The Multiple Heritage Project exists for a number of reasons.

• Firstly, a growing population of young people are being marginalised, expected to choose one racial identity at the exclusion of another and rarely given a voice on the subject.
• SSecondly, many professionals lack confidence in dealing with issues of appropriate terminology and thus are unable to empower these individuals.
• Thirdly, lone parents/carers of mix-d children can feel isolated without a full understanding of their child’s racial heritage or access to communities where they could get more information.

Our contribution to the discussion

We are convinced that traditional debates and conceptions over race are of little help in coming to terms with the realities of Mix-d lives.

Mix-d is not a homogenous group. By its very nature it is diverse, cutting across cultures, religions, regions, nationalities, histories and ethnicities. There is no such thing as a mix-d community in the geographical sense. The ties of culture, tradition, history and religion do not bind the mix-d population as a separate ethnic grouping. Quite the contrary - many of these things primarily bind mix-d people to other ethnic groups.

Mix-d is not a quest to manufacture new racial types. Far from it – the need we are seeking to address is not necessarily prevalent amongst all people who are mixed. This is why we are developing our own concepts through ongoing and nationwide research and consultation.

The Mix-d concept is designed to create a voice for a silent group who may experience confusion, conflict, or misunderstanding about their racial identity...and to bring richness and colour to the lives of some mix-d people for whom everything to date has been simply Black or White.