Obama, America's First Black President?

[longfisher]

Nope, he's mulatto. But he's referred to ceaselessly the the press and by both parties as black. I can't help but wonder why.

From what I can tell of his heritage, he's precisely 50/50. His mother was about a pure white Iowa (I think) farm girl as they come and his Father, a native Kenyan, about a pure African as they come. So, even the adage that most blacks in America are "calico cats" given the amount on misogeny in America's past doesn't make him black.

Is he culturally black? Some evidence exists for that, I agree. He married an American black woman. He largely resided in and communed with other blacks, not to the exclusion of whites but certainly predominantly. He looks more black than white, that's certain.

But an equal amount of evidence suggests that he's pretty much like a middle class white guy. He's educated. He's well-spoken (OK, that's not necessarily a middle class white guy trait, I'll agree). He's widely supported politically by whites, at least during his successful bid for the Presidency. He's joined an exclusive club as President that was always exclusively white.

So, why the emphasis in the media and elsewhere of his blackness. Is his mulatto-ness too hard for people to understand?

But more importantly, what difference might you feel it makes in terms of policy and governance if someone other than white were the president?

LongFisher

[Gale Winds]

Wow. What an earth shattering observation! Is this really a topic of discussion for a FISHING website.

Is fishing too hard to understand for some people?

[seabass]

Wow. What an earth shattering observation! Is this really a topic of discussion for a FISHING website.

Is fishing too hard to understand for some people?

What are you doing on this board at all ? It is "Mix It Up" after all. I'll bet you just can't stand the Hot Chick Friday posts either right ?

[canyongear]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-...eature=related

[Capt_John]

That preacher has some serious issues.

Why does it matter what race the president is? It doesn't matter to me honestly. Yes, in a way it did make me proud to have a black man elected into office. But that had nothing to do with my vote. If you are mixed and your skin is dark, you're considered black. Tiger woods is considered black, but he's mixed also. Who the F&^K cares!! When Obamas race is ever brought up it ends badly on one side or the other. Either his name, religion, and race makes him a terrorist or something worse. Or his name, religion, and race make him a saint and can do no wrong. It all depends on who you listen to. Either way, anyone who makes judgements on this alone is an idiot. I do honestly believe that there is a large group of people out there that wouldn't like him no matter what he does period. And the same goes for the latter. I will say that I'm interested to see what happens in the next few years. I'm not going to say that the country is going to the crapper and I'm ready to defect. I also don't have visions of perfection either. This country has been screwed up for a while and it isn't going to change quickly. All we can do is wait and see.
Now as far as Obamas race goes, all the political cartoons, youtube videos, etc. don't bother me a bit. Hell, they're funny more times than not. However, when I see alot of the comments on hanging the president, and the Ni$$er must die type stuff it does piss me off because I know that there is still so many people that really do feel this way still. Racism in this country is never going to go away completely. That's just how it is. It may get better, but it will never go away completely.

[canyongear]

Capt John,

I believe, you have honor and integrity. Sir.

[rabcoman]

capt. john 100% on the f--king ball with this.

capt. trif

[Gringo]

John! You're black?? Gasp! I didn't realize.....

you just always seemed, so....so reasonable and normal to me...

[rarhomes]

John! You're black?? Gasp! I didn't realize.....

you just always seemed, so....so reasonable and normal to me...

OUCH !!

Capt Rick

[anthony]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khuu-...eature=related

I think we just found the 1% of blacks that did not vote for Obama!

John, I hear you and you are certainly a voice of reason. I will say there are some black men (or women) I would probably support for President....JC Watts, Alan Keyes or Larry Elder....but I never had any faith in this President ever....and he is proving most of my deepest concerns justified.