From the supreme court case plessy v. ferguson, 1896: it is true that the question of the proportion of colored blood necessary to constitute a colored person, as distinguished from a white person, is one upon which there is a difference of opinion in the different states; some holding that any visible admixture of black blood stamps the person as belonging to the colored race (state v. chavers, 5 jones [n. c.] 1); others, that it depends upon the preponderance of blood ( gray v. state, 4 ohio, 354; monroe v. collins, 17 ohio st. 665); and still others, that the predominance of white blood must only be in the proportion of three-fourths (people v. dean, 14 mich. 406; jones v. com., 80 va. 544). but these are questions to be determined under the laws of each state, and are not properly put in issue in this case. under the allegations of his petition, it may undoubtedly become a question of importance whether, under the laws of louisiana, the petitioner belongs to the white or colored race. what point is made in this document regarding perception of a person's race?

a) it is best to define race in a very stringent way, to avoid confusion.

b) nobody is in agreement about what race means, but everyone thinks it is important.

c) there is a general consensus that if a person appears black, he is black, and if he appears white, he is white.

d) different states have different precedents regarding what defines a white person as opposed to a black person.