Just curious/Obama

[GPK]

why is he labled as black?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by GPK

why is he labled as black?

I kind of agree with you here, I know what you're getting at. But, look at him and you'll have to admit, he looks like a black guy(in this country they're really brown, aren't they?)

Now, he is truly an African-American because his father was African and his mother was American. In this sense, a white South African coming here and having a child with a white woman,well the child would be an African-American wouldn't he?

I disagree with the labeling of the 99% of black people in this country being referred to a African-American just because ancient ancestors descended from Africa. My great great grandparents came from Ireland and Poland. Am I a Euro-American? Should we change all those ethnic choices on all the informational sheets we fill out from grade school on up?

And, yeah, I am a tad offended by having to check box "WHITE" when other ethnic backgrounds have choices like Hispanic, Native American Indian, etc

Let's just have it consistent across the board. If I have to choose "WHITE", then let's just list the other choices as "YELLOW",
"BROWN","BLUE-BLACK",and whatever else the best employees of Crayola Crayons come up with

[GPK]

Thanks everyone. Nice to read some intelligent and well thought out posts.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

I don't get it.

His father was black and his mother was white. Doesn't that make him both? All of my bi-racial friends don't identify themselves as one or the other, but as both. How would he be received if he was labled as white?

I'm not trying to stir up trouble, but just looking for intelligent (except from MDF )conversation and debate.

[Mike]

Here's some good reading.

A Ugandan article that asks why he is referred to as black:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/657981

And a Wikipedia entry on "black people":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people

[Mike]

And by the way, Obama's Irish like me:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/657981

[GPK]

I'm not saying that he has shunned his white heritage, but let's just say that he chose to have himself identified as white instead of black. Would he have been received and embraced the same way in the black community?

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by GPK

I'm not saying that he has shunned his white heritage, but let's just say that he chose to have himself identified as white instead of black. Would he have been received and embraced the same way in the black community?

I give you the case of Jerry Rivers...a wannabe journalist who changed his name to Geraldo Rivera! Barry went the same way. He'd have been just another person looking for his 15 minutes!

[dalakhani]

Originally Posted by GPK

I'm not saying that he has shunned his white heritage, but let's just say that he chose to have himself identified as white instead of black. Would he have been received and embraced the same way in the black community?

No I dont think he would have. If he claimed to identify himself as "white" I think many would consider him a sell out.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by Mike

Here's some good reading.

A Ugandan article that asks why he is referred to as black:
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/657981

And a Wikipedia entry on "black people":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people

Mike, do you think that he would have been percieved as this same great agent for "change" had he choosen to identify himself differently?