African American Studies
...with the offspring of what society refers to as "racial/cultural mixtures". This rule says that a person for example who has both black and white ancestry is immediately classified as black, even if the person is 1/8th black. Such hypodescent rules applied to anyone who was not white. The purpose of this classification was to maintain and preserve the "white race", as well as to maintain power and status of the higher castes. (Morning, 49)
Such an identity choice and labeling functions in many different ways. For the dominant group, it reinforces the notion of white supremacy, while the subordinate group gets lower status in society. Anyhow, many mixed people do not even attempt to question such a rule, given that it has been socially conditioned and accepted as the norm. For many mixed African, Asian, and Hispanic Americans, choosing their single ethnic identity is seen as camaraderie and can have some political meaning, like not selling out to the white race. (Root, 14)
In other societies/countries, the rules differ. If you are one drop white, hyperdescent applies; and celebration of mixture is seen. This is seen in many Latin American countries, mainly as a result of European conquest and slavery. ("Hyperdescent") Because there are no dominant white groups in these countries, everyone who is racially mixed appears to be not quite white, but not quite indigenous so the norm is When I go to Mexico, I always notice how being part white or fair skinned elevates status and class. Many of the people with more indigenous features are seen as the inferiors. Yet visiting even Hawaii, the mentality seemed to be very different; mixture was very common and even celebrated. Race, skin color, and features did not seem to be a huge factor when classifying someone or trying to put them into one box. So this one-drop rule prevails still in some places even today, but...
View Full Essay
