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Race is not a determinable concept. There's no specific test to determine if you're white or black or anything else. You're whatever you want to be.

Once upon a time there were all sorts of classifications based on how many "black" ancestors you had. That's all gone away, although you might run across the term "octoroon" in an old novel.

I would like to offer another answer if I may. The way the question was worded leads me to believe the person wanted to know what "RACE" is appropriate or recognized if the Father is black and the Mother is white. The question of race still appears on Birth Certificates, school entry's, college loan applications, school grants and the Census Bureau just to name a few so it is a very determinable factor. However the Standards of classifications are in the process of being revised with the public's help.

I will have to disagree with the comment "You're whatever you want to be".

You cannot pick a "race", you are who you are. People of mixed heritage as mentioned in the Standards for classification as of 1989 were able to identify themselves by the race of the Mother. Before this date the race was determined by the Father.

Classifications of race in the US can prove to be very useful for certain individuals in many different instances. The information below comes from the offices at the Whitehouse, this does not read copy written and has a printable version. This is strictly a quote from the office of Management and Budget and Information and Regulatory Affairs. The title in case you are interested in further reading is called:

"Standards for Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity"

"Since 1989, the National Center for Health Statistics has tabulated birth data according to the mother's race. The racial and ethnic categories set forth in the standard should not be interpreted as being primarily biological or genetic in reference. Race and ethnicity may be thought of in terms of social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry. The category which most closely reflects the individuals recognition in his community should be used for purposes of reporting on persons who are of mixed racial and/or ethnic origins." There were four public hearings on this issue named Directive No, 15. in June of 1994.

This public issue remains unresolved at the moment and no changes have been documented at this time according to this briefing. It is appropriate to claim the race of the Mother or to go by how they are recognized in his or her community. Both are acceptable. I hope this helps the person who wrote in. Thank You.

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Wiki User

13y ago
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Wiki User

13y ago

You look at their name and research it. For example take Barack Hussein Obama. Obviously he is part Islamic and therefore black.

And you can look at their hair and skin. Tan skin? Smooth or frizzly hair? Most multiracial people are part European.

A child's race is determined by the Mother and where she was born, therefor the President is actually Hawian. Next, you can be white and be born in Islam. Therefor you are an Islamic. You don't have to be black. The President's Father was born in Africa. The President is neither Islamic or African.

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Wiki User

12y ago

You would have to know the race of the father. Hispanic is an ethnicity or culture. Hispanic race typically consist of mix of white european (often Spain) and native american. If father is more european then he is considered white - castizo is the old term used. If father is white hispanic and mother is white non-hispanic then you can be either - really depends on how child was raised - did he/she learn spanish? what name was given to the child from birth? This will indicate how child was raised culturally and determine if child is white hispanic or white non-hispanic. Also, assuming they were born in US then the decision to identify as hispanic would ultimately be the decision of the child. Self identification will indicate the culture of the person.

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Wiki User

11y ago

The individual would be both races. This is also known as bi-racial.

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Anonymous

Lvl 1
3y ago

Ooo

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Q: How do you determine your race if your father is black and your mother is white?
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