Why do people call Obama "black"

IMO, many whites, besides young Americans who often don't perceive race as negative, voted for Obama, more out of desperation for a change, and given the poor alternatives, rather than his race. For me, it just pointed out the mistakes made by the Republican party in floating the candidacy of a potential Sarah Palin as president by default, period.

 

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Yes I have seen those. But doesn't it also have something to do with reacting to people that remind you of your loved ones?
I do aswell.

 

What I was meaning those with all the negative people all over media, and social networks spreading their hate you would think the majority of whites felt the way they did if you didn't know any better. It was kind of the same concept as assuming the majority of whites do not see Obama as mixed b/c of the negative outlets that don't.

 

I don't get it then. If it not silly for us to be referred to by our race why is it so silly to refer to Obama by his?

 

Thanks for your thoughts. Not having lived in the States, I dont have experience of this you know? I see everything from the outside and then only in the images shown to me in the news and what not. I cant believe that people still think like that in today's times (re him not being smart enough). That is such BS.

 

Isn't this more about black people thinking that when someone calls them self biracial they think they are better which goes back to the history of the US where a class system of race existed between white, mulatto, and black.

 

Ymra and BBW please do me a favor and stop engaging that obvious racial divisionist Regina. She loves to fuel threads like this with her bullshit. Someone doesn't have to say ni**er to call you one. Her arguments try to suggest a much deeper division between blacks whites and multiethnics than there really is with ridiculous anectodotal
:wink:reference. Yeah in racist southern Georgia they care about what your mixed with when they openly segregate proms down there? Negro please.

I seriously dislike threads like this because all it does is fuel the idea that we are different based on something that makes up less than a percent of what we are. It gives that shit way too much power.

The whole subject of ancenstry has been disturbing to me. The interest in people long dead is so insignificant to who you are now. If I found out I was heir to an African kingdom I would care as much as I did if I came from a child molester from the same era. I define who I am right now and from what I see delving into that shit is usually another way for people to assert some over inflated superiority complex on to others.

 

You really intrigue me. I'm enjoying your posts thus far.
I'm always floored by the perception of race from people outside the US

 

My friend it's a pleasure and an honor to have you on this board. Major cosign.

 

Thankyou Whitewomenblackmen for your ignore button.

 

Is this somehow directed at my comment where I said I am always interested in where people come from? I dont like what you said there. If I ask what your background is, it is because I want to know about you. And where you come from is part of who you are, it's your family and your bloodline. For instance, I was born in Germany, to two German parents but their parents then have a mixed history. There is straight out German, somewhere along the line we think there is some French and (although my grandparents deny it because they are still a tad affected by the old beliefs) there is almost definitely some Jewish. And yet I grew up in Australia and culturally identify with Aussies. And that interests me. I like knowing about people (not just racial background obviously but this is what we're talking about now) and I'm a bit miffed that you might be suggesting I some how think Im superior when I express curiosity about someone's background.

Or maybe you didnt see the comment and it's directed at Regina. In which case I kind of get it because I too find her comments a little bit 'that doesnt sit right with me' sort of thing....

 

Aww shucks thanks mate!

I'm loving this forum! These kind of issues are so interesting to me. We have race issues in Australia, sure. But very different ones. Massively different. And I actually dont think that white folks even have the slightest idea of what racism really is BECAUSE WE'RE WHITE. I dont know, it's a bit controversial but I watched this thing about it called The Event...argh what was her name...hang on, googling...Jane Elliot, a former teacher from Ohio, stages this experiment with people by assigning eye colour and then judging people based on that characteristic. It is one of the most interesting and semi-confronting things I have watched and it really opened my eyes to the fact that I actually have no idea what it is like NOT to be white. And, yeh Australia as I said has race issues which are really different and I'm still new to London so I dont know the history of what it has been like for folks living here either.

Right, sorry, got a bit of tangent there! Just meant to say glad my posts are amusing so far haha :smt039

 

No, not at all. It has to do with the reality of how they perceive themselves. To deny otherwise is simply to beg the question, period.

No clear and fair minded person can deny that people are judged by their race, especially black period. This is born out not only through surveys like the one mentioned by Little Bird but others as well. You can deny it all you want but it won't change the facts. The fact is that because of role of slavery and forced racial mixing, there aren't pure races, black and white, within the U.S. This has NOTHING to do with the prejudices that people continue to hold for black Americans. It is so socially ingrained that even more than 50 years later, black children view themselves more negatively than white children. This was shown with the famous "doll experiment" when children chose white dolls over black dolls and made negative comments about the black dolls compared to the white dolls. This experiment was repeated in the last few years and the results were the same.

As another poster suggested, your trying to explain the realities of race for black people is like me trying to advocate for abortion. Women view abortion as their choice because it has to do with their bodies. I respect that position and would not suggest that they are wrong. In the same way, I think that you lack the reality of being black, and can never appreciate it, regardless of the number of bi-racial children born to you and your black husband.

 

Oh yeah sorry if you misunderstood that was directed at her. I get curiosity it's what fuels our desire for improvement but for me it's as meaningless to me as where you spent your 11th birthday. A friend said something to me yesterday that applies perfectly. Knowing your history only helps me to know facts about but the thing that bonds us is me spending time with you and getting to really know you. I don't know if that makes sense to you but it rings true for me.

 

lol so what is about my comments that doesn't sit well with you? I am very open to explaining myself and my opinions. And just b/c I have a difference in opinion than some folks doesn't mean I'm opposed to the person or their opinions.

 

I just had a sudden flash back to when I was around 7 or 8 years old in Australia talking to my grandparents on the phone (who were in Germany) telling them what I wanted for Christmas. I was like 'I want black babies! I want a black doll!' and two twin black baby dolls I got! I loved those dolls. Funniest thing ever. Actually, I had a 'My Child' doll who HAD to be black too. The other one HAD to be white with red hair no less. I'm an odd one, goes without saying. And today I dont want kids. FULL STOP. HA!

 

Yup, makes sense

 

I dont know Regina. I cant quite put my finger on it. Im not trying to be evasive or whatever, it's just a feeling. It just doesnt sit right somehow. Sorry I cant be more articulate about it :smt102

 

I don't see how we can deny that the class system of races in history has reflected the colorism we see today. I think it has everything to do why some black people get upset when here someone say they are more than just black.
Whoa Whoa I never once meant to imply that racism doesn't exist. Yes people are judged and yes people are both racist and prejudice and no biracial is no exception to that. All I was saying before is that Everyone does not judge people based on their race. That is not to say by any means that many do.
Wow as a woman I don't see why a man can not have an opinion toward abortion just as I do. Not being a member of certain race or gender does not make you ignorant or lack and opinion. Being one race does not make you incapable of understanding what happens to another person, nor incapable of seeing and listening to it. It just makes you incapable of experience it. Big difference. Everything is so individual and we constantly fail to see that.

 

The only thing I see at this juncture is that you are repeating yourself and refusing to acknowledge the reality of black people in this country. You adding nothing of relevance to this discussion and so it's meaningless. As Mr. F would say, good day to you.