Writing Question: Best Method for Introducing People of Color?

I’m currently writing a relatively far future military SF novel (or revolutionary military SF, since it involves revolution).  One thing that I want to indicate about this future and its wide-reaching human empire is its relative inclusiveness.  Race is not as much an issue there as it is today, which means that the cast of characters I intend to show will embody a mixed world.

To make that clear in the story, I feel as though I need to identify several characters by their race (or everyone by their race, really).  But I don’t want to in part because I really don’t know how to go about doing so without essentializing or reducing characters to their race (or even identifying them by something that I personally feel has no say on one’s character).  What exactly is the best method for introducing the race of a character (any race)?

I honestly don’t know…and I’d much rather have an idea on how to go about it before shoving my foot in my mouth.

The comments are yours.