To be proper, the correct race would have been “Negro”, especially at that time. However, given the diversity of ethnic backgrounds here in Hawaii, who knows what the usual procedure in 1961 was. I am sure that there were plenty of hapa-haoles having children at that time, so how would a half-caucasian, half-japanese parent usually be described?
Also, if Obama’s father was part Arab, as rumored(?), wouldn’t “African” have been more appropriate? After all, North Africans are Arabs or some similar ethnicity.
In any case, the use of “African” to describe his father still seems strange.
North Africans are not Arabs. If they are not black they are mixed from colonization.
In the 60’s ‘black’ or ‘negro’ would have been the most widely used description for race.
No one would put ‘American’ as ‘Race’ for an American citizen anymore than they would put ‘African’ for a citizen of an African country.
Obama’s father being from Africa doesn’t mean he is ‘African’.
His ‘race’ would probably depend upon which part of Africa he was from.
If he came from an Arab nation, then ‘Arab’ would probably be the correct word.
What ‘race’ is a person from Kenya?
Sure isn’t ‘African’.
“In any case, the use of “African” to describe his father still seems strange.”
I agree.