I recently visited my ex-girlfriend, who is part Navajo, when passing through the city she lives in now and we had a good laugh about this. When we were dating, she never talked about being Native American because she didn’t think it would benefit her in any way. We actually argued about whether she should apply for the Native American scholarships available to her and she was against it at the time. But, since the Democratic Party identity politics craze began, she warmed up to the idea and now she shamelessly uses it to her advantage. I hate identity politics and so does she, but I was pleased to learn she became comfortable with it for her own sake. In her case, she never passed for white anyhow.
Or, maybe because its been economically, socially and legally advantageous to be considered white for hundreds of years, so people who weren't white were saying they were (if they could get away with it). What we're seeing now may be a pendulum swing, and if so, good.
It’s hardly good if multi-generational white-passing, possibly advantaged folks are reclassifying themselves as white. For example, Elizabeth Warren, who has infinitely more privilege than my brown ass.
Don't disagree with you. I'm happy it's swinging away from the extreme position its been held in for centuries. I never stated where I want it to come to rest. Maybe if we remove the structures that have kept it in place it will come to rest somewhere agreeable? (though for the majority of those who stand to lose power, it's unlikely to be agreeable).
As seen by Senator Elizabeth Warren, identifying as Native American can confer quite a few benefits, and that was back in the 80's. These days I can only assume the dividends are even greater.
With that in mind it is not a huge leap of the imagination that, if given the option to, many people will self-id as Native American to gain a perceive edge in a society were diversity is increasingly valuable.
