Almost White: A Provocative Study of America's Mixed Blood Minorities

Almost White, first published in 1963 by sociologist Brewton Berry (1901-1993), examines the rich mix of white, black, and native American “races” found in the southeastern United States. Based on extensive field research and interviews, Berry describes the groups, ranging in size from a few families to the 30,000 plus Lumbee “Indians” of North Carolina. The book also examines the intricate “etiquette” between whites and mixed races (Berry uses the term “mestizo”), and the relationship to schools, churches, politics, police, military service, etc. Almost White remains a fascinating look at the American South on the brink of dramatic changes with the coming of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.