Why is Obama Black?
 

Why does Obama state he is black, when he is as much white as he is black? Since he was raised by his white mother and grandparents, culturally isn't he more white than black??

Why doesn't he just say he is biracial? When I was growing up, the term mulatto was used but it is now considered demeaning by some.

same reason Halle Berry is black?

Perhaps because until about 60 years ago, anyone with a non Caucasian element to their parentage was treated as socially inferior. If your parents' generation has grown up with the assumption that you are half caste (and I only realised what a derogatory term that was about 5 years ago!) then you don't really have a choice but to identify yourself with the less socially advantaged part of your heritage.

The one-drop rule
 

The definition of "black" came from America's historical classifications, some of which can be read about here:

But I thought that numerous studies have shown that we are all out of Africa. So, by the one drop rule, we're all black.

You, me, them, everybody. Everybody.

Yep. :D

you expect racism to be logical?

Pie - your info made me dig deeper on this subject. I came up with this:

Many people in the United States are rejecting the one drop rule and are questioning whether a person with one black parent should be considered black or biracial. Although politician Barack Obama self-identifies as black, 55 percent of whites and 61 percent of Hispanics classified him as biracial instead of black after being told that his mother is white. Blacks were less likely to acknowledge a multiracial category, with 66% labeling Obama as black.[44] Forty-two percent of African-Americans described Tiger Woods as black, as did 7% of white Americans.[

Big Sarge, that poll is looking at people's attitudes now. When Barack Obama was forging his self-identity, you were either white or not. Everything else: black, mullatto, half-caste, mixed race, whatever, was not white.

Not to mention quadroon.

I look forward to the day when the entire human population becomes a medium even brown.

a few hundred thousand years in the future

African American - Descendant of African slaves in the United States

- [insert Ethnicity] American - Immigrant or offspring of immigrants from particular country. Usually used when individuals are still holding on to their culture. Can take out the American part.

-Black - African Americans, immigrants from African countries, or multiracial mixes from the first two.


Those are the common definitions that I see being used.

The Racial Draft



Better quality version.

If Barack Obama called himself biracial, a lot of people would be saying he was being uppity. ;)

Fixed it for ya.

Why would mulatto be considered demeaning by just about everyone?? It was a legal definition and not a racial slur

But, correct me if I am wrong, Obama isn't African American - at least not in the same way others, say, Oprah for example, are. His father's lineage is directly from Africa, specifically Kenya.

Not that it matters as far as whether or not he'd be a good president. But if other black voters are supporting him on the basis of "he's one of us" then that info would be a little misleading, hm? In my experience (my daughter had a good friend a few years ago who was born in Africa...a black girl, yes) they are not of the same culture as the African Americans who were descended from slaves. I hope this doesn't sound racist, I don't mean it that way at all.

BTW I have a good friend who is also African American; he was born there and just got his citizenship this year. He's whiter than I am. :D Or isn't he African American, if he was born in SA, and isn't black? Just goes to show, labels can be misleading.

From the spanish word mulo, or mule.

As above. It meant that just because your parents could breed, it didn't mean they should. They ended up with you - neither nowt not summat.

It's the same as half-caste in that people used with no intention of offense until it was challenged. And then when you think about it, it is demeaning.

Obama's black?

Who knew?

Good point. Very few Blacks in the US are truely "African American", but that is the politically correct term to use now days for anyone who is of dark color living in the US. The term is HIGHLY misleading. I think they should stop using it. Why don't they just call themselves American. It strikes of a need to maintain difference for other reasons.

It's the favoured term right now. I'm sure it will slip out of vogue as others have (Negro, coloured etc) because as you say, it's not accurate.

But at least it fits in with the way other Americans describe themselves. For example half Swedish, half Irish because that's where their ancestors came from before they arrived in America.

That's one possibility.

It's the one which needs least trimming to make it fit.
Anyway, why should there be a specific word for mixing different DNA?
There's no word for generic English mixtures, although we will smilingly admit we're mongrel because of the years of invasion.

Mulatto belongs in the years of quadroon and octaroon and such like, surely?

There's something I've been longing to say about Obama, and though it relates very little to the subject of this thread, I'm gonna say it anyway:

His lips are purple, and his ears are way big.

There. I feel better now.

Also, associations would be under tighter scrutiny if he was any kind of white.

I guess I'm black. At least, I've had some black in me. And I've been in a few too. ;-)

In street use, especially in the black community, African American means a person who is a descendant of a slave in the United States. This differs from every other [ethnicity] American. Confusing a Somali immigrant with African American is fighting words in some parts, so its usually best not to mesh the two.

Nope, African culture is much different than African American culture. African American culture is very Western, African culture is not.

People with black skin can be from South America, Africa, Arabian Peninsula, India, Indonesia, and native Australia. The political term black means African. Misleading? Yes, but that is how the terms are.

I agree completely but I find it interesting that the only group that calls themselves "American" are people of European descendant. Natives are "Natives, Native American, or American Indian". Slaves of African decedent are "African American or black" and African immigrants are "Somalis, African, Nigerians, Blacks, etc". East Asian, Indians, Arabs, Mexicans, Latinos, etc are "[insert ethnicity] Americans or [insert ethnicity]".

I am heavily involved in the rugby community. I have many friends from SA, all who live and work in the US as permanent immigrants. They are all white and more African American than any blacks I know in the US.

Here in California that is supposed to happen in about 2050

What do you mean by African American? Urban black culture or something else?

I'm guessing he means they are more both American, i.e. assimilated into mainstream culture and yet more African, actually having been born and lived in Africa.

That is why heavily promoting the term "European American" for all people of European descent. And the term "Mixed American" for those who don't what they are.

I disagree with that. We should not be separating ourselves into groups by racial class, that is degression. I believe we should accept that race is nothing more than a social construct and work to get rid of all discrimination in that respect. If we get rid of the idea of race, we will also rid ourselves of racism as well.

I would rather label everyone in the United States as "American" but at this moment I believe that would be just sweeping the dirt under the carpet and not actually cleaning it up.

I have an answer, because he's black. If you saw him on the street don't tell me you would think that he's white.

/skips whole thread

BECAUSE: if you had to point him out in a crowd, you'd say "The black guy over there."

Who gives a shit what color he is? Either you agree with his ideas, his politics and/or his vision or you don't. Get the fuck over his color people - Geez what friggin century are we living in.

you would, maybe, not me.

I'd be more likely to say the tall guy with the funny ears.

Since you mentioned it - DAMN He's got big ears!

I'm responding to the thread topic. Nobody would say "The tall white guy over there."

I wouldn't. Nope, nuh uh, not me. I'd point and say "that's the motherfucker! No not that one, the one next to him talking about 'change' every damn day."

Since you mentioned it - Any truth to the rumor that he used to be employed as a radar dish on Guam?

lol! I heard that too.

In Texas, yes, but in Philadelphia...not so much.

Maybe you should read the thread next time. That's what I just said...almost verbatum.

I mean that all people of color, no matter where they are from in the world, like to call themselves AA in the US. It is wrong. More wrong today than ever before. We have so many immigrants from other parts of the world who have dark skin that are lumped into the category of AA. It is wrong. If it were not wrong why wouldn't whites from SA be considered for the perks given to any person of color who claims to be AA?

I seem to recall him answering this question once with something along the lines of: when I am hailing a cab in New York, what colour do you think I am?

*Chuckles* see now, Merc, I got all the way to the last sentence, and I was thinking you were coming at that from a really cool angle, and really it's about the 'perks'.

Don't lose hope. That was only an example of how people are being treated differently when they should not be. If I had it my no one would receive any perks.

We'll leave it to Michael Jackson to be white....Obama is black. k? He is an African American, and so is my nephew. And you know how lily white my ass is...My nephew will always be seen as black, especially since he's always around people that are so damned white. No matter where he is he will look black. (unless it's pitch black outside)

My nephew is black irish in the real sense of the word. :) But black he is..and unlike Michael Jackson, hopefully black he will remain. ;)

He's my cute little mulatto. Who cares...he's cute. Mulatto is not derrogotary. He's black and white. Call him oreo if it makes you feel better. Because he's my sweet little cookie. :)

Yes, but if you dunk him in milk, is he less crunchy?

I don't know. Are you? Let's test and find out shall we? That's awesome....

I do hear that milk baths are great for your skin...So please test this out and report back your findings.

Yeah, I don't see why everyone can't have coffee if they want it. Of all shades. I like mine with no sugar but a lot of milk. I guess Obama would be sort of like a latte. ;)

What about "no bid" contracts?:D

Shame on McCain and Palin for using an old code word for black

What??? I never heard socialist referred to as code word for black. You?

Nope, not me. But then, I'm not as old as McCain is.

touche'

I have heard the term Demoncrat used for black people.

Canadian.