Dear Birth Parents:

This letter concerns the fact that your baby is multiracial.

First of all, we, as a family, have a problem with the word "race" - we are all members of the same race, the human race. Unfortunately, our society does make distinctions - sometimes very negative ones - regarding the apparent (or sometimes not so apparent) ethnic background of a person. As a racially-mixed couple, Susie and I feel uniquely qualified to address these issues - we live them every day. These are also the issues we feel we can help your/our child address.

As a multiracial family, we strive to expose our son to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. We are involved with an organization called MASC: Multi-Racial-Americans of Southern California. Our son is truly a "Rainbow" child - a child of the world - the embodiment of what is best in each culture. His White grandparents expose him to different ideals and mores than does his Black extended family. These multiple exposures are all positive, all showing him, "This, too, is a part of what you are; this, too, is a part of your heritage." In his immediate playgroup are three other mixed children about his age, so he is forming peer attachments with children who, although they may not be exactly the same color or have the same texture hair, do share his mixed heritage - something we can teach him to be proud of, because we are very proud of the life we've made for ourselves.

We do not believe in "pigeon-holing" our children, as may be society's wont to do. Our children will be raised as "people" first, and as members of an ethnicity, second. To that end, we live in a racially diverse community, where our son has the opportunity to mix and mingle with other people of color - be they Chicano, Asian, Native American - as well as the predominant White culture.

I do not presume to have all the answers - our children may suffer as they grow older, due to ignorance and insensitivity. Susie did as a child, first because she was taller than the other girls, then because she was heavier. And she is "white as snow." Prejudice and bigotry are everywhere: just be a little bit different, for any reason, as the handicapped know, and doors are closed and opportunities unavailable.

I have been the victim of prejudice, and have overcome it with love, patience and tolerance - and I feel I have the insight and wisdom, born of experience, to pass on this knowledge to our children. I can teach them how to turn from hate into the light of love and self-acceptance, and Susie will be right there beside me.

Life is a passage, a journey - we would be honored to help escort your child towards his or her richly diverse destiny.

Thank you for listening,
David Jackson

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