MISCEGENATION (from Lat. MI:Were, to mix -1- race). Mixing of races: usually restricted to amalgamation of Caucasian and African races in .1merien. The expression came into common use in discussions if negro slavery in the United Stales toward and after the middle of the nineteenth century, when certain publicists advocated the gradual absorption of the blacks by intermarriage with whites. The expression is seldom employed in scientific discussion of racial problems, .114.11 eollocations as 'mixing of races,' 'blood-blending,' Mc.. taking its place. The proc so denoted is of ranch importance: indeed• one of the primary factors of human develop ment. as is shown by the fact that the most advanced peoples are those whose blood is most mixed. The effect of blood-blending •1`11111, to vary with the degree of diversity between the uniting races, the benefit being greatest when the races are least diverse, and the effect less beneficial or even injurious when the raves are widely dis Hind thus 1114. blends of white and red Imeztizo) and of red and black (Zallabo1 are apparently better, measured by the vitality and feeundity of the progeny, than that of white and black (mulatto). The process of racial assimilation
is going on in every part of the world. and with progressively increasing rapidity. Even in the United States, despite the most strenuous opposi lion on hoth national and sentimental grounds, the admixture of whites and blacks has gone so far that among the nine millions enumerated as colored in the census of 1900, the population of pure-blooded .1fricans is comparatively small, while the admixture of red and white races has affected a proportion of our population which may be estimated at 30 per cent. to GO per eent. of the element reckoned as Indian. The data are too meagre to indicate the vital value of the Inextizo type in the United States. though the experience of Mexico suggests that the value is high. The more general aspects of racial blend ing are discussed in the article .111m:it FACES.