Birth of the Multiracial American
Statistical Directive 15 and the Creation of a Multiracial Identity
Multiracial Americans have always existed. Yet, one might argue that the multiracial identity was only truly born in the U.S. with the passing of Statistical Directive 15
“Check Only One Box.”
This is every multiracial American’s challenge: how to squeeze a rich, multifaceted racial and ethnic heritage into one arbitrary box.
The U.S. Racial Classification system has continued to evolve over time, the rules rigid and uneven. And for so long, Americans, including multiracial Americans, were instructed to check only one box.
To be “Native American” you had to prove you had enough Native blood to qualify, or that you had a standing membership in one of the government-recognized tribes.
On the other hand, one drop of black blood seemed to take away any choice in the matter; it didn’t matter if you appeared mixed, or noticeably carried the traits of some other race. One drop was all it took to be “Black.”
“White” was relegated to the pure and untainted, of only-European ancestry.
“Hispanic,” on the other hand, was as the only ethnic category, the dumping ground for all of the Latino population regardless of race; whether dark-skinned, pale-skinned, of predominantly native ancestry, or multiracial, membership in this category only required a shared language.
Statistical Directive 15 Allowed Americans to Choose More Than One Race
Everything changed in 2000. Against a backdrop of heated debate and groups lobbying both for and against a multiracial classification, Statistical Directive 15 provided a growing population of multiracial Americans with “the option of selecting one or more racial [and ethnic] designations.”
The directive was celebrated by those who interpreted the new federal mandate as acknowledgment of their multiracial identity. It was also criticized by others who feared the consequences of a multiracial identity (e.g. diminished power of traditionally-defined minority groups).
Although the multiracial American population is estimated to comprise anywhere between 4 and 6 percent of the total population, only 7 million, or 2.4 percent of Americans chose to check more than one box and indicate their multiracial identity on the Census 2000.
Aside from a general reluctance to reduce the numbers within (and therefore power of) specific minority groups, another factor explains the gap. The Latino population—remember, this is an ethnic categorization—includes many members who are actually multiracial. It has been estimated that when you include these members in the multiracial population, the total of multiracial Americans climbs to approximately 17 million.
Famous Multiracial Celebrities Provide Momentum for a Multiracial Identity
The emergence of a multiracial identity is evidenced in the media, where famous multiracial celebrities like Mark Vincent (a.k.a Vin Diesel), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Mariah Carey, Tiger Woods and Rosario Dawson reportedly refuse to adopt a single racial label or classification and instead, tout their multiracial identity with pride.
It is also evidenced in advertising, where famous multiracial celebrities, models and actors comprise the hot new talent market, selling everything from products such as clothing, shoes and cars, to services like telephone and internet.
And still, the multiracial identity is new for Americans. How and whether it will ultimately settle and find a comfortable space in the American psyche is yet to be seen. But perhaps, the growing population of potential members, along with their tendency to refuse traditional boxes might be good indicators.
