Anjuli Brekke - Generation Mixed Goes to School

Generation Mixed Goes to School Podcast: Episode One

About the Project

As a Research Assistant for the Center for Communication, Difference and Equity, I worked as a story editor and producer for Generation Mixed Goes to School. This multimedia project incorporates the stories of mixed race youth and their educators to better understand how racial identity is formed. The project is developing strategies for creating anti-racist school environments that benefit all children. As a Research Assistant, I helped record interviews with mixed race students ages 5-17 and created audio clips and a podcast based on youth recommendations for their schools. These audio stories are housed on the Generation Mixed website and act as resources for teachers and parents.

We also organized “radical listening” events where mixed race youth, their families and the greater Seattle public could hear and discuss clips from these conversations. Dr. Ralina Joseph and Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith are writing a book called Generation Mixed Goes to School that draws on these youth stories to outline how to create “mixed-race conscious spaces” in school communities.

Clips from Generation Mixed

Goes to School

Fall Listening Party

Mixed kids often described the experience of teachers and friends pressuring them to choose one identity or, conversely, questioning their authenticity when they do check that box. Some mixed kids described a sense of racial impostor syndrome.

Many students, especially those in predominantly white classrooms, discussed instances when teachers singled them out to speak as a representative of their racial group. This made many feel awkward, angry, and isolated.

Many students discussed the desire to see their identities and histories reflected in school staff as well as interwoven into class curricula.

Winter Listening Party

How should issues regarding racism be discussed in school? Many of our participants emphasized the need to listen to student concerns and be thoughtful about tackling issues. Schools and teachers need to admit they don’t have all the answers and risk having the difficult conversations.

Data from Civil Rights Data Collection shows that students of color are disproportionately punished for the same infractions as their white peers. Many of our participants observed similar trends in their own schools.

Spring Listening Party