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When a painter is mixing paints on their palette, they create different shades using more basic paints. Red and white become pink, yellow and red become orange, white and black become grey. Grey is not black or white; it is a different color. Orange is neither red nor yellow. This is commonly understood, right? So why is it when a person is a mixed race they are still referred to by one color?

Black + White = Black

What? Why is it that when a black person and a white person have a baby, that baby is then referred to as black? Aren’t they also white? This happens all the time in our culture, and really it only seems to happen to people with black ancestry. Someone who is half Chinese and half white might be called Asian, but they also might be called white. Half Arabic and half white might be called Italian! (That’s a joke) But in all seriousness, why is it that when black people and white people have babies that they are called black?

It’s called the “One-drop Rule,” and it was adopted into law in some states in the past as a means to discriminate against and segregate anyone of Sub-Saharan African descent. Basically if you had “one drop” of black ancestry, you were designated 100% black. Laws like this actually go back to 15th century Europe, like in Spain, where they had the Limpieza de sangre, “cleanliness of blood,” which forced people to show and document their good Iberian Christian ancestry. The Jews and Muslims were not welcome. Protestants didn’t exist yet, but they probably wouldn’t have been welcome either!

Of anyone in the U.S. that is white, how many can accurately trace their heritage to prove their 100% whiteness? Also, keep in mind that if you’re Irish, you’re not white. Oh you’re surprised? The Irish were persecuted for the better part of the 19th century. They were called monkeys, alcoholics, and an inferior race. Worst of all they were Catholics! (Another joke) The only 100% real whiteys are Anglo-Saxons which actually came from Germany. But how could that race have stayed pure for hundreds of years? Especially with all the wars going on, all those French nearby, and all the trade throughout Europe. The answer is that they really couldn’t. The “White” race is about as muddled as you can find. That’s a good thing.

Black + White = Grey

Genetic diversity is a good thing. Not only is mixing races inevitable, it is also a great thing for our species. Genetic diversity reduces the risk of genetic diseases related to multiple recessive genes that can be perpetuated more easily within smaller genetic groups (races). It’s like painting a picture; if you use monotones, it’s going to be boring (like modern art, ha). If you use every color on the palette, you’re going to have an interesting painting. Right now, with the help of globalization, the human race is starting to paint its masterpiece.

Written by Nathaniel Pantalone, VP of Marketing for OWB LLC