Why is Obama Black?

[Juniper]

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. Or isn't he African American, if he was born in SA, and isn't black? Just goes to show, labels can be misleading.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by Juniper

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.

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.

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.

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

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. Or isn't he African American, if he was born in SA, and isn't black? Just goes to show, labels can be misleading.

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.

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

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.

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]".

[toranokaze]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

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]".

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.