Why is Barack Obama considered a black man? Isn’t his mother white? I have six cousins of mixed racial background, 3 are white/chinese, 3 are white/black, and none of them consider themselves as one or the other. The white/black cousins accurately describe themselves as “brown.” So why does everyone call Obama black?
Personally, I don’t give a rat’s ass what color he is. He’s an inspirational speaker and I think he would make a good leader.
Because its a political asset. Frankly, I could care less also about what color he wants to be, I’m judging him on his merits. I think he’s a wolf in sheeps clothing myself. I think he’s 10 times more evil than Hilary, and that’s saying something. All just my opinion.
Because he’s blacker than anyone else running?
Because it makes for more interesting TV?
because he’s black
[quote]Steel Nation wrote:
Why is Barack Obama considered a black man? Isn’t his mother white? I have six cousins of mixed racial background, 3 are white/chinese, 3 are white/black, and none of them consider themselves as one or the other. The white/black cousins accurately describe themselves as “brown.” So why does everyone call Obama black?
Personally, I don’t give a rat’s ass what color he is. He’s an inspirational speaker and I think he would make a good leader.[/quote]
I am amazed anyone is this clueless to be asking this question. He is considered black by many because if you didn’t know who his parents were, you would think he was a black man. If you saw Tiger Woods years ago with his father, you would consider Tiger to be black. It is based on PERCEPTION. I am French-creole, American Indian, White and African. People will still label me as being black.
There are very few BLACK PEOPLE in this country who are 100% African by blood which means just about NONE of us should technically be considered black…yet has that stopped the rest of the world from calling us that?
[quote]btm62 wrote:
Because its a political asset. Frankly, I could care less also about what color he wants to be, I’m judging him on his merits. I think he’s a wolf in sheeps clothing myself. I think he’s 10 times more evil than Hilary, and that’s saying something. All just my opinion.[/quote]
10 times more evil than Hilary eh? I like that.
You worry some terrorists will attack when he’s kicking back and clearing brush?
You worry he’ll invade foreign countries under false pretences and overstretch the US army?
You worry he’ll alienate just about any friend the US has in the world?
I’m just wondering what your frame of reference is when you judge politicians.
It’s an interesting thing. Personally, I’d generally refer to him as an American. Now, if I was attempting to describe him physically, I’d say he was “black” with no more gravity than saying someone has red hair.
But, in this case it’s more complicated than that. He does attend a Church heavily steeped in “Black” liberation theology. If you self identify, can you blame others ofr indentifying you as the same? Do I offend him and his pastor because I don’t respect them AS “black” men? Or, must I see them, and respect them, as black men?
Confusing times for the “white” (I’ve never seen a “white” person actually) guy. Do we recognzie “black” culture and heritage? Or, do we not out of fear of offending someone because we dropped the label bomb on a portion of American history?
Remember the “African-American” craze? I didn’t know what the hell to say in situations where I needed to physically describe someone. I’ve had people get offended because I hyphenated their Americanism. Yet, I’ve had people offended because I didn’t.
I’m fine with not labeling someone as a “black man” in a way that has anymore meaning than a quick descriptive refrence. But, at the same time, I have a feeling that someone would probably turn around and talk about “black” history or culture. I mean, we do have a “Black” history month, after all.
[quote]Sloth wrote:
It’s an interesting thing. Personally, I’d generally refer to him as an American. Now, if I was attempting to describe him physically, I’d say he was “black” with no more gravity than saying someone has red hair.
But, in this case it’s more complicated than that. He does attend a Church heavily steeped in “Black” liberation theology. If you self identify, can you blame others ofr indentifying you as the same? Do I offend him and his pastor because I don’t respect them AS “black” men?
Confusing times for the “white” (I’ve never seen a “white” person actually) guy. Do we recognzie “black” culture and heritage? Or, do we not out of fear of offending someone because we dropped the label bomb on a portion of American history?
Remember the “African-American” craze? I didn’t know what the hell to say in situations where I needed to physically describe someone. I’ve had people get offended because I hyphenated their Americanism. Yet, I’ve had people offended because I didn’t.
I’m fine with not labeling someone as a “black man” in a way that has anymore meaning than a quick descriptive refrence. But, at the same time, I have a feeling that someone would probably turn around and talk about “black” history or culture. I mean, we do have a “Black” history month, after all.[/quote]
You’re right about one thing…you are very confused. There is Black History Month because without it, most would attempt to erase our contributions from the history books. “Our” in this case refers to Americans who have an ancestry that includes Africans brought to this country as slaves OR those who have dealt historically with the massive amount of racism directed at those with darker skin and facial features that resemble those of African descent.
None of that erases the fact that claiming Obama isn’t black is like saying the same about most of us…since most of us are mixed to some degree. If he isn’t black, then neither are the rest of us unless our ancestry ONLY involves African descent.
Obama is Black AND White. If this causes a huge issue for you, the only one to blame is yourself. Acting as if he should avoid embracing the Black culture in this country is about as retarded a concept as this thread.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
You’re right about one thing…you are very confused. There is Black History Month because without it, most would attempt to erase our contributions from the history books.[/quote]
Well, I guess you’re a Black Man in that case. You want to self identify yourself with the labels, wear them and stop bitching. In short, don’t expect others not to do exactly what you just did…cling to labels.
I just knew you’d turn around and contradict yourself. “But I have this and that blood in me, and I’m still called a Black man!!” Yet, you turn right around and milk the label for what it’s worth once I talked about “black” culture, and “black” history. I saw that coming.
[quote]Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
You’re right about one thing…you are very confused. There is Black History Month because without it, most would attempt to erase our contributions from the history books.
Well, I guess you’re a Black Man in that case. You want to self identify yourself with the labels, wear them and stop bitching. In short, don’t expect others not to do exactly what you just did…cling to labels.
I just knew you’d turn around and contradict yourself. “But I have this and that blood in me, and I’m still called a Black man!!” Yet, you turn right around and milk the label for what it’s worth once I talked about “black” culture, and “black” history. I saw that coming.[/quote]
You can’t be this foolish. If I go to the store, not one person is going to give a shit about who my ancestors are. They will treat me like a black man because I LOOK LIKE A BLACK MAN, just like Obama does. I am black by any known definition of the word. These aren’t labels we came up with and we don’t control them. When we get asked our race on applications and standardized tests, where pray tell is the box for “mostly black”?
The only reason you consider Obama as more than just a black man is only because you now know he is half white. If you had seen the man in any other setting, you wouldn’t have considered him WHITE. Why even play this game when you are so bad at it
You can have Obama and I’ll take Halle Barry.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
You’re right about one thing…you are very confused. There is Black History Month because without it, most would attempt to erase our contributions from the history books.
Well, I guess you’re a Black Man in that case. You want to self identify yourself with the labels, wear them and stop bitching. In short, don’t expect others not to do exactly what you just did…cling to labels.
I just knew you’d turn around and contradict yourself. “But I have this and that blood in me, and I’m still called a Black man!!” Yet, you turn right around and milk the label for what it’s worth once I talked about “black” culture, and “black” history. I saw that coming.
You can’t be this foolish. If I go to the store, not one person is going to give a shit about who my ancestors are. They will treat me like a black man because I LOOK LIKE A BLACK MAN, just like Obama does. I am black by any known definition of the word. These aren’t labels we came up with and we don’t control them. When we get asked our race on applications and standardized tests, where pray tell is the box for “mostly black”?
The only reason you consider Obama as more than just a black man is only because you now know he is half white. If you had seen the man in any other setting, you wouldn’t have considered him WHITE. Why even play this game when you are so bad at it[/quote]
Can’t control them? You beg for them! You make excuses for their continuation! I dare criticize setting apart “black” history, and bam! “I want my label!”
Had you walked into one of the stores I used to work at, you would have gotten the “white guy” treatment, I guess. Take your money, a thanks, and that’s that. As far as applications go, most I see these days have an ‘other’ option, or the option to simply leave it blank. And why do they ask in the first place? I’d venture to say because of diversity policies…
I miss Chapelle Show…we need another racial draft…DESPERATELY shrug
First round draft pick…
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
I miss Chapelle Show…we need another racial draft…DESPERATELY shrug[/quote]
I already made my pick. Your turn.
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
First round draft pick?[/quote]
Is that who you really want?
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
First round draft pick?[/quote]
I put him in the person category.
[quote]Sloth wrote:
Big_Boss wrote:
First round draft pick?
I put him in the person category. [/quote]
actually…I’d put him in the “gayest” category…but interesting background he has.
It would seem like black history month only promotes racism… Sorry Prof X but Sloth is pretty much on his game. Maybe you live in a shitty area but where I’m from there isn’t any different treatment of persons. The only exception is the occasional shithead that walks who intentionally acts like a dick and over complicates things for their own low level humor enjoyment.
Of coarse theres a race check box… quota’s…
And seriously Obama is a politician and is only using his black heritage to gain votes. The man’s family doesn’t even have any ties to slavery… which unfortunatly is all anybody cares to talk about.
[quote]Big_Boss wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Big_Boss wrote:
First round draft pick?
I put him in the person category.
actually…I’d put him in the “gayest” category…but interesting background he has.[/quote]
Eh, why? Is he gay? I don’t even know who he is, heh.