Teresa Heinz Kerry: 'I'm an African American'

Newsmax ^ | 2/24/03 | Newsmax

[paltz]

Teresa Heinz Kerry: 'I'm an African American'

First lady-wannabe Teresa Heinz Kerry sometimes describes herself as an "African American," even though she grew up amidst segregated privilege in colonial Mozambique.

"My roots are African," she told a reporter in 1995. "The birds I remember, the fruits I ate, the trees I climbed, they're African."

Throughout the 1990s, Heinz Kerry referred to herself as "African American," the Baltimore Sun revealed on Tuesday. And when her use of the term set off a firestorm of controversy in 1993, she defended the claim.

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended.

The one-time Republican's depiction of herself as African rankles some who knew Heinz Kerry in the days when her father ran a medical clinic in Mozambique.

Some say the wealthy "African American" has snubbed blacks in her homeland, because she has done next to nothing with her vast Heinz Foods fortune to improve living conditions there.

"We are proud she is a daughter of the land," Neo Simbine, 75, a retired black nurse who worked with Heinz Kerry's father, told the Sun. "But you have to live what you say. If she really loves Mozambique and has lots of money, why doesn't she build us a hospital?"

Heinz Kerry's fortune is equal to nearly a quarter of Mozambique's annual Gross Domestic Product.

But aside from a contribution to her homeland's Save the Children Fund, the woman who repeatedly invokes her Mozambican roots has limited her generosity.

A spokeswoman for the Heinz Foundation said the prospective first lady would give more if she were more confident the money would be managed properly.

[george wythe]

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended.

Thanks for posting this piece of liberal comedy.

I'm still chuckling.

[cupcakes]

"We are proud she is a daughter of the land," Neo Simbine, 75, a retired black nurse who worked with Heinz Kerry's father, told the Sun. "But you have to live what you say. If she really loves Mozambique and has lots of money, why doesn't she build us a hospital?"
_____

What have you done for me lately?
LOL--sorry, I have no love loss for Kerry's wife, but one has to get tired of those who won't do for themselves all over the world.

[IrishCatholic]

As long as she doesn't call herself: "The First Lady".

[Kazuki]

Unfortunately, the Constitution only requires the President to be a native born citizen. Even someone married to Osama can be elected, and would, if Demoncrats had their way.

[Sam Cree]

"why does everyone who doesn't have money think that those that do are suppose to give them some?"

Because we live in a socialist state?

[af_vet_1981]

A spokeswoman for the Heinz Foundation said the prospective first lady would give more if she were more confident the money would be managed properly.

Is she a Republican after all ?

[gundog]

Some say the wealthy "African American" has snubbed blacks in her homeland, because she has done next to nothing with her vast Heinz Foods fortune to improve living conditions there.

To be fair, she married that money rather than earn it. Just like her present spouse did.

[Notasoccermom]

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended."

So does "-" mean black? Is Michael Jackson an "African-(hypen) American" or "African American" or "white American"? Where DOES color fit into all this?

This all goes to show the absurdity of labeling just as the students at Roger William were trying to show.

[familyofman]

"It IS about skin color."

Not really. Are blacks born & raised in Europe; European or African?

[jeremiah]

Teresa Heinz Kerry, and Bill Gates should NOT give any money away to lost causes. They should start businesses, that will make a product and profit, hire individuals to work there, and pay them wages. In such a way, people are allowed the dignity to help themselves, and feel proud at the same time. Gates giving millions is like me giving my teenaged kids money, it is spent, mostly unwisely, and does not enrich anyone but the local stores.

[Chi-townChief]

I thought that would make us Iraqi-Americans.

[ibbryn]

Since she is technically correct, and since this is pissing off a lot of her husband's potential supporters, I encourage her to continue using the term.

[1Old Pro]

Ketchup boy had better give her some of the drugs McCain gave his wife.

[Prodigal Son]

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended.

This is the single most bizarre thing I have heard in quite a long time. Perhaps ever.

[jeremiah]

................and yes I do know Gates is running a business along with MS Kerry........so they are doing more to help others than they obviously realize. In fact they probably think they are exploiting the masses, and feel guilty for being part of the ruling elite, evil proletariat and slave owning class.

[george wythe]

According to the US Census classification, Tuh-RAY-zuh is wrong about her silly hyphenation.

An African American is a black person:

Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "Black, African Am., or Negro," or provide written entries such as African American, Afro American, Kenyan, Nigerian, or Haitian.

A white person remains white, whether she was born in Africa or not:

White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "White" or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Near Easterner, Arab, or Polish.

Notice that North Africans are not African Americans but white.

Furthermore, "A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe" includes migrants and colonists who settled in Africa, but whose ancestors were the original peoples of Europe.


"Race" according to the federal government

[MrB]

Are blacks born & raised in Europe; European or African?

If they move to America, they are "African Americans."

It IS about skin color, no matter what they attempt to say.

[mafree]

She's technically correct but saying it won't go over well in most segments of the Black community.

[Prodigal Son]

Is she a Republican after all ?

Actually, a recent article I read here says yes. She was a registered Republican until last year.

Go figure huh?

[freekitty]

ROTHFLOL......

Did these morans get lessons from the Clintoons? They are really good at streching the truth to suit their needs. "I am the first black president", and many others. I can see ole slick willy just laughing himself silly over what he thinks he got away with.