multiracial / mixed-race
Last updatedDefinition
Multiracial or mixed-race refers to people who identify as having two or more racial heritages. (The term biracial is sometimes used in the context of someone who identifies as having only two racial heritages.) Multiracial and mixed-race are often used interchangeably; someone may identify with one, both, or neither of those terms. Historically, American society has pushed multiracial people to identify with one race over others. For instance, the “one-drop rule” used to mean multiracial Americans of Black and white descent were categorized solely as Black. In Latin America, the word “mestizo” refers to a multiracial person, particularly with European and Indigenous backgrounds. The Hawaiian word “hapa” may be used to describe those who are part Asian or Pacific Islander. The US Supreme Court ruled to legalize interracial marriage in 1967.
According to NPR, Americans were limited to choosing just one race on the decennial census until 2000. By 2013, around 9 million respondents picked two or more racial options when prompted by the US Census Bureau, Pew Research Center reports.
That number skyrocketed to 33.8 million in 2020 — a boost of 276 percent from 2010, according to the Census Bureau. The government agency attributes this increase in part to improvements to race questions and data coding.
Americans who identify as multiracial made up over 10 percent of the US population as of 2020. The biggest subgroups include:
- 19.3 million people identifying as white and some other race
- 4 million people identifying as white, American Indian, and Alaska Native
- 3.1 million people identifying as white and Black or African American
The growing popularity of at-home DNA tests to identify racial backgrounds may have contributed to the increase in the share of people identifying as multiracial, despite having previously always identified and being treated as a member of one particular racial group. Another potential contributing factor is that more prominent figures are speaking publicly about their multiracial heritages, including rapper Saweetie, tennis player Naomi Osaka, singer Halsey, actor Keegan-Michael Key, rapper J-Cole, singer Mariah Carey, and former US President Barack Obama.
Often, multiracial people are assumed to be the race they “pass” as, or look most similar to, and treated accordingly. This can result in identity crises or conflicts. Multiracial people can also face potential prejudices and discriminatory behaviors based on their unique backgrounds or perceived race. Someone’s racial background or identification can’t be assumed based on appearance; nor can their experiences be assumed based on their racial background. As with any identifier, if necessary and relevant to include, being as specific as possible and taking into account an individual’s preference wherever possible ensures coverage aligns with their lived experience.
Additional resources
- Improved Race and Ethnicity Measures Reveal U.S. Population Is Much More Multiracial (US Census Bureau)
- Behind the Surprising Jump in Multiracial Americans, Several Theories (New York Times)
- Multiracial in America (Pew Research Center)
- The Surge of Young Americans from Minority-White Mixed Families & Its Significance for the Future (American Academy of Arts and Sciences)
- The loneliness of being mixed race in America (Vox)
- “Racial Imposter Syndrome”: Here Are Your Stories (NPR)
Summary
Multiracial or mixed-race refers to people who identify as having two or more racial heritages. (The term biracial is sometimes used in the context of someone who identifies as having only two racial heritages.) Multiracial and mixed-race are often used interchangeably; someone may identify with one, both, or neither of those terms. The share of Americans who identify as multiracial was over 10 percent as of 2020. Often, multiracial people are assumed to be the race they “pass” as, or look most similar to, and treated accordingly. This can result in identity crises or conflicts. Multiracial people can also face potential prejudices and discriminatory behaviors based on their unique backgrounds or perceived race, so there isn’t a singular multiracial experience. Someone’s racial background or identification can’t be assumed based on appearance; nor can their experiences be assumed based on their racial background. As with any identifier, if necessary and relevant to include, being as specific as possible and taking into account an individual’s preference wherever possible ensures coverage aligns with their lived experience.