Beyond Black and White: Remaking Race in America

This article was about how before the 2000 census, people could only label their children for example, (or themselves) one race and how this created a problem. How was a couple from different races suppose to label their child if they only had one choice? In the article they actually had an example if a black and white couple had a baby on the census before 2000, they had to decide whether to label the baby "white or black"because there was no option to label them as being multiracial (2 or more races). I found out that the main reason for the change was the rise in intermarriage. This option of being able to choose more than one race is important because it is also a signifies the racial and ethnic boundaries that for so long have divided this country are fading away. I can't imagine especially living in NYC not having to see everyday people who appear to be of more than one race and the different cultures out there. It was not possible at this day and age to still think a majority of people only marry their race, and since society has changed this census had to adapt to the change as well. I feel that the change in the census was needed because it gives people more options now than ever before, and the increase of multiracial people out there and intermarriages that are now more common and continue to increase.