Mixed Blood: Intermarriage & Ethnic: Intermarriage And Ethnic Identity In Twentieth Century America

by Paul Spickard

Draws together a far-ranging set of experiences, all of which bear on the phenomenon of intermarriage. Through his introduction of cultural themes of acceptance, the author broadens the reader's scope of reference in comprehending the forces driving intermarriage.

544 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because this book was published in the 80s, I found many of its conclusions dated. Unfortunately, this book can't speak to the current "en vogue" nature of mixed race. Furthermore, Spickard qualifies so many of his assertions about the history of intermarriage and mixed race that I was hard-pressed to find a take-away message. I understand the need for caution in making generalizations about race, but a book without an argument makes for dull reading.

[Stephen Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The difficulty for Spickard is that his third group under consideration holds a different status within US society. What works when he considers the Japanese and Jewish immigrants doesn't work as well for Blacks. He resolves it successfully by distinguishing a hierarchy of selection and discussing how that changes over time. It would be interesting to go back today and see what has changed and how well it functions for more recent immigrant groups.