What determines someone's race?

[muzikman]

Let me start by saying if I offend anyone with the way I ask this question, I would like to apologize.
If 2 blacks have a baby, it is black. If 2 whites have a baby it is white. If 2 yellows have a baby, it is yellow. If 2 reds have a baby, it is red. If 2 browns have a baby, it is brown. What if a black and white have a baby? What if a brown and yellow have a baby? What if a red and black had a baby? How would their race be determined?
Just a question to think over.

[chellachella]

One black one white, Mulatto is the term. No idea what it says on birth certificate but a friend told me it will say Both.

[DallasRain]

ditto Chella

My brother in law is mixed black & white....he lists himself as mulatto on any forms

[chellachella]

In college zoology class the professor said the African gene was dominant over caucasian so that should be considered African American. I dunno, but I guess it is true. Rare to see an AA with blue eyes, but when you do its a beautiful thing. AA women can wear so many different colors and styles that us white girls cant pull off. Im jealous of the darker skin, my European white pasty skin just does not work well with certain colors.

[lat]

Well I am a product of mixed race proud of it my dads mom was white my mom was creole and my dad well he called himself black but are we black ? No we are part of the human race, my point is take a look around ,there will be no more pure whites or blacks we will all have something mixed in us !

Also I read or heard no matter what ,the black gene will dominate if there's one once in you you are ....
I do call myself black some of my black counter parts may not think so .
And my white friends say so.....

[chellachella]

Creole is beautiful!! Im sure we all have some coffee in our cream lol, Im wishing I had some tint to my skin, other than freckles

[gimme_that]

Tiger Woods, Mariah Carey.......

[BootyfulGia]

Whatever the fathers race is will determine the baby's race. AA father, white mother, baby's race on bc will be AA. White father, AA mother, baby's race on bc will be white. I don't know why it is but I have 2 different gf's, AA& white that have mixed kids & asked them about it before & the fathers race was listed same for baby!

+1chella, they are some beautiful people!

[DallasRain]

You just never know....I come from a very "white" German/Irish family........there are 8 kids....Out of that,my middle brother and I are the only two with a darker olive tinted skin and dark hair!

[Lovely Callie]

I'm considered "creole". Never been called a mulatto, at least not to my face. Documents say "other" or "2 or more races". But I have always claimed black, and listed myself as black...I look in the mirror and see a black woman and so does society. A small, straight nose, pretty hair & mostly Caucasian defining features testify to the "cream" in the coffee...but my ass is all AA lol! Black comes in all shades.

In my experience, it's difficult for persons of mixed race to be accepted by either of their halves. Many times, they slap an exotic name on it in an effort to finally belong in a category. Historically, those of mixed race whose features and skin tone veered more to the white side decided to "pass for white" to make their lives easier. Many still do.

However, genetics is a game of Russian roulette. A purely white mother and purely black father can produce a child with brown skin, coarse hair, and significant African features. A couple consisting of two AA parents with just a splash somewhere can produce a child with green eyes, straight hair, and fair skin. Especially in Louisiana, the gene pool is so fucked up who knows what black or white ancestor we had tucked away in the closet that was never discussed that caused some unexpected trait to pop up?

Identifying with one race is often a matter of choice. It's a choice of sensibility, a choice made out of need of acceptance, or a choice made out of wanting to live life more easily. In our society, blackness is not always recognized as beautiful. AA's often attempt to "whiten" themselves to achieve success. We see it everyday: the black guy who marries a white woman, seeks out the company of only white friends, and eschews all things black in an attempt to climb the social ladder. Or even the provider who is dark skinned and large-featured yet describes herself in ads as an "exotic mix of Jamaican, Belizean, and Venezuelan."

Claiming terms like Mulatto and Creole hold a type of mystique. For many like myself, I can trace for you exactly when in my family tree that French or Native "seed" was planted. My lineage has roots. For others who don't have the advantage of knowing their roots, it's the security of that mystery and exotic mystique they seek.

[disilene]

Originally Posted by chellachella

In college zoology class the professor said the African gene was dominant over caucasian so that should be considered African American. I dunno, but I guess it is true. Rare to see an AA with blue eyes, but when you do its a beautiful thing. AA women can wear so many different colors and styles that us white girls cant pull off. Im jealous of the darker skin, my European white pasty skin just does not work well with certain colors.

What kinda crackerjack box school did you attend? African gene?


No such thing. Did that professor also say there was a gay gene....a smart gene or etc. Genetics class would have been so much easier though if there was just a gene for everything. No more punnett squares. No more alleles or genotypes to worry about.

I would ask for my money back, not so sure a "school" with professors like that could even gain accreditation.

[chellachella]

LOL yes disilene, I am dead serious. Im still paying for that degree too ya know. He also said something about eye color and blood types.

Its a major university on the north side of the lake. I wont give it away, but its often made fun of. I didnt know that until after I graduated. I didnt get it or feel it was true when he was teaching, and then again that was back in the 90's, and who was I to argue with a professor. It is a closed minded area as well--didnt help matters. So glad I do not live there anymore.

I should have saved the thousands in loans, Ive learned more from traveling than I ever did in school

[muzikman]

thanks everyone for your input.

[daty/o]

We began as a "mixed" country and despite some resistance, have continued to evolve in that direction. My guess is that 100 years from now, race will only be a competitive term.

[Guest051920]

I think mixed or multi-cultural are widely used.No offense but I have to disagree with some of the information posted. It is a complex issue because biologically you only see genes in which some or dominant and others are recessive but people have made there own determining factors.