Why is Obama labeled "black?"

[Panda]

Haven't Americans, in more than 200 years (or about 450 years if you count before we became a separate country), created their own cultures separate from the various countries their ancestors came from?

American culture? Isn't that an oxymoron?

 

[Draka]

Gotta love labeling.

People are people regardless of color. And this girl should prove that.

Moderator cut: image removed

She's jokingly called herself "Blewish". Why? Her father is Jewish and her mother is black. Color does not define who we are and where we come from unless we let it. It's a shame that some must force people into little boxes like with Kathryn's kids.

 

[DallasApple]

Gotta love labeling.

People are people regardless of color. And this girl should prove that.

Moderator cut: image removed
She's jokingly called herself "Blewish". Why? Her father is Jewish and her mother is black. Color does not define who we are and where we come from unless we let it. It's a shame that some must force people into little boxes like with Kathryn's kids.

I think they have added a box called "other"..then you have to "please explain"

This lady woudl "fit" in that box.

Love

Dallas

 

[Autodidact]

I think this is a very 19th century position. Barack Obama is half African American and half white (probably European American). Why do most people insist on labeling him African American? Why doesn't he himself make the distinction that he is multiracial and refuse to be labeled one particular "color?"

My kids are multiracial. I will never forget an event that happened when I registered my youngest son in a new elementary school. I didn't check any box when they asked what his race was. Nothing applied - the choices stated, "Check ONE." Why would I check one box? My son wasn't one race, so I just left the area blank.

There was a redneck secretary who was processing his paperwork. She had seen me in there with my son earlier, and she actually called me and said, "Hey, you dint check off anythang in the race section - whut race is yore boy?" I said, "Hes multiracial." She said, "Whale, you hafta mark one of these races." I said, "No, I don't." She said, "Yes you shore do, m'am. Which one is yore boy - black or white?" I said, "He's both -what's the problem?" She said, "You gotta choose one or the other, m'am." I said, "I'll tell you what - I'm not going to fill in that section of the form. What are you going to do - hate me? Kick him out of school? Have a great day." And I hung up on her.

My kids always refused (and still do refuse) to identify themselves by race. I am very proud of them for that. I think it's unnecessary to make that distinction.

When you insist on making that distinction, I believe you are limiting options.

We will truly have progressed when race make absolutely NO difference and is a complete non issue - in politics and life in general. We have absolutely no control over our own genetic heritage and it shouldn't be a source of pride OR shame.

It is what it is. Just be a good person and derive your sense of identity from your beliefs and life choices, not the color of your skin.

re: Obama. In the U.S. "Black" was defined as including mixed race people. I think this is changing.

As the mother of 3 mixed-race children, this is one of my gripes too. The school always wants me to check one, only one box. Hey, my kids don't fit in one box. I'd like not to have to answer the question at all, or at least, if they need statistics, to check all that apply, which would be more honest. Instead I end up capitulating and checking their damn box, but writing my vociferous objections on their form.

 

[Autodidact]

Hey Draka, my oldest is Blewish too. Once I embroidered little t-shirts for her and her Blewish friend with an outline of Africa and a Jewish star in the middle and the slogan "I'm proud to be Blewish." That's America to me.

btw, I think a lot of Blewish people tend to be rather good looking, if I do say so myself. If you want to see a picture of mine, visit my website, Denver Gay Parenting Examiner.
Hey, visit it even if you don't; I get a penny every time you do.

 

[Storm]

Well the girl upthread is certainly attractive. Hey Auto, where exactly are the pics of your Blewish daughter?

 

[DallasApple]

re: Obama. In the U.S. "Black" was defined as including mixed race people. I think this is changing.

This is what I thought and said earlier.From my undertanding if you know you have any "black" in you that "trumps" over anything else you are.

It doesnt matter if you are as "white" as casper the ghost in 'skin color".

Love

Dallas

 

[DallasApple]

As the mother of 3 mixed-race children, this is one of my gripes too. The school always wants me to check one, only one box. Hey, my kids don't fit in one box. I'd like not to have to answer the question at all, or at least, if they need statistics, to check all that apply, which would be more honest. Instead I end up capitulating and checking their damn box, but writing my vociferous objections on their form.

If they want us to keep checking the boxes out of a real "need to know"..then they are goinng to have to start adding more boxes or let you check more than one.

Eventually our "race" is going to have to be described in a "pie chart" if they really care to know the truth.

Love

Dallas

 

[lilithu]

Haven't Americans, in more than 200 years (or about 450 years if you count before we became a separate country), created their own cultures separate from the various countries their ancestors came from?
My grandfather was Italian, born in Italy, came to America when he was about 3 years old in 1914 (I think). I was stationed in Italy for 2 years in the Navy, and all the Italians knew I was an American (most of them anyway). It doesn't matter that I am 1/2 Navajo, 1/4 Italian, 1/4 various European Jewish background. Other countries see me as American (as they should).

First, no one is disputing that you're American; the issue was the word "white." What is "white culture"?

Second, yeah, I agree that Americans have developed American culture.

Color does not define who we are and where we come from unless we let it. It's a shame that some must force people into little boxes like with Kathryn's kids.

Yes, it's a shame that we have not yet developed the concept of biracial or multiracial.

That, however, is not the same as saying that color does not matter. I just love how some white people so authoritatively insist that color doesn't matter unless you let it. :sarcastic You point to one fair-skinned, gorgeous, biracial woman who is succeeding as a model or whatever and you think that's proof that color doesn't matter?? Tell that to the black man trying to catch a taxi at night. Or the Latino driver pulled over and asked to see his papers. Or the Arab family forced off the plane because someone thought they might be terrorists.

But I'm sure it's all their fault because they just didn't have the right attitude.

Unbelievable.

 

[DallasApple]

I just love how some white people so authoritatively insist that color doesn't matter unless you let it. :sarcastic
__________________

I think it matters because is part of who we are.Its part of our identity.

If someone were asked to "describe me" and they included the word "white" why would I be offended?

My DL has how tall I am how much I weight and what color my eyes are too.

Its part of your basic "statistics".

Love

Dallas

 

[Autodidact]

Well the girl upthread is certainly attractive. Hey Auto, where exactly are the pics of your Blewish daughter?

Sorry, didn't realize she already slipped to page 2. It's here.
Feel free to click it constantly--the pennies add up!

 

[DallasApple]

Sorry, didn't realize she already slipped to page 2. It's here.
Feel free to click it constantly--the pennies add up!

Not that its "important" but your daughter is fantastic looking.

Love

Dallas

 

[Storm]

She's gorgeous, Auto! She looks so happy there.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Sorry, didn't realize she already slipped to page 2. It's here.
Feel free to click it constantly--the pennies add up!

Auto -

If that is your daughter, you are one fortunate woman. She is a beautiful young lady, and she is even prettier on the inside than she is on the outside.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Your response would have some merit if I had presumed to tell you personally what you should do. I was stating an analysis of the dynamics of our culture, and what I think the solution is. People do this all the time. Obviously, I can't force you to do anything. Duh. If you don't agree with the analysis, then tell me why you think it's wrong. Reacting with "How dare you tell me what to do!" is just avoiding the issue, imo.

Gee I'm sorry. When you said

THAT is the point of encouraging you to drop the word "white." You're all PO'd about not being able to celebrate "white culture"

I thought you were telling me personally what I should do. I'm pretty sure "encouraging you to drop the word white" is telling me what I should do. If it isn't, then why encourage me to do it. You personally have a thing against the word white and you want to encourage everyone not to use it. Well some of us have the courage to resist your encouragement.

 

[DallasApple]

Quote:
Originally Posted by lilithu
THAT is the point of encouraging you to drop the word "white." You're all PO'd about not being able to celebrate "white culture"

I thought you were telling me personally what I should do. I'm pretty sure "encouraging you to drop the word white" is telling me what I should do. If it isn't, then why encourage me to do it. You personally have a thing against the word white and you want to encourage everyone not to use it. Well some of us have the courage to resist your encouragement.

I think what Lilith is trying to say is the word "white" isnt descriptive enough as far as what is your "cultural" backround.

But I agree if anyone asked me to describe my "race" I wouldnt drop the word "white"..There is no other way to say it..IMHO..At least what Im saying is people will know what I mean.

Im "caucasoid"..

Love

Dallas

 

[lilithu]

You personally have a thing against the word white and you want to encourage everyone not to use it.

I have a thing against white privilege, yes. And I am encouraging those Euro-Americans who believe in equity and justice to drop an identity based on white privilege and instead adopt an identity based on ethnicity/ies, just like the rest of us.

That's the analysis and recommendation that I am putting forth here. And it isn't my personal analysis - I did not come up with it - but I do agree with it wholeheartedly. And for the umpteenth time, you haven't said anything to actually address the analysis.

Well some of us have the courage to resist your encouragement.

How noble of you. You just keep fightin the good fight, Trey.

I'm outie.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I have a thing against white privilege, yes. And I am encouraging those Euro-Americans who believe in equity and justice to drop an identity based on white privilege and instead adopt an identity based on ethnicity/ies, just like the rest of us.

In other words, us white folks have to stop calling ourselves white because you think we are too privileged and using the term white just calls attention to how privileged we are. Once again, you don't have the right to dictate to me what I call myself. Calling it encouragement doesn't make it any less arrogant.

That's the analysis and recommendation that I am putting forth here. And it isn't my personal analysis - I did not come up with it - but I do agree with it wholeheartedly. And for the umpteenth time, you haven't said anything to actually address the analysis.

That's because I don't care about the analysis. Maybe if it wasn't being shoved down my throat I might be more interested but right now all I care about is the fact that I'm being judged and told that my culture is too privileged and to atone for the crimes of my forefathers I must abandon the label white and call myself American-Anglo Saxon. It doesn't matter how just or nobel the cause, if it requires me to give up my freedom, even if it is just the simple freedom to call myself whatever the hell I want, then the cause is wrong and I will fight against it.

How noble of you. You just keep fightin the good fight, Trey.

Will do. :knight:

 

[lilithu]

But I agree if anyone asked me to describe my "race" I wouldnt drop the word "white"..There is no other way to say it..IMHO..At least what Im saying is people will know what I mean.

You're right, there is no other word to describe your race. But the goal is to eventually drop the concept of race altogether. "Race" is nothing more than a social construct that we've all been inculturated into.

It started off as "white" and "colored," with anyone who isn't considered to be "white" falling into "colored." It was a concept imposed upon everyone by "whites." And it defined what you were and were not allowed to do in this country. As the world changed and there were more different kinds of people mixing, other "racial" categories were conceived. And they are convoluted, as many here have pointed out. That's why questions about genetics miss the point. It never was based on genetics. It was based on legal standing - who had it and who didn't - and then a genetic theory was superimposed on top of it to try to justify it.

 

[Autodidact]

Thanks all for the compliments on my kid. She is a great person and I admire her a lot.