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Exploring Hapa Identity: Mixed-Race Characters in Youth Literature

This research showcases the representation of Hapa characters in youth literature, delving into the complexity of mixed-race identities. The term “Hapa,” which signifies mixed or part heritage, particularly among Asian Pacific Islanders, is explored through various literary examples. It reflects the experiences of over 9 million individuals in the U.S. who identify as mixed-race, highlighting stories that resonate with the youth. This critical analysis seeks to understand how these narratives shape perceptions of race and identity in literature, emphasizing common themes in the mixed-race experience.

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Exploring Hapa Identity: Mixed-Race Characters in Youth Literature

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  1. 2013 Research Showcase Karla Lucht | klucht@illinois.edu A "Mixed" Bag: Searching for Hapa Characters in Youth Literature

  2. Defining “Hapa” • Mixed Race • “Two or more races” (U.S. Census Bureau). • 9 million individuals identified themselves as mixed-race. • 2.6 million Americans identified themselves as part Asian. • “Hapa” • Defined as “part” or “mixed,” with no racial or ethnic meaning. • Stems from the phrase “hapahaole.” • Commonly used to describe Asian Pacific Islanders of mixed race heritage.

  3. The Search • LOC Subject Heading • Racially mixed people – Fiction • Racially mixed people – Juvenile Fiction • Racially mixed children – Fiction • Subject Indices • Search Engine Keywords • Folksonomies

  4. Keyword Frenzy Asian American Eurasian mixed-race Asian Canadian hapa blasian Amerasian Multi-racial oriental biracial Racially-mixed Afro-asian

  5. “When my mother met my father, she was a Japanese schoolgirl and he was an American sailor.” -How My Parents Learned to Eat

  6. “She was both Vietnamese and American—but she felt like a nobody.” -The Face in my Mirror cover

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