Who are you? Do you define yourself by your role, your job, your family background? For generations of Americans, the first answer to that question was a color: black or white. But today, a growing number of young people are refusing to check the race box, and choosing instead to identify themselves by lifestyle, by the music and movies they watch, by friends and pastimes and clothing.
And, when asked about their race, many young people are more likely to say something like Blaxican. Mexipino. Chino-latino, than one of the 63 color-coded Census categories. But while some see a real racial blending in this blurring of colors, others see a feel-good, corporation-created "we are the world" fantasy out of touch with American life.
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Leon Wynter, author, "American Skin: Pop Culture, Big Business and the End of White America"
Thomas Tseng, founder, New American Dimensions, an ethnic marketing firm in Los Angeles and a research fellow at Pepperdine University
Lynn-Maria Chiang, aspiring hip-hop artist.
Listen to an excerpt that exemplifies the trend. listen
Megan, a caller, discusses growing up as a multi-racial person who is adopted by white parents. listen
