One drop on the move: historical legal context, racial classification, and migration

Abstract

We examine the relationship between historical anti-miscegenation laws and contemporary racial classification within Black–White households in the United States using a multi-layered approach to conceptualizing that socio-historical context. We draw our sample of married Black–White households with children under the age of 18 from the 2012–2016 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates. Consistent with previous research, results suggest that households with connections to states that never had an anti-miscegenation law are less likely to adhere to the “one drop rule” than other households. However, these connections are not purely a reflection of the current state of residence; households comprised of two parents who were born in “no law” states–but currently live in states that had historical anti-miscegenation laws–display distinct racial classification patterns. This research contributes to our understanding of the link between place and race and highlights the power of migration in shaping ideas about race.