biracial
biracial
Pronunciation
biracial (bʌɪˈreɪʃəl)
bi (bʌɪ)
b - voiced bilabial plosive
ɪ - near-close near-back unrounded vowel
ra (reɪ)
r - alveolar trill
eɪ - diphthong; close front unrounded vowel moving to near-close near-front unrounded vowel
cial (ʃəl)
ʃ - voiceless postalveolar fricative
ə - central vowel
l - alveolar lateral approximant
Word Form Variations
Biracial is a simple adjective. It doesn't have variations for things like tense (past, present, future) or person (first, second, third). It also doesn't have a separate plural form.
Here's how it works:
Singular: biracial (one person) - The biracial child navigated cultural differences with ease.
Plural: biracial (multiple people) - The biracial families celebrated their heritage together.
Comparative: more biracial (comparing two groups) - This neighborhood has become more biracial in recent years.
Superlative: most biracial (comparing three or more groups) - This school district boasts the most biracial student body in the city.
You can use biracial in all these contexts without needing a different word form.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Biracial (Adjective)
Definition:
Of, relating to, or involving people from two races.
Having parents from two different races.
Synonyms:
Multiracial, mixed-race
Antonyms:
Monoracial, single-race
Example Sentences:
The couple formed a beautiful biracial family with children who inherited features from both parents.
The city council aimed to create a more biracial committee to address community concerns.
Examples of Use
Books:
"Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng (2014): This novel explores the complex family dynamics of a Chinese American couple raising a biracial daughter (Ng).
Newspapers:
"The New Census Landscape and the Rise of a Biracial America" (The New York Times, 2020): This article discusses the growing biracial population in the United States as reflected in the latest census data (The New York Times, 2020).
Online Publications:
"Biracial and Beautiful: How Celebrities Are Embracing Their Mixed Heritage" (Teen Vogue, 2021): This online piece celebrates biracial celebrities who are using their platforms to promote diversity and acceptance (Teen Vogue, 2021).
Entertainment Mediums:
"Tiger Woods: Chasing Greatness" (Documentary, 2018): This documentary explores the life and career of golfer Tiger Woods, who identifies as biracial (HBO Sports, 2018).
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (TV Series, 2015-2019): The main character, Rebecca Bunch, is a biracial woman whose heritage plays a role in her self-discovery journey (The CW, 2015-2019).
General Public Discourse:
"Biracial Identity: Navigating a World Where You Don't Quite Fit In" (Online Discussion Forum): Online forums often feature discussions about biracial experiences, highlighting the complexities of navigating identity (Verywell Mind, n.d.).
"Biracial Representation Matters: Why We Need More Diverse Stories" (Social Media Post): Social media campaigns advocating for greater representation of biracial characters across various platforms often utilise the term "biracial" (#BiracialRepresentation).
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Biracial
While "biracial" is becoming increasingly common, it's not as prevalent in historical quotes. Here are some quotes that capture the essence of being biracial or multiracial, even if they don't use the exact term:
“I'm not Black, I'm not White. I'm Bronzed. You know what I'm saying? I don't go around saying 'I'm Black.' I don't go around saying 'I'm White.' I just go around saying 'I'm Alicia Keys.’” (Alicia Keys, musician) - This quote highlights the complex identity of someone with mixed heritage.
“The concept of a single, monolithic racial identity is outdated.” (Henry Louis Gates Jr., scholar) - This quote emphasises the growing diversity within racial categories.
“I used to think the world was black and white. Now I see that it’s filled with all these colours.” (Wendell Pierce, actor) - This quote reflects the experience of someone who may have initially identified with one race but later embraced their multifaceted heritage.
“I go through life with one foot in each world, never feeling like I fully belong to either.” (Halle Berry, actress) - This captures the feeling of navigating cultural spaces as someone who is biracial.
“We are not a nation of hyphenated Americans.” (George W. Bush, former US President) - This quote (though controversial) reflects a past way of thinking that downplayed the complexities of mixed heritage.
“Out of struggle comes strength, out of darkness comes light.” (Maya Angelou, poet) - This inspirational quote, though not directly about race, speaks to the resilience often found in those who navigate cultural intersections.
“The beauty of humanity lies in its diversity.” (Mahatma Gandhi, activist) - This quote celebrates the richness that comes from having people from various backgrounds.
“I define myself, first and foremost, as a human being.” (Tiger Woods, golfer) - While not explicitly mentioning race, this quote emphasises the importance of seeing beyond racial categories.
“The human race is one; but it rises on the stepping stones of a thousand nations.” (Gelett Burgess, writer) - This metaphorical quote emphasises the interconnectedness of humanity, regardless of race.
“The future belongs to those who bridge the divides.” (Robert Kennedy, politician) - This final quote highlights the importance of embracing diversity and fostering understanding between different cultures.
Etymology
The word "biracial" is pretty new! It combines two older words to make a fresh term.
Bi: This part comes from the Latin word "bi" which means "two." We see it in other words like "bicycle" (two wheels) and "bilingual" (two languages).
Racial: This part comes from the word "race" which has to do with a person's ancestry and physical characteristics.
So, sticking these two parts together, "biracial" literally means "two races."
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Biracial
There actually aren't any established idioms or phrases that specifically use the word "biracial." This is likely because "biracial" is a relatively new word and idioms tend to be older expressions passed down through generations.
Here are some alternatives that capture similar ideas:
Mixed race: This is a common and straightforward way to describe someone with parents from different racial backgrounds.
Of mixed heritage: This phrase emphasises the cultural aspects of having ancestry from multiple races.
Multiracial: This term is similar to "biracial" but can also apply to someone with more than two racial backgrounds.
Blended family: This phrase is often used in a family context to describe a household where parents or children come from different races.
Code-switching: This term describes someone who can effortlessly switch between different cultural ways of speaking or behaving depending on the situation. This can be common for people who navigate multiple racial identities.
Posts Related to Biracial
Source Information
Definition of biracial from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
