25 Photos of Beautiful Interracial Families: We Are the 15%

BY CAROLYNCASTIGLIA | POSTED 1 YEAR AGO

Michael David Murphy and Alyson West of Atlanta, GA couldn’t believe it when they saw the racist backlash online against the adorable (and now famous) Cheerios ad featuring an interracial family that was released last month, because the family in the ad looked so much like their own. They decided to start a project in response that would “provide a positive, public face for the changing nature of the American family.” That project is called We Are the 15 Percent, so named because of the rate of interracial marriages in America today, and it features a beautiful array of images submitted by interracial families from all over the country.

I contacted Murphy to ask if he felt like most people he meets accept his family without prejudice, and he told me, “Surprisingly, Atlanta is a racially-mixed melting pot, and we generally feel accepted. Our family isn’t a six-legged political statement (ten, if you count the dog) we’re just a family, and like being treated as such!”

Murphy says he’s been “overwhelmed by the passionate response from the community” about the project, and has “received so many great photographs, and incredible stories, especially from children who are happy to see their own families reflected.” A selection of those photographs is below. What struck me so deeply looking at each and every one of the families featured here is that the love they feel for one another seemed to be so clearly visible in these photos, as if somehow being a family that has had to fight everyday stigmas has brought them all closer to one another.

Michael & Alyson (and Alexandra, 7 months)1 of 25

Megan, Michael Victor (2 yrs) & Michael2 of 25

Michelle, Dineo (5 years), Danielle (6 years) & Hugh3 of 25

Beth, Sadie, Drew & Scott4 of 25

Josie & Lawrence5 of 25

Maiti, Sebastien, Nolan & Fanny6 of 25

Christelyn, Mike & Kids7 of 25

Tiffanni & Mike8 of 25

Chris & Lagina9 of 25

AJ & Renee10 of 25

John, Quinn, Ellington & Winsley11 of 25

The Billups family12 of 25

Brigid, DeMarko & Liam24 of 25

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  Tulsa, OK
• Michael & Alyson (and Alexandra, 7 months)1 of 25
  
  Atlanta, Georgia, 2012.  Michael & Alyson are the site's creators, pictured here with their daughter Alex.
• Megan, Michael Victor (2 yrs) & Michael2 of 25
  
  New York, NY
• Michelle, Dineo (5 years), Danielle (6 years) & Hugh3 of 25
  
  Cupertino, CA
• Beth, Sadie, Drew & Scott4 of 25
  
  Austell, GA
• Josie & Lawrence5 of 25
  
  Atlanta, GA - 2011
• Maiti, Sebastien, Nolan & Fanny6 of 25
  
• Christelyn, Mike & Kids7 of 25
  
  Temecula, CA
• Tiffanni & Mike8 of 25
  
  Silver Spring, MD
• Chris & Lagina9 of 25
  
  New York, NY
• AJ & Renee10 of 25
  
  San Francisco, CA
• John, Quinn, Ellington & Winsley11 of 25
  
  Durham, NC
• The Billups family12 of 25
  
  Roswell, GA
• Clive (9 months), Iris (4), Roy, Emily & Jonas (2)13 of 25
  
  Huntsville, Alabama
• Boris & Elizabeth14 of 25
  
  Sherman Oaks, CA
• Mike & Linda15 of 25
  
  La Habra, CA
• Phylesia, Taylor & Harper16 of 25
  
  Oklahoma City, OK
• Michael, Kurt & Maria17 of 25
  
  Seattle, WA
• The Gardner family18 of 25
  
  Los Gatos, CA
• The Williams family19 of 25
  
  Lake Arrowhead, California
• Elisa, Debbie, Skip & Rachel20 of 25
  
  Denver, CO
• Scott, Azaria & Scott21 of 25
  
  San Francisco, CA
• Billy, Braylon, Brooklyn & Leslee22 of 25
  
  Oklahoma City, OK
• Gretchen, Rufaro, Kundai & Arnold23 of 25
  
  Clearwater, MN
• Brigid, DeMarko & Liam24 of 25
  
  Chicago, IL
• Patrick, Layla & Stephanie25 of 25
  

• 
  Tulsa, OK
• Michael & Alyson (and Alexandra, 7 months)1 of 25
  
  Atlanta, Georgia, 2012.  Michael & Alyson are the site's creators, pictured here with their daughter Alex.
• Megan, Michael Victor (2 yrs) & Michael2 of 25
  
  New York, NY
• Michelle, Dineo (5 years), Danielle (6 years) & Hugh3 of 25
  
  Cupertino, CA
• Beth, Sadie, Drew & Scott4 of 25
  
  Austell, GA
• Josie & Lawrence5 of 25
  
  Atlanta, GA - 2011
• Maiti, Sebastien, Nolan & Fanny6 of 25
  
• Christelyn, Mike & Kids7 of 25
  
  Temecula, CA
• Tiffanni & Mike8 of 25
  
  Silver Spring, MD
• Chris & Lagina9 of 25
  
  New York, NY
• AJ & Renee10 of 25
  
  San Francisco, CA
• John, Quinn, Ellington & Winsley11 of 25
  
  Durham, NC
• The Billups family12 of 25
  
  Roswell, GA
• Clive (9 months), Iris (4), Roy, Emily & Jonas (2)13 of 25
  
• 
  

• Patrick, Layla & Stephanie25 of 5
  
  Tulsa, OK
• Michael & Alyson (and Alexandra, 7 months)1 of 25
  
  Atlanta, Georgia, 2012.  Michael & Alyson are the site's creators, pictured here with their daughter Alex.OK