The One Drop Rule

The One Drop Rule was a social and legal concept in the United States that categorized anyone with even a small amount of Black ancestry as Black. Originating in the Jim Crow era, it was used to enforce racial segregation and discrimination. Essentially, if someone had just one ancestor who was Black, they were considered Black by law and society, regardless of their actual appearance or cultural identity. This rule reinforced racial boundaries and helped maintain white supremacy by limiting social and legal rights based on perceived racial purity.