It has been said that physical variations in the human species have no meaning other than the social one that humans attach to them. Society has placed stigmas on race dating back to the 1600s. Even in the 21st century American society is still trying to overcome racial boundaries. With such stigmas imposed upon them, biracial individuals often identify or are identified by others differently, depending on social context. The development of a biracial individual's racial identity depends on many factors, both internal and external. With the dramatic increase in the number of individuals with bi- or multiracial backgrounds, it is important for us to recognize the complexity of this culture's racial identity development. It is crucial to understand the challenges and benefits of being biracial, to help them avoid any negative behaviors that could have lifelong consequences. The healthy development of one's racial identity is critical for a biracial child to achieve and maintain positive psychological and social adjustment throughout his or her life. Before 1967, interracial unions were illegal. Once the legislature overturned the laws against interracial unions, the biracial population increased. Census data reveals that the multiracial population of the United States has surpassed nine million individuals. In 1997, because of this dramatic increase, a change was made that allowed the biracial population to check off more than one racial category in the 2000 U.S. Census. This feat was not accomplished without controversy. A federal task force was established to investigate the political and social implications of creating a new racial classification....... middle of document ......ng, rewarding and transforms into healthy adult adjustment. Some may sometimes feel uncomfortable with having multiple inheritances and may benefit from supportive counseling to provide clarity. Early preventative interventions targeting youth's multiracial context and issues related to race/ethnicity may be critical to avoiding a later negative outcome. The field of biracial identity development and psychological adjustment is still in the early stages of its development. More research needs to be done in this area to explore other variables, such as environmental, that may influence the developmental outcome of the biracial child. However, research has shown that the healthy development of one's racial identity is critical for a biracial child to achieve and maintain positive psychological and social adjustment throughout his or her life...