The classification of black people in the United States has undergone significant changes over time, reflecting shifting societal attitudes and legal definitions. In the first US census in 1790, black people were simply categorized as “black,” without any differentiation between free persons or slaves.
This classification continued until 1820, when “other free persons” and “slave” were added as options. In the same period, the category “mulatto” was also introduced, reflecting the growing population of mixed-race individuals. By 1850, the census had expanded the black category to include “mulatto” and “slave,” reflecting the continued growth of the mixed-race population and the ongoing presence of slavery. The 1860-1890 censuses added “Indian” as a category, reflecting the increasing recognition of the diverse origins of black people.
In 1890, the census added further racial categories, including “quadroon” (one-quarter black) and “octaroon” (one-eighth black), reflecting the perceived importance of ancestry in determining racial identity. These categories were dropped in the early 20th century, with the 1900-1920 censuses returning to “negro,” “mulatto,” and “Indian.” From the 1930s to the 1960s, the census continued to use the categories “negro” and “Indian.” In the 1970s, the category “black” was added, reflecting the growing self-identification of black people with the term.
The term “African American” also gained popularity during this period. In more recent years, the census has consolidated its categories for black people, with the 2000-2020 censuses using only “Black,” “African American,” “Negro,” and “Indian.” The terms “Black” and “African American” are now widely accepted as the preferred terms for referring to black people in the United States. In contrast to the shifting categories for black people, the census has consistently used the category “White” to classify people of European descent, without significant changes over the past 200 years.
This reflects the dominant position of white people in US society, and the relative lack of diversity within this racial group. #blacklivesmatter #intersectionality
