Dear Jon: I believe the term "mulatto" was descriptive and derogatory at the same time. It was used by the white race to describe anyone who was not WHITE. It was used by census takers in some areas to describe the American Indian. The southern planters even went to far as to create the term octoroon to describe someone who was at least 1/8 African. These terms were used in a derogatory way to keep any person of color in their place. Regardless of the actual meaning, it was derogatory in nature. I am white and after extensive reading about the mentality of the planters of the 1800s these are the conclusions I have arrived at. Joyce