What does the one-drop rule (or rule of hypodescent) say?
A) Mixed-race people are assigned to the race considered higher on the social hierarchy.
B) Mixed-race people can be considered as the race of their choosing regardless of the social hierarchy.
C) Mixed-race people are assigned to the race considered lower on the social hierarchy.
D) Mixed-race people are an entirely separate racial category on the social hierarchy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The one-drop rule (or rule of hypodescent) states that any person with even a trace of African ancestry is considered Black and assigned to the race considered lower on the social hierarchy. Therefore, the best choice is C, which accurately reflects the definition of the one-drop rule. Choices A and B are incorrect because they do not reflect the idea of hypodescent, and choice D is incorrect because it suggests mixed-race people are an entirely separate category, which is not how the one-drop rule operates.

What Does the One-Drop Rule (Or Rule of Hypodescent) Say