Race Identity

An illustration of a family portrait. One parent, on the left, is white and masculine-presenting with short, brown hair. The other parent, on the right, is Black and more femme-presenting with natural hair gathered in a ponytail. The white parent is holding and looking down at a young girl who presents as Black with kinky-looking hair in a bun on top of her head. She is looking at the camera and smiling. The Black parent is holding a little boy who has lighter brown skin and hair that looks wavier. Both parent and child are looking at the camera.

Growing Up Mixed: Identity, Race and Early Adulthood

Kaia Findlay

The number of people in the U.S. who identify as two or more races is on the rise. So what can help diminish the sense of unbelonging that is common for mixed folks?

An illustration of a family portrait of a mixed race family in the 90s — specifically Anita's family. There are three kids in the foreground - Anita's older sister on the left, her baby brother in her mother's arms in the middle, and Anita, wearing a shirt that matches her sister's, on the right. Anita and her sister are elementary school-aged, and her brother is about 1. Behind them are her parents: her father is Indian with a mustache and glasses, and her mother is white wearing a headband and a necklace. There are dashes around Anita on the right and the word "Anita" with an arrow pointing to her above her head.

Growing Up Mixed Race: Biracial Child and Monoracial Parents Reflect

Kaia Findlay

In her college application essay, host Anita Rao described herself as a colorful parrot living in a cultural jungle — with her English and Indian sides occupying different realms. Now, she reflects on her biracial experience with her parents.

An illustration of host Anita Rao's family from a time when Anita was 6. From left to right, her older sister Priyanka in a blue shirt with matching headband; her dad Satish, an Indian man with a mustache, aviator-style glasses, a button-down and tie; her mother Sheila, a white woman with chin-length brown hair held back with a headband, wearing a dark blue blouse and necklace; her younger brother, Nikilesh, is a baby with short brown hair in her mother's lap; and Anita, in a blue shirt and headband that matches Priyanka's and shoulder-length brown hair. Text that says "Anita" point to her on the far right. The text "Mixed (Parent Edition)" sits over the portrait against a purple border.

Mixed (Parent Edition): The Rao Family Talks Racial Identity

Kaia Findlay

Anita invites her parents back to Embodied for a special bonus episode. She hears their take on our recent episode "Mixed," about growing up biracial. Then she turns the tables and puts herself in the guest seat as her parents ask her a few questions.

Mixed: Owning Your Multiracial Story

Kaia Findlay

When Anita moved away to college, she experienced a big shift in her biracial identity. Turns out that the questions that emerged for her are ones that many mixed young adults still ponder today ...15 years later. She meets two college seniors and they talk through navigating everything from "Where do I belong?" to "How do I date?" Plus she hears wisdom from a life coach who helps mixed adults tell new stories about identity.

J.T. Tabron scrolls through the deeds database to find the plat map and the purchasing history of my house.

WUNC Youth Reporting Institute

How historical housing practices led to the racial makeup of my Durham neighborhood

Avery Patterson

WUNC Youth Reporter Avery Patterson sets out on a quest to understand why her neighborhood is predominately white. In the process, she uncovers a history of housing segregation in Durham and talks to her neighbors about inclusivity.

An illustration of the author as a little girl, reading the novel Shabanu, Daughter of the Wind.

Southern Witness

Reading ourselves into existence

Anisa Khalifa

Anisa Khalifa reflects on pushing back against book bans, while understanding the damage caused by racism in the books she grew up reading — which continue to sit on shelves today.

WUNC Youth Reporter Sofia Basurto records her final narration at WUNC's Durham studios.

Arts & Culture

Dueling Identities: Diving into Race and Ethnicity

Sofía Basurto

WUNC’s 2021 Youth Reporters turned on their microphones to collect stories from their communities. Sofía Basurto from Beaufort, N.C., took an introspective look at her Mexican identity.

Arts & Culture

From Siam To The South, A New Take on Conjoined Twins Chang And Eng Bunker

Anita Rao

Note: This is a rebroadcast from last year. Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker toured the world in the mid 1800s, putting their bodies on exhibit for a…

Arts & Culture

From Siam To The South, A New Take on Conjoined Twins Chang And Eng Bunker

Anita Rao

Note: This is a rebroadcast from last year. Conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker toured the world in the mid 1800s, putting their bodies on exhibit for a…

Politics

What Is Your Experience With Race In NC?

Charlie Shelton-Ormond

From Ferguson to Baltimore, events have unfolded across the country with race at center stage.American media coverage has reported on protests and…