Why are mixed raced people often classed as black, when they are in fact half black and half white?

Question

I think it's unfair to dismiss their white heritage, but as soon as you have a bit of black in you, you are automatically classed as black.

I'm not saying that every mixed race person has experienced that, I've just made a few observations

Answer 1

I know...Tiger woods is 1/2 Thai (his mother is Thai) so why is he considered black instead of Thai????? I have wondered the same thing myself.

Answer 2

I heard somewhere that if you are 1/16 or 1/32 black then you are considered black. But beyond that I think it's cultural as well. During slavery times someone who was 1/2 black could still be sold as a slave and often was. I also heard that during these times some girl was arrested for marrying a white man because she was 1/16 black. These definitions of blackness have stayed with us.

Answer 3

I'm mixed. On some surveys they don't have a box for people of more than one race and sometimes they say choose one. So I think which one white or black. I tend to mark both anyway. I use biracial meaning two races. I think it's because if you have more in you then just white you can't really say your white anymore. Can you?

Answer 4

I'm sure there are some prejudice people who will automatically class someone who is mixed as the other ethnicity other than Caucasian; to those people, you are "either 100 percent white...or something else". But, in most instances, when you ask people of mixed ethnicity's what they are, if they are to choose one ethnicity, I believe most of the time it will be the one other that Caucasian. I myself have experienced this with my own children (3 of them), who are half white and half Japanese, and I have noticed that they consider themselves of Asian descent. I also have a toddler that is half Japanese and half black...I will not think of it as unfair if he claims black as his ethnicity when he grows up, or Asian for that matter....

Answer 5

I read on one of the Yahoo Answer questions that if the father is black their mixed child is considered black. I'm not so sure that is true or not though.
I'm white, my husband black, I have two sons that are mixed black/white. But, actually they are through my ancestry French Canandian, American Indian and English and on their fathers side English, African American and American Indian.
So, I actually feel like my children are getting the best of all worlds. And I know my son's will not grow up to be ignorant either because they will respect all races. I'm not saying that if your not mixed you won't respect all races, because come on- most people in the U.S. are mixed, even if it's with American Indian.
BTW-Yahoo Answers has too many Racist in here! And they harrass people too! WTF??
Wendy L- Are you serious that you call mixed kids Oreo's and Zebras? My son's WILL be taught to deal w/ ignorant people like you & your friends! So do you consider yourself a "Cracker or Redneck?" lol! So retarded!

Answer 6

I think it's rather ignorant to think there are only two ethnicities in the world; black and white.

Mixed people can be any combinations of ethnicities not just black and white. And they can decide what they want to call themselves. If they want to dismiss one heritage over the other, that's their decision.

Answer 7

Thank you for making a VERY valid point!!!! I have no idea....we are what we are and we should be happy to be mixed races (yes I am by the way....) and enjoy what each race/tribe has brought to your life and family! There is not one person on this earth that hasn't got a rich and vibrant background. For some reason to be classified as 'Black' is the badge of entry for most people and an excuse for their lack of achievement. To be white is seen as a dirty past that has to be hidden away. Whereas I trully feel you as a person have to admit all your origins or you are never complete!!!

Answer 8

The classification goes back to ignorance and discrimination. It was believed that even a drop of black blood would "pollute" white blood so the emphasis was on black. I think many people do not know this background and just accept without thinking the prejudice of the past.

Answer 9

I agree with you 100 %
Have you notices when they talk about Halle berry they call her black but when they talk about AManada MArshall they call her white .Their both the same half black
It seems that it depends on which skin colour you came out with !!
I read on here yahoo answers some crazy guy saying because blacks went through slavery its an inslut that a mix person claims their other nationality as well.What bogus CRAP !

Answer 10

I'm not sure...but yes, i agree that this is what seems to happen. However, people of dual heritage are now being more recognised as being white and black respectively rather than the emphasis being placed on their black heritage.

Answer 11

you need to pose this question to the white authorities that introduced the "one drop" rule. Under this rule if any part of you was black, you became black, full stop. My guess is the racist white authorities back then didnt want any mixed race people drifting into their gene pool, they wanted everything black and white (pardon the pun).

Understandably, i guess, some mixed race people are happy not to have ANY association at all with the race of people who once rejected them. SOme mixed race people call themselves mixed, but some choose not to.