Here are a few excerpts from Wuthering Heights discussing Heathcliff's race, showing how Brontë left the matter intentionally ambiguous yet still attempted to make it clear that he wasn't white:
[Here Mr. Earnshaw refers to Heathcliff as "it" when introducing him to the Earnshaw family for the first time] "'. . . you must e’en take it as a gift of God; though it’s as dark almost as if it came from the devil.'"
"But Mr. Heathcliff forms a singular contrast to his abode and style of living. He is a dark-skinned gipsy in aspect, in dress and manners a gentleman . . ."
"Something stirred in the porch; and, moving nearer, I distinguished a tall man dressed in dark clothes, with dark face and hair."
"'Black hair and eyes!' mused Linton. 'I can't fancy him. Then I am not like him, am I?' 'Not much,' I answered: not a morsel, I thought, surveying with regret the white complexion and slim frame of my companion . . ."
"'A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad," I continued, "if you were a regular black; and a bad one will turn the bonniest into something worse than ugly . . .'"
"'God forbid that he should try!' answered the black villain."
"Heathcliff’s face brightened a moment; then it was overcast afresh, and he sighed. 'But, Nelly, if I knocked him down twenty times, that wouldn’t make him less handsome or me more so. I wish I had light hair and a fair skin, and was dressed and behaved as well, and had a chance of being as rich as he will be!'"
"I declare he is that strange acquisition my late neighbour made, in his journey to Liverpool—a little Lascar, or an American or Spanish castaway."
"You’re fit for a prince in disguise. Who knows but your father was Emperor of China, and your mother an Indian queen . . ."
"'That Heathcliff—you recollect him, sir—who used to live at Mr. Earnshaw’s.' 'What! the gipsy—the ploughboy?' he cried. 'Why did you not say so to Catherine?' 'Hush! you must not call him by those names, master,' I said."
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