Why do people call Obama "black"

Maybe in places like California and other more openly diverse places, sure. But beyond all that, where most keep ignorant? Not at all.

 

Proof? The only situation where I have seen this where there was no multiracial background was the recent couple which they still had not identified if there was a multiracial background or a new "gene" yet.

 

And sillier still is the idea that calling yourself "mixed race" or "mixed" or "bi-racial" some how pays hommage to the races that mixed to make up you.

This is really a new "title" that was presented by white who wanted to be something more than simple "white". And as goes the majority race, goes the rest of us"

You don't understand this history of this country if you would ask "Why would a black man with a white mom say he's black" the answer lies in understand the NOT SO DISTANT history of the United States of America.

 

It only shows that the concept vs. the reality of race is merely one hell of a social construct.

 

I'm in GA. We ask, and we refer to someone as mixed. Mixed folks I know have spent their entire lives being asked being asked that question.

Identifying someone as black with a mixed phenotype is easiest because no one is going to get upset about being identified as black. If folks are light skin black they would get upset about being identified as mixed. But it doesn't mean people don't recognize some folks appear mixed. Besides that what is most important is if they will identify you that way after you identify yourself that way.

 

I personally don't care what Obama calls himself, and I am at a loss for why so many non-blacks give a shit about it. And I don't think we have met....my name is Ymra, pleased to meet you.

I try to stay away from the following

...what if
...it depends
...you can't say all

because they are silly, can be applied to any situation and offer nothing in the way for a real response. Leona Lewis can call herself anything she wants. But if she called herself "white" me and the rest of the world would shake our collective heads and giggle.

 

Not silly at all. If you wanted to identify with your multiracial background there is nothing wrong with that. But seeing as it was a grandfather then you still have a majority race. My husbands father is biracial Irish/Italian/Black. But he identifies as black b/c that is his majority race. He was not raised by the man either so can not identify with his white grandfather or his culture.

 

Nice to meet you too. Regina here. We have opinions on everything else why not have one people that choose to or not to identify with their race. Isn't that kinda the same as folks shaking their head at Obama for not identifying as half white?

 

We don't choose what race we belong too. We can either acknowledge what we are or not. Nothing silly about acknowledging or racial make up.
I understand the history very well. But there comes a time where their is more important things like loving your very being and being comfortable with the person you are.

 

Where did I say or suggest people couldn't have an opinion?

 

This explanation is as silly as the never ending proclamation that OBAMA IS MIXED RACE.

 

I was addressing you saying why you don't get why non blacks give a shit.

 

Do you think it's silly that you are black and I'm white? Is it silly for people to give us these labels? Is it silly for us to refer to ourselves as white and black?

 

That's probably with a somewhat educated background in some cases. For the most part, it's usually the singular question.

 

In a way yes and it all boils down to the neurological component in our brain that triggers judgment. The frontal lobe actually operates that.

 

So does that mean you refuse to label yourself as a black man?
I don't think identifying someones race leads you to forming a judgement about someone based on their race. I mean of course some folks do but just saying I don't think it's absolute. And what the difference really when it comes to identifying or gender aswell.

 

You're missing the whole thing entirely, dear. When I state that it operates judgment, I'm implying that the part of the brain basically make us judge on what's 100% visible, hence we give labels due to some discrepancy in appearance. It's only when we actually learn more about the construct of race would be erase that bit.

 

Actually, scientific studies have been conducted (and Im sorry but I dont recollect the specific details) which show that the vast vast vast majority of people sampled (and from memory I think both B & W people participated) showed neurological reaction to images of people who were B which differed to the reaction with images of people who were W.

I absolutely think people judge, but I think the majority of the time it is not intentional but the influence of societal messages, the media etc etc etc that lead to these judgements.

I personally like to know what someone's background is. I almost always ask people, regardless of what colour they are. This is because my own background is interesting to me, where my family tree lies, what makes up how I came to be who I am now and Im interested about other people. I like to know where people come from, what languages (other than English) they might speak, stuff like that. Different race and culture is interesting to me.

 

no

 

Yes, I think that people would have reacted differently to him. You have to remember that the history of the relationship between black and white Americans has created a preoccupation with race that continues to this day. I remember listening to one of our public radio stations here and hearing the comments of a white guy who was interviewed on the street. He was asked if he supported Obama for president and this guy replied, no, that he didn't believe that he had what it took to be president. When pressed, the guy admitted that a black man didn't have the smarts to be president, despite Obama being on the most educated presidents.

With regard to WHO would have viewed him differently, I think that black people would have viewed him differently, as someone who was denying his ethnicity. I think many would not have wanted to vote for him if he had taken that position because black people know that white people viewed Obama as black.

As I mentioned, the undertone of much of the criticism is done to suggest that his ethnicity is part of the problem with his presidency.