Community Voices The Integrated Family. Tell Us How Your Family Was Affected By Becoming More Racially Or Ethnically Diverse.

Large clan that appreciates cultures and tries to work through problems

At last count, our large, blended five-generation family included more than a dozen ethnicities: Irish, Arab, Dutch, Puerto Rican, German, African American, Filipino, English, Hawaiian, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Scotch and Jewish. Our first great-granddaughter has nine nationalities coursing through her veins - Asian-European-Hispanic-Other-Pacific Islander. Our second great-grandchild on my husband's side is of Arab-African American-European-Puerto Rican descent.

We truly represent the 21st century American family. So much so, that my informal hanai (Hawaiian term for adoption) Italian daughter (a Ph.D. teaching at a California university) and I have coauthored a novel called The Great American Family. The inspiration came, of course, from our own blended family and the occasion of a niece of European ancestry marrying a young black man.

Our families are typical; there were a few unhappy with this union. Two relatives chose not to attend the nuptials. Their choice, but it saddened many of us. Since the wedding, there have been some reconciliations and truces.

Through the years, we continue to learn about one another, to share cultural knowledge, lore, traditions. Part of the family incorporates Kwanzaa activities; another lights Menorah candles, celebrating Hanukkah. Bottom line: We respect one another and our diversity including music, dance, customs, lives.

One of the best things of all is when we get together to party and share those wonderful, incredible ethnic foods from lumpia to hush puppies to malasadas and chicken luau. In fact, our novel concludes with a true soul-food (from the spirit and the heart) cookbook for the bride and groom.

Gael P. Mustapha

Green Valley, Ariz.

Adoption enriches their lives

"Would you consider a biracial child?" asked the nun at the adoption agency. "Of course," I said with the enthusiasm of a pre-adoptive parent. Then I paused and asked, "What's a biracial child?"

We are a rainbow family through adoption - a German American father, an Italian American mother, a daughter who is a blend of African, English, Irish, French, German and Dutch, and a son who is African American.