Mixed Race, bi-racial, etc. what term do you, or your community use?

Question

I'm in Milwaukee, and usually I can say mixed, and break it into black and white when people say "With what?"

Mulatto is the best term, but based on it's history I see why it's tainted, but words are innocent, and can be reclaimed.

Answer 1

i would say mixed. i personally don't know the exact reasons why the word mulatto has its negative undertones but because people come from so many beautiful backgrounds, ethnicity and skin-tones to minimalize it to just black and white would be fencing everyone into one group. my son is puerto-rican, ecuadorian, irish, french and german!!!! he is a beautiful boy and i guess when he is older he will have to check hispanic or other but i am ultimately hoping that in the near future race will no longer be such an important demographic or qualifying identifier. i believe that ones history and struggles should never be forgotten, if they ever are then we will be doomed to repeat history again. i just think that over time trying to be specific about race will turn into a bunch of confusion. No one is really just white or black or hispanic or asian...if we can all trace our ancestral roots to where we originate from we could all learn a thing or two by doing so.

Answer 2

I agree that words however tainted can be reclaimed. I must admit I hate the term mulatto and I never hear people of mixed race describe themselves that way. I'm from the Midwest. Mixed race people are more identified culturally where I'm from.

Answer 3

I'm from NJ and if you called somebody a mulatto to their face you'd be fighting! HIGHLY antiquated and offensive term, like 'colored' and '*****'. I shudder to even imagine! People are outgrowing the term 'mixed' but you still hear it but usually only by the same people who would describe the 'mixed' person as having 'good hair'. People socially aware and educated definitely use the term 'bi-racial'. Also you're kidding yourself with your last statement. If some one wanted to refer to you as as something associated with rape, shame, separation of family, and slavery, I wonder how innocent you'd think it was.

Answer 4

In my community i'am mixed. Then people may say with what but i am mixed with alot of things both on my mom and my dad's sides. I feel very proud to be considered a mix and mixed people actually tent to be the most popular ing my school because our school is seperated in races basically (white popular, asian popular, black popular, ect..) and mix kids bring everyone together really.

Answer 5

I am in Michigan & when someone say mixed it is always black & white, otherwise the give you the entire list.... I am white and if someone asks me what I am I say American I usually get a attitude in responce but I am a 5th generation American so what right do I really have to call my self Italian or Irish?

Answer 6

Black, 25 percent or more is Black. I'm Native American and something else, but I jsut say Black. Gosh, accept being called that.

Answer 7

Race is really a social construct more than anything else. *shrugs* It has no real meaning in the long run. After all, we are the same species.

Answer 8

I just call them people. I don't break it down into races.

Answer 9

growing up we referred to bi-racials as half-breeds. Now when I think about it, doesn't sound good at all.

Answer 10

i called my light skin homie a cragga (half n!gga half cracka) i know it was wrong but he called me shadow. my man look like he was about to cry but i apologized and never said it again but dat shiet was funny az hell.