2nd Generation Biracial?

I sometimes wonder, what is the child of someone biracial called? Whether the biracial parent had a child with a white man, black man, or another biracial person, what would they be called? We know automatically if the biracial parent is black and white, and they do it with someone who is neither mulatto, or isn't black or white period, then the child is multi-racial.

People have hundreds of names to call the products of biracials...its just easier to say 2nd Generation biracial...assuming that is the title the child wants.

If the child is now majority white (white parent and mulatto parent), and if they looked white, would you allow them to take on the title of a white person with some black heritage? My mom says that you should always tell them their heritage as that white child could possibly produce a black kid with a white person (well genetics are strange enough that something along those lines could happen). But at the same time, would you let them reap the benefits of being white in society?

The fear with this option is that they will grow to deny you. Self identifying as a white person is not denying you...but if the benefits of being white outweigh their love for their biracial parent they may kick you to the curb in the same way Fredi Washington's character did in Imitation of Life, because having a parent of color would hold them back.

So how does one trek a road like that? I guess its like raising 1st Gen biracials...you have to tell them what they are, but do not push your ideas of what they should be. Meaning, you should not force them to identify any certain way, you should not raise them to favor one side...just be the unbiased parent who is equal giving to both sides (whether or not the other parent is there), and then let them decide for themselves as they get older, what they want to consider themselves.

What about 2 parents that are mulatto? Is the child still considered mulatto? I would say yes, since 25% black and 25% white from each side will add up to 50% white and 50% black. Its weird how a child can be biracial with parents of the exact same race. In fact its the forming of these relationships that have resulted in why there are just so many light skinned blacks. Back in the day, blacks encouraged going with the lighter skinned blacks because lighter was considered better.

Some say that Vanessa Williams is biracial in this sense. Zoe Kravitz is biracial in this sense and even looks it.

Then there is the child of a black parent and mulatto parent. You will usually get children like the President's daughters. They will look black and be undoubetedly considered black...but like the very first scenario, one is faced with the issue of identity and letting them know of their white heritage....

Because of that 25% white heritage the child is far more likely to produce a light skinned black, than a white person producing a darker skinned white child.

In each scenario its always important to let the child know their heritage...but it is just as important to let them identify their own way. Just because you are loud and proud about being biracial, doesn't mean your child necessarily wants to go by that.

In the end, its just a matter of raising the child to be the best person they can be...to make good decisions.

I personally wish we could find a new term rather than 2nd Generation biracial...a name to call a kid whose got one mono-racial parent and a mulatto parent. We have multi-racial, if the mulatto parent does not share either race of the mono-racial parent...but what if they do, what would be a good name then?