Are Bi-racial People Black?

Question

I'm bi-racial, mom is black, dad is white. Being from inglewood CA i'm exposed to alot of different cultures but main "issue" is being classed as just one race...usually black. I'm very proud of my heritage my mom is the most beautiful woman in the world, and i mean that and my dad is amazing i love him. People assume that i am just "light skinned" and have "good hair" another phrase i hate but thats another question. How do you see bi-racial people? do you still use the one drop rule?

Answer 1

Bi-racial people are just that - bi-racial.



I experienced all kinds of racism from both sides, to whites, I wasn't white enough. To blacks, I wasn't black enough. But on both sides I also had friends who couldn't care less what I was other than just a nice person.



Truthfully, I don't really consider myself either race. I'm bi-racial, of two races, and proud to be. I have the best of both worlds and the worst. (Though there are quite a few people who think I'm Puerto Rican... you can imagine the amount of people who ask me given that I live in New Mexico.)



No matter what, I'm just me. I feel for people that still have to fight racism (and it is a real fact), but at the same time, I do what I need to do to get by in life, and 95% of the time, race never even comes into question.

Answer 2

Historically a persons whose ancestry could be traced back to an interracial union they were considered "colored". In today's language - that's black. And I believe that is the common practice even today. Actually a person can call themselves American Indian (and are entitled under the law to any grants and /or other funding provided to American Indians) if they can prove they are 1/16th Indian. That is they can trace their ancestry back ( I think it's 5 generations). So here's the deal as I see it: Unless your black parent has absolutely no mix in their history and your white parent has no mix in theirs, you can't even be sure (technically) that you are half. The best part of this for you might be that, in your future you might benefit from being one or the other. The bad part is that you may not chose to be what someone else is perceiving you to be at any given time. It's kind of like when we are asked "what is your nationality?" and we aren't even given the option of saying "North American". Your nationality isn't the country your parents or past ancestors came from, it's the country of your birth. Your heritage, refers to your ancestors country of birth. These question always tick me off a little and I've taken to answering them this way: Nationality? American/ Race? Human (or other and then write in Human) it messes with the record keeping but rarely would it matter. Actually, my grandmother and grandfather on my father's side came from Poland and my mother's family traces back 7 or 8 generations in this country. My sister was darker skinned than some of of my "colored" friends growing up (can you tell I'm really old) so I never really cared for any of that kind of labeling. As far as race is concerned I think "human" is the best answer if it fits. So you just pick whatever one suits you at the time and run with it and if you choose not to answer at all then don't. I would not consider you either unless that is what you choose. Bi-racial actually sounds pretty good to me ( maybe I'll try using that too since I am not totally sure what color skin all of my ancestor had). Good luck to you whatever you decide to be.

Answer 3

is a tricky question. i've heard that who you are is based on what people think of you because no matter what is in your head what others view you as is a major part of who are. I guess its up to you its seems you would view yourself as bi-racial which is cool some people would view you as just black i bet no one would view you as just white which is another issue. what you chose as your identity will not always match up to what everyone else thinks. and unfortunately you will never get to a place where that is not an issue for you when trying to describe your self to others because there are so many other views out there. and if you find yourself getting deep into that issue with someone its probably because they want to know more about you.

Answer 4

It depend what country you from.If your mom is a white Syrian with green eyes and your mother is Sudanese and you live in Saudi Arabia.There is just no name to qualify you, you just an Arab Muslim.

If you in Brazil, Although discrimination still exist in that country,you just a Brazilian and by default your are consider white.

Now that is changing with the president Ignacio de lula who want to imitate the American model.



I think American need another 500 years to mixt all out so the difference among people became minimum, like in many south american countries.

Answer 5

Well, you shouldn't have to fill in any box that says either black OR white ; you should be able to mark down "mutli-ethnic". I'm tired of this whole "race" thing anyway. Why do we have to keep on labeling ourselves as people but then evreyone is CONSTANTLY saying that race doesn't matter (yet that's all we talk about). And it's always this whole "black-white" thing. It's too bad we all can't just move on to a new chapter in life.

Answer 6

Yes it depend who are you talking with.

if you're talking with an ignorant the'll tell you you're a light skinned black woman, but if they recognize you're half blooded they 're normal and rational people.



I think that the bi-racial are the best they the best of both races. And bi-racial people look more exotic and sexy.

Answer 7

My family comes from a linage of West Africans and Choctaw Indians. My initial ancestor to this country was an African doctor who won his freedom from the ship master as he traveled here to America against his will. despite the violence of him being kidnapped from his coastal area home and forced into a situation he wasn't comfortable with, he found himself saving the ship captain with the concoction of a medicinal antidote to his 'terminal' ailment. He was given money in return and he stepped of the ship a free man in the south. he migrated tot he North and purchased land. He rented his land to others, even whites, made a profit and then married an Indian Choctaw female.



Since then my family has intermarried with quite a few Africans, Asians, Hispanic and Latino Americans, whites, blacks, Koreans, Italians, Greeks. I do not consider myself bi-racial though. I consider myself as human...and free to reject the ignorance of fools. Here is a picture of ME...a human being. Screw race.



http://f3.yahoofs.com/mingle/479fd060z7ee22ebf/profile/__sr_/7314.jpg?mg41esHBlGqMp_fT



My thought on the matter: "Race is a tool for a Fool".

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/RWS-00-Fool.jpg/150px-RWS-00-Fool.jpg



focus rather on getting your credentials and taking your place (rightfully) in this world.

Answer 8

I have seen many people that I could easily identify as mixed or bi-racial because of their features. However, it is not always easy, sometimes you get more of one of your parent's looks than the other and people will just associate you more with being of that race you most look like.

Answer 9

If I were to see you on the street and I needed to describe you, I'd probably describe you by how you look, whether it's Black or White. If I knew you beforehand and I needed to describe you, I'd identify you as you call yourself...whether it's Black or White.

Answer 10

Well to be honest it has nothing to do w/ how other ppl see you it's how you see yourself. My dad is not mixed, but he is light bright and damn near white w/ the requisite "good hair" and ppl think he is white & he is quick to correct them. When you look in the mirror and you see a bi-racial person that, THAT is what you are but if you see a blk person than THAT is what you are and if you see white person than, THAT is what you are and it is up to you to come to terms w/ that and be comfortable w/ what you see and who you are. Once you do that everyone else will be comfortable too and you might find that ppl will stop labeling you b/c they will pick-up on how you see yourself.

Answer 11

My mother is white, father is black, I look Hispanic. I consider myself BROWN.



I speak like an American is supposed to, I don't use, "ain't", "dat", "yo", or any other garbage you see spewing from rap videos.



I judge people how they talk and dress, no matter what their skin color is. In other words, if you're one who believes in using the "n" word, make sure you use it on Eminem as well as "Fitty Cent".

Answer 12

Well thats up to you. Some retards are dumb enough to deny the persons other race, but I refer to myself as being mixed because I am. I am flattered that black people want me to be a part of their race so badly but I am not.

Answer 13

i know u r mixed and i know what that means.



however when describling a mixed person i would say they are black.



i am considered black, my parents are from an island off the coast of africa. we look more hispanic then black. but i am considered black.

Answer 14

if you look blacker than you do white youre black, and vice versa. i dont really even care about bi racial people cuz its not like im gunna go up to someone and be like " eccuse me sir, i was wondering, why are you that color?" its not really that important of an issue for me unless i just need to know to offend the person.

Answer 15

- On a first basis I'mma call you black but you do not prefer the term I will call you by what you feel better being called

Answer 16

Mixed race- not bi-racial. I'm not being racist- I'm just anti PC.

Answer 17

I would say you're a halfie. Me too, but I have a black dad and white mom.

Answer 18

It really depends on whom you talk to, but biracial people are considered just black by many.

Answer 19

you're what I call an improved black person.

Answer 20

Am I an idiot? Then no.

Answer 21

Yes we are.