MULTIRACIAL AMERICAAs our country becomes more multiracial, are we becoming

more tolerant and accepting?

Race –noun 1. a group of persons related by common descent or heredity. 2. a population so related. 3. Anthropology . a. any of the traditional divisions of humankind,

the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics: no longer in technical use.

b. an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups.

c. a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans.

4. a group of tribes or peoples forming an ethnic stock: the Slavic race.

5. any people united by common history, language, cultural traits, etc

History

American people are mostly multi-ethnic descendents of various culturally distinct immigrant nationalities.

We are a country of “mutts”

History

http://www.understandingrace.com/history/index.html

http://www.understandingrace.com/lived/game/index.html

Although we can celebrate the many victories that have faced our fight against discrimination, we still live in cities towns , communities and neighborhoods that are segregated by race.

What is race?

Race

Race does not exist in nature. Race is constructed by society. Race is an indicator of differences, but

there are no biological differences between us.

The primary indicator of race has primarily been skin color. “Whiteness gives us status.”

During the 1920’s not even the color of skin guaranteed whiteness – Japanese and Irish – “not white”.

Reasons for Diversity

Immigration patterns

Interracial marriages increasing

US military presence in Asia

Most importantly Loving vs Virginia

Loving vs Virginia

Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving were married in the District of Columbia.

They moved to Virginia and were charged for violating Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage.

The judge sentenced them to one year or suspended sentence if they left the state. He said, “ Almighty God created the races, white black, yellow , malay and red and he placed them on separate continents…the fact that He separated the races means He did not intend for them to mix.”

Supreme Court overturned the decision in 1967

Thurgood Marshall

In 1967 Thurgood Marshall was only months away from appointment to the Supreme court when he suffered an indignity which today seems outrageous. He and his wife could not live in Virginia because he was black and she was Asian.

The supreme court struck down the anti-interracial laws in Virginia and 18 other states.

In 1967 these laws were not leftover scraps from an extinct era. A Gallop poll done in 1965 showed that 72 percent of Southern whites and 42 percent of Northern whites wanted to ban interracial marriages.

Eldrick Woods and wife Kultida

Fast forward to more recent times and another black and Asian couple –

Their son is Tiger Woods.

He is black and Asian , but also Chinese, white and American Indian.

Tiger has refused to be labeled and has embraced his multiracial heritage.

CensusThe 2000 census over 6.8 million Americans marked an identification with two or more races.

The 2000 census was the first census to allow respondents to choose more than one race.

2.4 percent of the United States is

multiracial Hawaii has the largest multiracial population. – 24.1 percent of its population. Alaska is second with 5.4 percent.

The five least multiracial states are Mississippi, West Virginia, Maine, Alabama, and South Carolina.

All have multiracial populations less than 1 percent

APOLO ANTON OHNO

Caucasian American

Japanese

Olympic Gold medalist; Skater

ADRIANA LIMA

French, Portuguese, Inidigenous Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian

Model

FAITH EVANS

Mother: African-American

Father: Italian-American

Recording Artist for Bad Boy Records

MAGGIE Q. Mother:

Vietnamese

Father: American of Polish, Irish, French-Canadian descent

Actress, Model

PHYLICIA RASHAD

Actress, Model

Mother: African-American

Father: Cherokee Indian

LENNY KRAVITZ

Mother: African-American, West Indian

Father: Russian-Jewish descent

PETE WENTZ

Mother: Hawaiian and Indian

Father: Caucasian

Actor, Director, Musician, lyricist.

PAULA ABDUL

Mother: French-Canadian, Jewish

Father: Syrian, Raised in Brazil

Singer, Actress, Tv show Host

Tiger Woods

Mixed African American, Chinese, and Native American ancestry.

Famous Golfer

“THE ROCK”Dwane Johnson

Samoan, Polynesian, African American

Professional Wrestler, Actor

Cameron Diaz

Mother: English, German, Cherokee

Father: Cuban

Actress

Alicia Keys

Mother: Scottish, Irish, Itallian

Father: African American

Singer, Actress

Mariah Carey

Mother: Irish American

Father: Afro-Venezuelan and African American

Singer, Actress, Tv show Host

VIN DIESEL

Father: African American

Mother:Itallian

Producer, Writer, Actor, Director

Barak Obama

Mother: English, German, Irish

Father: African

President of United States

Hypodescent – or the one drop rule

In the past Americans uncomfortable with the idea that you can be more than one thing.

One drop rule was deeply ingrained in our society.

Obama has led to some frank discussions about race (see below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehhxGC0cd4E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtWgl1qF3Y0

19802010

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Single Race

Multi Racial

Single RaceMulti Racial

Future projections It is expected by 2050, the

majority of the US population, nearly 75 million, will identify with more than one race.

Thirty years ago it was 1-100, today it is 1-20.

What does it mean?

The multiracial individual is a visible indication of our country’s move towards acceptance not just tolerance.

As we become more integrated as a society, discussions of race may become unnecessary.

Diversity is not only about race but experiencing various perspectives, values and the thoughts they bring with them.

Ways to combat racism. Face our reluctance to discuss race. Realize that sometimes it isn’t what we

say it is what we do not say. Let children lead the way. Confront stereotyping when it occurs. Don’t wait for Heritage Days and History

months. Beyond Tolerance: Expecting Acceptance.

When they asked –Arnold Arnaff

When they askedIf I was Black or White

or what.I said:I was Black and White

and whatdifferencedid it make to them.and they said:did I have the answers

to the math problems?

and I had the answers.