Is a pale, blonde and blue eyed girl with a very far back African relative still considered black nowadays?

Question

Among other reasons, the One Drop Rule was created so that white slaves with African ancestry could "lawfully" be slave. But nowadays, if someone is say 95% white, can people truthfully claim they're not white? I guess my question is, will their future kids and grandkids all be "black" just because of one black relative?

I know a girl who is blonde and blue eyed, and paler probably than any other caucasian I've ever met. It'd be more truthful to say she's white, rather than black, right? (Forget scholarships and benefits for people of certain races right now, please.) Can anyone truthfully say that that she's black, and all her future children and grandchildren are black, and can never call themselves white? If anyone were to stand by that, they'd have to be equally willing to state that someone who's caucasian, with a chinese grandfather is chinese, and all their grandchildren will forever be so, or otherwise be contradicting themself.

Please answer intelligently.

This has been bugging me. Italians aren't caucasians, so wouldn't it have to be true that a white person with italian descent isn't white? (I don't believe that, but I'm talking about people who do.) I just don't see how anyone can think that's true.

I know some people with mixed black and white ancestry prefer to call themselves black. But what about those who perhaps didn't even know about their black ancestry, or who grew up with white parents, and people would question if they considered themselves black?

One more thing, what about a person who's being "black" all depended on who their mother married? Meaning, someone who's mother is white? If their mother married a white man, the child would be white. So their "roots" would be white, all depending on the mother, as apposed to if the mother was black, and either way, the child would be either black or half black, but couldn't be born without any black relative, no mater what. Does anyone consider that difference?

Answer 1

I think the "one drop" rule is mostly used today for ppl who look "white" but you can still tell they have black ancestry/parents from certain physical traits. There are so many ppl of "mixed" origins now, I think it not only depends on your physical traits, but with whichever group you feel more of a connection to. Obviously if you are very dark skinned, no one would really consider you to be of the "white" race, and vice versa. If you feel a strong connection to your black or white heritage, then you have the right to express yourself that way no matter what colour your skin is. Most of us are not 100% of anything, and the terms black and white are such generalisations.

Answer 2

For simplicity's sake, I'd have to say that you, basically, are what you look like. Almost everyone's sort of mixed to some extent, anyway...

Race "shouldn't" matter, but it does to some people, mostly for statistical and legal (as in "affirmative action" and non-discrimination) reasons.

There was a time when Black folks were so put-down that they'd try to "claim" any positive role model who had the slightest bit of Black in them as being one of their own. For example, I remember reading an article about the greatest Russian poet, Puskin, in Ebony magazine, where they were trying to say that this much-admired poet was a Black man, and he was a credit to their race...and the guy was some minuscule part Moorish or something like that. Such things reek of desperation, to my mind. I mean, weren't there enough Black people who were great, in their own right, without having to search out some obscure one-drop prominent person? And isn't pushing the envelope in that manner insulting to all of the REAL Black people who were prominent and historically significant? I've got to tell you, people sometimes act sort of nuts on the subject of race. If you want to call yourself White, I'd say that you're not being dishonest. (Heck, I'm a bit of a "mutt," myself, and if anyone asks, I just tell that that I'm Mediterranean--which happens to be the truth.)

Answer 3

she is white but if her lineage has some black in it, directly linked to her (not cousins or anything but just her line) then she is mixed. in order to claim being black for vital statistics, however, you need to be 1/16th whatever race youre claiming. so a girl with a full chinese grandfather would be chinese. your friend is most likely the result of a slave owner and a slave having sex, or some other race mixing down the line.

Answer 4

i think that these days with it being the "in" thing to be black then people with distant black ancestry are claiming themselves to be black. Frankly, I dont see color and race as something that should be sectioned out...we are too quick to label people these days and put people in a box. if your friend wants to call herself black then that is her choice. Though I am fairly sure that people would be calling her a "wannabe" or something to that note. Your friend may be just trying to find herself and giving herself a label is helping her do that. Alternativly, she has very low selfesteem and feels that it would be easier to label herself than to find her own identy.

It is up to a person how they choose to see themselves and present themselves to the world. Why is it necessary to be black or white or chinese or german? Isnt it more important that we are understanding, truthful and compassionate?

Answer 5

I think people make their own descriptions. I have a russian branch to my family on the maternal line, but I've never considered myself russian. If this girl considers herself to be black and feels her cultural lifestyle requires that lable, then thats up to her, but I think most people assign racial groupings on a mixture of cultural origen and physical indicators, so the majority fo peole would not think this girl was black bacause the genetic component is very small and her physical form also does not fit the general characteristics. But its all irrelevant, we are individuals and unique in our own ways

Answer 6

Black hair and blue eyes are the thank you to bypass. For some reason it in basic terms makes the eyes that extremely extra severe. With severe blue eyes you need to be waiting to soften any guy that makes eye touch with you. as nicely, once you're making a metamorphosis do it for your self and not people.

Answer 7

who cares? i am a part of the melting pot in the USA. i am English/Irish/Phillipano/Spanish.

just do the best you can without worring about this racial stuff. the only people i know that think about this are looking for a handout from the govt. don't worry about someone else's heritage. Are they good to you?

Answer 8

I hope the day comes whne it doesnt matter I think Italians are white If you are mixed you can check other on forms. and choose the culture you want to participate in .

Answer 9

beauty is in the eye of the beholder...does you sould have a colour..how do white people know what colour their souls are...they might all be black and all black people might have pure white souls...it does not matter what people think my dear..what matters is what you think and what makes you happy..nothing else
do you do things to make yourself hapy or to enrich yourself ? i think a native girl with blond hair is gorgeous...look within and find the true you....to hell with what other people see and think...God made you perfect

Answer 10

I have a friend who's parents were both born in S.Africa, as were their parents, but he was born here. They are all white and the great grand parents were from the UK. His question is then, is he Afro-American?