America is changing the mot recent census reveals some devastating statistics.

White America is decliningr the first time in American history, the 2020 census sd the US had a shrinking non Hispanic white population t identifies with a single re down 3% or about 5.1 millin people from 2010 to 2020.

The decline was wide spread geographically, with 35 sts seeing drops in their non Hispanic populations.

This changing demographic presents some very challeng problems for a lot people.

How do we as a nation dealh this new reality?

How do we learn to interact with each other based on le and acceptance rather than judgment?

And bias?

Today we'll cover topics of race, ethnicity and diversy on courageous conversation.

Joining me today is Elizabh Dobsons.

She's a specialist on diversity, equity and inclusion, a businesswomana blogger and the president f Family Remix, a nonprofit t focuses on educating and empowering a growing demographic of interraciald adoptive families.

Hi, I'm Pastor Phil Davis,r host.

Welcome to Courageous Conversation.

Well, hello ladies and thak you for joining us on Courageous Conversations.

Yeah, you have an amazing story.

But you know, you have stad a nonprofit family remixedr blog or your business woman entrepreneur, a mother anda wife.

So so, you know, you've goo many different things happg right now.

But we really wanted to hae you on to allow you to shae your experiences and talk t being multiracial and also coming from an adoptive fa.

So we've got a lot of plats that we can cover today.

Why tell me a little bit at yourself and tell our views about your story.

Yeah, for sure.

So I am a biracial woman wo was adopted into an all whe family and I grew up to predominantly white rural a here in Pennsylvania.

And despite racial differe, I still thrived because ofe support of my parents.

You know, those dynamics of so much so that I secured a prestigious scholarship toe University of Pittsburgh, d up landing in a position ie pharmaceutical industry, wd in New York, did well ther.

And that's actually where t my husband Devon, and we ed up starting our consulting business and our nonprofitd it wasn't until after I was networking in this region d relocated here professionay that in conversations with people I found that they we very interested in my persl story either because I'm adopted or because I'm biracial.

And I realized there was ad for more around those particular topics and for e demographics.

So I really just felt callo stand in that space to help educate parents to be a voe for the children in those families.

And from there, I decided o pursue a master's degree in sociology at Lehigh Univery and completed research focd on biracial identity and re and so I could continue toe an evidence based resourcer these families through my nonprofit family remixed.

That's amazing when you thk about being a child, how od were you when you were adod into the family?

It was always before I was born.

So basically my parents brt me home from the hospital.

So interesting side note, y didn't know I was mixed una few months into it.

But being the people that y are, that didn't faze them.

If anything, that made them that much more intentional about how they raised me because they knew being biracial that there were certain things, additional support that I was going to need that would be differet from my adopted brothers wo are white.

Yeah, I mean, how was that?

So you are this mixed race child being raised in a fay that is predominantly whitn a predominantly white community?

What was it like for you?

I mean, integrating in fing a place to kind of be acced to fit in?

Well, I think the demograps of that area, even though racially it was very monotonous.

It was I think the areas le 99% white.

Wow.

You would have been the 1% pretty much.

Yes.

And however, because it's h a small town in a way I was still protected in a bubbl.

But my parents were also vy intentional about connectie to other adopted children.

They connected me to commuy events in neighboring communities, had more divey so that I could get connecd to black culture as much as possible.

They got me all the books,o they were very intent as mh as they could and that was available to them, which i, you know, I think a criticl component of why I was ablo have a healthy self image d they just really encouragee to be my best self.

And so that really helped e thrive.

And actually research supps that when parents communice to their their children, particularly biracial or minority children that noty encouraged and encouraging language and teaching themo to lead with values and teaching them cultural pri.

Sure.

But also preparing them for discrimination that they mt face.

Right.

Actually helps to buffer tm from some of those the thrs and helps to buffer some of those negative experiencesy may encounter if they end p encountering racism.

Yeah, I mean, it's amazingn you think about the love tt your parents had to show y.

Right.

And this unconditional lov, this thing, you know, peope talk about all the time anu sometimes on this show we a bad rap like, hey, you're always talking about race.

I'm like, well, that's whye show was created to createa platform to be able to hava dialog and even to discuss issues that may be uncomfortable.

But I believe they're courageous.

But your parents are a representation of what Amea could be like exactly.

If people were to open ther hearts and just accept peoe for who they are and create that environment that's so healthy.

So this has caused you to launch into this space of helping other multiracial individuals in, you know, e statistic show that Americs changing.

Ever stated in the intro?

The numbers are pointing te fact that the white communy will not be a majority community that causes peope angst.

So some people and it's not everyone.

Talk to me about why you're passionate about this and t you've what you hope to accomplish with, you know, family be mixed.

Yeah.

So Family Remix as a nonpr, our mission is to build community for integration d adoption families.

We're focused on educating parents, empowering the yoh in these families, but also enlisting the villages arod them.

Wow.

And our motto actually is e don't look alike, but we la lot of a lot.

So we strive to be informa, uplifting and really to cre a safe space for parents wo realize that they might bef the current majority, you , race population and but are raising a child who has a different racial designati.

And we'll experience life differently.

Right.

So to be in that space ando really help, you know, empr and educate these parents d so I hope to bring some ofy more recent research into e the seminars and workshopsd things that I plan to do to help support these familie.

That's great.

Do you identify as a black female?

Do you identify as a white female?

I heard someone say the otr day, hey, listen, when youe chocolate milk, you don't y have half chocolate milk, right?

So it's so often we want tt people into a box.

You're either this or thatd talk a little bit about yor experience and how you idey as a woman.

Yeah, absolutely.

So the beautiful thing I tk about being biracial, thers some fluidity that's there because when you know thatt of your makeup genetically, ethnically, racially, culturally is a combinatiof multiple groups.

It can sometimes feel challenging.

You have to choose betweene or the other.

It's got to be for a childr absolutely green phase socy often will will press and s to have particularly multiracial people choose r pick either or partially because of our history.

You mentioned you're not he chocolate milk if you've gt chocolate, you've got chocolate.

Right.

Know which we call the researchers will call the e drop.

Absolutely.

But we're finding that this rising generation of multiracial people are reay voice seeing and taking a d for what are unique view in experience.

So for me, I identify as a black biracial woman becauI have been called racist sl.

I have been called the N-w.

I have I share experiencest very much align with the bk experience.

I am I come from black roo, but I also grew up and was nurtured by a white familyd white culture.

I have white German history background as well.

So I can't deny those elems of myself.

And so I think for a lot of multiracial people when it comes to identity, you just want the truth.

And what is your you know o you are to be fully represented.

Now that doesn't I don't wt to not acknowledge that soe biracial people feel more comfortable or more aligneo one racial group than anot.

But as you know and have discussed that I mean, racn and of itself doesn't realy mean anything.

It's more so ethnicity and culture and those elementst I think really is what peoe are connected to.

Yeah.

And I think the one drop re or one Timothy Friel howevr you want to it was was historically put in place o promulgate and promote whie supremacy.

So it was for certain individuals to be classifis he go.

If you will, to remove cern rights from their right tod on to power and control.

And a lot of times we don't want to have those discuss.

But a courageous conversatn is where did it come from?

It was systemic, right?

It was embedded into the government and it became te norm in America that ultimy found its way into culture.

And therefore, if a persond one drop of black blood, ty were removed from rights ad opportunities within our nn historically.

And so we understand that e challenges that are presend before you all has to be vy difficult, had to be very challenging for you.

But you've become very successful.

You actually did a Ted talt too long ago and you begino talk a little bit about the Bucks.

Right.

That people put you in, taa little bit about that and w that has kind of shape your framework for the work that you're doing now.

Yeah, absolutely.

So really, when I talk abot the box in my TED talk, I'm talking about the standarde boxes that many of us have seen, whether it's on hospl forms, the census forms, bt also appears on job applicn and school applications.

It is.

And for a multiracial persn constantly being forced or faced with these categories that don't always account r you or allow you to choosee than one box, so to speak.

It became very apparent not only through my you know, through my lived experienc, but also confirmed the resh that I've done that those s that are so limiting and bd on racist ideals.

I think there is a shift cg that is hopefully will dis, you know, really the need d purpose for what these categories and boxes are.

And actually the most recet research that I did actualy uncover that multiracial pe unconsciously will somehow multiracial people unconsciously develop a une framework that informs them that race is a social construct, that race doesnt have meaning.

And this framework which I conceptualize as the racial navigation system I like.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Is not formally taught.

It is something that they n simply through their lived experiences as a biracial person.

So I'm very excited about t and it will allow me to hep facilitate constructive conversations with families organizations, you know, businesses about race and dismantle racism and other topics that are around that issue.

That's exciting.

Let me let me just pull something real quick.

You know what I found?

I was doing some research myself and they're saying s in a recent article, some demographers caution that e white population was not shrinking as much as shiftg to multicore cultural identities.

The number of people who identify as belonging to tr more races more than tripld from 9 million in 2010 to 8 million in 2020.

They now account for 10% oe US population.

The world is changing.

Yeah, and America is changg as well.

So the work that you're dog is so critically important.

Thank you.

Because it's not somethingt has been discussed, right?

It's not something that has been talked about.

And so therefore there areo many people who are thrusto the space without a dialog, without education, without accepting support.

All of the things that hels become healthy Americans.

My father was of mixed rac.

He was your complexion actually.

And but his origins were because of rape in deep southern Virginia.

Yeah.

And he never knew who his father was.

But in the community in whh he lived.

Right.

Everyone knew that it was actually the one who owned where the family was sharecropping.

Right.

And so his challenge was because he was so light, hd some benefits from the community, but he never rey got a chance to deal with e internal pain of being conceived in the way that e was conceived but still hao navigate through those challenging waters of livin a world that was somewhat accepting of his light ski.

But he was yet still a he , right.

With with a drop of blood n him.

And of course, he did veryl for himself.

When you think about these demographics, did that I jt read off to you.

I mean, what does that eliciting you?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think to me it juss more telling of how much hw important it is to really w for space for multiracial individuals because it's nt just black, white, biracia.

Yeah.

So to really allow for spae for multiracal individualso consider their view and understand that there is te are differences, there are nuances to the mixed race perspective because while e can relate to being for the who are who also of the minority, we can relate to those cultural experiencese are not fully of the majory population as well becausef America's history with thee drop rule and so you know t there is value in the mixed mixed race voice.

There is value in our perspective and that space should really be afforded because we're clearly not g anywhere.

I have a gently growing ri.

Yes.

You think about our presid, our past president Barack Obama.

Right.

Mixed race, the current Vie President mixed race.

I think Pacific Islander, African-American and white.

So she's got you know, shes got an experince.

Right.

And America has now stepped into a space where we're entering into a new era.

Right.

And we get to live through, which is kind of cool.

You actually mentioned so a phenomena that happens with individuals when they see people who are not of their same race.

Can you talk a little bit t that?

Yeah, so I think you're referencing to the TED thaI and so yeah, there's reseah has shown that when people encounter faces that are oe same races there's or percd to be the same as theirs.

They in their brain that te is some familiarity and ths triggered that allows themo feel aligned.

That person, on the other , when we encounter faces of other races that are diffet from ours, a different parf our brain goes off.

So that can lead to feelinf anxiety or fear.

Yeah, So this is called the other race effect.

And you know, I believe tht that's in part the root of where sometimes implicit bs comes out comes to play whe people aren't consciously choosing to be afraid or consciously feeling thingst they may just be experiencg these emotions because the other person may feel unfamiliar to them.

Absolutely.

It's wow.

And the in an ideal world,s as the multiracial populatn continues to grow as famils become more blended and moe interracial, we'd like to k that sense of familiarity , you know, expand to include other races.

But I don't want to be so e to think that it's you that multiracial people will coe in.

And that's the sweeping anr to all of racism in America because that's not you kno, that's not going to be the case.

But and certainly there's g to be different dynamics tt will emerge between differg populations as well.

So, you know, only time wil tell.

But I think the important g is, you know, coming to the table programs like this oe that are having these difft conversations that are allg space for different viewpos to to share and provide int and ultimately, I also hopo expand the research that Id and continue to educate and particularly with this framework that this racial navigation system that seeo develop organically among e multiracial people, that in be trans heard and informae to other populations as weo that we can really start to take away that negative meg around race in general.

I mean, it's so important, right?

If we're going to live in a world that is diverse, thee have to.

And I think Dr King put ito best are best where he said that you he wants to live a world where his children ae judged by the content of tr character and not the colof their skin.

Right.

Right.

I think that was really a vision that is going to ben more relevant in the days o come because of the changig demographics of our nation.

Now I want to shift a litte bit because you have a very interesting experience of g adopted.

And I want to I know you're passionate in that space.

So let's talk a little bit about that, if you could.

Yeah, I've only got a few minutes to share a little t about your experience that.

Yeah.

Yeah, I. I had a beautiful experiene growing up with my family,y parents.

I think it was certainly ty benefit that you my mothers a background in counselingd as a retired guidance counselor, my father is a retired pediatrician.

So they were already very attuned to, you know, counseling and meeting the needs of young people.

And so that absolutely shod up and how they nurtured us like I said, I had I mentid before that I have two oldr brothers who are also adop.

They're both Caucasian.

But we grew up very, very e and so I really think somef the steps that my parents k to be intentional, particuy with me, is really what hed me thrive.

And so not to say that everything is perfect, butu know, taking that with a lf the research that I've don, you know, looking into the dynamics and socialized particularly for interracil families, that, you know, t of what they did was is was demonstrated to be have positive outcomes.

And so not only in my own d experience, but I do contie to feel compelled to be a e to help, you know, give asy resources as possible to te parents who have adopted pe who are considering adopti, you know, because shows lie this is us is certainly, yu know, shining a more posite light on on that experienc.

You know that it can be beautiful.

Families can come from adoption.

That's good.

And but the parents need te equipped and prepared to hp nurture the child regardlef their race because when you adopt, you don't necessariy get to predict or choose wo you bring.

Absolutely.

So no matter what, as longs you have love and are willg to be educated and intentil with your child, then you I think nothing but critical things.

You're going to be doing something virtual with tha.

With adoption coming.

Yes.

So November is National Adoption Month and so Nover 13th I'm going to be doinga virtual event.

Information is available oy website, Family Remix, .com Family Remix .com.

Yes, but the virtual that l be for adoption families or those who are considering adoption as well and will include other experts thatl be speaking on various isss related to adoption.

So I'm a big advocate for e with the right reasons andd intentions who desire to to love children in that way o certainly do so wonderful.

That's exciting.

Well, you know, many timesr experiences give us a plat.

Riht.

And give us a passion and a purpose.

Right.

We believe that, you know,d does nothing Bowmanstown.

Absolutely.

So as you work through thi, what you have gone through creates a platform for you.

Now to help others.

Right at the end of the da, that's really what it's all about.

On my laptop there is a statement by Dr King againu know that the most importat thing that we can do is top others.

And I think that's a beaut.

Now you and your husband we on the show on BYU TV, rig, called Relative.

Yes.

And for those of you who haven't seen it out there,u should go check it out, taa little bit about that.

You reconnect with some fay members that were lost.

We'll talk a little bit abt BYU being relatively sure.

So my husband and I are boh adopted, which isn't very common that you find a coue where both partners are she that experience.

Sure.

As being adopted.

But because of that, theres certain information that wd not know about our biologil roots.

And so I had been fortunate enough to find my biologicl mother on my own a few yeas ago, but had zero informatn about my biological father.

He also because his did hae information about his biological father because s birth mother had mental heh issues and had had passed t too long ago.

Right.

So this show relative raiss basically, if amazing, raie plus connecting you to famy so it helps people get connected to a biological family.

Yes, it's for teams of two people and basically racing around a country country nt knowing who you're going to meet until you get to the doorstep and it was an awee experience.

It allowed me to find my biological father.

I have two biological thiss by the way I watched it.

That was so moving.

I go watch it.

And so you could talk about your father and that connen and Hellertown.

Yeah.

So I didn't know what to expect.

And so I mean it was just a flood of emotion.

When you come to the persoo says I am your father, I am your mother and to know tht this part of who you are, s part of your identity is nw found.

And so it was especially compelling for me because e fact that I was also part k was assumed my whole life wasn't really confirmed unl that moment.

You're connecting with roo.

Yeah, I was there.

And Cousins and Aunt.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And it was there were so my family members that I got o meet.

So it was yes.

She was confirming not only roots but also my identity, which was big for me too.

Yeah.

And so it was a very emotil moment.

And so, you know, I know se was emotional for him as wl and we have continued to sy in touch since then.

And yeah, it is it's really it's been a beautiful experience all around.

So I'm grateful.

I'm very, very grateful.

I feel very blessed.

I know that's not always te case.

It's not the story for a lt for a lot of people, particularly if you're adod and you're trying to find biological family, it's not may not always happen.

It may not always lead to e relationship sometimes that people desire.

I hope that you for those people who are adopted to w that they are whole just te way they are that they aree for a reason.

It doesn't matter how they started.

Yes.

But to know that they are valuable and they have a p. So you know that is part of very much a part of the min with family is to really sk life and affirmations to adopted children and as wes biracial children to know t they are also valuable that there's a space.

So that's amazing.

Yeah, the message is so crl clear.

Hey, we've got one minute .

OK, Is there anything thatu want folks to know that orw they can connect you or anything like that?

Yeah, so you can absolutely subscribe to Family Remix .

You can follow on Facebookd Instagram at Family Remixer Attrill is Upson.

I am available to be booker speaking trainin seminars, workshops on things about diversity, anti-racism, al, ship and so I look forwardo to adding my perspective ad research to the conversati.

This has been amazing.

I told you 20.

It's going to go really fa.

Thank you for taking the t. Thank you for the opportuny to join me today when we he these conversations, it's o important to educate, infom people and I pray that youe encouraged today on behalff everyone here at PBS39, I'd like to thank you for joing us on courageous conversat.

God bless you.

And keep being courageous.

We'll see you next week.