Quadroon and Octaroon

Race has been a huge theme throughout American Studies. Even though strides seem to have been made toward equalizing races, race is still used as an identifier for many official and federal documents. For example, we are asked to identify our race when taking the ACT and when applying to colleges. However, it is becoming more and more difficult to find people of solely one race. (Hence the 'Melting Pot' of the USA). One article, titled "Black? White? Asian? More Young Americans Choose All of the Above" can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30mixed.html- this article speaks directly to how racial identification is becoming more difficult as our nation matures and more Americans are trans-racial. Mixed races have additionally been recognized since the 2000 census, in which one could report being multiple races. The author of this article, Susan Saulny reports, "Optimists say the blending of the races is a step toward transcending race." If this is true, there are high hopes for racial equality in America.

However, the different multiracial identities may be a new way to distinguish yourself as well. This article and class led me to wonder whether race will ever cease to matter. Some people choose to proudly identify themselves as black, Indian, Asian, Asian-Hispanic, Asian-black, Quadroon, mulatto or even just plain white. Others would like simply to be identified by their traits and achievements. Is it possible to be considered simply "American?"