Is she black or mixed?

Question

I am mixed with black and white, my mom is black my dad is white. My husband, I think is black.....his mom is mixed with black and white and his father is black. My husband and I have two children, a boy and a girl. The girl has blonde hair and green eyes and she's a caramel color. My son has dark hair and dark eyes and also has a caramel color. Many people ask me if they are mixed. I always reply, "No, but I am." My childrens God mother says that's not true, that our kids are mixed just like me and I can't seem to believe that. I tell my children they are black. Am I wrong?

Answer 1

You are.

If you are mixed then by genetic inheritance your kids are mixed.

Your kids, in theory (PLEASE i'm not making any arguments about race..etc.. i'm just been very mathematical about it) get half from you and half from your husband.

So, in theory your kids inherit (1/4) black and (1/4) white from you. Now your husband is (3/4) balck and (1/4) white, so your kids would inherit (3/8) black and (1/8) white from him.

So, that would make them (5/8) black and (3/8) white.

Now, that's me been extremelly mathematical and taking genetics too far. In reality different characteristics depend on different factors. So, for example skin color depends on different mixtures.

Now, this is very different to how you identify yourself. You could be mixed but identify as black, or white, or half, or whatever.


Well, I hope this helps.

btw.. I am mixed, from a mixed mother and a white father

Answer 2

If you insist upon racial identification, then of course your children are mixed race - how could they be just one or the other race if both you and your husband are mixed? You don't even seem to know whether your husband is black or mixed, yet he is clearly mixed because he has some white ancestry. Why do you think it is better to be only black? Would you change your tune and tell them they are white if you knew that being seen as white or part white gave them better opportunities? In reality, lots of people who appear to be one race or another are mixed race, from generations ago.

That old antiquated "one drop rule" was used aganst mixed race people to keep them down; the concept comes out of slavery and is no longer relevant. The only race is really the human race!

Answer 3

They are black because that's how the united states would regard Barack Obama and Holly berry.

Please remember that in the United States, We have a one drop of blood rule. Thomas jefferson had mixed children with Sally Hemings, do they qualify as black now even though they probably look black but are not. It is estimated half of the population of blacks are not black in North america do to slavery. My saying is this. The majority of the united states will see first and ask questions later. One of the seantors of the United States commented that Barack Obama was the first clean handsome BLACK canidate despite the fact that he has said he is biracial.
That's my answer to when they have to fill out the race question on job interviews.

But If you are talking to someone just say they are mixed.

Answer 4

it seems as though you are subscribing to the one drop rule. That is a little bit black makes someone all black. The truth is your kids are mixed. If you want to get technical, then you gave a quarter black and a quarter white. Your husband gave half of 75% black, so that is 37.5%. 25% plus 37.5% is 62.5%. That is slightly over what is considered biracial mixing. But, if you keep using your previous method of mixing, then what about people who are quarter asian, a quarter black, a quarter white and a quarte latino? Aren't they mixed.

Answer 5

There is no right or wrong here. Your children as described, are what was once known as 'Octoroon; It has been eliminated from common language because it was deemed offensive to some, and to be frank, totally irrelevant. The use of 'octo' refers to the 1/8 part of racial history in your children. 'Mulatto' referred to a bi-racial person. A child of similar but extended parentage would be a 'Quadroon'. Racial history is expressed in exponential ratios as soon as one parent has more than one status. You and they are whatever you/they wish to be. It's a small world they say, we are all one under the Sun. Don't sweat the small stuff, and the big stuff will look after itself.

Answer 6

Of course they are mixed. You just told us the history. Are you ashamed of having some white blood in your veins. Ti's best to tell the truth. What if one of you children has a totally white child. You have no idea at this point who they will marry. Genes do odd things. Let them be prepared for whatever.

Answer 7

You should let your kids decide if they want to be considered multi-racial or black. Your son will most likely be considered black by most people. Since your daughter has blonde hair many people will look at her and ask, "what IS she?" They will probably say mixed or hispanic BUT never consider her white. What do you consider yourself? What do others consider you?

Answer 8

Coming from a historical standpoint, the one drop rule, yes they would be considered Black. You are not wrong. Society will not see them as white - your daughter maybe considered mixed (blonde hair/green eyes) while your son will be Black.

Answer 9

They are mixed because you and your husband are mixed. But in this country they are probably going to be considered Black.

Answer 10

Your kids are mixed because they aren't fully black. Think of the equations, you're half, your husband is 1/4 rd that's make your children about about 1/4th-1/6th... so they are mixed. I'm black mixed, not half and half, my daughter is mostly white because her father is fully white and I'm about 1/4th, but she looks mexican... the rest of me is Native American and black.