Why do people say this because of slavery?

Question

I hear a lot of people say that 70-90% of African-Americans have european admixture because of slavery.I know that White men used to rape and demean African women during slavery but i don't think that they were having enough babies to the point that 70-90% of African-Americans have european admixture.It is even ridiculous to think that because we as Black people have one drop of European blood from over a hundred years agon that we are mullatos.We are not.Very few Black people have White people in their family and i am tired of hearing things like so and so is so light skinned but both of their parents are Black so that must be from slavery.No,Black people do not come in just one color we have many different shades and it not mostly not due to slavery.I get tired some people equating lighter skin with beauty and darker skin the opposite or saying is she mixed? Why do people think there was really that much mating going on between slave master and slave?

Answer 1

Who is saying that stuff? I been around 40 years and never heard that conversation.

Answer 2

African blacks do vary in skin colour the black race is the most diverse in the world. About 40%-60% of African Americans are mixed with either Native American or European. Lightskinned does not mean they are of mixed race there are many peoples who are black african with no European or other race in them but are light skinned.

Khoisan people of southern Africa are the oldest group of black people in Africa and said to be the oldest group of people in the world which include the San (Bushmen) and Khoikhoi peoples.

San

http://www.nissan4x4.co.za/Gallery/Bonga...

Khoikhoi

http://www.nma.gov.au/libraries/images/t...

Igbo

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41...

Compared to the northen African black

Sudan

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/8793...

Nothern Ugandan Acholi

http://www.justiceandreconciliation.com/...

Also more diversity

From the tall

Masai

http://www.fisheaglesafaris.com/maasai-j...

Small

Pygmy

http://www.american.edu/ted/ice/images4/...

West Africans known for being bigger boned muscular than to the East Africans.

West:

http://www.setlin.com/setlincms/content/...

East:

http://api.ning.com/files/A18cyxmPEEp2OP...

The black race (Africa) is the most diverse none of you have been to Africa but think TV has showed you it all. All I can say to the ignorant people is have you seen it all.

Answer 3

I've never heard anyone referring to blacks in that manner,  Don't know what to say

Answer 4

I agree with you. There is too much over-generalization going on in science today and not enough proof to back up the theories. There are too many emotions and political views clouding the facts.

When you hear something like this and it doesn't sound plausible, ask the person what they are basing their opinion on. Is it based upon an opinion or research? What is the source of the research? Is the researcher reputable? Do they hold the appopriate credentials to have knowledge in this area? Did they publish the article in a peer-reviewed, evidence-based, respected scientific journal? Did they use a large enough sample of people? Has the study been replicated by others and proven to be true? If not, then it has no factual basis and cannot be proven.

An excellent book for children about the beautiful shades of black skin is Shades of Black by Sandra Pinkney. I use this with my students. They are mostly white and are always surprised that there are different shades of skin, hair color, and eye color. The only way we can fight ignorance and prejudice is to speak up with the truth.

Answer 5

Actually there was quite a bit of interbreeding between blacks and whites pre-abolition. maybe not as high as 70-90 %, but i wouldnt be that surprised if it was... you say that black people come in all shades, light to dark....and that doesn't mean a lighter skinned black person has any european ancestry.... thats just not true. Look at african populations in Africa; they don't vary that much in shade of color. They also don't have any european ancestry....coincidence? of course not.

Answer 6

I will say b/c of the "vividness effect" aka the availability heuristic...bc that has been highlighted so much in the media and elsewhere...that explanation easily  and quickly comes to mind for many people about that subject...