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.
Table of Contents
1 Preface
2 Interracial Marriage Then and Now
2.1 The History of Interracial Marriage
2.2 The Influence of Social Status on Intermarrying
2.3 A Rise in Interracial Marriages
3 Multiracial Individuals
3.1 A Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People
3.2 The Importance of Discovering Ones Heritage
3.3 The Share of Different Multiracial Groups
3.4 The Increase in Multiracial People
4 Post-Racialism
4.1 The Characteristics of a Post-Racial Society
4.2 Ways of Measuring Tolerance
4.3 Post-Racial Attitudes among Multiracial Individuals
5 Conclusion
6 Sources
Research Objective and Core Topics
The primary research objective of this paper is to determine whether the increasing population of multiracial individuals will significantly contribute to shaping a less racist and more tolerant future in the United States.
- The evolution and legal history of interracial marriage in the USA.
- The influence of social status and environment on interracial families.
- The significance of identity exploration for multiracial individuals.
- Statistical trends regarding the growth of the multiracial population.
- The definition of a post-racial society and methods for measuring tolerance.
- The relationship between multiracial identity and open-minded worldviews.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 A Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People
From a personal place of struggle, in 1992 Maria P. P. Root created the unofficial Bill of Rights for Racially mixed people. The author herself was unsuccessful in trying to fit in the established system of race when she decided to set these guidelines. It has the purpose to give oppressed multiracial individuals a voice but also shows the ambition to change something about the persisting racial discrimination. In the way the Bill of Rights is written it concludes as well that multiracial individuals face prejudice and hatred, but also that they are willing to stand up for their rights and try to make the world more tolerant.
Actually, the Bill of Rights is part of the American constitution and consists of 10 amendments. Those contain the most important laws like freedom of speech and were first written down in 1789.
This informal Bill of Rights is divided into three paragraphs Resistance, Revolution and Change. I will analyze one rule of each paragraph in order to point out important aspects of the multiracial experience with discrimination and specify the change Root wants to create.
Resistance: “I have the right not to keep the races separate within me.” (Root 1992: 121)
This quote refers to the erasure and invalidation of multiracial identities and shows that people of two or more races are often forced to choose one race for themselves. Root wants to break this system and end the discrimination by acknowledging and validating multiracial identities. It is often harmful to multiracial individuals when their race is reduced to one single ethnicity when they are actually proud of their mixed-race heritage. This guideline shows that nonetheless they are allowed to feel pride in their identity.
Summary of Chapters
1 Preface: Introduces the changing nature of American society and the increasing presence of multiracial individuals as a catalyst for potential social change.
2 Interracial Marriage Then and Now: Examines the historical context of anti-miscegenation laws, the social factors influencing modern interracial relationships, and the statistical rise in such marriages.
3 Multiracial Individuals: Explores the challenges faced by mixed-race people, including identity formation, the "Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People," and demographic shifts in the multiracial population.
4 Post-Racialism: Defines the concept of a post-racial society, discusses methodologies for measuring racial tolerance, and analyzes the attitudes held by multiracial individuals regarding other cultures.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings to argue that multiracial individuals possess a more tolerant mindset, which likely contributes to a less racist future for the USA.
6 Sources: Provides a comprehensive list of the academic literature, internet resources, and image data used throughout the research.
Keywords
Multiracial, Interracial Marriage, Post-Racialism, Social Construct, Identity, Discrimination, Tolerance, Race Relations, Heritage, Demographics, USA, One Drop Rule, Equality, Social Status, Cultural Openness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores how the growing number of multiracial individuals in the United States may influence the country's trajectory toward becoming a more tolerant and less racist society.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The key themes include the history of interracial marriage, the formation of multiracial identities, the social and environmental factors affecting mixed-race individuals, and the theoretical concept of post-racialism.
What is the central research question?
The research asks whether the existence and increasing prevalence of multiracial individuals will change the face of American society by fostering more tolerant attitudes.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author uses a qualitative analysis of sociological literature, historical legal reviews, and quantitative data provided by the Pew Research Center to support the arguments.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers historical legal barriers (like the Loving v. Virginia case), the psychological impact of identity discovery, demographic statistical analysis, and the sociological measurement of racial tolerance.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as multiracial, post-racialism, identity, interracial marriage, tolerance, and social construct.
What is the significance of the "Bill of Rights for Racially Mixed People"?
Created by Maria P. P. Root, it serves as an unofficial guide to empower multiracial individuals, giving them a voice against discrimination and validating their right to identify with multiple ethnic backgrounds.
How does a diverse upbringing affect the "post-racial score" of an individual?
Data presented in the paper suggests that individuals raised in diverse environments demonstrate higher levels of racial tolerance and openness compared to those in less diverse settings.
What did the Pew Research Center survey reveal about multiracial adults?
The survey found that nearly 60% of multiracial individuals feel more open to other cultures and perceive themselves as more tolerant due to their diverse heritage.
What is the author's final conclusion?
The author concludes that because multiracial individuals are often raised in circumstances that promote a more tolerant mindset, they will play a vital role in reducing racism in American society.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2018, Will multiracial individuals change the face of American society?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/974057
