Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This is pretty much true. Very important is the fact that the codification and more intense application of the so-called rule came in the early 1900s, along with more interest in eugenics, a great fear of immigrants, and other such coincidental issues.
Generally speaking, black people in the US were identified by appearance or self-identification, as was noted earlier. Genetics is a set of funny dice, and sometimes people with as much as 25% sub-Sahara genetics have been able to pass as white.
OTOSOTC, there is a town in which 100 years ago a single black man moved in, married a white woman, and that entire town was labeled "black" by neighboring all-white towns. Today all the older residents look as white as could be, but they still self-identify as black.
However, there was a court case in the South as late as the mid 80s that fell back on the one-drop rule.
One thing the "one-drop" rule did, however, was prevent the South African concept of "colored" come into being as a class distinction. No matter how one's racial identity was determined, a person was either white or black, for better or for worse.
The concept of "biracial" didn't have a social significance in the US until the 80s. A white person who married a black person essentially lost his "white card" and all the advantages thereof, and had to teach his children that they were black because that's how American society was going to see them and treat them.
So Halle Berry--born in 1966--was necessarily raised to identify as black, while Jesse Williams--born in 1981--was not raised as "black" and has the social option of identifying as "biracial," but chooses to identify as black because of his own personal experiences.
Unfortunately, identifying yet another racial classification is not progress. It has created more problems, with there now being a discernible social preference for "biracial" being a satisfactory level of diversity in American culture (which is the point Jesse Williams ardently campaigns against).
The US has developed the same situation that South Africa had.
Excellent points.
At one time (slavery/Jim Crow), the need to distinguish between "white" and "colored" was considered necessary by those holding the strings of power. For generations, many bi-racial lighter-skinned but still visibly part-black people had to identify as black and it helped create a certain degree of unity...despite colorism. It's why Latin America has a multitude of racial classifications based on varying skin tones but blacks in America are typically just "black" whether darker or lighter.
Now with a decline in the majority population, there does seem to be a push to acknowledge bi-racial (especially black/white) individuals as something separate from blackness. There's nothing inherently wrong with this, but the timing is fortuitous....a feeling that those in power want to divide and conquer a group that has shown a pronounced resistance to assimilating. Of course, it's hard to assimilate when the average black American's roots go deeper in the U.S. than the average white American.
One of the reasons some blacks may resent this is because when push comes to shove, the black community has historically shown a willingness to absorb and take care of the offspring of black/white (usually black female/white male) relationships. A biracial jailbird and a biracial neurosurgeon were both viewed as black more or less and treated with respect in the community.
It will be interesting to see how these sorts of things are handled going forward.
None of this has anything to do with the one drop rule. That was a law (or series of laws) passed in many southern states in the early 1900s to keep the "white" race pure. Because after you've raped 2 or 3 generations of your female slaves, their progeny start looking white. ALL of those laws have since been rescinded, so in a way you are correct - the one drop rule DOESN'T exist - any more.
Has nothing to do with this discussion.
Correct the one drop rule is nonexistent and has no social or legal relevance in modern society. Hell today there are mixed black people who can 100% pass as white.
Now if the OP is referring to those with direct black ancestry who refuse to self-identify or relate to the black community then that’s another discussion. Vin Diesal, The Rock, Michael Jordan, etc. you’ll never see these guys with atleast 1 black parent discuss racial issues in fear of alienating their consumer base and brand.
But as you stated, the one drop rule was for racial white purity and to bolster the slave population statistics for political power. Both of which have no relevance now.
As far as mixed raced self-identification, I have no idea what percentage of mixed race kids self-identify as white or self identify as black
Why does it matter how many drops, if an individual identifies as black, that should settles it regardless of the biology. That is the current view regarding identity in other areas, correct?
As usual, some truth in what you suggest....because whether 2% or 10% or 20%, a person makes a choice if they want to ID with a particular group. That may mean giving to the NAACP, enjoying soul food or preferring to hang with black or mixed race friends. Maybe one "10%" gal likes to date white guys, another black guys and a third any and all she likes.
We are all tainted by our upbringing, culture, peers, education (or lack of), etc - but I think most of us agree that if people have preference of this type, they should be free to practice them.
Do you think otherwise?
My guess is that many people may look like a certain ancestry....and decide to ID with their look. A Pole may want to think they are a German.
OP said: It's a myth that "most white Americans" have any black in them.
and
I have a heck of a lot more Neanderthal and even N. African (could be Egyptian or Libyan) than I do black
I've been doing my family tree and gotten back to 1600's on one side. I'm not albino white looking but close and my DNA supports it with 95% British and Irish. But recently 23andme said that a minority amount was North African and that one of my great-great-great's was 100% North African.
That N. African often indicates some Jewish line...however small. This classification applies to those who ended up in the Middle East and then often moved toward Europe. It also could mean some moors - who lived in Spain until kicked out. Lots of Jews in Spain also...before the Inquisition.
"British" is a tough one in itself because it would likely include some Norse, Roman, Celtic, French, German and other blood...depending on the exact situation. It could be that the N. African is a tiny bit of the Roman Army and culture which infused the UK...
As the databases get more people in them, the percentage will change...become more accurate.
Don't imagine that all cases of interracial sex were rape. Many African-American women have sex with white men because they intentionally want to have lighter skinned children.
Depends on the time period you are referring to. Throughout most of American history, those matings would be classified as rape...or, to put it in modern terms, Weinsteins harems had sex consensually also.
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hennings were "lovers", but she was his slave still. It's a power and ownership thing. What sane human being wouldn't rather be in Paris with "masser" living it up than picking cotton??
It might be off-topic, but if you are serious about this "wanted to mate with the white man" thing, you should put in in historical and geographical context...and also explain what was in it for the white dude???
New Orleans is the exception to the rule of just about everything. It effectively was/is a different country than these United States and has been that way for 100's of years. A crazy partying sex-it-up place where people from all nations...well, they mixed it up.
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hennings were "lovers", but she was his slave still. It's a power and ownership thing. What sane human being wouldn't rather be in Paris with "masser" living it up than picking cotton??
Jefferson was pretty much a pig in racial matters. In his own writings (which you can find on the internet), Jefferson did not consider black people even capable of such finer emotions as "love," only sensual rutting like animals in heat. Hemmings was little better in his eyes than his prized mare.
Because Hemmings was techincally free in France and could theoretically have simply walked away (although practically speaking, that would have been immensely difficult), Jefferson was holding her sons hostage back in Virginia. If she had walked away, she'd never see them again--but he promised that if she behaved he'd free them on their return to Virginia.
Don't imagine that all cases of interracial sex were rape. Many African-American women have sex with white men because they intentionally want to have lighter skinned children.
Very true. A mixed kid in the black community is gold, especially on social media apparently. I truly think the Curry NBA family has become the ideal look if possible.
I personally have really gotten away from referring to bi-racial people as black. There's a white card that can always be played if necessary. So Jesse Williams can himself whatever he wants, but no way has upbringing and experiences been in line with say a Bernie Mac or Don Cheadle , and it's disingenuous and insulting to act as such
None of this has anything to do with the one drop rule. That was a law (or series of laws) passed in many southern states in the early 1900s to keep the "white" race pure. Because after you've raped 2 or 3 generations of your female slaves, their progeny start looking white. ALL of those laws have since been rescinded, so in a way you are correct - the one drop rule DOESN'T exist - any more.
Has nothing to do with this discussion.
Rep point to someone who knows a little history.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
