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.
I read an interesting book about race in Brazil from the perspective of a black U.S. citizen ("From Coal to Cream"). He found very few Brazilians who would self-identify as black even when they had much darker skin than his. Most said they were white. In contrast, in the U.S. it's more common for people of mixed African and European to self-identify as black. This book was from the late 90s so things may be different now.
Soledad O'Brien is a part of the National Association of Black Journalists. She is was also name Irish American Magazine's Top 100 Irish Americans twice. How is this possible? race is not elusive in the US that you belong to one if you mix. Mix Americans generally don't separate themselves in a new group they pass as both. Otherwise there's no large mulatto group because mix people generally pass as white and black. This what you get today example Obama being black it doesn't contradicts he's mix because it's part of the reason why he's mix.
And yall got the one rule backwards historically it was because racism of in the pass mix people were not consider white, they weren't accepted by whites which made them just black by default. Some states even went as far as to make this a law. Hence one drop made you black because white suppose to be pure. Mean while blacks have always been accepting to mix people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antonio84
I thought the typical white admixture in African Americans ranged from 15% to 30% of DNA?
Anyway, I personally think that anyone with a predominant race admixture that is less than 90%, can be considered mixed since usually something shows physically that points to some mixture. Obviously the greater the admixture, the more pronounced the physical tell-tell signs that there was a mixture somewhere down a person's genetic tree.
This is a little different.
Mix means near half and half in the US. Folks 75% one background and 25% another aren't going to walk around saying there mix. You have stuff like people saying I'm Black But part white and etc. Also I bring somethings out the closet because of pass racism that black Americans ancestors weren't accepted by their white relatives, black Americans basically don't embrace there mix heritage. It's kind viewed like a scare culturally. So your not going to have people "70% and up black" embracing their mix with slave holders who wouldn't claim them back. I'm just saying the US is not Brazil, history of racism is a little different.
In fact while many African Americans are mix with native Americans most who claim so aren't. It's something there ancestors pass on to cover up why some are lighter because of slavery, rapes and etc. So don't call a lighter African Americans mix if they don't embrace it. If they do find but if they don't.. don't.
And some Brazilian said Americans are hiding being mix not really, Many African Americans that know history know this, however embracing it is something different. While there mixing during slavery in Brazil there was way more mix after slavery with immigrants then there was in the US and things were more mutual. But anyways people say there black if there majority black in the US.
Last edited by chiatldal; 09-21-2012 at 06:03 PM..
I read an interesting book about race in Brazil from the perspective of a black U.S. citizen ("From Coal to Cream"). He found very few Brazilians who would self-identify as black even when they had much darker skin than his. Most said they were white. In contrast, in the U.S. it's more common for people of mixed African and European to self-identify as black. This book was from the late 90s so things may be different now.
In Brazil, people have the right to declare themselves to be PARDO (that means something like "brown" or "bronze" ), without being forced to choose between "Branco" (white) or "Negro" (black). PARDO is an official category in the Census.
There is no reason why MIXED people should be forced to choose between the categories of "black" or "white". Even more when those people have a lot of INDIGENOUS ancestry, that is not African ancestry nor European ancestry.
In the USA, people are forced to choose: black or white. All the colors of the rainbow are forgotten.
In Brazil, people have the right to declare themselves to be PARDO (that means something like "brown" or "bronze" ), without being forced to choose between "Branco" (white) or "Negro" (black). PARDO is an official category in the Census.
There is no reason why MIXED people should be forced to choose between the categories of "black" or "white". Even more when those people have a lot of INDIGENOUS ancestry, that is not African ancestry nor European ancestry.
In the USA, people are forced to choose: black or white. All the colors of the rainbow are forgotten.
It is not that they are forgotten, but the categories are more strict and involve many factors within them. Black people in the US embrace the range within the group of people that identify as such.
Also, in Brazil, there is a steady growth of Black consciousness and even some Pardos identify with this movement. This is due to the inequalities that occur in Brazil based on race/color. So, eventhough there are many ways to describe yourself racially in Brazil, the socialization of race is about the same as it is in the US.
In Brazil, people have the right to declare themselves to be PARDO (that means something like "brown" or "bronze" ), without being forced to choose between "Branco" (white) or "Negro" (black). PARDO is an official category in the Census.
There is no reason why MIXED people should be forced to choose between the categories of "black" or "white". Even more when those people have a lot of INDIGENOUS ancestry, that is not African ancestry nor European ancestry.
In the USA, people are forced to choose: black or white. All the colors of the rainbow are forgotten.
That's the thing people are not force, Americans don't want to be separated in a new group. Truth be told Latin American counties had a broad caste system. That divide people in All kind of groups.
Another thing again Americans don't have to choose at all, no one is being forced. In America you have the right to be both. So if a mix American was called black or white they're both are true statements. Again Obama for instance being call black is not to say he isn't also white. If you can pass as white and black it's pretty obvious your mix hence bi-racial. Modernly the category for "brown" in American is view as unnecessary.
It's kind of like you have a mom "from the Jones family" and dad "from the Parkers family" your a part of both families it doesn't even what you last name will be, Your can go to both family reunions. With saying that people don't declare themselves an Independent family. It's kind of how Americans view Brazil.
Also I hoping you aren't thinking in American people are only black or white. American is more Ancestry than color. Only Caucasians and people of African descent describe themselves by color. You have Asian, Native American, pacific islanders, and etc. That is the rainbow, and the same mix ideals apply.. You can be Native American and Asian.
That's the thing people are not force, Americans don't want to be separated in a new group.
How can you explain this:
Its not much of a separation, it appears to me that they simply want to be acknowledge for who they are and not what people want for them to be. But I understand why some people want to frame the issue in terms of "dividing people," especially among those that want to continue to oppress mixed race people and their right to identify as mixed. At least that's what it seems like to me.
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.
