Final answer:
American racial classification has historically been influenced by the rule of hypodescent, causing mixed-race individuals to be classified according to their minority ancestry, often disregarding their full ethnic background.
Step-by-step explanation:
American racial classification is governed by the rule of hypodescent in which the children of mixed unions are typically assigned to the racial identity of the minority parent, particularly if that parent has any African ancestry. This practice was legally enforced in the past through 'blood laws' such as the one-drop rule, whereby individuals with any known African descent were labeled as black, regardless of their physical appearance or self-identification. This rule was part of various laws including Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924, which outlawed interracial marriage and mandated that persons with any non-white ancestry be classified as non-white.
While the social construction and implications of race have changed over time, the historical influence of hypodescent continues to affect how individuals of mixed heritage are perceived, often pressuring them to identify with a single racial group. Celebrities like Tiger Woods, who has a diverse ethnic background, have publicly challenged these norms by embracing and celebrating their mixed heritage, despite social pressures to conform to a singular racial identity.