Just out of curiosity, what is black and what law enforces the use of the description when identifying one's self?

I understand and have often used the description when providing or relaying the description of someone involved in an incident but it has ceased to be a meaningful legal description since there is no accepted genetic or biological characteristic that can actually be forced on someone who chooses not to accept it. For decades now, I have used "U" for race when running criminal records. I can't recall when the last time I heard the term octoroon used but I'm certain it was used to point out the absurdity of proving someone's degree of blackness.

The last group of people in the U.S. as far as I am aware of that utilize blood purity as a racial qualification are native Americans who determine tribal acceptance through the percentage of proven genealogical criteria.

IMO the best legal description, and the one I tend to use most when asked to identify racial origin is "other." After all, I have high cheek bones and I know better than believing all of the stories my family tells about different ancestors and who they may or may not have lain with.

Aren't we over due for a "news story" about a local young lady claiming her hijab was ripped off by some bigoted Anglo hoodlums?