I think it’s important for everyone to know that neither racism nor race are stable or natural.

Posted in Excerpts/Quotes on 2013-01-29 05:08Z by Steven

I think it’s important for everyone to know that neither racism nor race are stable or natural. Racism metastasizes and changes over time, changing the ways that race is thought about and implemented in the US. For the last few decades, the Census has been one way to try to observe and track the symptoms of racial inequalities. For example, we can use the data to determine whether a racial group is disproportionately imprisoned or denied access to equitable bank loans. Without such data, it’s difficult to demonstrate racist trends.

—Eric Hamako

Steven F. Riley, “A Conversation with Eric Hamako,” MixedRaceStudies.org, (January 23, 2013). http://www.mixedracestudies.org/?p=27794.

Tags:

Harry Potter and the mistaken myth of the Mixed-Race messiah

Posted in Literary/Artistic Criticism, Media Archive, Papers/Presentations, United States on 2013-01-14 03:27Z by Steven

Harry Potter and the mistaken myth of the Mixed-Race messiah

Paper presented at the Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference
DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
2012-11-03
6 pages

Eric Hamako
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

The Harry Potter franchise has worldwide popularity. Contained within Harry Potter are popular stories about Mixed-Race, both appealing and toxic. Harry Potter and other science fiction and fantasy narratives attempt to address popular anxieties about racism and racial power. But what are they saying? Will vigorous hybrid messiahs herald racial salvation? Will degenerate hybrid monsters cause a racial apocalypse? In this paper, I explore White Supremacist and Christian Supremacist ideas about Mixed-Race prevalent in current science fiction & fantasy movie franchises, such as Harry Potter, and why people shouldn’t believe the hybrid hype… or the hate.

Read the entire paper here.

Tags: ,

For the Movement: Community Education Supporting Multiracial Organizing

Posted in Articles, Media Archive, Teaching Resources, United States on 2013-01-13 22:24Z by Steven

For the Movement: Community Education Supporting Multiracial Organizing

Equity & Excellence in Education
Volume 38, Issue 2, 2005
pages 145-154
DOI: 10.1080/10665680590935124

Eric Hamako
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

The multiracial people’s movement in the United States has expanded significantly in the last 10 years (Douglass, 2003). Historically, community-based education programs have supported social movements in the United States (Collins & Yeskel, 2000; Sarachild, 1974/1978), yet little has been written about how educational programs might serve the social and political movements of mixed-race people. This case study describes two community-based multiracial education programs by and for mixed-race people and suggests ways that each supports multiracial community organizing. The conclusion offers recommendations for shaping future multiracial education programs for multiracial people.

The 2000 United States Census revealed numerous demography surprises, among them, that there are seven million multiracial people—almost 3% of the total U.S. population (Jones & Smith, 2001). Never before had the Census allowed multiracial people to check one or more boxes to indicate their multiple racial heritages. The Census results also indicate clearly that multiraciality is an issue relevant to educators, as almost half of the multiracial population are of school age (Lopez, 2003). While the U.S. Census Bureau has found ways to account for multiracial people In allowing the option of checking one or more races, multicultural educational efforts continue to flounder when attempting to educate multiracial people or address multiracial issues in school and community settings (Williams, Nakashima, Kich, & Daniel 1996).

In institutional curricula and pedagogy, multicultural educators have given little attention to the existence and needs of multiracial people (Chiong, 1995; Glass & Wallace, 1996, Scholl, 2001; Wardle, 1996). Worse, multicultural education has sometimes distorted, invalidated, or demonized the existence of multiracial people (Wardle, 2000; Williams et. al., 1996). The small amount of literature that exists about teaching to or about multiracial people has been written primanly by and for monoracial educators, often with an inappropriate monoracial bias (Pao, Wong. & Teuben-Rowe, 1997; Schwartz, 1998), while the voices and insights of multiracial people have largely been absent. Recent community organizing and community-based education efforts by multiracial people and multiracial organizations may change this trend of silencing and marginalization. In this article, I examine some ways that community-based multiracial education may support multiracial community organizing.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Historically, community-based education has served an important role in numerous political movements. During the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Schools supported community organizing efforts by bringing community members together, helping them name then social problems, and teaching literacy and organizing skills (Howe, 1964/1984; Rachal, 1998). Similarly, consciousness raising groups supported second wave US. feminism, bringing women together to process the systemic nature of sexism and to begin organizing to take action (Evans, 1979; Sarachild, 1974/1978). Internationally, Paolo Freire’s (1970/2003) community-based popular education pedagogy has expanded far beyond its initial application to poor peoples movements in Brazil. As a model for community education, Freirean popular education suggests a series of steps through which community organizers can help community members recognize their common experiences, codify them, analyze their root causes, and take action to resolve common problems (Ferreira & Ferreira, 1997). Community education may support community organizing by politicizing and mobilizing community members, developing analyses and a sense of purpose, and helping to steer political movement (Collins & Yeskel, 2000; Williams et al., 1996)…

Read or purchase the article here.

Tags: ,

Census Bureau Names Eric Hamako to National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations

Posted in Articles, Census/Demographics, Media Archive, United States on 2013-01-10 05:21Z by Steven

Census Bureau Names Eric Hamako to National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations

United States Census Bureau
News Release
CB12-R.33
2012-10-12

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today the establishment of the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and Other Populations and has named Eric Hamako as a member of the committee.
 
The National Advisory Committee will advise the Census Bureau on a wide range of variables that affect the cost, accuracy and implementation of the Census Bureau“s programs and surveys, including the once-a-decade census. The committee, which is comprised of 32 members from multiple disciplines, will advise the Census Bureau on topics such as housing, children, youth, poverty, privacy, race and ethnicity, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other populations…

Eric Hamako has been involved in mixed-race student and community organizing since 2000. Currently completing his doctorate in social justice education at the University of Massachusetts, Hamako studies how community education can support mixed-race people’s political movements and ways to incorporate stronger anti-racist frameworks into those educational efforts. Hamako has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Stanford University, the University of Massachusetts, Ithaca College, and the Smith College School for Social Work. As an independent trainer and consultant, Hamako has presented on multiraciality and other social justice issues to universities, professional associations and community organizations across the United States.

Read the entire press release here.

Tags: ,

A few questions from CMRS 2012

Posted in Articles, Census/Demographics, Media Archive, United States on 2012-11-19 16:44Z by Steven

A few questions from CMRS 2012

Two or More: Mixed thoughts about the Census NAC
2012-11-18

Eric Hamako

Eric Hamako is one of 32 members of the United States Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) on Race, Ethnic, and Other Populations, 2012-2014. This blog is intended to 1) share updates and Eric’s perspectives on the NAC, 2) gather community perspectives, and 3) promote discussion about the Census Bureau as it relates to Multiracial people, the Two Or More Races (TOMR) population, and social justice.

At the 2012 Critical Mixed Race Studies conference at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, I gave two informal presentations about NAC matters. As with this blog, I intended to share information and to hear people’s questions and concerns. Here are a few of the questions people raised—I offer them as food for thought and discussion.

1. Will the Census Bureau attempt to use Census 2010 data as the Third Party Record of first resort? (Census 2010 complies with OMB Directive 15. However, the racial categories between 2010 and 2020 will likely differ and have areas that don’t match. Further, young people may self-identify in 2020 differently than their parents identified them in 2010.)…

Read the entire article here.

Tags: ,

News from the 2012 Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference Business Meeting

Posted in Census/Demographics, Media Archive, United States on 2012-11-14 19:59Z by Steven

News from the 2012 Critical Mixed Race Studies Conference Business Meeting

2012-11-13

Camilla Fojas, (CMRS 2012 organizer) Associate Professor and Chair
Latin American and Latino Studies
DePaul University

Laura Kina, (Mixed Roots Midwest 2012 co-organizer) Associate Professor Art, Media and Design and Director Asian American Studies
DePaul University


Photo of Eric Hamako at CMRS 2012 by Ken Tanabe.

US Census Report from Eric Hamako

  • Nominated by a coalition of Mixed-Race community organizations, Eric Hamako has been selected to serve a two-year term on the US Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee (NAC) on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations.  (See press release.)
  • Two matters of particular concern for Multiracial people & Two Or More Races (TOMR) populations.
    1. ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS: For cost efficiency, the Census Bureau is considering using “Administrative Records” in some cases when a person doesn’t submit information to the Census (e.g., if Jane X doesn’t submit a Census 2020 form and doesn’t respond to follow-up requests, the Census might access other public and private databases that contain info about Jane X, to fill in info about her).  However, currently Census studies indicate that Administrative Records are worse at filling in info about non-Whites than Whites — and are particularly bad at filling in info about people who indicate Two Or More Races (TOMR), ranging from 4%-36% accuracy.  This is largely because many public and private databases do not allow respondents to Mark One or More races.  We need to find ways to improve the accuracy of Administrative Record use.
    2. ALTERNATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE EXPERIMENTS (AQEs): Long before each Census, the Bureau tests out various possible changes, using AQEs.  One of the many changes currently being considered is an option that combines the Race question and the Hispanic ethnicity question into a single question.  This would likely a) increase the accuracy of the count of Latinos, b) increase the number of Latinos who are indicating Two Or More Races, c) reduce the White population count by 6-8%.
  • Eric is soliciting community perspectives.  Please review NAC-related documents (see public GoogleDocs folder) and contact Eric at CensusNAC@gmail.com.  Eric is also constructing a blog, “Two or More,” to communicate about the NAC, http://censusnac.blogspot.com/.
Tags: , , ,

Mixed Race on Campus: Multiracial Student Identities and Issues in Higher Education

Posted in Campus Life, Live Events, Media Archive, United States on 2011-04-15 03:12Z by Steven

Mixed Race on Campus: Multiracial Student Identities and Issues in Higher Education

NCORE 2011
24 Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education
San Francisco, California
2011-05-31 through 2011-06-04

Thursday, 2011-06-02, 13:15–16:15 PDT (Local Time)

Eric Hamako, Doctoral Candidate
Social Justice Education Program
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Multiracial and Mixed‑Race students are a growing, yet under‑recognized, population at U.S. colleges and universities.  How well does your campus serve Multiracial students’ needs and Multiracial student organizations?  And how can you support improvements? 

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore challenges facing Multiracial students and Multiracial student organizations—as well as possible solutions to those challenges.  Participants will also learn basic Multiracial terms, demography, and identity theories, as well as gain resources for learning more in the future. Participants will have the opportunity to develop personal and collaborative action plans to implement what they’ve learned. This session should particularly benefit participants interested in the success of Multiracial students and student organizations, students interested in organizing Multiracial groups, and Student Affairs professionals who are interested in policy changes to support Multiracial students.

For more information, click here.

Tags: ,

Mixed Race Week begins with Loving Day awareness dinner

Posted in Articles, Campus Life, Media Archive, United States on 2011-03-31 00:39Z by Steven

Mixed Race Week begins with Loving Day awareness dinner

Today@Colorado State
Colorado State University
2011-03-30

This Friday, Apr. 1, marks the beginning of the 3rd-annual Mixed Race Week, a series of presentations and activities celebrating the multiracial and interracial community at Colorado State University. The yearly event is put on by Shades of CSU, an organization dedicated to multiracial students…one of a few of its kind in the country…

  • Friday, April 1: Loving Day Awareness Dinner
  • Monday, April 4th: Multiracial Faculty Meet and Greet
  • Tuesday, April 5: Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else?: Mixed-Race in Science Fiction Movies presented by Eric Hamako
  • Wednesday, April 6: Interracial Relationships; Hair and Beauty within the Multiracial population

For more information, click here.

Tags: , ,

Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else? Mixed-Race in Science Fiction Movies

Posted in Literary/Artistic Criticism, Live Events, Media Archive, United States on 2011-03-12 06:05Z by Steven

Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else? Mixed-Race in Science Fiction Movies

New York University
Jeffrey S. Gould Welcome Center
50 West 4th Street
New York, New York
2011-03-28, 18:00-19:30 EDT (Local TIme)

Eric Hamako
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Join BAMSA, The Center, and the A/P/A Institute for another installment of the Multiple Identity Speaker Series: Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else? Mixed-Race in Science Fiction Movies—Eric Hamako’s presentation on mixed-race people in science fiction movies and the media. Popular movies are telling stories about Mixed-Race, but what are they saying? Will vigorous hybrid messiahs herald racial salvation? Will degenerate hybrid monsters cause a racial apocalypse? Are you prepared to talk about and talk back to the movies that students love? We’ll explore White Supremacist and Christian Supremacist ideas about mixed-race people prevalent in current science fiction movies like Harry Potter, Blade, and Underworld and why people shouldn’t believe the hype… or the hate.

This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at jimmy.suarez@nyu.edu.

Tags:

Sci fi offers surprising insights on race

Posted in Articles, Literary/Artistic Criticism, Media Archive, United States on 2011-01-30 22:18Z by Steven

Sci fi offers surprising insights on race

The Brandeis Hoot
2009-03-06

Marissa Lainzi

Months and months of wading through red ink, volleying e-mails, coordinating, coordinating, and coordinating came to fruition for the Mixed Heritage Club on Friday night, as their much-anticipated speaker, Eric Hamako, gave the talk, “Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else?” a discussion of mixed race issues in sci-fi movies.

Hamako, a doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, intrigued the audience with his observations and theories regarding the portrayal of the “new” and “old” mixed race ideals in popular entertainment. Citing the movies Blade and Underworld, Hamako explained the portrayal of mixed-race people as “monsters” or “messiahs”—with vampires, humans, and werewolves becoming the racial metaphors.

The “monster” depiction of mixed-race people, Hamako explained, comes from the “old” conception of mixed race, which presented mixed-race people as deformed, immoral, or somehow wrong or inhuman. The “new” conception of mixed race, on the other hand, presents opposite stereotypes—that mixed-race people are beautiful, genetically superior, and the easy way to quash racism. Hamako calls this the “messiah” depiction…

Read the entire article here.

Tags: , , ,