Mixed Biracial Multiracial

[EthiopianPrince]

What do you all think about the growing (or at least growing self-cosciousness) of the multiracial community in America? I used to identify as Black, since I never really saw the option of identifying as biracial existed. But as the concept of being biracial entered into the horizon, I've chosen to embrace that instead. Of course you could always claim I should just identify as myself, an idividual, or as human. But most people I've heard that from tend to be a bit hypocritical, using their own ethnicity (for example with my Dad, his ashkenazi jewishness) as a touchstone when it is convenient for them.

White and asian mixes really don't have a race/ethnicity identity other than mixed, unless they define it narrowly to hapa/eurasian, because the one-drop rule has really only applied to people mixed with black.

Also I noticed that people mixed with ashkenazi jewish tend to find identity in the mixed community, because of the double stigma minority/jewish that keeps them from feeling accepted as either authentically black or authentically jewish (or perhaps authentically hapa) in America.

Comments Welcome.

 

[crappie master]

At the risk of sounding stupid

What is hapa? Ashkenazi?

 

[EthiopianPrince]

hapa is someone who is 1/2 asian. Usually the other 1/2 is assumed to be white (which is why people often consider it synonymous with eurasian).

ashkenazi is a subgroup among the jewish people historically considered to have a high degree of ethnic homogeneity. In America, our idea of what a jew is is largely shaped by ashkenazi immigrants to this country.

I hope this helps understand my previous post.

 

[Weird Harold]

What do you all think about the growing (or at least growing self-cosciousness) of the multiracial community in America? I used to identify as Black, since I never really saw the option of identifying as biracial existed. But as the concept of being biracial entered into the horizon, I've chosen to embrace that instead. Of course you could always claim I should just identify as myself, an idividual, or as human. But most people I've heard that from tend to be a bit hypocritical, using their own ethnicity (for example with my Dad, his ashkenazi jewishness) as a touchstone when it is convenient for them.

I think in general, identifying with "the multiracial community" would be preferable to a closer attachment to a better defined cultural identity -- Jewish, black, or one of several asian ethnic groups.

However, I wonder if there is a distinct "multiracial community" to identify with. It seems to me that those who claim a "multiracial identity" are more rejecting the components of their ethnic background than embracing an emerging "multiracil community"

Ethnically, I'm half-Finnish, A quater-Welsh, and a quarter "Throw a dart at the map." The Finnish heritage is obviously dominant and something I'm proud of, but it's NOT something that defines who I am. I'm an American, a product of the melting pot, and that's the "ethnicity" that I identify with.

Still, I sometimes use my Finnish heritage as a "touchstone" because it is part of who and what I am -- part of my history -- and provides a sense of continuity for me. I don't think the "multiracial community," if it really exists, can provide that connection with history that having ancestors who were "important people" does.

 

[miles]

hapa is someone who is 1/2 asian. Usually the other 1/2 is assumed to be white (which is why people often consider it synonymous with eurasian).

ashkenazi is a subgroup among the jewish people historically considered to have a high degree of ethnic homogeneity. In America, our idea of what a jew is is largely shaped by ashkenazi immigrants to this country.

I hope this helps understand my previous post.

Partially correct. (c&p to follow)

Jewish people are divided into two major groups based upon their ancestry — Sephardic and Ashkenazic. Although the Sephardic group was the among the first Jews to have settled in America, dating back to the 1600s, Ashkenazim now populate most of the United States Jewish population. Ashkenazic Jews originate from Germany, France, and Eastern Europe. “Ashkenazic” is actually derived from the Hebrew word for “German.” Sephardic Jews, on the other hand, originate from Spain. “Sephardic” is derived from the Hebrew word for “Spain.”1 Sephardim was expelled from Spain in 1492 and migrated toward the Middle East, Turkey, and Northern Africa.

 

[A_Jacks]

I'm mixed, but I identify myself as American not has 3/8 this, 1/2 that, 1/8 the other...

 

[MunchinMark]

I'm British, which means 'so many ethnic groups that I haven't any real idea.' Although most of them were white and north European, so none of it shows much.

My family name is Welsh. That is my Father's ancesters came from that hilly place some time ago- at least a century ago in fact since my grandfather was born in Scotland. Stay with me, there is a point to this.

When I was a teenager I suddenly became fervently 'Welsh'. Despite (or perhaps because of) being born and raised in England and in an English community by English parents I really thought of myself as being Welsh. To the exclusion of my English, Scottish, Irish, Australian, French, Danish and Roman heritages (and probably more if you wanted to split up 'English' and 'Scottish' into their components, plus any that I don't know/guess about). And I did this for a simple reason.

To set myself apart and make me special.

Snobbery I suppose, but you see it elsewhere too. Take Halle Berry. 1/2 white 1/2 black and more than once she has mentioned her status as a 'black actress' in interviews- especially around awards time. I'd say she has said this for the same reason I once styled myself as 'the Welshman'.

I grew out of my selective ethicity, mainly by talking to people and growing up a bit. Halle Berry will either become a 'mixed race' actress if it suits her, or she will drop the race card altogether which would be nice.



In other words, perhaps this trend of 'mixed race' is a sign of greater racial maturity in society. It's OK to not quite fit in an easy pigeonhole these days. It's OK to acknowledge that which led to you as a person.

Or perhaps it's "I'm mixed race and I demand some special attention."

I'll leave you to take hope or cynicism. It's up to you. I'm British, because it's a fine blend of whatever.

 

[Minkey Boodle]

I prefer to identify as a person. If someone asks, and if I'm not makin' up stories at the time, I'll tell 'em. My skin is white, and while I could choose to identify as black if I wanted to, mixed makes more sense for me. Some people may choose other ways to identify, and that's up to them. I don't really care.

 

[Texan]

I just wanted to mention that this thread contains some interesting thoughts. EP, and MunchinMark, I enjoyed reading your posts. This is a topic that I've never invested much thought into, and I find your posts interesting and thought provoking.

Thanks for the read.

 

[woodgie2]

Damn Minkey for beating me to the punch!

If posed this question I tend to answer "human" (though there are doubters who believe this not to be the case ). I think that in the grand scheme of things it matters very little where your ancestry lies.

True, to the individual it may matter and Homo Sapiens are a pack animal, liking to identify with a particular group: racial, colourific (not always the same as racial), religous... whatever.

These days, with travel becoming more widespread and people having children with and by partners outside the group into which they may have been born the question of ethnicity is becoming more and more blurred. There is bound to be a time in the future where things have become so homogonised that the question "What are you?" will have only one answer:

"I'm Human"