Yes, Melungeons Are Mixed Race — Even the White-Passing Ones

Mixed race people make up approximately seven percent of the American population — and The Pew Research Center expects that number to swell to around 20% over the next three decades. If you add the number of Americans who are raised not knowing that they are mixed race, the percentage is possibly much larger than that. I am one of those multiracial Americans, but you’d never guess by simply looking at me. I am Melungeon — an Appalachian woman with a rich ancestral bloodline that was almost obliterated by white supremacy. Because I have light skin, with all the privilege that goes with it, I find myself navigating a sea of ignorance when it comes to sharing that I am mixed race with others. Race is a complex and volatile subject in America, for so many obvious reasons. For Melungeon people, many of whom are only recently finding a sense of community, the discussion can be summed up in a single word: Complicated. <a href="https://medium.com/@ChelseaHoffman/yes-melungeons-are-mixed-race-even-the-white-passing-ones-ab6c44d5369d">Learn More</a>