Color abbreviations on the 1920 US Census?

Question: Race/Color abbreviations on the 1920 US Census!?

On the 1920 US Census, my great grandmother and her siblings have "MW" listed under the 'Race or Color' section!.

Her father's race clearly has 'B' (Black)!. I thought maybe it was for "Mulatto", but I thought Mulatto was just abbreviated to M!. Does anyone have any clue what the 'w' might stand for!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

According to GenWeb, census takers marked the following racial categories in the 1920 US Census:
---W (white)
---B (black)
---Mu (mulatto)
---In (Indian)
---Ch (Chinese)
---Jp (Japanese)
---Fil (Filipino)
---Hin (Hin)
---K (Korean)
---Ot (Other)

Whoever counted your great grandmother and her brothers and sisters apparently had illegible handwriting!. "Mu" stood for "Mulatto"!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It means "Mulatto/White" it means that the person was light skinned but known to be multiracial!. Remember "Plessy v Ferguson"!? The plaintiff in the case was less than 1/8th black and looked completely white!. But the conductor on the train knew he had a black great-grandparent and wouldn't let him ride as a white!. If your ancestor responded that they were white but the census taker knew they were mulatto, they'd often report both races!. Jim Crow was the law, sadly!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Perhaps you should contact the Census Bureau for an accurate answer!.Www@QuestionHome@Com