Mixed Race Studies

Marriage and cohabitation have become so common in New York and Boston as scarcely to attract attention, except as the astounding fact occasionally breaks upon one, that there are whole blocks and rows of houses with ‘every tenement occupied by families the head of each of which is, the one black and the other white!’

“Amalgamation, North and South,” Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 24, Number 3619 (November 3, 1862). (Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection, http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cdnc/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&cl=search&d=SDU18621103.2.13&srpos=4.)

A Statistical Octoroon

Los Angeles Herald
Volume XXIX, Number 2 (1901-10-03)
page 4, columns 6-7
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

The Average American Seven Parts White and One Part Colored

The average adult American is a statistical octoroon, says Dr. Henry Gannett In Everybody’s Magazine. If the blood in the veins of all our of people, white and black, were pooled and redistributed, each person would have about seven parts white and one part negro blood. The white strain in him, moreover, is by no means purely American White strains of foreign origin, derived from Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia, Canada, Great Britain and the countries of southern Europe, are collectively more powerful in his composition than is the negro strain. Thus going back only one generation, we find him to be a composite, the creation of widely differing bloods and nationalities. The peoples of the earth, from the Congo under the equator to the North Cape of Europe, have contributed, either immediately or remotely, to his composition. But with it all we find the Anglo-Saxon strain the dominant one. His political Institutions, his laws, his social conditions and his mental characteristics, his power of Initiative, and his independence of thought and action are Anglo-Saxon, sharpened and intensified by fresh contact with nature under new and untried conditions. It is a strange and a gratifying thing to witness, in connection with this mixture, of blood, the complete dominance of the Anglo-Saxon strain, and it argues well for its strength and vitality, an well as for the welfare of the country which he occupies and governs.

Amalgamation, North and South

Sacramento Daily Union
Volume 24, Number 3619 (1862-11-03)
page 4, column 2
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

Driven from every other position by the force of argument or the force of facts, the advocates of a doomed system flourish before the eyes of the ignorant the bugbear of amalgamation. Amalgamation, they urge, is the natural result of entertaining sentiments hostile to slavery. The Marysville Express returns to the charge, quoting that eminent statistician, Voorhees of Indiana, to show that in proportion to the negro population of the North there is at the present time a frightful excess of quadroons, mulattoes and octoroons in the free States over the slave States. “Voorhees proved,” says the Express, “by reference to these unerring statistics [these of the census], that in 1860 the number of mixed bloods was much greater in the free States than in 1850, in proportion to the unmixed black population–thus showing that as abolitionism has grown in the North, this evil of amalgamation has increased. Another remarkable but disgusting fact accounts for the larger proportion of mixed bloods in our section, and that is, the by no means uncommon cohabitation of negro men with white women in the strong Abolition communities. This the census also shows. The same census returns show that such an occurrence is exceedingly rare in the slave States—a very few instances being reported. These are facts that cannot be denied. In addition to such authority, we have proof furnished by the papers and correspondents from the East, that the amalgamation theories of the Abolitionists are rapidly becoming practicalized. Marriage and cohabitation have become so common in New York and Boston as scarcely to attract attention, except as the astounding fact occasionally breaks upon one, that there are whole blocks and rows of houses with ‘every tenement occupied by families the head of each of which is, the one black and the other white!’ That there are also mixed bloods in the slave States is a fact, and a deplorable one. But the evil can never become so corrupting where the two races occupy the relative positions that slavery fixes.”

We have seen no census returns in which the number of quadroons, mulattoes and octoroons in the Northern States has been given, with a division according to the shade of complexion. Those having African blood in their veins are generally, if not always, returned in the census as “colored persons.” Perhaps Voorhees had access to statistics that have not yet reached the public in the form of an authorized publication. But, however that may be, an increase of the mixed breeds in the North cannot be more justly attributed to the growth of  “Abolitionism” than to the growth of the railroad interest or the progress of common schools. The Express, to establish the preposition, must first show that none but Abolitionists in the North practice amalgamation, and then prove that there is no amalgamation in the South, where abolitionism is held in abhorrence. Now, in regard to the Northern cities, it is quite true that in what ore sometimes called the “infected districts” of New York, Boston and Philadelphia, whites and blacks are sometimes found living together in loathsome habitations; but these districts are the “nurseries of Democracy.” Amid all the changes of opinion that have come over the respectable portion of the community, those sections of the great cities in which practical amalgamation may be observed, invariably give large majorities for the ticket labeled “Democratic.” What then? Does it follow that Democracy leads to amalgamation? Yet that inference is quite as legitimate as the one drawn by the Express. When the Express asserts that “Marriage and cohabitation (of the two races) have become so common in New York and Boston as scarcely to attract attention, except as the astounding fact occasionally breaks upon one that there are whole blocks and rows of houses with every tenement occupied by families the head of each of which is, one black and the other white,” it either willfully misrepresents the state of the case or else it has been egregiously gulled. Nowhere in the United States is the prejudice against the negro race more general and intense than it is in the city of New York. The simple appearance of a black man and white woman, arm in arm, on Broadway, would provoke a riotous demonstration. It is only in the by ways of the metropolis, and among the very dregs of society, that a case of amalgamation can be found; and.in every case, rum and vice, not hostility to slavery, explain the association.

The Express admits the existence of amalgamate in the South. Logically, then, if the mixture of the races be such a disgusting evil, the Express should condemn the institution of slavery, which brings the races into such intimate association. “But the evil can never become so corrupting where the two races occupy the relative positions that slavery fixes.” Why not? In the language of a recent candidate for office in this State, “the blood of the chivalry flows through the veins of a half million slaves on Southern plantations.” Does the fact of men holding and selling as chattels those who share their own lifeblood, palliate or darken the offense of amalgamation? Among men of right feeling and intelligence there can be but one answer. Mongrelism pervades the South, and the emancipation policy of the Administration, instead of stimulating the evil, will rather tend to check its extension by arousing that prejudice of race which is the true safeguard of Caucasian purity. The prevailing sentiment of the North is well interpreted by Orestes A. Brownson, as “anti-slavery, but anti-negro.”

Are You Ready for the Census?

Sacramento Daily Union
Volume 19, Number 2862 (1860-05-29)
page 1, column 4
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

On the first of June, Friday next, the various Deputy Marshals in the different portions of the State will commence their labors in taking the census of the United States, which mast be completed by the first of November.   The Marshals are required by the Act of Congress to separate their districts into subdivisions containing not over 21,000 persons, unless inconvenient boundaries are made by so doing. Each Assistant must make a personal visit to each dwelling house and each family in his subdivision, make monthly returns to the U.S. Marshal, and within one month after the time specified for the completion of the enumeration, furnish the census returns to the County Clerk. For the purpose of giving information to the public, we publish the following list of questions which it will be necessary to answer. This list can be cut out and the answers prepared in anticipation of the call of the taker:

The age of each, sex and color, whether white, black or mulatto.

Profession, occupation or trade of each male person over fifteen years of age.

Value of real estate owned.

Place of birth, naming the state, Territory or country.

Married within the year.

Attend school within the year.

Persons over twenty years of age who cannot read or write.

Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane or idiotic, pauper or convict.

Name of owner, agent or manager of the farm.

Number of improved acres.

Number of unimproved acres.

Cash value of farm.

Value of farming implements and machinery.

Live stock on hand June 1st, 1860, viz.: Number of horses, mules and asses, working oxen milch cows and other cattle, swine and sheep.

Value of live stock.

Value of animal slaughtered during the year.

Produce during the year ending June 1st, 1860, viz: Number bushels wheat, rye, Indian corn, oats, beans and peas, buckwheat, barley, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, pounds of wool and pounds of tobacco.

Value ore land products in dollars.

Gallons of wine, value of produce of market garden, pounds of butter, pounds of cheese, tons of hay, bushels of clover seed, pounds of hops, pounds of flax, bushels of flaxseed, pounds of maple sugar, gallons of molasses, pounds of honey and beeswax, value of home made manufactures.

Name of corporation, company or individual producing articles to the annual value of $500.

Name of business, manufacture or product.

Capital invested in real estate and personal estate in the business.

Raw material used, including fuel, viz : Quantities, kinds, value, kind of motive power, machinery, structure or resource.

Average number of hands employed, viz : Male, female, average monthly cost of male labor, average monthly cost of female labor. Annual product, viz: Quantities, kinds, values.

Name of every person who died during the year ending June 1st, 1860, whose usual place of abode was in the family, the age, sex and color, whether white, black or mulatto, married or widowed, places of birth, naming the State, Territory or country, the month in which the person died, profession, occupation or trade, disease or cause of death.

In connection with the subject of taking the census in this State; the San Francisco Herald says:

The compensation fixed by the Act is two cents for each person enumerated, ten cents a mile for necessary travel—to be ascertained by multiplying the square root of the number of dwelling houses in the division by the square root of the number of square miles—ten cents for each farm fully returned, fifteen cents for each establishment of protective industry, two percent, for social statistics, upon the amount allowed for the enumeration of population, and two cents for the name of each deceased person enumerated.  The United Stales Marshals are allowed to employ superintendent clerks, and such other clerks, with the consent of the Secretary of the Interior, as they may deem necessary. In regard to compensation for all these officers, the Act of Congress has been amended so far as it applies to California, Oregon, Utah, and New Mexico, and it may be increased according to the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, Indeed he has already expressed the opinion that the remuneration is inadequate, and has given assurances that so far as the law applies to California the rates named above shall be quadrupled.

It is estimated that our population at this time exceeds 700,000, and it Would not surprise us if the census should exhibit a still larger number. With a representation in Congress under this enumeration, the influence of California will be so vastly increased we may no longer be compelled to listen to complaints of inattention and neglect. It may occur that we shall have an equal representation with Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois.

It has been estimated that the census of 1860 will exhibit a total population in the United States of 81,500,000 souls, of whom 27,000,000 are whites. “To be apportioned on this population,” writes a statistician, “are two hundred and thirty-three representatives. Of this number, it is estimated, the Southern States will have eighty-two, being a decrease of seven; the Middle States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware will have fifty-nine, being a decrease of five; New England will have twenty-five, being a decrease of four; while the Western States will have sixty-seven. being an increase of fourteen.”

Counting The People

San Francisco Call
Sunday, 1890-06-01
page 6, column 7
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

Some of the Inquires to Be Made by the Census Enumerators in June

The eleventh census of the United States will be taken during the month of June. The census enumerators will begin their work on to-morrow, and will visit every house and ask questions concerning every person and every family in the United States. The questions that will be asked call for the name of every person residing in the United States on the first day of June, with their sex and age, and whether white, black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, or Chinese, Japanese or Indian. Inquiry will be made also of every person as to whether they are single, married, widowed or divorced and, if married, whether married during the year. The place of birth of every person, and the place of birth of the father and mother of each person, will also be called for, as well as a statement as to the profession, trade or occupation followed and the number of months unemployed during the census year. For all persons 10 years of age or over a return must be made by the enumerator as to the number able to read and write, and also the number who can speak English. For those who cannot speak English the particular language or dialect spoken by them in will be ascertained. For children of school age, also, the number of months they attended school will be recorded by the census enumerators. In the case of mothers an inquiry will be made as to the number of children they have had, and the number of these children living at the present time. This inquiry is to be made of all women who are or have been married, including all who are widows or have been divorced. Foreign-born males of adult age, that is, 21 years of age or over, will be asked as to the number of years they have been in the United States, and whether they are naturalized or have taken, out naturalization papers. Of the head of each family visited the question will be asked as to the number of persons in the family, and whether his home is owned or hired; also, if owned, whether the home is free from mortgage incumbrance. If the head of the family is a farmer, similar inquiries will be made concerning the ownership of the farm. In addition to these inquiries, all of which are made on the population schedule, the law under which the census is taken makes provision for special inquiries concerning such of the population as may be mentally or physically defective in any respect, that is insane, feeble-minded, deaf, blind, or crippled, or who may be temporarily disabled by sickness, disease, or accident at the time of the enumerator’s visit. Certain special inquiries will also be made concerning inmates of prisons and reformatories and of charitable and benevolent institutions. Besides this, a statement will be called for concerning all persons who have died during the census year, giving their name, age, sex, occupation and cause of death.

This official count of the people comes but once in ten years, and every family and every person should consider it to be a duty to answer the questions of the census enumerators willingly and promptly, so that definite and accurate information may be gained concerning the 65,000,000 people living within the bounds of this great country.

Tries to Marry Quadroon

Los Angeles Herald
Volume 35, Number 31 (1907-11-02)
page 2, column 6
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

By Associated Press

YUMA, Ariz,, Nov. 1-M. G. Graff, aged 21 years, white, of Riverside, Cal., and Addle Burkhart, aged 20, were refused the office of marriage by Probate Judge Godfrey here today and the license issued them was destroyed on the girl’s confession that she is a quadroon.

Brown Man and Fiancee Can Not Get Knot Tied

San Francisco Call
Volume 107, Number 106 (1910-03-16)
page 3, column 5
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

Unfeeling Goldfield Sheriff Suggests a Hurried Departure

GOLDFIELD, Nev., March 15.—George Masaki, a Japanese gardener, and Juliette S. Schwann, both of Los Angeles, were unable to get a judge to make them man and wife here today. Masaki took out marriage license during the afternoon, but as soon as the sheriff found it out he hunted the couple up and escorted them to the railroad station, where he ordered them not to appear in Goldfield again. This action of the authorities was taken because of unpleasant publicity resulting from a recent case of miscegenation.

The couple took a train to Tonopah. The authorities in Tonopah have been warned.

Race-Crossing

Sacramento Daily Union
Volume 2, Number 4 (1890-06-08)
page 1, column 4
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

Lima, the capital of Peru, is pronounced to be the headquarters of all the world’s mongreldom. Its population is the product of three centuries of race-crossing, and a scientific investigator finds easily distinguishable among the inhabitants the following crosses:

Cholo, offspring of white father and Indian mother.
Mulatto, offspring of white father and negro mother.
Quadroon, offspring of white father and mulatto mother.
Quinteroon, offspring of white father and quadroon mother.
Chino, offspring of Indian father and negro mother.
Chino Cholo, offspring of Indian father and Chinese mother.
Chino Oscuro, offspring of Indian father and mulatto mother.
Sambo China, offspring of negro father and mulatto mother.
Sambo, offspring of a mulatto father and Sambo Chino mother.
Sambo Claro, offspring of Indian father and Sambo Chino mother.

These are the most notable crosses, but there are many others.

The Mixed Race of India

Sacramento Daily Union
Volume 84, Number 71
1892-11-11
page 4, column 3
Source: California Digital Newspaper Collection

Eurasia has no boundaries. It lies, a varying social fact, all over India, thick in the great cities, thickest in Calcutta, where the conditions of climate and bread-wining are most suitable; where, moreover, Eurasian charities are most numerous. Wherever Europeans have come aud gone, these people have sprung up in weedy testimony of them—these people who do not go, who have received somewhat in the feeble inheritance of their blood that makes it possible for them to live and die in India. Nothing will ever exterminate Eurasia; it clings to the sun and the soil, and is marvelously propagative within its own borders. There is no remote chance of its ever being reabsorbed by either of its original elements; the prejudices of both Europeans and natives are tar too vigorous to permit of much intermarriage with a jat of people who are neither the one nor the other. Occasionally an up-country planter, predestined to a remote and “jungly” existence, comes down to Calcutta and draws his bride from the upper circles of Eurasia—this not so often now as formerly. Occasionally, too, a young shopman with the red of Scotland fresh in his cheeks is carried off by his landlady’s daughter; while Tommy Atkins fall a comparatively easy prey. The sight of a native with a half-caste wife is much rarer, for there Eurasian as well as native antipathy comes into operation. The whole conscious inclination of Eurasian life, in habits, tastes, religion, and, most of all in ambition, is toward the European and away from the native standards. —Popular Science Monthly.