A Multiracial Primer

By Lisa McLaughlin

Author Donna Jackson Nakazawa is of European descent; her husband is Japanese American. They planned to raise their two kids to be color-blind, but found they couldn't ignore the supermarket stares and curious comments about the children's appearance. In her new book, Does Anybody Else Look Like Me? (Perseus), Nakazawa offers multiracial parents ideas on how to cope. Among her suggestions: discuss race inside the family before kids hear about it elsewhere; invite kids to learn the languages associated with their family heritage; consider sending children to multiracial summer camps; and teach kids about the members of both sides of the family. --L.McL.