Title: Unveiling Hidden Histories: Dorothy Roberts’ ‘The Mixed Marriage Project’ In an era where interracial marriages are increasingly commonplace, it’s easy to forget that such unions were once taboo in many parts of the world. However, a new memoir by legal scholar and sociologist Dorothy Roberts sheds light on this overlooked aspect of history. Entitled ‘The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family,’ the book delves into her parents’ research on interracial marriages in Chicago during the mid-20th century. Roberts, who is currently the George A. Weiss University Professor of Law & Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, stumbled upon this trove of untouched material when she moved from Chicago to Philadelphia and decided to sort through her father’s research boxes. Inside were transcripts of nearly 500 interviews with interracial couples conducted by her late anthropologist father, Robert Roberts, over his career at Roosevelt University in Chicago. What initially seemed like an opportunity to complete her father’s work turned into a journey of self-discovery for Dorothy Roberts. As she delved deeper into the documents, she found that not only had her mother, Iris (a Black Jamaican immigrant), assisted in her husband’s research but also that she conducted all the interviews with wives while Robert interviewed husbands. “Finding out that my mother was involved…created curiosity about my family, about their marriage, and then I began to think about how it related to me and my identity as a Black girl with a white father,” Roberts explains in her book. This revelation sparked a deeper exploration of the dynamics within her own family and its impact on her personal identity. The Mixed Marriage Project offers valuable historical context for understanding race relations during this period, particularly in Chicago where segregation was enforced through housing policies and social norms. By examining these interviews, Roberts provides insights into how interracial couples navigated the racial caste system and the Color Line of that time. Moreover, ‘The Mixed Marriage Project’ serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding race and identity within families. As mixed-race individuals become more visible in society today, it is crucial to acknowledge their unique experiences and challenges while also celebrating their contributions to our diverse world. In conclusion, Dorothy Roberts’ ‘The Mixed Marriage Project: A Memoir of Love, Race, and Family’ offers a fascinating exploration into the history of interracial marriages in Chicago during the mid-20th century. By sharing her personal journey through this research, she provides valuable insights into race relations, family dynamics, and identity formation that resonate with readers today. This memoir serves as an essential addition to our understanding of American social history and offers a thoughtful reflection on the complexities of love, race, and family in modern society.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/nx-s1-5704334/dorothy-roberts-the-mixed-marriage-project)
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