Multiracial Americans are Americans who have mixed ancestry of "two or more races". The term may also include Americans of mixed-race ancestry who self-identify with just one group culturally and socially (cf. the one-drop rule). In the 2010 US census, approximately 9 million individuals, or 2.9% of the population, self-identified as multiracial. There is evidence that an accounting by genetic ancestry would produce a higher number, but people live according to social and cultural identities, not DNA. Historical reasons, including slavery creating a racial caste and the European-American suppression of Native Americans, often led people to identify or be classified by only one ethnicity, generally that of the culture in which they were raised. Prior to the mid-20th century, many people hid their multiracial heritage because of racial discrimination against minorities. While many Americans may be biologically multiracial, they often do not know it or do not identify so culturally, any more than they maintain all the differing traditions of a variety of national ancestries.

Questions and answers:
['
Q: Approximentally how many Americans identified themselves as multiracial in the 2010 US census?
A: In the 2010 US census, approximately 9 million individuals, or 2.9% of the population, self-identified as multiracial.', '
Q: Why did muticultural Americans hid their heritage?
A: many people hid their multiracial heritage because of racial discrimination against minorities', '
Q: Before the mid-20th century were people open about their muticultural heritage and why or why not?
A: Prior to the mid-20th century, many people hid their multiracial heritage because of racial discrimination against minorities.', '
Q: Are all muticultural Americans aware of their cultural heritage?
A: While many Americans may be biologically multiracial, they often do not know it', '
Q: What is the accepted definition of "multicultural" ancestry?
A: Multiracial Americans are Americans who have mixed ancestry of "two or more races"', '
Q: Approximentally how many Americans identified themselves as multiracial in the 2010 US census?
A: In the 2010 US census, approximately 9 million individuals, or 2.9% of the population, self-identified as multiracial.', '
Q: What is the accepted definition of "multicultural" ancestry?
A: Multiracial Americans are Americans who have mixed ancestry of "two or more races".', '
Q: Why did muticultural Americans hid their heritage?
A: Prior to the mid-20th century, many people hid their multiracial heritage because of racial discrimination against minorities', '
Q: Which cultural do multicultural people usually identify with?
A: , generally that of the culture in which they were raised.', '
Q: Are all multicultural Americans aware of their heritage?
A: While many Americans may be biologically multiracial, they often do not know it', '
Q: What does it mean to be a mutliracial?
A: mixed ancestry of "two or more races"', '
Q: How many multiracial people in the US were there in 2010?
A: approximately 9 million individuals', '
Q: When did people stop hiding mutliracial heritage?
A: the mid-20th century', '
Q: What are people most likely to identify themselves as?
A: the culture in which they were raised', '
Q: Would DNA show a higher number or lower number of mutliracial people than those reported in the census?
A: higher number', '
Q: What does it mean to be a mutliracial?
A: two or more races', '
Q: How many multiracial people in the US were there in 2010?
A: approximately 9 million individuals', '
Q: When did people stop hiding mutliracial heritage?
A: the mid-20th century']