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Homer Plessy was multi-ethnic and multi-cultural (Franco-American), because both of his parents had a mixture of African-American and Caucasian genes. In the 19th century, most people and all government bodies adhered to the "one-drop rule," which labeled anyone with at least one African-American ancestor black.

Louisiana, where Plessy was born and lived his entire life, informally acknowledged degrees of ethnicity because there were many freemen in the State, and the practice of intermarriage was common. By Louisiana standards, Plessy was considered an "octoroon," or someone with one-eighth black ancestry. Plessy identified with his African-American heritage, but evaluated himself as appearing white.

You can view a photo of Homer Plessy via Related Links, below.

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