Why is Obama labeled "black?"

[Autodidact]

What race would you say this child is? (This is one of my six grandchildren - the oldest, Margaret AnneMarie.)

She's very cute and she looks mixed race to me.
I'd say she's the face of America's future--maybe America's future President!

 

[Kathryn]

Or this one? What race is this child? Come on, pick one - just one! That's all that's allowed! (this is ANOTHER one of my adorable grandchildren -- Miss Ahliyah Marie, Pirate Wench!)

 

[ChristineES]

Kathryn, your grandchild is beautiful!

 

[Kathryn]

She's very cute and she looks mixed race to me.
I'd say she's the face of America's future--maybe America's future President!

Thank you - she has my vote!

 

[Autodidact]

Or this one? What race is this child? Come on, pick one - just one! That's all that's allowed! (this is ANOTHER one of my adorable grandchildren -- Miss Ahliyah Marie, Pirate Wench!)

Obviously Piratish. Probably attends FSM religious services. Does she speak with a Pirate accent?

That reminds me the kid whose picture is in my blog--people usually think she's Puerto Rican.

Alright, you force me to post a picture of my youngest and cutest. I can boast of this child's beauty because she's adopted, so has no Biological relationship to me.

 

[Buttons*]

But no one has said that blacks were not mistreated, quite the contrary. We know they have been mistreated, more than any other group in the country- and Native Americans, too. It is getting better. It may not be perfect yet, but we are working on it. I don't know what you think we could do. I am pretty color blind myself. When I was in the Navy, I knew some really bad racists who say the most appalling things! We all know about lynchings and other horrible things. And I also know that there are KKK members and skin heads and other white supremacists around.
And we are appalled!

If we really want a group to stick up for, it should be the Native Americans. Our nation slaughtered them in thousands. Now, they get next to nothing. It's a worse life than some of our poorest! I don't think any race can compare to the mistreatment that has been bestowed upon Native Americans, who had to literally fight to the death to keep their lands and culture.

 

[Kathryn]

obviously piratish. Probably attends fsm religious services. Does she speak with a pirate accent?

That reminds me the kid whose picture is in my blog--people usually think she's puerto rican.

Alright, you force me to post a picture of my youngest and cutest. I can boast of this child's beauty because she's adopted, so has no biological relationship to me.

wow, what a beautiful child!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I have to disagree with this factually. The right to vote, to serve on juries, to own property in any part of town they could afford, to attend the better schools and public colleges, to use public transportation, to travel freely without fear of police harassment, were all rights that poor whites had but that were denied to poor blacks.

In theory I would say you are correct but in practice, poor whites didn't get schooling, didn't vote or travel. You are speaking of urban areas but most of the poor whites were in rural country areas and it was far different than you are describing. Still is in the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. I'm not sure you really understand what poor means if you can talk about public transport and college.

I think if you asked some actual Black people who were living in the same time and place you were, you would get a very different accounting from yours.

I'm sure you would get several different accountings. Their lives and experiences were their own and I don't speak for them. I speak for myself.

 

[Buttons*]

By the way, the pictures of your children are INCREDIBLE! They are so adorable... I almost want one

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

What race would you say this child is? (This is one of my six grandchildren - the oldest, Margaret AnneMarie.)

If I had to I'd say she was of mixed race. But when I saw her my first thought wouldn't be of race. She's a lovely child and she looks very happy. A smiling child always makes me smile.

Congrats on being a great Grandma!

 

[Kathryn]

By the way, the pictures of your children are INCREDIBLE! They are so adorable... I almost want one

What are you waiting for - go out and get you one!

 

[lilithu]

I've found the concept of ethnic pride to be a very dangerous concept. Not universally dangerous. Many people hold it and yet exhibit no animosity or bias towards others. However, one look around the conflicts around the world and we can see that beyond the struggle for resources ethnic conflict and ethnonationalism is the primary driving force behind conflict. I've come the conclusion that moving beyond ethnic identity will be the only way human beings can ever overcome these conflicts. I also understand my point of view is most likely an idealized pipe dream.

I don't know Gnomon, with our new global economy, and people traveling and mixing, we may one day have not enough significant differences to call ethnicities. Everyone would speak the same language, dress about the same, eat similar food, watch the same movies, read the same books, view things the same way. I for one will be sad when that happens, but I see it as a real possibility.

Yes, I recognize that there has been ethnic violence. A lot of it. There's a lot of religious violence and people want to do away with religion. There's a lot of international violence and people want to do away with nations. There's a lot of sports-based violence, and I bet there are some people who want to do away with sports.

The thing is, when people think about doing away with distinctions, they usually think that people would then all be like them. Atheists dream of a peaceful world where everyone is atheist. Christians dream of a peaceful world where everyone is Christian... If we did away with ethnic/cultural differences, what language do you envision the world speaking? What do you imagine would happen to Confucianism? Or the Yoruba spiritual tradition? Or the Maori traditions? Will you be drinking your tea with butter like the Tibetans? Or will they be drinking iced sweet tea?

Anyway, you will get your wish soon enough. The Chinese historically did not eat beef, and now there's McDonald's everywhere. And in a tea-drinking nation, Starbucks. And the last time I was in Beijing, I was shocked and dismayed and bemused to see a three-story Walmart.

 

[Storm]

What race would you say this child is? (This is one of my six grandchildren - the oldest, Margaret AnneMarie.)

I'd probably guess white, but I'm pretty oblivious to these things. And jealous of her curls. She's lovely, Kathryn.

 

[Kathryn]

I'd probably guess white, but I'm pretty oblivious to these things. And jealous of her curls. She's lovely, Kathryn.

Thank you, Storm. She's multiracial - black, white, and Jewish. She's the face of the future, I believe.

 

[Storm]

Well, I did remember that your grandkids are multiracial, but I thought you wanted us to pretend we didn't know.

 

[Kathryn]

Well, I did remember that your grandkids are multiracial, but I thought you wanted us to pretend we didn't know.

LOL, you got me there!

Really, I'm trying to prove a point though, as I'm sure you know - just what box is her mother supposed to check when the school insists she pick ONE RACE on their entry form?

 

[lilithu]

Really, I'm trying to prove a point though, as I'm sure you know - just what box is her mother supposed to check when the school insists she pick ONE RACE on their entry form?

If you had started the thread with this question in the OP, I would have been with you 100%.

 

[Storm]

LOL, you got me there!

Really, I'm trying to prove a point though, as I'm sure you know - just what box is her mother supposed to check when the school insists she pick ONE RACE on their entry form?

I'd throw a hissy fit, too. I don't support the school's stance on this at all.

 

[Kathryn]

If you had started the thread with this question in the OP, I would have been with you 100%.

Can you see how the two issues tie together though?

Obama - "black" when he's multiracial

Maggie - "black" when she's multiracial

It's a pet peeve of mine. I guess because it's personal.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

just what box is her mother supposed to check when the school insists she pick ONE RACE on their entry form?

I have to admit total ignorance to what schools today require and why. I know it will differ drastically from school to school but that's about it. I would have no problem writing "none of your business" over the boxes or selecting multiple boxes. I have a very low opinion of public schools due to the very bad experiences I had in several of them. So I say drag them over the coals and give them hell. Do what you think is right.