What constitutes mixed race?
Discussion
With the increasing prominence of identify politics and the 2021 UK census imminent, I was wondering what constitutes mixed race? Is there a (legal?) definition or is it a spectrum?
In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
chemistry said:
With the increasing prominence of identify politics and the 2021 UK census imminent, I was wondering what constitutes mixed race? Is there a (legal?) definition or is it a spectrum?
In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
Honest question, what's the difference between Black African and Black Carribbean? In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
I'm surprised Asian's are all lumped in together given the diversity. We have East Asian mixed race family and they are obviously different to South Asians.
To answer your question I would assume they mean by parents rather than multi generational as we are all mixed to various degrees.
Edited by 98elise on Monday 8th March 09:34
Britain is a nation of immigrants, we are probably all “mixed race” or “dual heritage” or whatever label you want to put on it
Can anyone say they are pure “Jute” or “Angle” I very much doubt it
Britain is an island full of mongrels, myself included !
My mother was Irish Catholic, my Dad English Protestant my kids have and Irish mother and me “ a mix”
I’m white and indistinguishable from 90% of the population but without doubt I’m mixed heritage
Does it matter ?
Not too me
I really don’t give a f
k what labels anyone wants to put on themselves
I just really wish they wouldn’t and just accept themselves as being “British” and accept Every other person in exactly the same way regardless of how they look or talk or walk or whatever ... even if they’re ginger !
Identity policies is fking divisive and people pushing it are often intentionally fuelling that division
Can we not just all be people ?
Can anyone say they are pure “Jute” or “Angle” I very much doubt it
Britain is an island full of mongrels, myself included !
My mother was Irish Catholic, my Dad English Protestant my kids have and Irish mother and me “ a mix”
I’m white and indistinguishable from 90% of the population but without doubt I’m mixed heritage
Does it matter ?
Not too me
I really don’t give a f
k what labels anyone wants to put on themselves I just really wish they wouldn’t and just accept themselves as being “British” and accept Every other person in exactly the same way regardless of how they look or talk or walk or whatever ... even if they’re ginger !
Identity policies is f
king divisive and people pushing it are often intentionally fuelling that division Can we not just all be people ?
Interesting thought.
I presume it’s normally taken as just the mix of ones parents rather than the full spectrum of ancestors.
Presumably you are allowed a bit of self determination too. My step brother and sister are technically mixed race, their father being a POC but apart from dark hair and eyes they look 100% white as white can be. They would never get away with claiming mixed race in general society. Seems to have just skipped a generation though as all his kids always look like they have just returned from 2 weeks in Marbella.
Also gets interesting if you are talking about reparations etc. Was listening to a guy the other day who again looks 100% white but his grandfather was black and can trace his roots back to slavery as that is where his surname originated. Does he deserve reparations or is it only for people whose ancestors were slaves who still present as black?
I presume it’s normally taken as just the mix of ones parents rather than the full spectrum of ancestors.
Presumably you are allowed a bit of self determination too. My step brother and sister are technically mixed race, their father being a POC but apart from dark hair and eyes they look 100% white as white can be. They would never get away with claiming mixed race in general society. Seems to have just skipped a generation though as all his kids always look like they have just returned from 2 weeks in Marbella.
Also gets interesting if you are talking about reparations etc. Was listening to a guy the other day who again looks 100% white but his grandfather was black and can trace his roots back to slavery as that is where his surname originated. Does he deserve reparations or is it only for people whose ancestors were slaves who still present as black?
RB Will said:
Interesting thought.
I presume it’s normally taken as just the mix of ones parents rather than the full spectrum of ancestors.
Presumably you are allowed a bit of self determination too.
This. There has been many centuries of inter breeding in this country alone meaning in essence we are all mixed race but for official purposes it’s usually based on your parents. I presume it’s normally taken as just the mix of ones parents rather than the full spectrum of ancestors.
Presumably you are allowed a bit of self determination too.
Earthdweller said:
Identity policies is fking divisive and people pushing it are often intentionally fuelling that division
Can we not just all be people ?
I agree with everything you've said. king divisive and people pushing it are often intentionally fuelling that division Can we not just all be people ?
But I don't think that it's intentionally fuelling division - certainly not at an institutional level.
"Mixed Race" is a catch-all term which also denotes mixed heritage, mixed culture, mixed values, mixed traditions and so on. Knowing this is useful as it's part of what shapes society and thus informs the policies that are needed to support society. So recognising and including these mixes in policy thinking is in fact; inclusive.
It's also useful to measure the number of mixed-race people because this can be used to measure the level of inclusivity over time.
I found out recently that one of my friends has a Chinese grandfather yet looks European and has blue eyes, he doesn't identify as Chinese but I think could if he so chose to.
One thing that's increased with BLM movement over the past year is that prominent people who are mixed race such as Lewis Hamilton or Megan Merkle have been called out by full black people for not being black enough so it looks like mixed race people are being discriminated by both parts of their genetic makeup.
Stuff like this is common for mixed race people (being accused of being a traitor to their race) but not picked up upon by the left leaning media in this country as it doesn't fit the current narrative.
https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6234017124001
One thing that's increased with BLM movement over the past year is that prominent people who are mixed race such as Lewis Hamilton or Megan Merkle have been called out by full black people for not being black enough so it looks like mixed race people are being discriminated by both parts of their genetic makeup.
Stuff like this is common for mixed race people (being accused of being a traitor to their race) but not picked up upon by the left leaning media in this country as it doesn't fit the current narrative.
https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6234017124001
98elise said:
chemistry said:
With the increasing prominence of identify politics and the 2021 UK census imminent, I was wondering what constitutes mixed race? Is there a (legal?) definition or is it a spectrum?
In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
Honest question, what's the difference between Black African and Black Carribbean?In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
I'm surprised Asian's are all lumped in together given the diversity. We have East Asian mixed race family and they are obviously different to South Asians.
To answer your question I would assume they mean by parents rather than multi generational as we are all mixed to various degrees.
Edited by 98elise on Monday 8th March 09:34
untakenname said:
I found out recently that one of my friends has a Chinese grandfather yet looks European and has blue eyes, he doesn't identify as Chinese but I think could if he so chose to.
I worked with a guy who's mother was Chinese and until he told me I had no idea! Once I knew I could just about see it, but otherwise you would think he was European.My Sister in Law is Japanese and so my niece and nephew are mixed race, however they look predominantly Japanese.
untakenname said:
One thing that's increased with BLM movement over the past year is that prominent people who are mixed race such as Lewis Hamilton or Megan Merkle have been called out by full black people for not being black enough so it looks like mixed race people are being discriminated by both parts of their genetic makeup.
Stuff like this is common for mixed race people (being accused of being a traitor to their race) but not picked up upon by the left leaning media in this country as it doesn't fit the current narrative.
Sounds like you have a lot of experience with 'full black people' - care to site your sources for your comments?Stuff like this is common for mixed race people (being accused of being a traitor to their race) but not picked up upon by the left leaning media in this country as it doesn't fit the current narrative.
768 said:
chemistry said:
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include?
In 2021? Anyone who self-identifies as mixed race.Who is the last category supposed to include?
g4ry13 said:
98elise said:
chemistry said:
With the increasing prominence of identify politics and the 2021 UK census imminent, I was wondering what constitutes mixed race? Is there a (legal?) definition or is it a spectrum?
In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
Honest question, what's the difference between Black African and Black Carribbean?In the last census, for example, under "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" there were four options:
-White and Black Caribbean
-White and Black African
-White and Asian
-Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background
Who is the last category supposed to include? Is there a point at which a particular ethnicity gets diluted so far as to become non-existent for these purposes?
Taking an extreme (but real) example, according to my 23andMe test I am 0.1% Southern Indian...so am I mixed race (i.e. is everybody)?
I'm surprised Asian's are all lumped in together given the diversity. We have East Asian mixed race family and they are obviously different to South Asians.
To answer your question I would assume they mean by parents rather than multi generational as we are all mixed to various degrees.
Edited by 98elise on Monday 8th March 09:34
More seriously, because of the Caribbean's importance for sea trade in the 18th/19th centuries there was a lot of racial mixing going on in parts of it. I'm no expert (I just listen to what the wife tells me
) but I suspect more mixing than in much of Africa. Edit - just asked the "what's the difference between Black African and Black Caribbean?" question to my wife (Jamaican immigrant parents). She's still laughing
Edited by GadgeS3C on Monday 8th March 10:07
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