Becoming a Multiracial Scholar by Traversing Monoracial Academia

Abstract

Despite increasing numbers and presence of multiracial students, faculty who identify as multiracial have less exposure on campus, perpetuating academia entrenched in a monoracial paradigm. This chapter explores the dynamic of multiracial scholars who either leave academia, move on to non-multiracial topics, and/or feel forced to only identify monoracially. From multiracial graduate students not having mentors or advisors supportive of studying multiraciality, to multiracial-focused dissertations being viewed as niche or too narrow, to monoracial institutional logics forcing multiracial scholars to identify monoracially to advance, we explore multiple challenges in trajectories toward becoming a multiracial scholar. At each step of the trajectory toward becoming a tenured faculty member, multiracial scholars are forced to contend with monoracist practices that can deter them from reaching their goal, especially if they do not adhere to monoracial social norms. Implications for advisors, colleagues, and processes associated with peer-review and promotion and tenure are discussed.