ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the different places mixed-race youth live and how the nature of those places affects multiple aspects of their lives. It argues that interracial families, regardless of their racial configuration, contribute to the diversity of their communities. Basing his comments on the integration of immigrants, Putnam believed it was possible and necessary for societies to address the negative influence of increased diversity on trust and social solidarity by developing broader and more inclusive identities. It is also possible that youth located in this position experience mixed-race bias from individuals or agencies beyond the family, which means they are subject to treatment different from that of children in other racial and/or social class groups. In the process of developing their own social networks, children improve the social networking opportunities for and among parents and may also contribute to stronger ties overall within a community.
