From the Spider-verse to the White House: Bi/Multiracial Identity is a Super Strength

The Historic Presidential Candidate Nomination of Kamala Harris: A Reflection of America's Changing Demographics

In 2018, two big events happened:

1.        My son was born.

2.        Miles Morales was introduced as a character in the Marvel Universe.

My son LOVES Miles Morales, the biracial, Black and Puerto Rican Spider-Man. He has been Miles Morales for Halloween two years in a row, he loves to play Spiderman on the PS5 with his dad (against my desire for him to be playing video games this early, but for you parents’ reading this, you see me) and he has watched both ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”(2018) and ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023) multiple times. We have not forced this Spider-Man; he genuinely loves him.

When he was about four years old, he was playing with his Spidey and Friends wheelie car toys and I asked him which Spider-Man he liked more: Peter Parker, Miles Morales, or Gwen Stacey (AKA Ghost Spider). Without hesitation, he said, “Miles Morales!” Although I think I know the answer, I still ask him, “Why Miles Morales?” He says, “Because he looks like me.”

I continue my line of questioning because it’s my job as his mom and a researcher. This is why I am in a Ph.D. program studying Organizational Psychology––to understand the impact of bi/multiracial representation in the workplace, and more specifically, their representation in leadership roles.  As a member of the small percentage of women of color who pursue or hold doctorate degrees, and as a mother, his response means much more to me, no matter how many times I hear it. Of course, he won’t grow up to be a superhero for his career, but for now he gets to see himself in this character that IS a superhero who fights bad guys and helps people. When I was a kid, biracial characters didn’t really exist. But I remember being excited to play with Black Barbie. At the time, that representation was enough for me.

Similarly, in 2020, Kamala Harris made history as the Vice President of the United States, not only becoming the first woman to hold the office but also the first Black and Asian American person to do so. Her historic nomination and subsequent election signify a monumental shift in American politics, reflecting the nation's increasingly diverse population. President Obama, a biracial individual and leader, certainly paved the way for the platform Harris is afforded today. His historic win was the first major signal in American political history that we might be ready to meet the growing number of bi/multiracial individuals in this country. The prospect of Harris being elected is potentially a promise to pick up the torch Obama held and take it to new heights.

Trump’s recent statements about Harris “turning into a black person”, and questioning her racial identity was honestly not an unfamiliar comment to me, and I’m sure not to other bi/multiracial people. However, the fact that we are still questioning people’s identities, placing us into boxes, and suggesting that we have or should choose one identity when many of us have more than one, is something we need to move past in 2024.  Nonetheless, I feel a sense of responsibility to identify and perpetuate those moments where history inches forward, including celebrating Miles Morales.

Biracial? Multiracial? What’s the difference?

The nation is witnessing a surge in the bi/multiracial population, with more individuals proudly embracing their diverse heritage. Harris, with her Jamaican and Indian roots, embodies this shift, serving as a powerful representation of America's multifaceted identity.

In today’s increasingly global and mobile world, more people identify with and claim membership in more than one racial group, referred to as bi/multiracial (i.e., individuals whose biological parents are of two or more races). For clarification on the use of “bi/multiracial,” multi meaning more than one, can capture anyone identifying with more than one racial category. However, many people who only identify with two racial categories may identify as “biracial” while others may identify as “multiracial.”

Without going too far down the multiracial rabbit hole, there are also people who identify as multiethnic––meaning they are categorized as one race, but they identify with two different ethnicities (ex. ethnically Japanese and Korean, but by categorization of race, are “Asian”). Interesting, right??

In the 2000 United States Census, the first to allow respondents to select more than one race, over 6.8 million individuals (i.e., 3% of the population) reported identifying with two or more races. Twenty years later, over 33.8 million people (i.e., 10.2% of the population) reported identifying with two or more races, which marked a 240% increase. The significant growth of the multiracial population has made it a notable demographic group in the United States. More importantly, the option that bi/multiracial people have to choose more than one racial category better aligns with the way people identify today: not just as one box, but two, three, or four!

Thanks for taking that detour; it’s important to understand why Kamala Harris’ imminent nomination is so historic.

The future of bi/multiracial identity in politics

In politics and leadership, representation matters. Harris’s biracial identity brings a wealth of perspectives to the table, fostering inclusive policies that resonate with a broader audience. Although Harris tends to embrace her Black heritage more (like attending a historically Black college and joining a Black sorority), despite the narrative some people are pushing, she does not shy away from her Indian roots. Her intersectional background allows her to connect with various communities, breaking barriers and inspiring countless individuals who see themselves in her story.

Through her research, Danielle Lemi of Southern Methodist University finds that multiracial legislators may have the opportunity to bridge multiple racial groups to pass legislation to serve communities of color while tacitly benefiting from racial ambiguity (2019). Nationally, this suggests that multiracial politicians may have a unique edge by using their identities as a calling card to expand their political influence as individuals, building larger racial networks, and putting their constituents' interests on the national agenda along the way (e.g., Clark and Little 2002, 42-43).

So what does it all mean?

On a personal note, as a biracial person, I have not always embraced my Black and Japanese background equally. I went through multiple fluid phases of my identity expression and appreciation (see Dr. Kristen Renn’s Multiracial Identity Theory). Sometimes, my Black side was more salient than my Japanese side, and vice versa.

For example, when I went to Black Student Union meetings or joined a Black sorority, my Japanese culture rarely surfaced. My peers mostly saw me as Black. But when I attended admissions events as an Admissions Counselor, who recruited and supported the Asian and Pacific Islander student population, my identity expression sometimes shifted. I found it easy to code-switch to relate with prospective students and families by talking about my blunt Asian grandmother, who had no problem telling me I gained weight in my first year of college. It was a THING.  But today, I fully embrace my beautifully blended heritage and often talk to my son about the fact that he is not half of each, but both of each, and how we can learn about and honor both worlds. And he gets it. It’s not unlike how Miles Morales embraces both of his identities: average school-aged kid, and superhero.

The significance of Kamala Harris’s nomination and election extends beyond her individual achievements as an attorney general, U.S. Senator, and U.S. Vice President. It underscores not only the crucial need for representation at all levels of leadership, inspiring a new generation of leaders from diverse backgrounds, but also the advantage it carries.

With increased acceptance of interracial love, and individuals no longer needing to select only one box on demographic forms, America continues to evolve. Leaders like Kamala Harris pave the way for a more inclusive and representative future with the power to push progress beyond the baby steps that can be so hard to notice and appreciate.