I’m not biracial: Some African-Americans with white parent decline to check ‘white’ census box

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Biracial or not? Census is a test for some

Experts anticipate an increase in the number of multiracial Americans in the 2010 census, but many people with one black parent and one white parent are choosing to only call themselves “black.”

One of those people is Laura Martin of Las Vegas. She says she grew up surrounded by black family and friends, listening to black music and active in black causes. That’s why she only checks the “black” box on the census.

Another is President Barack Obama. He declined to check the “white” box on the census, despite having a white mother.

It’s impossible to know how many of the nation’s 35 million people who only checked “black” on the last census have a white parent. But it’s clear that the decision to check one box — or more — is connected to history, culture, pride and mentality.