Final answer:
The issue with being mixed race historically stemmed from threats to the established social and racial hierarchies, leading to laws and practices to maintain white dominance. Over time, societal attitudes have evolved to increasingly accept and celebrate racial diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of being mixed race was problematic primarily due to the societal structures and racial hierarchies established during colonial times and their lasting effects into the modern era. Racial mixing posed a threat to the established social order, particularly in Spanish-American societies, where the peninsulares and creoles viewed the rise of mixed-race individuals as a challenge to their economic and social dominance. The upward social mobility of mixed-race individuals endangered the status quo, leading to various discriminatory laws and practices, such as anti-miscegenation laws, one-drop rules, and Jim Crow laws aimed at preserving racial purity and the privileges of the dominant white class.
Over time, increasing acceptance of racial diversity and the celebration of multiple ethnic identities have become more prevalent, although the legacy of past racial categorizations continues to affect societal attitudes and the lives of individuals of mixed heritage. Legal changes, such as the removal of miscegenation laws and the inclusion of multiple racial categories in the U.S. Census, reflect the evolving understanding of race and identity in society.