Why is Obama considered African American

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2827386
I have no idea, but would love to hear a good answer for this one. I come from 99.9% caucasian country and it was very rare to see a black person there. Nobody in their right mind would move to Finland where it's just about always cold

I think the reason why he is considered AfricanAmerican is because the color of his skin is more black than white, even though he is genetically 50% caucasian. Dark skin color being a dominant gene (polygene) in most cases results in dark skin in black/white offspring.
HEY spider, I had a friend/client from Finland, I think you guys, you have the BEST LICORICE in the world, he used to bring me PAX, they were soft and chewy and full of flavor, Then he bought me these things in a BLUE CAN, TIN like spicey, Fizzing Licorice. THAT I didnt like at all.. The magazine was www.sokos.fi Cheers!

 

[bionicarm]

Obama is actually of mixed heritage. He was born in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, where his parents had met at the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus. His father, Barack Sr., was from Kenya and entered the University of Hawaii as its first-ever student from an African country. He was a member of Kenya's Luo ethnic group, many of whom played a key role in that country's struggle for independence in the 1950s. Obama's mother, Ann Durham, was originally from Kansas, where some of her ancestors had been anti-slavery activists in the 1800s.
Since his father is African, he would be considered African American. Ironically, not all black people in this country can be categorized as African American, because they had no direct decendents from that country. However, the tag line is used to be 'politically correct'. Some individuals that are 'of a color that is not caucasian' are offended being called Black or Negro. Those 'names' came to being in the 1800's, when the white people of this country decided that their dark skin looked black (which most slaves of that time did have skin so dark is was closer to black than brown). Negro is simply the Euro/Spaniard/Mexican word for black. The other 'N' word is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people, and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur. The word originated as a term used in a neutral context to refer to black people, as a variation of the Spanish/Portuguese noun negro, a descendant of the Latin adjective niger, meaning "black.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2827387
Man what happened to my post? It asnt racial or anything? heck im black...

Can you PM it to me?
I often wonder how to refer to black people respectfully. My elementary school years were spent in a 50/50 black/white school. Back then it was 100% acceptable to use the word black. Do you feel more comfortable being referred to as black or African American? Does it differ from individual to individual, or is it considered universal? I know a few black people as an adult, but this never seems to come up in conversation and I don't feel comfortable asking.
As with Jean, I don't want to sound disrespectful, I just want to be well informed.
Again, you can PM me if you feel the answer might get deleted.
Thanks

 

[pontius]

I have never liked the term "African American" for a race, because it is NOT a race. neither "African" nor "American" are races. further, most black people in America cannot determine whether or not their descendants came from Africa.......the assumption that all black Americans came from Africa or descended from slaves is a myth.
BUT....if there ever was an appropriate time for the term "African American", it would be for Obama because like another poster said, he has one parent that is African and one that is American. as for his race, I guess he would be considered black since I believe most states consider you black if one of your parents is black or if you have a percentage of "black blood". I'm pretty sure this came from the days when people tried to determine who were "pure white".
Tiger Woods is probably considered black for the same reason. though I imagine in most countries, he would be considered Asian.

 

[cranberry]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2827427
Can you PM it to me?
I often wonder how to refer to black people respectfully. My elementary school years were spent in a 50/50 black/white school. Back then it was 100% acceptable to use the word black. Do you feel more comfortable being referred to as black or African American? Does it differ from individual to individual, or is it considered universal? I know a few black people as an adult, but this never seems to come up in conversation and I don't feel comfortable asking.
As with Jean, I don't want to sound disrespectful, I just want to be well informed.
Again, you can PM me if you feel the answer might get deleted.
Thanks

I asked this when I moved to California. My secretary is a Mississippi girl. I noticed that everyone kind of lowered their voice when they said black. So I asked what was up with that. She said African american is as bland as you can get and there's less risk of offending anyone. It's the poltically correct term. But she said "But you can call be black as you can with most everyone.... there's very few you are going to offend by saying that". And then there's the ones that you will offend by saying African American.

 

[spiderwoman]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2827427
Can you PM it to me?
I often wonder how to refer to black people respectfully.
I'd like to know that too. I'm forgiven mostly because everybody knows where I come from.
Originally Posted by Pontius
http:///forum/post/2827435
Tiger Woods is probably considered black for the same reason. though I imagine in most countries, he would be considered Asian.
When I still lived back home I always thought he was black.

 

[silverdak]

I heard today... that if he was born in CT my state, his birth certificate would have said "white" just a guy that came in today ad was talking about it, so not too sure if its true or not.. just kinda funny

 

[rebelprettyboy]

I dont mind being called Black or African American it doesnt bother me. But id personally rather say BLACK cuz its shorter and im lazier.. Im not a big on on race and racist stuff.
Im black and ive never dated a black girl. Most my freinds are white or actually i have a wide variety of friends. Race doesnt matter to me!!

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2827446
I dont mind being called Black or African American it doesnt bother me. But id personally rather say BLACK cuz its shorter and im lazier.. Im not a big on on race and racist stuff.
Im black and ive never dated a black girl. Most my freinds are white or actually i have a wide variety of friends. Race doesnt matter to me!!
Thanks, man.

 

[bionicarm]

Of the many 'black' friends and co-workers I have, I don't refer to any of them except by their name. I don't refer to them as 'black', 'African American', or 'brother'. They don't refer to me as 'whitey', 'caucasian', or 'the white dude'. That's the way it should be. I have found though that many of the older black people are more sensitive regarding this issue. They still relive the days of segregation, and the stigmatizing of their race. One co-worker is very sensitive to how his race is termed. He constantly reminds us of the origins of slavery, and what happened to 'his people' back in the 50's and 60's. He keeps a picture of MLK and Malcolm X on his desk. Needless to say, I try to avoid any conversations regarding race when he is around.

 

[michaeltx]

Originally Posted by rebelprettyboy
http:///forum/post/2827387
Man what happened to my post? It asnt racial or anything? heck im black...

it wasnt that it was bad but it left it open for more racial comments to come up in later posts.
as far as why he is called african-american is that he looks black even though he is bi-racial his looks are black. when he first started I heard it over and over he was bi-racial.
When he spoke to the african-american voters he was african-american when he spoke to the white voters he was bi-racial the more his campain went on the bi-racial stopped and the african-american part stuck and appealed to more voters than bi-racial.
Atleast this is my take on why he is considered african-american instead of bi-racial.
Mike

 

[reefreak29]

obama is 50 percent white ,arab and then black, I cannot consider him an african american. doesnt really matter though

 

[michaeltx]

I look past race to me there is no reason to bring up if a person is black or white unless you are describing a robbery or something to the police that they need to know that. To me everyone is a sir or a ma'm not black or white. Of course if I know them their name is always a good thing to call them LOL
Mike

 

[scotts]

Originally Posted by reefreak29
http:///forum/post/2827468
obama is 50 percent white ,arab and then black, I cannot consider him an african american. doesnt really matter though
That's right. You say he is 50% white, 44% arab and 6% black.

It is kind of interesting, because as one has been said, if anyone can be considered African American it is him. Since his dad is from Kenya.
I never really looked at him as Black or African Amreican. He was just a guy running for office.

 

[rebelprettyboy]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2827469
I look past race to me there is no reason to bring up if a person is black or white unless you are describing a robbery or something to the police that they need to know that. To me everyone is a sir or a ma'm not black or white. Of course if I know them their name is always a good thing to call them LOL
Mike
+1

 

[scotts]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2827469
To me everyone is a sir or a ma'm not black or white. Of course if I know them their name is always a good thing to call them LOL
Mike
You know what is stupid, I don't like when I get called sir. But that it is because it is from some 20 year old kid and it just reminds me how old I am.

But then it is a different way of life out here.
I had a job one summer and during break time I hung out with all the black people. They said I was like a beam of light in the shadows.

(Don't take offense Rebel.

)

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2827464
Thanks, man.

HOLY SMOKE SOCAL, do i detect a NEW AVITAR? How many years have you had the other one?

 

[michaeltx]

Originally Posted by Scotts
http:///forum/post/2827504
You know what is stupid, I don't like when I get called sir. But that it is because it is from some 20 year old kid and it just reminds me how old I am.

But then it is a different way of life out here.
I had a job one summer and during break time I hung out with all the black people. They said I was like a beam of light in the shadows.

(Don't take offense Rebel.

)
LOL I know what you mean the job I am in now I have high schoolers that i am their direct supervisor so they have to come to me for assignments and such and it yes sir and no sir all day long. I am 33 and it makes me feel that much older everyday LOL

 

[maryg]

I worked in OB a few years back. I believe that as far as the birth certificate goes it is said that the child should use the father's race. But I am sure that there will be alot of changes now with the increase of bi-racial children, wether it be black/white, black/hispanic, white/asian, black/asian, or whatever. It is just purely bi-racial.
My niece is bi-racial. Her father is black and she is raised primarily by all white.
It depends how you call it, sorta like the "glass being half empty or half full."

 

[groupergenius]

Originally Posted by reefreak29
http:///forum/post/2827468
obama is 50 percent white ,arab and then black, I cannot consider him an african american. doesnt really matter though
Where do you come up with Arab????
Originally Posted by Scotts
http:///forum/post/2827504
You know what is stupid, I don't like when I get called sir. But that it is because it is from some 20 year old kid and it just reminds me how old I am.

But then it is a different way of life out here.
I had a job one summer and during break time I hung out with all the black people. They said I was like a beam of light in the shadows.

(Don't take offense Rebel.

)
Scotts, it may seem old fashioned, but I allways made sure my son's friends call my wife and I Mr. and Mrs. As I did with my friends parents when I grew up. Personally turns my gut to hear a kid call an adult by their first name. Maybe it's my Southern upbringing?