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Open Access Publications from the University of California

"Only the News They Want to Print": Mainstream Media and Critical Mixed-Race Studies

Abstract

This essay lauds the publication of the Journal of Critical Mixed Race Studies , then turns immediately to argue that the journal must focus itself on actively becoming the authoritative voice on mixed-race matters, while also speaking out against naive colorblindness and premature declarations of postraciality. This is crucial because the public receives its information on mixed-race identity from the mainstream media, which has a long historical record of inaccurate and damaging reporting on mixed race. Using the recent "Race Remixed" series in the New York Times as a contemporary example of this problem, the essay argues that it is imperative that mainstream media writers seek out and use scholarly input in the publication of their articles.