Abstract
This study examines experiences of racial impostor phenomenon among multiracial people. Many individuals who have experienced this phenomenon report that it caused them psychological distress. Having an in-depth understanding of the varied experiences of multiracial people is critical for those interacting with this diverse population. The more that people know about the experiences of those who have felt like an impostor in their racial identity, the more supportive they will be for people experiencing this identity challenge. Multiracial people are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States (Vespa et al., 2020). Therefore, understanding what it is like for multiracial individuals to experience the racial imposter phenomenon is crucial. This study explores the experiences of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) people who are often misclassified as White, and therefore are overlooked as a study population both in general research and in BIPOC-related studies. Thus, their lived experiences are vastly understudied (Awad et al., 2019). The current study can add to the literature on the multiracial MENA population, while also deepening a general understanding of this phenomenon, enriching the knowledge of those who work or interact with multiracial populations. This study included interviews with six multiracial MENA participants and a phenomenological data analysis of the findings. The following five themes emerged: 1) the racial impostor experience; 2) the psychological impact of racial impostorism; 3) the felt and feared loss of Iranian (MENA) culture; 4) the dynamics of mixed racial identity; and 5) attempts at healing by connecting to their Persian/MENA culture. The aim of the research is twofold: first, to increase the understanding of the lived experiences of racial impostor phenomenon, and second to add to the literature on the experiences of the multiracial MENA population, giving voice to an often invisible and silenced group.