South Jordan - Irene Ota is half white and half Japanese. She married an African American and her daughter Sanobi identifies herself as Asian and black. etc. etc. Friday June 5, 2009. The U.S. Census Bureau says Utah grew in the multiracial category faster than other states. Utah increased in that category by 5.6 percent. The national rate was 3.4 percent. Left to right in frame #9689: Irene Ota, Amerique Phillips, Kiana Phillips (front), Sanobi Johnson, Maxwell Jackson (front) and Fred Phillips. .