As the United States becomes more multiracial, the document discusses the changing definitions and perceptions of race over time. It notes that race is a social construct rather than biological reality. Through increased immigration, interracial marriage, and legal decisions like Loving v. Virginia, the U.S. population and acceptance of multiracial identities have grown. While discrimination still exists, multiracial Americans now make up a greater portion of the total population and may help reduce focus on racial differences going forward.

1. Multiracial America As our country becomes more multiracial, are we becoming more tolerant and accepting?

3. 1. a group of persons related by common descent or heredity.

4. 2. a population so related.

5. 3. Anthropology . a. any of the traditional divisions of humankind, the commonest being the Caucasian, Mongoloid, and Negro, characterized by supposedly distinctive and universal physical characteristics: no longer in technical use.

6. b. an arbitrary classification of modern humans, sometimes, esp. formerly, based on any or a combination of various physical characteristics, as skin color, facial form, or eye shape, and now frequently based on such genetic markers as blood groups.

7. c. a human population partially isolated reproductively from other populations, whose members share a greater degree of physical and genetic similarity with one another than with other humans.

8. 4. a group of tribes or peoples forming an ethnic stock: the Slavic race.

10. History http://www.understandingrace.com/history/index.html http://www.understandingrace.com/lived/game/index.html Although we can celebrate the many victories that have faced our fight against discrimination, we still live in cities towns , communities and neighborhoods that are segregated by race. What is race?

11. Race Race does not exist in nature. Race is constructed by society. Race is an indicator of differences, but there are no biological differences between us. The primary indicator of race has primarily been skin color. “Whiteness gives us status.” During the 1920’s not even the color of skin guaranteed whiteness – Japanese and Irish – “not white”.

12. Reasons for Diversity Immigration patterns Interracial marriages increasing US military presence in Asia Most importantly Loving vs Virginia

13. Loving vs Virginia Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving were married in the District of Columbia. They moved to Virginia and were charged for violating Virginia’s ban on interracial marriage. The judge sentenced them to one year or suspended sentence if they left the state. He said, “ Almighty God created the races, white black, yellow , malay and red and he placed them on separate continents…the fact that He separated the races means He did not intend for them to mix.” Supreme Court overturned the decision in 1967

14. Thurgood Marshall In 1967 Thurgood Marshall was only months away from appointment to the Supreme court when he suffered an indignity which today seems outrageous. He and his wife could not live in Virginia because he was black and she was Asian. The supreme court struck down the anti-interracial laws in Virginia and 18 other states. In 1967 these laws were not leftover scraps from an extinct era. A Gallop poll done in 1965 showed that 72 percent of Southern whites and 42 percent of Northern whites wanted to ban interracial marriages.

15. Eldrick Woods and wife Kultida Fast forward to more recent times and another black and Asian couple – Their son is Tiger Woods. He is black and Asian , but also Chinese, white and American Indian. Tiger has refused to be labeled and has embraced his multiracial heritage.

16. Census The 2000 census over 6.8 million Americans marked an identification with two or more races. The 2000 census was the first census to allow respondents to choose more than one race.

17. 2.4 percent of the United States is multiracial Hawaii has the largest multiracial population. – 24.1 percent of its population. Alaska is second with 5.4 percent. The five least multiracial states are Mississippi, West Virginia, Maine, Alabama, and South Carolina. All have multiracial populations less than 1 percent

18. APOLO ANTON OHNO Caucasian American Japanese Olympic Gold medalist; Skater

19. ADRIANA LIMA French, Portuguese, Inidigenous Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian Model

20. FAITH EVANS Mother: African-American Father: Italian-American Recording Artist for Bad Boy Records

21. MAGGIE Q. Mother: Vietnamese Father: American of Polish, Irish, French-Canadian descent Actress, Model

22. PHYLICIA RASHAD Actress, Model Mother: African-American Father: Cherokee Indian

23. LENNY KRAVITZ Mother: African-American, West Indian Father: Russian-Jewish descent

24. PETE WENTZ Mother: Hawaiian and Indian Father: Caucasian Actor, Director, Musician, lyricist.

25. PAULA ABDUL Mother: French-Canadian, Jewish Father: Syrian, Raised in Brazil Singer, Actress, Tv show Host

26. Tiger Woods Mixed African American, Chinese, and Native American ancestry. Famous Golfer

27. “THE ROCK”Dwane Johnson Samoan, Polynesian, African American Professional Wrestler, Actor

28. Cameron Diaz Mother: English, German, Cherokee Father: Cuban Actress

29. Alicia Keys Mother: Scottish, Irish, Itallian Father: African American Singer, Actress

30. Mariah Carey Mother: Irish American Father: Afro-Venezuelan and African American Singer, Actress, Tv show Host

31. VIN DIESEL Father: African American Mother:Itallian Producer, Writer, Actor, Director

32. Barak Obama Mother: English, German, Irish Father: African President of United States

33. Hypodescent – or the one drop rule In the past Americans uncomfortable with the idea that you can be more than one thing. One drop rule was deeply ingrained in our society. Obama has led to some frank discussions about race (see below) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehhxGC0cd4E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtWgl1qF3Y0

34. Future projections It is expected by 2050, the majority of the US population, nearly 75 million, will identify with more than one race. Thirty years ago it was 1-100, today it is 1-20.

35. What does it mean? The multiracial individual is a visible indication of our country’s move towards acceptance not just tolerance. As we become more integrated as a society, discussions of race may become unnecessary. Diversity is not only about race but experiencing various perspectives, values and the thoughts they bring with them.

36. Ways to combat racism. Face our reluctance to discuss race. Realize that sometimes it isn’t what we say it is what we do not say. Let children lead the way. Confront stereotyping when it occurs. Don’t wait for Heritage Days and History months. Beyond Tolerance: Expecting Acceptance.

37. When they asked –Arnold Arnaff When they asked If I was Black or White or what. I said: I was Black and White and what difference did it make to them. and they said: did I have the answers to the math problems? and I had the answers.