The Malleable Nature of Race - A Case of 'Some Other Race'
Racial identification has for many been a stable, unchanging category. Yet we see a growth in the "some other race" category that leads to questions as to what is causing this increase. I begin by taking up this question by arguing that there are different levels of attachment to race. Furthermore, I argue that those who have weaker attachment to a specific racial category are more likely than those with a strong attachment to check "some other race". In a country presided by a multi-racial president - that could have identified as "other" at earlier stages in his life - we may be experiencing a weakening of ties to racial identification. The consequences of this on individual political behavior will also be explored