then why people keep saying that he is black???? If it's okay to call a person black because he/she is half black, then it is only fair to call that person white as well. So, can we say that he is white??
Obama is 50% black and 50% white
- Thread starter gentle_lover
- Start date
I am going to pretend...
...for a moment that this question....which has popped up a few places...is a sincere one. Perhaps because things are cultural different here is Canada (aww...who am I kidding???)
Barack Obama is "Black" because if he were not Barack Obama and his parentage not known to all who care and can read....he'd be called "Black". While he has a FEW features which mark him as bi racial (more obvious to someone who is Black than most whites I am sure...), in reality he is only a half shade lighter than me (and I am not bi racial), and considerably darker than my bi racial brother in law (who can be and is often mistaken for Italian or Latino).
Additionally...Barack Obama has gone on record that he considers himself "Black". He has made no Tiger Woods like fierce claim of bi racial distancing...while he embraces his family on both sides with fevor (and indeed is clearly closer to the "white" side than to those on his father side that he hardly knew), he has never been coy at all about his own racial identity. He think himself Black and does not consider it a rejection of his mothers family
This is the thing...and perhaps you (and others) will understand this...but perhaps you will not...if you are a minority of color...you don't get the privilege of deciding your outward facing ethic identity. Jews can and have denied being Jewish, and I have even known fair skin Hispanics who downplayed being so.
But if you are a Black person...the world sees you as a Black person...and they see that before they see anything else about you. Accordingly...it is foolish semantics (and a privilege others can take for him) for Barack Obama to call himself anything thing other than Black. His doing so does not deny his connection to his family...like me I suspect he does not define himself and his identity by the color of his skin (something not always seen in a positive light in the Black community...many feel that you are Black before anything else...I say that only perpetuates the thinking and stereotypes that allow others to judge me for being Black before anything else...but that is another thread). But to not do so would just be absurd foolishness at best..and out and out self hatred at worse.
gentle_lover said:
...for a moment that this question....which has popped up a few places...is a sincere one. Perhaps because things are cultural different here is Canada (aww...who am I kidding???)
Barack Obama is "Black" because if he were not Barack Obama and his parentage not known to all who care and can read....he'd be called "Black". While he has a FEW features which mark him as bi racial (more obvious to someone who is Black than most whites I am sure...), in reality he is only a half shade lighter than me (and I am not bi racial), and considerably darker than my bi racial brother in law (who can be and is often mistaken for Italian or Latino).
Additionally...Barack Obama has gone on record that he considers himself "Black". He has made no Tiger Woods like fierce claim of bi racial distancing...while he embraces his family on both sides with fevor (and indeed is clearly closer to the "white" side than to those on his father side that he hardly knew), he has never been coy at all about his own racial identity. He think himself Black and does not consider it a rejection of his mothers family
This is the thing...and perhaps you (and others) will understand this...but perhaps you will not...if you are a minority of color...you don't get the privilege of deciding your outward facing ethic identity. Jews can and have denied being Jewish, and I have even known fair skin Hispanics who downplayed being so.
But if you are a Black person...the world sees you as a Black person...and they see that before they see anything else about you. Accordingly...it is foolish semantics (and a privilege others can take for him) for Barack Obama to call himself anything thing other than Black. His doing so does not deny his connection to his family...like me I suspect he does not define himself and his identity by the color of his skin (something not always seen in a positive light in the Black community...many feel that you are Black before anything else...I say that only perpetuates the thinking and stereotypes that allow others to judge me for being Black before anything else...but that is another thread). But to not do so would just be absurd foolishness at best..and out and out self hatred at worse.
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Maybe not. It might turn out he's 100% Kenyan or 100% Indonesian.calloway said:
http://comments.obamacrimes.com/blog
Litigation to follow.
We should start another poll...........
Would you choose to be black or white if you had the choice?
Perhaps he saw some advantage in doing so
Would you choose to be black or white if you had the choice?
Perhaps he saw some advantage in doing so
seen a black women on Tv last night saying a"finally true African American will be elected President" now his mother was white but his father was a true African American.He made few kids got up and like true African American left them and he was raised by his white grandmother. Now that's true African American.
Simple....because he doesn't look like he is half / half as does Halle Barry, Vanessa Williams or Alicia Keys.
I think it is becoming increasing futile to try to define people as black or white or whatever unless you are just trying to describe their physical characteristics but reality runs much deeper than that. In reality, Barack Obama, the individual, is the summation of both his black and white heritage. It is somewhat akin to knowing two languages like say French and English; you wouldn't say someone is then 50% French speaking and 50% English speaking but rather they would be more accurately described as bilingual or both French and English. It doesn't matter how other people perceive or communicate with you in say French or English in terms of being bilingual or both French and English. In the same way Barack Obama is both black and white regardless of how certain segments of society think him to be or try to claim him (his success) as their own.MLAM said:
This has got to be the dumbest thing I've read in a long time. How does a black guy act? Like Eminem? How does a white guy act? Not picking on Eminem, or Obama, or anyone else for that matter, but this comment only perpetuates the problem. If we stop speaking about these stereotypical differences, they 'may' disappear. By continuosuly reminding one-another of 'who acts what', we're only continuing the viscious cycle. This my friends is subtle, unconscious prejudice. Sorry to hop all over 2k5, but it's just one of those 'Freudian Slips' that I've heard many times about many people of many ethnic backgrounds. BTW, I'm not black.2k5 said:
Your feeble attempt at being a racist isn't working. Obama's father wasn't "a "true African American". He was Kenyan and attended school in the US.luckydick said:
It's your right to be an asshole I suppose, but at least try to get your facts straight.
I don't agree. I have been questioning why "everyone" is calling Obama "black" when he is as white as he is black.bbking said:
Being charitable, I presume he identifies as being "black" because he has dark skin and it was probably just easier when he was a kid. He was raised by a white mother, and then his white grandparents though, so he isn't "black" because that was his environment.
On the other hand, perhaps he prefers to be "black" because he saw some advantage in it...
I think the term "African-American" is entirely appropriate though... He is of African and American heritage.
The reality is that if he was "white" or appeared to be "white", the US would have "just" had another President today. It would not be an historic event.
"Mr. President"?bbking said:
Fair enough and that's what I meant when I suggested he might consider himself "black" simply because he looks "black"... at least as far as his skin colour goes... It was just easier to say that instead of saying he was "white" and having everyone go "Huh?"...I'm happy to be able to say that it's a non-issue for me and I suspect that's the case with many, many Americans who voted. It's about time... I think he's going to be a brilliant President. Although, as someone on TV put it today, that job comes with the "Inbox from Hell"...
excuse me, it's very easy for you to label a person racist just because you think so and not base on fact. I got one fact for you, the fact is you do not know me and we have never met. That is the fact.bbking said:
Just because I'm asking the question, it does not mean I am a racist.
I think you are being an ignorant and you just made yourself look like a complete fool.
O
OnTheWayOut
Racist actions by and for the oppressed
I know someone who is genetically 1/4 black. He looks pretty black with his features but is not super dark skinned. He's lived his life acting as if he's been wronged with every move he makes. His kids are 1/8 black and he's taught them to scream bloody murder if there's any way they can turn a harmless situation into a racial mess.
Similar to guys I've known in Canada who are 2% aboriginal but use it to get benefits we could only dream of........ if someone can use their race to benefit, it's no longer being racist. That's only if it's not to their benefit.
I know someone who is genetically 1/4 black. He looks pretty black with his features but is not super dark skinned. He's lived his life acting as if he's been wronged with every move he makes. His kids are 1/8 black and he's taught them to scream bloody murder if there's any way they can turn a harmless situation into a racial mess.
Similar to guys I've known in Canada who are 2% aboriginal but use it to get benefits we could only dream of........ if someone can use their race to benefit, it's no longer being racist. That's only if it's not to their benefit.
