being Mixed by clicking the link below: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/14/231447526/holding-onto-the-other-half-of-mixed-race
photo from the New York Times
Although I don’t love the term ‘Hispanics,’ I connected with this article on many levels. I’m very interested in how people identify themselves on the census (much of my solo show explores the ever-changing ‘racial’ categories on the U.S. census). I also had the wonderful opportunity to play a Nahuatl woman (an indigenous culture mostly located in Central Mexico) in a performance at Cal State LA during my MFA program. Also as an ESL teacher, I’ve had a lot of Mexican students who are proud of their indigenous roots. I always encourage them to both learn to be fluent in ESL, and also to hold strong to the cultures and traditions from which they came – this article gives me hope that that is, in fact, what is happening!
New York Times article link: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/04/nyregion/more-hispanics-in-us-calling-themselves-indian.html?_r=1
Thanks to Glenn Robinson (mixedamericanlife.wordpress.com) for this comment and edit to the post: Nahuatl is the language spoken by the Nahua people. They are more commonly referred to as Aztecs.
Mixed American Life, curated by Glenn Robinson, has the most impressive Blogroll on the Mixed experience we’ve found anywhere. His posts are updated frequently, and Glenn stays connected to the Mixed community through an active Twitter account ( @_iamrace_) as well. http://mixedamericanlife.wordpress.com/
This is a wonderful opportunity for high school aged storytellers (grades 10, 11, 12) in LA/Ventura/Orange/San Bernardino Counties. Students of all backgrounds and abilities are invited to apply – but the deadline is MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2013! Break a leg!
Click here for application materials: http://www.centertheatregroup.org/augustwilson?utm_source=mail2&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EmailSBOpeningNightPhotos
This is an anonymous survey for people over 18. Please help add to the research if this is you!
Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MXZVKJB
At Mixed Roots Stories, we’re all about asking questions and delving deeply into the complexities of mixedness. Here’s a blog post by Sam Alexander that is a very worthwhile read: http://rudegirlmag.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/forging-our-own-identities-a-mixed-race-manifesto/
Mark, Chandra and I were so fortunate to meet Rachel Garcia and Thu Tran (www.thesingerandthesongwriter.com) when we worked together producing the 2012 Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival. They’ve changed their name to The Singer & the Songwriter (they were called Ampersand then), and are now running a Kickstarter campaign to fund their debut album! They only have about a week to go on their campaign – please head over to Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com/projects/thesingthesong/the-debut-album-from-the-singer-and-the-songwriter), listen to their wonderful music, and support them in any way you can! Do it for Beatrice 🙂
Annie Bosh is Missing is a new play by Janine Nabers that takes place in Houston when Katrina refugees are placed there to rebuild their lives. Their arrival upsets the ‘racial’ status quo in Houston – most especially for the play’s protagonists who have before then not strongly identified with ‘blackness.’ You can read a longer synopsis HERE.
We’ll update this post as more appearance dates are added – and let us know if you have the chance to see the show!