Multiracialness

Sociologists & Anthropologists estimate that:

The majority of Native Americans in the United States are of mixed racial heritage (Fernández, 1992; Mihesuah, 1996; Russell, 2004).

• In the 2000 census, 1.6 million people believed that they have an identifiable NA ancestor in combination with one or more races.
• Anthropologists think there are 15 million people who believe they have a NA ancestor but have lost tribal affiliation.

Interracial marriage is becoming the norm for some racial/ethnic minority groups such as Native Americans (Jaimes, 1995; Nagel, 1997). 7 out of 10 NA’s outmarry (do not marry other NA’s). 98% are tribally hyphenated, and the majority is racially hyphenated. (Russell, 2000)

The number of heterosexual married interracial couples has more than quadrupled in the past 30 years, from 310,000 to 1,348,000 (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1999).

The total U.S. population is 281.4 million people (about 1.5% is Native American*)
2.4 million (.9%) reported only Native American
1.6 million (.6%) reported Native American in combination with at least one other race. Within this group, the most common combinations were:

• NA and White (66%)
• NA and Black or African American (11%)
• NA and White and Black or African American (6.8%)
• NA and Some other race (5.7%)

* I use the term Native American (NA), for what the U.S. Census categorizes as American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN)
Fernández, C. A. (1992). La raza and the melting pot: A comparative look at multiethnicity. In M. P. P. Root (Ed.), Racially mixed people in America (pp. 126–143). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Jaimes, M. A. (1995). Some kind of Indian: On race, eugenics, and mixed-bloods. In N. Zack (Ed.), American mixed race: The culture of microdiversity (pp. 133–153). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Mihesuah, D. A. (1996). American Indian stereotypes and realities. Atlanta: Clarity Press.
Nagel, J. (1997). American Indian ethnic renewal: Red power and the resurgence of identity and culture. New York: Oxford University Press.
Russell, G. (2000). Native American FAQ’s handbook. Masterpiece Publ. Russell Publications. Phoenix, AZ.
Russell, G. (2004). American Indian Facts of Life. Native Data Network.. Phoenix, AZ.
United States Bureau of the Census. (1999, January 7). Interracial married couples: 1960 to present. Available: http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/ms-la/tabms-3.txt [2000, October 30, 2000].
U.S. Census 2000 http://www.census.gov/