Posted on 12/12/2006 4:05:19 AM PST by Chi-townChief
Why are so many people saying that U.S. Sen. Barack Obama could become the first black president? If by that they mean that he would become the first African-American president -- meaning his father was from Kenya and his mother from Kansas -- it would make sense.
But I don't think that's what people mean.
Despite the deaths of legal segregation and Jim Crow, apparently most Americans still embrace the one-drop rule.
F. James Davis, a retired professor of sociology at Illinois State University, defined the one-drop rule as the belief that any person with ''any known African black ancestry'' is considered to be black.
Actually, if Obama is elected president of the United States, he would become the nation's first biracial president, wouldn't he? Obama has never shied away from his African heritage, and this is not about how he views his racial identity.
The point is, it doesn't look like the public is giving him much choice. Although his mother is white, and he was raised in a home with his white grandparents, to many, the one-drop rule still applies.
As pointed out by Stephan Thernstrom in an article published in the National Review in April 2000, ''the United States is the only country in the world in which a white woman can give birth to a black baby but a black woman cannot give birth to a white baby.''
Here are some responses:
I think Tiger Woods might agree with you, Mary, but he hasn't had much choice in the matter, either. I believe Obama is classified this way because some believe there will be many benefits to be had by this forced race association. And my guess is it ain't the white folks that care whether he's the first African-American or non-white president. Ask yourself WHO is considering Obama ''black'' and ask THEM why!
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Obama has embraced his African roots, and in front of the media at every opportunity, which is fine. He has used his minority status to his advantage -- why not, given the dire straits of the Republican Party. It's not the ''public'' who isn't giving him much choice -- it's Obama and the media creating this ''one drop'' rule, as you state. It's clear Obama, if he runs, will use his ethnicity to separate himself from the rest of the pack (all white). So far, this strategy seems to be working.
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People reacted the same way to Tiger Woods several years ago, when he first became a big name in golf -- emphasizing his black father over his Thai, I believe, mother. Wasn't Woods also criticized for speaking up to redress the imbalance? And he's a GOLF player.
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Sad to say, but many white Americans still view the use of the ''one drop rule'' in terms of social status and position. If Obama becomes president, highest status position of this country, many white Americans would be more content saying we have a non-white president, rather than saying the president is black. For anyone considered non-white, the question lies to follow, ''so what race are you?'' When ''other'' is listed on an application and checked, I wonder what question is asked of the applicant regarding race? I suppose one would have to take into account the interviewer and interviewee's belief regarding the ''one-drop rule.'' In the U.S. many only choose to see in ''black'' and ''white.'' Where is our diversity and will there ever be a time when we all can look at the content of character and not the ''one drop rule'' of one's race?
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Mary, you are right in that Americans embrace the one-drop rule. African Americans, that is. The example that comes to mind was the Bobby Rush-Barack Obama congressional primary race. It was Rush's people who attacked and successfully, may I add, Obama's ''whiteness." It wasn't that long ago. And I didn't hear the finger-pointer, either. Oh how everybody has forgotten.
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I'm a Kenyan from Western Province, neighboring where Obama's father originated. From my community and Obama's father's community, a child is identified by the father. Though Obama is an American by birth and socialization, he still remains the father's son. He is thus a Luo and an African. So Obama is a Kenya American. When you read his book Dreams from my Father, and even his second book, Audacity of Hope, Barack clearly states this position. What is wrong with being African anyway?
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Fact is Barack, as nice a man as he is, has done absolutely nothing as a politician yet. When he actually does something then I'll think of him as a serious contender.
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When I look around my family reunions it looks like the United Nations. I look around and I don't see race. I see LOVE.
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In this world you're either white, black, or brown. There is no hey . . . I'm black and white. Obama himself has described himself as being black. I'm proud of the fact that he had the courage to look at so many people in the face and say ... hey I'm educated, black and possibly your next president. And the great thing is, that people are listening! Minorities are breaking down the barriers of the one-drop rule, and one day hopefully people will be saying this is our first female white president. Would the one-drop rule be in effect then, too? You're either a man or a woman. Personally as a female Hispanic it doesn't seem that much of a big deal to me, it's just describing a first time for a certain race or color. In time these descriptions of each other's race and gender will no longer matter. We will all be equals.
mailto:marym@suntimes.com
Too much too soon. Another Dean in the making. Hill knows what she's doing.
I can not see how having a father from Kenya, (a no good one at that) can help him to be president. Jeepers!
yawn.
Hi, I'm Osama bin barack O bama bin Laden. I'm a skinny no-talent moron with no experience at running a car wash, but I'm going to run your life as the first genetically-challenged afro-hood slammin' rap star! Buy my books. Even an idiot can read them. Hell, one wrote them!
The only things he needs to accomplish are his looks and his words. That is the criteria for a Democrat POTUS candidate. And remember, if you don't vote for him, you are a racist pig!
What America does the writer live in? If Obama claims himself as being 'Black' ... he's Black! I don't personally know one white person who even uses the the term 'non-white'.
Define 'many', Mary. Did you intentionally use that word to confuse and place in peoples' minds ... 'most'?
If I were his mother and grandparents who loved and raised him when his father left, I would be insulted.
Refusing to acknowledge 50% of your ancestry in order to gain political points is demeaning to the ones who stood by you through thick and thin.
agreed.
Eisenhower is said to have black ancestry on his mother's side. Jim Crow laws were 100% democrat.
Fact is Barack, as nice a man as he is, has done absolutely nothing as a politician yet. When he actually does something then I'll think of him as a serious contender
Bingo. He's a non-entity. He is the nihilist candidate for President, as he is a vacuum, a hole, an empty space.
Regards, Ivan
Yes and Yes, to both of your posts...
Obama is a tabula rasa, which allows democrats of all stripes to project their particular issues upon him.
His lack of a record is a PLUS for a democrat party who have nothing but contempt for their 'leaders'. They are tired of political whores like Hillary and retreads like AlGore. And they *honestly* believe Obama is the 21st century Jefferson Smith.
That is why I have a hard time dismissing him out of hand.
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