Something I don't get in recent media reports, and other references to this subject. In the US, there is supposedly growing inclination for people to
identify themselves are being of two or more races, for example when filling out various forms which ask for this information. For example, the Wikipedia page
"Multiracial American" says
...US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", numbered 6.8 million in 2000, or 2.4% of the population.
I think the true figure must be FAR higher. First of all, Latinos (or Hispanics, a similar term) are about 15% of the US population. And while a Latino could be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Argentian of purely German ancestry, for example, as the category is really cultural rather than racial, my impression (just from appearance, more than anything) is that most Latinos are really mestizos--with some Native American ancestry, usually a lot. African-Americans, likewise, generally have some white ancestry--the present POTUS being a conspicuous example. That means the vast majority of the 13% or so US residents that are African-American are mostly multi-racial. So we're looking at probably anywhere from 15% to 25% from these groups that are multiracial.
And among whites, there are many who have Native American ancestry. I've alluded to this before, as I am an example of that, along with other, more widely known example such as Tori Amos, Jimi Hendrix, Will Rogers, and Johnny Depp. (And that's just from one tribe--Cherokee--although the Cherokees may have intermarried much more than other tribes. The point being, that whites who are not purely white are probably a very significant percentage.
So I don't see how 2.4% has any connection to reality. I could easily see where 30 to 40 per cent of US residents may be multiracial, although in many of those cases the second race may be a token component.
Do any of you live in countries that may be even more mixed up than the US?
...US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", numbered 6.8 million in 2000, or 2.4% of the population.
I think the true figure must be FAR higher. First of all, Latinos (or Hispanics, a similar term) are about 15% of the US population. And while a Latino could be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed Argentian of purely German ancestry, for example, as the category is really cultural rather than racial, my impression (just from appearance, more than anything) is that most Latinos are really mestizos--with some Native American ancestry, usually a lot. African-Americans, likewise, generally have some white ancestry--the present POTUS being a conspicuous example. That means the vast majority of the 13% or so US residents that are African-American are mostly multi-racial. So we're looking at probably anywhere from 15% to 25% from these groups that are multiracial.
And among whites, there are many who have Native American ancestry. I've alluded to this before, as I am an example of that, along with other, more widely known example such as Tori Amos, Jimi Hendrix, Will Rogers, and Johnny Depp. (And that's just from one tribe--Cherokee--although the Cherokees may have intermarried much more than other tribes. The point being, that whites who are not purely white are probably a very significant percentage.
So I don't see how 2.4% has any connection to reality. I could easily see where 30 to 40 per cent of US residents may be multiracial, although in many of those cases the second race may be a token component.
Do any of you live in countries that may be even more mixed up than the US?
