Biracial identity development in Maltese-black local youth : implications for counselling

Abstract

This study explored what, according to Maltese-Black biracial youth, helps or hinders the development of a healthy local biracial identity, which is defined as the synchronised development and integration of two distinct racial identities into one. The research question requistioned an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis using individual, semi-structured interviews. Six participants were recruited via snowball sampling. Interviews enabled me to tap the participants’ phenomenological data yielding rich descriptions of unique, firsthand, untold lived experiences. My interpretation of the participants’ narrated realities materialized the research aims. The participants’ voices, processed through the adopted conceptual framework—critical race theory, ecological biracial identity development models, and postcolonial concepts—, guided the elicitation of six themes, namely, biraciality, racialised context, navigating the racialised context, Maltafro/Maltafrikan(a) phenomenon, intersectionality, and shared experiences. Each theme, along with respective subthemes, accentuates what helps or hinders biracial identity development in Malta from a social justice advocacy orientation. Two major implications of this study are the current sociopolitical invisibility of this cohort in Malta and the absence of an anti-racism national policy. Another is the need for local counsellors to additionally work with the Maltese-Black biracial community from a social justice advocacy stand. Recommendations, as elicited from participants themselves, include the need for a racially-equitable national approach, as well as counselling research, practice and training.