I do believe many Americans can have black and native american blood in their ancestory but I just want to clarify that some do not.
many (most?) white Americans are the descendants of immigrants who came to the United States from Europe in the late 19th & early 20th centuries.
Historically individuals who could pass for white didn't usually claim their African or Native American roots. Due to negative and potentially violent reactions from other whites many people of other ethnicities practiced the act of Passing (racial identity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). It may not be as bad today but there are still whites who either don't know or will not disclose their non-white heritage. Personally I have African, Native American (Choctaw), and Caucasian roots but I look Black. No one would really know unless I told them.By the way, just a heads-up. Most people who are legally classified as Indian, either 1/4, 1/2, etc., and legally registered with a tribe, hate it when people who are "white" say they are part Indian. They go ballistic. I had to learn this lesson the hard way. I once met a full-blooded Blackfoot man and very innocently told him I was part Indian. He looked at me and said, "Well, all that means is that one of your ancestors probably raped an Indian woman." I thought that was so fuckin' offensive. I said, "Or one of my ancestors was raped."
I think this is where njqt is coming from. I'd never seen this before, but there are probably some black people who would be offended by the idea of "white" people saying they're part black.
Okay, to lighten the mood....
YouTube - My Black Son (Family Guy Music Video)
YouTube - DWB Driving while black
This may be a reason why the gentleman reacted negatively after you revealed your heritage. I would assume, you look more white than anything else. As a result, your revelation could have been seen as an insult both because of a memory of a violent past and also the belief that you still have the option of claiming or not claiming your other ethnic roots. This is no big deal to many but for others, it is taken quite seriously. Unfortunately, old wounds heal slowly and not everyone will be happy with your revelation.
Historically individuals who could pass for white didn't usually claim their African or Native American roots. Due to negative and potentially violent reactions from other whites many people of other ethnicities practiced the act of Passing (racial identity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). It may not be as bad today but there are still whites who either don't know or will not disclose their non-white heritage. Personally I have African, Native American (Choctaw), and Caucasian roots but I look Black. No one would really know unless I told them.
Wow! njqt my maternal grand mother two generations back was BlackFoot can you see it in my photo?Bet you can't.
By the way, just a heads-up. Most people who are legally classified as Indian, either 1/4, 1/2, etc., and legally registered with a tribe, hate it when people who are "white" say they are part Indian. They go ballistic. I had to learn this lesson the hard way....
Actually, if we're going to get technical, many scientists believe that ALL HUMAN BEINGS have African ancestry and in fact originated in Africa.
Recent African origin of modern humans - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yeah, I probably shouldn't have said anything. I have close relatives who are registered with a tribe, but I am only about 1/64th Indian.
I've had it both ways. I've had one Indian man get offended when I said, "Oh, I'm only a little bit Indian." He got really offended and said, "It doesn't matter how little you have. If you have even a drop, you are part Indian." And then I had the Blackfoot guy who got very angry when I referred to that "drop" and identified myself as "part Indian."
The lesson to be learned? Race in the US is an extremely touchy topic and you can't fuckin' please anyone. Evidence of how touchy this topic is can be found in this thread; again, I started this thread to talk about an Australian actor, and the thread got completely railroaded on to the topic of race in the US.
Evidently it's an interesting topic, though, and you have made some very salient points on the subject.