Will multiracial individuals change the face of American society?

Pre-University Paper , 2018 , 23 Pages , Grade: 14 Punkte

American Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

Nowadays´ society is ever-changing, just like the individuals it consists of. And even though it is becoming even more diverse over time, the idea of equality for all people is still spreading. Ever since the founding of the USA racism has been a problem. Even considering the huge improvements that already took place, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done until the American society can be called post-racial.
When you take a closer look at the individuals you might notice that by now you cannot simply divide people into uniform ethnic groups like Asian, Caucasian or African American. There are also persons who belong to two or even more ethnic groups, so-called multiracial individuals. Those are, among other reasons, the result of interracial marriage, a marriage in which the two partners are of different racial origin.
In the past decades, there has been a notable increase in numbers of the said multiracial individuals. There are many factors adding into that which beyond other topics will be discussed in this term paper. For example, slavery and certain regulations prohibiting interracial marriage caused a rather low amount of multiracial population back in time.
In the past years, many multiracial individuals gained popularity in general media, such as actress Angelia Jolie with Caucasian and Native American heritage. It came to my attention that those celebrities often seem to be notably supporting several charities and have a generally very tolerant and accepting personality compared to others in their business.

With all these contributing factors one could suppose that, because of their mixed-race heritage and the discrimination they face, multiracial individuals might be less racist than the rest of the general public. If there is a link between one´s race and racism - and whether or not this will help to shape a less racist future in the USA - will be the main question discussed in this term paper.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Preface
• Interracial Marriage Then and Now
  • The History of Interracial Marriage
  • The Influence of Social Status on Intermarrying
  • A Rise in Interracial Marriages
• Multiracial Individuals
  • A Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People
  • The Importance of Discovering Ones Heritage
  • The Share of Different Multiracial Groups
  • The Increase in Multiracial People
• Post-Racialism
  • The Characteristics of a Post-Racial Society
  • Ways of Measuring Tolerance
  • Post-Racial Attitudes among Multiracial Individuals

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This term paper examines the relationship between interracial marriage, multiracial individuals, and the potential for a post-racial society in the United States. The paper explores how the increasing presence of multiracial individuals may contribute to a more tolerant and less racist future. The research aims to answer the question of whether there is a connection between one's race and racism, and if multiracial individuals, due to their mixed-race heritage and experiences with discrimination, are less racist than the general population.

• The history of interracial marriage in the United States
• The role of social status in interracial marriage and its impact on multiracial individuals
• The increasing numbers of multiracial individuals in society
• The concept of post-racialism and its potential realization in the United States
• The attitudes and experiences of multiracial individuals in relation to race and racism

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter, "Interracial Marriage Then and Now," traces the historical context of interracial marriage in the United States, beginning with the earliest legal regulations against racial mixing. The chapter discusses the influence of social status on interracial marriages and the development of legal restrictions on these unions. The chapter concludes with an overview of the increasing prevalence of interracial marriages in recent decades.

The second chapter, "Multiracial Individuals," focuses on the experiences and perspectives of multiracial individuals. The chapter examines the "Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People," highlighting its significance in contemporary society. It also explores the importance of discovering one's heritage and the challenges faced by multiracial individuals in navigating their identities. Finally, the chapter provides insights into the numerical growth of the multiracial population.

The third chapter, "Post-Racialism," delves into the concept of a post-racial society and its characteristics. The chapter explores various methods for measuring tolerance and the prevalence of post-racial attitudes within the United States. It specifically investigates the post-racial attitudes of multiracial individuals and their perceptions of themselves within a broader societal context.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This term paper examines interracial marriage, multiracial individuals, post-racialism, racism, tolerance, social status, and the history of racial relations in the United States. The research focuses on the increasing prevalence of multiracial individuals and their potential role in shaping a more inclusive and less racist future. Key concepts include the "Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People," the influence of heritage on identity, and the measurement of post-racial attitudes.

• Grade: 14 Punkte
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 23
• Catalog Number: V974057
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346328380
• Language: English
• Tags: multiracial, racism, post-racial, post racial, biracial