{"id":9530,"date":"2020-08-18T13:00:32","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T18:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/%year%\/%monthnum%\/%day%\/key-findings-about-multiracial-identity-in-the-u-s-as-harris-becomes-vice-presidential-nominee\/"},"modified":"2024-08-13T10:37:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T14:37:45","slug":"key-findings-about-multiracial-identity-in-the-u-s-as-harris-becomes-vice-presidential-nominee","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2020\/08\/18\/key-findings-about-multiracial-identity-in-the-u-s-as-harris-becomes-vice-presidential-nominee\/","title":{"rendered":"Key findings about multiracial identity in the U.S. as Harris becomes vice presidential nominee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Sen.
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on June 25. (Alexander Drago\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images)\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joe Biden\u2019s selection of Sen. Kamala Harris of California as his running mate in this year\u2019s presidential election has sparked a conversation about multiracial identity<\/a> in the United States. Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India<\/a>, is among a relatively small but growing group<\/a> of Americans with a multiracial background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also: <\/em><\/strong>Key facts about Black immigrants in the U.S.<\/em><\/strong><\/a>; <\/em><\/strong>Key facts about Asian origin groups in the U.S.<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"About<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some 6.2 million U.S. adults \u2013 or 2.4% of the country\u2019s adult population \u2013 report being two or more races, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of 2018 U.S. Census Bureau data. Of these Americans, 22% are White and American Indian, 21% are Black and White, 20% are White and Asian American, 4% are Black and American Indian and 2% are Black and Asian American. About three-in-ten (31%) are some other combination, including 9% who select three or more races. The 2000 census was the first time Americans were able to choose more than one race to describe themselves<\/a>, allowing for an estimate of the nation\u2019s multiracial population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a 2015 study<\/a> that used a broader definition of the term \u2013 one that took into account how adults described their own race as well as the racial background of their parents and grandparents \u2013 Pew Research Center estimated that 6.9% of the U.S. adult population could be considered multiracial. The 2015 study also explored the attitudes and experiences of these adults, revealing the complexities of multiracial identity. Here are five key findings from that report:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How we did this<\/div>