2006-10-31 21:10:34 · 17 answers · asked by ? 2 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
She looks like Sofia Loren, so what is her race if she is not italian even thou her granparents were italian? She neither look like black or white.
2006-10-31 21:38:49 · update #1
She's of mixed race. Is it that confusing? She's three-quarters white and one-quarter black.
That is the preferred term as "mulatto" means "little mule" and is generally considered pretty darn offensive for equating those of mixed race with hybrid farm animals. So are the terms "quadroon" and "octoroon" unless you're planning to sell slaves in the antebellum south.
The irony, of course, is that the concept of race is incredibly fluid. Many Italians have dark skin, and considering their proximity to Northern Africa and histories of invasion, you can assume some African blood got mixed in there somewhere along the way. Whereas with American blacks, you'll find they're often lighter skinned than most of the West Africans they can trace their origins to for the simple fact that masters often raped their slaves creating the first "mulattos" and "quadroons." So is it really worth trying to categorize something so hopelessly intertwined?
2006-11-01 06:00:21 · answer #1 · answered by Koko Nut 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
So the headlines will now learn....... "he's the regularly occurring Oreo Mulatto to be elected to the utmost workplace interior the land." For some non partisan intent, i've got self belief the label with the aid of fact the regularly occurring black will stick and now no longer the Oreo cookie Mulatto one. Now, are you waiting to circulate on from the race question, to the rest that has to administration themes that rather do impression usa, on the different hand of those partisan ones? =============== existence is so clever, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that we insist on making it complicated Confucius 551 - 479 BC =============== Peace Jim .
2016-10-03 04:02:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's whatever she wants to identify herself as. It doesn't really matter anymore, at least to the US Census Department. I am as white as can be, but if I decided to fill in "Pacific Islander" or "Inuit", it's not like they're going to arrest me.
Once upon a time, when this world was a sadder place, there was a whole slew of terms for mixed-race people, depending on the mix. You ever come across "octoroon" in an old book? Yeah, that's part of it. That's very much out of fad these days, thank goodness. So, if "mixed race" isn't precise enough for you, I'd just ask her what she prefers. She may identify more with one or another race, or she might just like "mixed race".
2006-11-01 11:28:00 · answer #3 · answered by random6x7 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maigen_obx's answer is correct. Someone who is 1/4 Black and 3/4 White is a quadroon. Someone who is 1/8 Black and 7/8 White is an octoroon. They're all mulattos, however: mulatto covers all mixtures of Black and White. I'm not certain what the specific terms is for half and half, unless it's halfbreed.
No recent mixture of old races is itself a race. It takes time for a racially hybrid population to sort itself out genetically and thereby become a race. The better-looking (non-Yoyoi) Asians are a race today, but they began as a raceless hybrid between Yoyoi Asiatics and Caucasian migratory groups, about 15000 years ago.
2006-10-31 23:15:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
For a legal definition it varies by state/country. In some states one drop of black blood makes one black, while others, such as Iowa would allow you to choose which race to list yourself as, black or white.
2006-11-01 10:15:06 · answer #5 · answered by M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just check the box marked 'other.' So many people fall into this category now. I've also written in 'Human" when a questionnaire asked for my race. I think it is an honest answer.
2006-11-01 14:45:09 · answer #6 · answered by Ted 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Said person is of mixed race and would be referred to as a quadroon. Neither mulatto nor quadroon is a race; they are just terms of reference.
2006-10-31 21:19:46 · answer #7 · answered by maigen_obx 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The person would not fall into any pre-established category. For example, in the census the person would probably have to select "other".
2006-10-31 21:14:20 · answer #8 · answered by Brendi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sure she likes sophia loren? mixed race
2006-10-31 22:02:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is it really that important for you to be able to put this person into a racial category? Why don't you just let the kid be a person?
2006-10-31 21:59:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋