Multi-Racial Extended Families in the U.S.

Marylee C. Taylor, Pennsylvania State University

This paper assesses the prevalence of multi-racial extended families in the U.S. and describes characteristics of members, relying on descriptions of the racial/ethnic composition of their extended families provided by a national probability sample of U.S. residents participating in the 2010 General Social Survey (GSS). Some preliminary findings: Approximately 55% of non-Hispanic whites report having extended families that encompass people of color -- African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders and/or American Indians/Alaska Natives, including 28% claiming American Indian/Alaska Native representation. As expected, Westerners are disproportionately common among those with Latino, Asian American, or American Indian/Alaska Native relatives. Compared to respondents reporting no family diversity, whites with American Indian/Alaska Native relatives have less education and rate their social position as low. Those with Asian American relatives have more education than the no-family-diversity baseline group. Older white respondents are less likely to report having people of color in their extended families.