"To be Black in the U.S. has such an expansive meaning that traces back to Europeans deciding who got to be "white." While some people, like the Italians and Irish, earned their way into "white-ness," those with even a drop of Black in their heritage were relegated to the lower rungs of the racial ladder."
"And yes, the "one-drop rule" - which was a legal principle of racial classification that claimed if even one Black ancestor could be named, you were considered a Black person - has long been discarded by American culture. However, the remnants of Jim Crow and that social and racial structure still guide how we look at mixed people today."
"Here are 19 celebrities and public figures who have Black roots that you may not have known about: It's the 100th anniversary of Black History Month this year! Follow all of our coverage here. Of course, the content doesn't end after February. Follow BuzzFeed's Cocoa Butter on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to keep up with our latest Black culture content year-round."
American racial identity was shaped by European decisions about who counted as white, with groups like Italians and Irish eventually admitted to whiteness while people with any Black ancestry were marginalized. The one-drop rule legally classified anyone with a Black ancestor as Black, though the legal doctrine has been discarded culturally. Social and racial structures from Jim Crow persist and continue to influence perceptions of mixed-race individuals. Nineteen celebrities and public figures with Black roots are highlighted as examples. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and related coverage continues across platforms.
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