If a child is biracial, who determines the child's race?

Question

For example, if a kid's mother is white and his/her father is black, what is the child considered to be racially?

So far, no one has answered my question.

What is he/she considered in society?

Answer 1

As far as society goes, when a person is bi racial or multiracial what race he/she looks more like is what people will judge him/her as. It would then be up to that person to say what race he/she is. i.e. both Mariah Carey and Nicole Ritchie are multiracial (white, black, latin), and Christina Aguilera is biracial (white, latin) but society considers them white based on appearance.
As far as legally, the child's race is determined by the parents at birth.
It used to be that if any person in the child's bloodline was non white, the child would be non white. But now with so many multiracial people, hardly anyone would be considered white! Many people don't know this but the average white American is less than 90% European. Then for awhile, the child was automatically given the mother's race regardless of what race the father was. This was done when my first child was born. I'm not sure why they changed that, perhaps because a child born to a white mother and a non white father would be legally considered white regardless of appearance; it just doesn't make sense. Now when biracial children are born,they ask the parents what race they want the child to be considered. You cannot choose multiracial or biracial. You must only choose one race. As far as I know it is still this way. My last child was born February of 2006 and this is how it was done. I think soon enough they will allow people to choose multiracial. Hopefully.

Answer 2

" Now this is not such a tough question it is just not agreed upon by the science of today .. therefore , it is arguable at best.
But I would say that the father's race would determine the race of the child because it is the father's DNA which determines if the child is his or not. And also the surname of the father is always applied as birth parent to a birth certificate.
To me it's a not worth the argument at all.
Now , since the DNA science has not concluded or as I have not found such a conclusion to this question I'll maintain that this is adequate for now - unscientifically.

Answer 3

I would say this is the most simplest way to determine race of a child or person, first of all there are no biracial people in the world, there are no multi-racial people in the world, based off the bible Eve came from the rib of Adsm (man), so God created woman from Man and then if you look in the bible you will find that after the flood Noah's sons were the progenitors (originators) of the races to come, so we see that God has made Man to be the progenitors (originators) of the child's race or ethnicity, in other words the woman is the carrier, nurturer of the seed just like the ground or earth is the carrier,nurturer of the seeds we plant to grow food in a garden. So if you plant a seed of squash in your garden then the squash plant will grow, if you plant a collard green seed in your garden then a collard green plant will grow, as the same if you plant a so called black mans seed in any woman who's race is different from him the seed that will grow up in woman being earth will be a so called black child same for a so called white man if he plants his seed in a woman that is not of his race he also will produce a so called white child. So the Man based off the law of God determines the ethnicity of the child, Here is another example in the bible it says that God created Adam from the dust of the earth, the earth is the womb and God breath life into Adam, So in order to determine race of a child you have to trace the family tree of the father, President Obama is so called black because his father is so called black, Hallie Berry is so called black because her father is so called black, it doesn't matter whether you are light or dark, curly or straight hair the seed is what the child is and what you are period!

Answer 4

I came here in answer of what is the actual genetic marker for skin pigmentation. People here saying the child decides have to be asked if they would Accept Obama as White if he said he was white? I would imagine Obama is considered bi-racial but has been heralded by most as being a black President. But from what I remember learning about the mass rape of female black slaves by white male owners is that the genetic determinate on whether the child would be lily white as opposed to any range of non white descriptors. I guess the usual way this question is asked when twins have different skin colors.. and how that is. I tend to remember it as being more likely to be lighter skinned if female as opposed to male.

It is not just a white/black thing. There are differences and variations in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia. I am guessing I would need an answer that I probably wouldn't fully understand.

Answer 5

Generally, no particular person determines it. In most cases the child is considered black if any one of the parents are black. However, if the child looks white and the "black" parent looks just as white, in some cases, it's pretty common for the mother to say the child is white. This is especially true if the mother is white in this case.

Now, according to the Bible, we are of our father's seed. Meaning you are what your father is, no matter what race your mother is.

Answer 6

That child determines his'her race.I am etnic-white,but all of my nieces and nephews are bi-ricial;1 parent white and 1 parent black.Too many people think that society or the law decides for a child.I will ask them directly how they feel.My kids will tell me they identify more with being black.I tell them you are what you feel and I want you to be happy in your own skin.However,you should not have to sacrifice one side too please the other.They have been called all kinds of names.Whites still look as if they are made from mudd.Blacks still say they are not black enough.I don't care what anyone says,they will define themselves and I will make sure they are happy and not confused,like other people say.I am glad they have lines on the documents that say multi-racial.You should never be ashamed of what you are made of.

Answer 7

Its both, if he's kinda of light skinned with a light black ethnicity then he's kinda white, or like a light black person. Either or Biracial means combined in two races so he's both.

Answer 8

How Is Race Determined

Answer 9

no person determines the race of an adolescent. maximum delivery certificates do no longer also have a race section on them anymore. Mine did no longer and my daughter's did no longer the two and we are 2 many years aside. As undesirable as I hate to admit it, society will choose what race a baby is till that youngster is sufficiently previous to tell them in any different case.

Answer 10

As perceived In his own eyes, in the eyes of others, or "technically"?

The child has the power to choose his own sense of identity. And ultimately, that's the most important thing.

There used to be a legal determination, at least in some states, but no longer.