The discourse surrounding the advocacy for a census count of mixed race persons, however, has social and legal ramifications, apart from the limited context of revising a census form. Multiracial discourse misconstrues the meaning of race in the group measurement of racial disparity, with an individual-focused assessment of fluid cultural identity. Such a view of race negates its sociopolitical meaning and thereby undermines effective legal mechanisms to ameliorate racial discrimination. Both immediate and expansive meanings of multiracial discourse are interrelated and involve a highly politicized discourse. Accordingly, the author questions the assumptions that underlie both levels of meaning in order to assess the continuing significance of racial classifications challenged by multiracial discourse. He indicates that multiracial discourse may seem benign and appealing in humanitarian terms but that its implementation will produce counter-egalitarian results in the struggle for racial equality. Motivating forces behind the MCM as a color-blind movement are examined, as well as adverse effects of MCM on racial justice efforts. A race-conscious classification system is presented that reflects the sociopolitical nature of race for use in effectively monitoring racial discrimination. 391 footnotes