What Makes a Person "Black"

Residing in the United States, I only have knowledge to circumstances within my country. That aside, it seems as though any person, to certain extent, with any amount of African ancestry is considered black. For example, an individual who's ancestry consists of 75% some kind of white, caucasian, European whatever, and was 25% of some kind of African decent would be considered black. However, in a situation in which the racial percentages are reciprocated, the individual would not be considered white. Why is it that any amount of African ancestry designates an individual black? And, seemingly, possibly only to myself, in the United States this emphasis on someone's African heritage is used to defame them in some manner.

[edit on 23-6-2008 by o22a6ar]

Contrary to popular belief, racism is not dead in the world. I always wondered about that as well. The same can be said of the Metis in Canada. Even though they are mostly half white half native american, they consider themselves to be native americans.

It seems racist but I guess you have to have some standards or else everyone with 1% of native american blood in them would want a piece of the casino action.

American laws have been established so that anyone can claim a racial heritage for affirmative action goals. This applies from admission to schools and universities to jobs. Racial preference is an established practice useful for any minority to redress past abuses.

Now for the black comments. It is just a way for this generation to stop using the tern "negro" which was used after the civil war to the 60's or so. This is when Black Power became popular among the younger generation of blacks.

I hate labels, they have no bearing on who you are as an individual although they serve only as knowing who your ancestors were and where they came from.

The only time I think of myself as a native american is when I discuss things that deal with the history of my ancestors in general.

Yes racism is alive and kicking in america to this day. It was really not so long ago that things were vastly different. When you consider that it just 60 years ago segragation was still the norm.. I guess we have come a long way but we still have a long way to go. The biggest problem is that we still have many people alive today who were around in a time when people of any color were subject to prejudice and seen as inferior.. its not too much of a surprise. I don't think we will see major change until those generations die off entirely then perhaps we will live in a world where no one remembers treating people badly.

My Mom is 96 years old. She calls everyone not apparently white, colored. It doesn't matter who the person is or where they came from, they are colored...

I grew up in segregated schools with red-lining of the city the norm. Red-lining is a term used to define keeping people of certain nationalities, ethnicity, or minorities in the same area.

When I go back to my home town, you can still see little symbols of the past. Something as innocent as the concrete horse jockey in the front yards of houses painted with with black faces to the Rebel battle flag hanging from flag poles.

YES, racism is alive and still somewhat well established in some parts of the USA.

Originally posted by hinky
My Mom is 96 years old. She calls everyone not apparently white, colored. It doesn't matter who the person is or where they came from, they are colored...

My mother in law is 85 and behaves the same way when alone however she has been told in no uncertain terms that she is never to speak in such a way around me or my children. She thinks it harmless however it is not harmless when terms like that get passed to younger generations it just makes the time frame that much longer until we abolish racism at large.

Lets face it. Americans beleive that anyone not originally a citizen of the USA or Britain or norwegian country are not White.
They are Black.
That's ignorance and nothing less.

I know first hand. I am white with dark hair and eyes. I am hispanic, all my ancestors come from Spain, and i've been told i am not White.
"You are black", you're hispanic.
It doesnt matter if you're a blonde, blue eyed hispanic, you're still black!

Ignorance is bliss.

Nobody has ever questioned any of my applications when i chose Caucasian.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with being Black. Just sayin'. Or purple either.

[edit on 23-6-2008 by dgtempe]

I would actually go as far to say that black people are, in some way, disadvantaged by the United States government. This doesn't exclusively include black people either. This includes any individual, or any group, race, whatever the a few, even many powerful, racist, and hate mongering politicians. I do, of course, need some evidence to substantiate my claims of some sort of eugenics program in the United States. However, if this is true, I'm sure this activity would extend beyond the borders of America. Does anyone have any opinions or facts that could refute or support my claims? I've only a slight amount of information.

I know, from being a hemophiliac myself and having an uncle die as a result of their actions, that Bayer, and one or two other pharmaceutical companies supplied HIV contaminated factor to hemophiliacs. Factor is a medicine given to hemophiliacs to replace proteins in their blood that allow blood to coagulate properly. Obviously, as a result, a significant number of hemophiliacs were infected with and died from these tainted pharmaceuticals. When this was discovered, the medicine was promptly removed from circulation in the United States, and just as promptly sold to people in South America, thus infecting them. With a complete disregard for the repercussions, this was done to turn a profit. Also, after all this, the populations of two "undesirable" groups were reduced.

Perhaps the only reasonable answer to "what makes a person black?" is "Tricks of light and shadow."

My children are all bi-racial so they don't fit into any nice pigeon hole. And they never think of themselves in terms of their skin color. They have never seen or heard me ever refer to anyone's race because it is not important.

The American obsession with skin color is a waste of energy. Remember teh words of Ras Tafari "We await the day when the color of a man's skin will be of no more consequence than the color of his eyes."