Biracial question?

Question

Wikipedia says Naomi Campbell is biracial because she is 3/4 Afro-Jamaican and 1/4 Han Chinese. My dad is 3/4 Afro-West Indian and 1/4 Tsalagi Native American Indian.

My dad just calls himself mixed...but I guess he is biracial.

But.....I thought biracial was half and half. How does being 3/4 this and 1/4 that constitute being bi-racial?

Answer 1

simple, simple, simple.

The TECHNICAL definition of "biracial" comes back, as you said.. to two races.  The reality in common usage is that people extend the word to include other percentages, which are not always 1/2 and 1/2.  

Just habit, my friend. The way people talk is not always the exact meaning of a word.  Your dad could use either term, if he likes, and be understood. Only persons hard core into genealogy go into the correct fractions of 1/32nd, etc (and that can be a waste of time, as well).  

Trust me.  I use inaccurate terms when talking about cars or engines. As long as someone understands me when I say it is not going.. I don't let it worry me.

Answer 2

I was under the belief that bi-racial was two races, particularly because of the "bi".  My parents are from West Africa, so it is not an issue.  Even racially mixed people don't talk or even care about racial percentages.  In the U.S., Europe and Carri bean, there seems to be a tradition among people of African descent to identify with other races on a regular basis.  I am not saying it is wrong, but very different than Africans with some mixed backgrounds :)

Answer 3

It's not the quantity of a specific blood that flows through your veins, it's the quality of it...  Your pride in being what YOU choose....

Answer 4

biracial means 2 different races so it really doesnt matter what fraction it is

Answer 5

Bi means more than one. doesn't have to be equal. Mixed usually means multi cultural or more than  2. Everybody is multicultural.

Answer 6

It just easier to categorize when people don't know for instant all white are white but they have many different ethnic backgrounds, too

Answer 7

hmmm good question. i have never met any one that said they were triracial or quadracial. i guess it just means being more than 1 race or like you dad says...mixed. i have noticed mixing has become more and more common so maybe someday we will all be the same shade of tan and will all just fall under human.

Answer 8

"Bi" just means 2.  It doesn't specify any proportion.

Answer 9

too bad this is even an issue in the world.

Answer 10

bi means 2 so i guess bi racial would mean 1/2 and 1/2. naomi campbell would just be mixed race cos people in britain and ireland dont use the word biracial but we say mixed race instead.

my parents are both from zimbabwe so i dont have to bother with that lol.