Mixed Kid Chronicles

Let's talk about hair! This week, Katie explores curly hair and its significance to black and multiracial cultures. She also shares her own hair story and some tips and product suggestions.

Sources:

Hair It Is: Examining the Experiences of Black Women with Natural Hair"I am Not my Hair! Or am I?": Black Women's Transformative Experience in their Self Perceptions of Abroad and at Home

Curl Crush on Facebook

The Curl Talk Project

Vernon Francois's Curly Hair Routine

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Katie calls in the expert on being male and mixed, her brother David. They talk about identifying as black and multiracial, racial imposter syndrome, and some controversial family topics. And no conversation is complete without a heart to heart about Drake.

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Katie addresses a blind spot in her episodes thus far. Exploring a study that shows young men are less likely to identify as biracial, she ponders what it's like for Drake and her brother. Also, have you heard of digital blackface? It's about time!

Sources:

Here's the full biracial young men study for all you nerds craving scientific research

Dropping the knowledge with Drake's Know Yourself

Internetting with Amanda Hess on Digital Blackface

Teen Vogue's Lauren Michelle Jackson explains Digital Blackface

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)

Katie interviews Julie Lythcott-Haims, the author of Real American: A Memoir and former Dean of the Freshman at Stanford University where she was known as "Dean Julie." They talk about stereotypes like "oreos" and angry black women, the committee that anoints black people, language and black literary mothers, and whether there is hope for America.

Photo credit: Kristina-Vetter

Sources:

Buy Real American: A Memoir from my favorite bookstore

Read more on Julie's black literary mother Lucille Clifton

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)

In this week's episode, Katie tackles the stereotypes multiracial people face. She also shares some of the developing research around multiracial people, discusses Ta-Nehisi Coates' SF appearance (!!!), and finds all sorts of treasures on social media (looking at you Hannah Bronfman and Elaine Weltreroth).

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)

Sources:

National Geographic's Changing Face of America

Ta-Nehisi Coates drops some knowledge on the n-word

Colin Kaepernick is GQ's Citizen of the Year

Watch Cut's People Guess Who is White

Hannah Bronfman, Elaine Weltreroth, Vernon Francois make curl and mixed girl magic

Katie talks with her cousin Anamaria in Atlanta. They discuss being mixed blacks (black people aren't monolithic!), the time Anamaria spent in black hair salons, and differences between California and Atlanta. Anamaria also shares her love of Cardi B and the show Atlanta.

Cardi B gets engaged

If you want to dive into Atlanta

Katie talks about what it is to be black in America. She explores the stereotypes and competing definitions of blackness, while sharing her own journey to identify as a black woman and some of the community's "secrets". Also, we celebrate Cardi B, black TV shows, and discuss Julie Lythcott-Haim's Real American.

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS)

Sources:

Katie critiques Disintegration by Eugene Robinson

Cardi B's race is confusing people

black-ish's Bow grapples with being biracial

Alfred Enoch shares wisdom with his younger self

Julie Lythcott-Haims reflects on Real American-ness

Katie and Sarah unpack whiteness as a mixed race person. They discuss Sarah's story as a mixed race adoptee in a white family, what it feels like to have your race "outed", black icons, the loneliness of being mixed race, and educating white people on issues important to people of color.

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS) - fh-sk-Fmaj-1

Sources:

Sing along to MJ with Sarah

Madame CJ Walker is a badass bitch

Katie gets real about whiteness. She talks about her mistaken assumption of being white, the language of white fragility, getting #woke, Ta-Nehisi Coates "The First White President", and how Queen Rihanna has blessed us.

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry (aka Holy MTNS) - You're Not Alone

Sources:

Diving deep into the language of white fragility

This woman breaks down white privilege

Unpack your invisible knapsack

Code Switch's episode on Racial Imposter Syndrome

Erykah Badu ensuring we all #staywoke

MUST READ Ta-Nehisi Coates, aka the Master, writes on The First White President

RiRi fans slay Kylie Jenner and see all 40 Fenty shades in their glory

Katie interviews Taylor Bernal, social media guru and fellow mixed girl. They talk growing up mixed in predominately white neighborhoods (not far from one another), answering the question "what are you?", and their transformation of identity. Plus, Taylor keeps up with the Kardashians (Wests).

Music:

Blank and Kytt - RSPN

Marc Perry - fh-sk-BY

Sources:

Janet Mock talks mixed race children with Kim Kardashian West in Interview Magazine

North also has an interview, which is pretty adorable

Watch Taylor Swift's video

But Beyonce slays