Is anyone else bothered that Obama is thought of as the first "black" president and not "mixed"?

Autumn - posted on 05/07/2012

can i be honest you sound racist against blacks... just going by your comments...the reason i say that is because you stereotype a lot and then you seem to imply that there's something wrong with black people as if they just can't get their sh-t together because they lack ambition or discipline...that implies that blacks are inferior and to me that's racist. have you ever taken a course in african-american studies...race relations? A lot of what you say is generalization after generalization and stereotypes...





1. “A big portion of what happens to blacks in this country today is based solely on how they act and the way they conduct their lives. I see a lot of "the man keeps me down", but a very low percentage of minorities vote. A very low percentage of minorities actually put any emphasis on education when it comes to their children and when their children grow up having refused to learn proper english or pass math and cannot properly do a job and refuse to show up regularly or conduct themselves maturely or behave appropriately in public...”

About the voting, I want you to do some research on the disenfranchisement of Blacks via voting laws that are in effect today. I would like for you to read up on ALEC.

Blacks don’t encourage their children to speak “proper English,” what is proper English most americans don’t’ speak “proper english.” About blacks not raising children to get an education : STEREOTYPE and a racist one at that. Also look at the systemized underfunded programs for poor African-American schools and compare that to white schools.

“did you know that even in this country natives killed each other over small things, white settlers killed each other and discriminated against each other because of what nationality they came from, and black kill each other to this day over gangs. It's not something specific to nor invented by any one race. “

Did you know Blacks were enslaved for 300 years and got no financial restitution, but yet this country was built off of the backs of their free labor. ¾ of the world’s cotton was produced in the south and this was used in the textile mills in north, which put the US on the map for industrialization?...

Did you know even years after slavery was legally abolished it continued in the form of peonage up untll the 1940s?

That;s for your decision making examples of bad decision making, but how does ur friend represent most black people?

Example no. 2: same thing, but I'm sorry you were abused.

“I have yet to meet a single person that racism has kept down,” again your bias and generalization. Look at he disparity in employment, health care, housing discrimination, prison industrial complex…check out the book the New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander…read up on history…and you’ll see things differently

Kyrie - posted on 05/07/2012

A big portion of what happens to blacks in this country today is based solely on how they act and the way they conduct their lives. I see a lot of "the man keeps me down", but a very low percentage of minorities vote. A very low percentage of minorities actually put any emphasis on education when it comes to their children and when their children grow up having refused to learn proper english or pass math and cannot properly do a job and refuse to show up regularly or conduct themselves maturely or behave appropriately in public... Then they don't even try to get jobs that provide good medical and many end up on medicaid. It's not always racism that causes minorities to be treated badly. Race was not invented to keep anyone down and people of every race, no matter how grouped, have been trying to kill each other forever. did you know that even in this country natives killed each other over small things, white settlers killed each other and discriminated against each other because of what nationality they came from, and black kill each other to this day over gangs. It's not something specific to nor invented by any one race.

Here's an example of bad decision making: My black best friend, who I've called my wombie and sister because we've known each other since we were in our mothers' wombs, she does not work, smokes weed regularly, and her man who she calls her husband and refuses to marry because "in her words" getting married is just getting permission from the government to marry [so she doesn't need it]". She and he spent years living in his family members' homes and complaining about how they were treated. They've only just gotten an apt and car again (they had one years back and called me to ask me to pay their rent and lost the apt for not paying. They also asked me to cosign a car...) They claim there is no good work down there, yet they won't move here where there are jobs aplenty. Instead they want to join a new cult and try to be registered as an black indigenous people of america.... We offered to house them for free and loan them a car to get off their feet here and they turned it down. They chose the poverty they are in now because (in her words) "What makes us happy is not what makes you happy." Okay, but her happiness makes statistics for blacks in this country only worse.

Example 2. My cousin came here last fall. She was supposed to be moving here. Our poor family in GA scrounged up $500 to help her and a ticket to get her here. She refused to do all of her paperwork for public housing, did not take good care of her child (when she got mad at us she yelled at and smacked her 1 year old, the rest of the time she just ignored her and texted on her smart phone). My mother was letting her stay at her house rent free until she refused to go to work every day or do her paperwork for daycare or stay out of my mom's food (she had food stamps and my mother does not). So what did my cousin do? She said it was too cold here and bailed after 3 months. Out of 14 places she applied to here, 13 offered her a job. And she's pretty ghetto. And we are in the new white supremacy capital...

I have yet to meet a single black person that racism has kept down. When I was in school, I was the teacher's pet. I wanted to learn. Did any of the ghetto kids I went to school want to? Nope, they beat me up for being too white, speaking too "white" (because I spoke proper english and had a large vocabulary), not dressing black enough. I was told by many people trying to be helpful that if I just acted "black" I would be fine. So 6th grade, I did not wear my glasses, stopped being a bookworm and refused to touch a book, dressed like a scank, wore make up, curse scrapped, etc. And you know what? I made a ton of friends and got into way less fights. You know what else? My grades slammed into the gutter. So the only people keeping blacks down right now are blacks and what they think other blacks should act like. No one is stopping anyone from bettering themselves. As a child I was abused, starved, neglected and homeless. Now I'm middle class, on my second year of college, about to take on a second mortgage to have extra income from a rental property, and I make sure that my children get every learning opportunity that they can and live in a community where education is supreme and there is a zero tolerance policy for violence.

If I can do it, anyone can. As for research, I'm a bookworm. I love sociology, psychology, child development, and history. The reason why there are so many black people in jail? Because black culture puts crime over social responsibility. The reason why black people are undereducated in the studies? Because of black culture in america seeing education as bad. The reason for so much poverty? A large part is the number of children along with things like marriage. The less children you have, the more money and better education you and your children have. If you are poor, having less or no children is the best option for dragging your way to the middle class or higher. These things have been proven over and over again. I don't want to even go into how many poor people in general are at least on one illegal drug! They are illegal for a reason.... Don't get me wrong, these situations would do the same thing to any human regardless of race so why so many african americans perpetuate their circumstances I do not know. I'm just tired of so many people saying that whites are why poor people who are minorities are poor. There are lots of poor and undereducated white people too.

I will note here that I cannot speculate on hispanic communities (actual communities with their own cultures). All of the hispanics I met in ATL were crazy (in a very interesting way. Note: many were gang members). All of the ones I've met in the northwest act just like your stereotypical white person.

Autumn - posted on 05/06/2012

I was not responding to you originally kyrie, but I will now. But in terms of race being used as a classification...race is a social construct, it's natural to group together and have classifications, but RACE meaning entire groups of people being categorized by skin color, hair and lumped together is relatively new. If you look back at history, you'll notice that people were categorized in other ways, their beliefs, their tribe or the land of their origin RACE is a white supremacist construct that was invented for economic reasons. it was was designed to separate those wealthy Europeans from the Blacks who were enslaved and then used to divide poor Europeans from the poor blacks and keep them from uniting against the wealthiest whites.Have you read Tim Wise? RACE is built in white supremacy. In terms of white supremacy not being a problem WOW...i URGE YOU to do some research on the prison industrial complex, the disparity in unemployment, the poverty rate, look at the disparity in health. there was even a study done on blacks mothers where they showed that when u control for wealth, education and health...black babies are more likely to suffer from infant mortality and low birth weight and this was attributed to the racism that black mothers endure during pregnancy. look at the schooling system in the United States and tell me which children are falling behind and which racial category they fall into. If you think white supremacy is a thing of the past, that's just one more reason that racism will never fall away and we'll always have issues. Until white supremacy is removed...we'll continue to have these problems.

my post may have been vague, but I think your post is vague too or at least it seems that way when you don't agree.

Kyrie - posted on 05/06/2012

Racial labels have always and will always be around. There's nothing wrong with that. Stereotypes are the real problem. We are all the human race, but the word race has over 5 definitions just in reference to humans. If we didn't classify things then we'd never get anywhere. Children are instinctively drawn toward things that resemble them from the start from dolls to people. That's been proven through research. There's nothing wrong with that. Having a race and identifying skin color and/or culture is not racism. Not to mention that all minorities would have to give up and separate culturally diverse actions and blend in. That will never happen. Culture and race are very important as long as they are not harmful. Do not confuse the fact that races exist with racism. They are not mutually inclusive. It's when people use their teaming up with their own kind to attack others for reasons as simple as genetics that it's a problem. In this day and age, that happens frequently. The fact that we are just over 50 years from the Jim Crow era and the president and many other people are backtracking what people martyred themselves for and suffered so much to gain is just unconscionable.

As for most of your post, Autumn, I'm not sure what you're addressing? Who ever said that anyone couldn't claim relatives? If someone's not claiming a relative then no one is stopping them.

Culture and color can not be exclusive of each other for the same reason that children are drawn to like children. It's programmed into people to be drawn to things resembling them. For instance, a child can be born black in a rich neighborhood surrounded by their black family. Everyone outside of their family that this child has met is white. They grow up this way. They will inherit learned behaviors from their parents that go with their black heritage even though they may act almost white, they will not behave exactly the same anymore that someone white in the opposite scenario. Even if the experiment were controlled and this was an adopted black child, they would feel an urge to mimic or connect with the first person who comes along resembling themselves. Humans are the best mimics in nature. Humans being drawn to like humans ensured survival and bonding for thousands of years.

Wow, ummmm "white supremacy" isn't much of a thing these days. I've had way more and way worse run ins with very racist black people. Racism was even taught in school in Atlanta. It's not just there either, every major city with a large african american population has that issue. So many black people are racist that they don't even need groups. lol. Most racism is a passive thing that the people doing it don't necessarily realize they are doing. It's a known fact that everyone is racist on some level. If you've ever connected anyone with a stereotype on any level, you are racist. It's impossible to not do because of the world we've been raised in. The only way to get rid of stereotypes is for everyone to only act like the opposite culture of what their stereotype says they would and only hang out with people of different races. Impossible. I live in the state that's been deemed the new white supremacy capital of the U.S. and they pretty much just stick to themselves.

As for people labeling themselves. My issue is accuracy. I think everyone is missing that point. If it were up to me, I'd just call myself mulatto because it's very accurate and to the point and tells people exactly what I am. Biracial is a bit vague, it's mostly used on people who are half and half. When people start labeling anyone with any amount of 2 races biracial, it takes away any meaning the word has. That would make everyone biracial and multiracial. Those words are intended for people who cannot label themselves as anything else truthfully. For instance, I am almost 50/50 race-wise. My mother is definitely irrefutably black and my father could be called the same with white. I cannot accurately call myself one or the other. When a paper asks me what races I have in me, checking white and black has no meaning. It doesn't ask what amount of either I have. I could be 1% black or 99%. This bugs me seeing as I spend a LOT of time on genealogy. These things are meant for people who need a more accurate way to describe themselves not being the majority of one race or the other. Does that make sense? It's why I just call my children white or multiracial. Calling them biracial would not be highly accurate while multiracial would be about as accurate as white. I think race should be based on actual genetic percentages and not appearances. It's good for record keeping, science, and facts.

Your posts are extremely vague.

Autumn - posted on 05/06/2012

but it's not as "way down the line," as you think and I keep telling you that race mixing is nothing new and there have always been "mixed people," who have called themselves one thing or another and kept all their cultures in tact..

Autumn - posted on 05/06/2012

why should it be a difference? I know plenty of "Blacks" who had white grandfathers who they knew of...they aren't allowed to claim that part of their ancestry at all. I know Blacks who have two "black parents," but white grandparents, they share memories ..but still can't or don't claim anything other than Black..I have a BLACK friend who had a french grandfather and creole grandmother...so french/creole culture is a big part of her heritage.



I don't think it's fair to be hypocritical and say one group can claim this or that, but this group can't and then claim to only want your child to embrace all their heritage by referring to themselves as biracial..so its okay for one kid to embrace their heritage because one kid's parents have the privilege of legally being able to be married, but not other people who didn't have the privilege?... I don't understand that and I think that it's not really about embracing all of your heritages...I think with some people it's just that you don't want to have your children lose the white privilege, that maybe the parent is entitled to benefit from ?... Either let everyone label themselves as they choose or you're agreeing that racial labels are necessary and that they should be prescribed by society.



Race is not a simplistic concept. Here is what confuses me people use the excuse that "you need to call yourself biracial or you're denying your heritage," and some people who use this term think they're being progressive, but to me progressive would be getting rid of racial classifications all together...they don't make sense and if there were no such classifications then the term biracial would be obsolete, because people wouldn't have to be put into the black, white, biracial, yellow box anyway. If you want to be progressive instead of pushing so hard for a label, then push to get rid of racism so we can all be the "just human race," that people love to preach so much. When white supremacy and racism goes away, then maybe we can all just be human and we can be individuals...but until then, just tagging someone with the term "biracial," changes NOTHING...



Also, color and culture are not the same thing. And if you want to go strictly off of looks and color, then a lot of people who call themselves Black including those with two "Black parents," would no longer be Black... so I think people are confusing culture with color. Color is one thing, culture is another. That is why I keep saying you can call yourself anything and still keep your culture and honor your "heritages," whatever they are...but on another note. Here in the US, We are inundated with Eurocentric culture every day, any child (black, white, Asian, biracial) is exposed to this constantly so claiming that a child who identifies as black is somehow disowning their "white side," is a moot point to me because it's IMPOSSIBLE to get away from whiteness as long as white supremacy exist...you can't disown it...because American culture is built around this whiteness anyway.

Jennifer - posted on 05/04/2012

Kyrie...I do teach my children that they aren't just Caucasian or they aren't just African American they are both and what I said was my own opinion just like your post is yours. U don't have to agree with me and I don't have to agree with u. All I was saying is that my children come from a mixed race background ( and yes I know many people way down the line do also but wouldn't confuse a child with all that ) I kno my background I kno my husbands background and grandparents and that's what they are told. I just think its sad when a person says yes I'm black or yes I'm white but their parent is different or not acknowledging the Hispanic side Asian whatebever. And this was about wether we think the president should be called the first black president or first biracial president. I guess then he should be called the first part African president.

Jennifer - posted on 05/04/2012

Kyrie...I do teach my children that they aren't just Caucasian or they aren't just African American they are both and what I said was my own opinion just like your post is yours. U don't have to agree with me and I don't have to agree with u. All I was saying is that my children come from a mixed race background ( and yes I know many people way down the line do also but wouldn't confuse a child with all that ) I kno my background I kno my husbands background and grandparents and that's what they are told. I just think its sad when a person says yes I'm black or yes I'm white but their parent is different or not acknowledging the Hispanic side Asian whatebever. And this was about wether we think the president should be called the first black president or first biracial president. I guess then he should be called the first part African president.

Kyrie - posted on 05/03/2012

Yeah, I don't call my children biracial because they aren't 50/50. There's a big difference between having a varied cultural heritage and just being split 50/50. My nana and I took heritage DNA tests and she's only 77% black. We know some of that came from slave owners and that some came from native americans. We can't be sure of what came from her mother because her mother was adopted by relatives. Bother my nana and her mother are very light skinned. My nana does consider herself black, but she also boasts of the rest of her heritage at the same time. My uncle didn't find out his father was hispanic until after he was 50! He calls himself black because he didn't know his heritage until I was 16 and he was an old man and by then it was a little late to call himself anything else because I'm sure when people ask it's just a reaction to just say black. Everyone had african DNA because we all came from there. Should my husband call himself black because he has less that .5% african genes? It's a matter of giving people an accurate answer if you choose to give one at all and thinking of the bigger picture and the effect they have on other people when they give up their rights to just be biracial and not be forced to pick one side like so many people have been forced to for so long. By your logic Jenn, anyone can identify themselves as any race because we ALL have genes from every race. So why teach your child to identify themselves as a race is you don't care if their answer is any good? It would be like me saying I'm asian with my 1-5% of asian DNA that was inherited from native americans. People would be very confused and think I was an idiot once I started explaining why I'm asian....

Jennifer - posted on 05/03/2012

I think there is a difference someone may be part of another race generations ago. They may not know their white, black and so forth sidessince it happened before they were even thought of. But I think that if a person does not consider themselves biracial when having two parents of different races is denying their race. Whether u identify yourself with one race or the other does not matter. My children are biracial not black not white both. Me being white maybe I identify better with the black race. Does that then make me black, no I'm still white.

Autumn - posted on 05/03/2012

I really don't have a problem with someone preferring to be called biracial, but I do think it's unfair to imply that people who do prefer to be called black are someone disowning their heritages...they know what they are and their parents are their parents no matter what they are called. If that's what makes them comfortable and if that's been their experience and a large and defining part of their identity, then that is their right. I would never tell my child that she couldn't call herself Black if that is what she felt most comfortable being identified as or if she wanted to identify as biracial or hell even white ,then that I believe is fine too. As long as she knows who she is and understands and respects herself, others and knows that one race isn't superior to the other and that we're all equal, i don't care what she calls herself.

Autumn - posted on 05/03/2012

exactly, but I don't think there is anything wrong with calling yourself "black" when you're half-black, you are Black...if you feel more comfortable calling yourself one thing then that is your right. If YOU personally didn't like calling yourself black and you prefer to call yourself biracial or white then that's YOUR personal decision, it's not going to be right for everyone and I also have a problem with the double standard that some people have why does it seem like people can claim biracial only if their direct parentage is biracial and people use the excuse that biracial is about accepting all of your heritage/identity, but multiracial blacks who are products of mixing throughout generations are one-dropped and if they have a grandparent or mixed parent or grandparents they'er not allowed to claim that...aren't they biracial too?

Kyrie - posted on 05/02/2012

The problem is the message that he's sending America. He's teaching everyone that the one drop rule is essentially still in effect and that mixed people should still be categorized as black. That's the issue. As recently as 2000 I was marked as black on school papers against my mother's wishes. What little progress that has been made recently such as with the census could be easily backtracked by someone as influential as the president making the statement that he has. Sure, you can call yourself black, white, purple, green... That does not make it accurate.

Autumn - posted on 05/02/2012

michelle obama is part white too...frederick douglass was half white..booker t washington was half white..beyonce is part white...lena horne was part white...malcolm x was part white. Do you know how many Black people are "part white?" There have always been mixed race people who called themselves Black "race mixing" is nothing new or special. The only difference is today is that a mother might have the PRIVILEGE of claiming her children as both half-white and half-black whereas before the late 1960s, Black women who had mixed children had no choice but to identify them as Black because of the strict racial caste system. The condition follows the mother. I don't have any problem with what a person calls themself, but I disagree with the idea that calling yourself "black" means you don't accept or acknowledge your white, asian or other race side. You can call yourself brown, black, white, biracial, yellow your mother is your mother, your father is your father...calling yourself one thing or the other will never change that. I can take my father's name and call myself Jones, but I'm still my mother's child, I'm just as much a Smith, but I can call myself what I want.



If someone wants to call themselves Black and they have white/black parentage that's their right. If someone wants to refer to himself as "biracial," that's his right too. It doesn't matter what u call yourself and please don't THINK that having mixed children is anything new. There have always been mixed people and they've called themselves a variety of things, didn't change how they were treated or who they were as individuals. Forcing someone to label their self as "biracial," is just as wrong as forcing them to be called "black," let people do what is most comfortable to them. At the end of the day, mixed race children are children just like anyone, they'll do what feels right to them.

Jennifer - posted on 05/01/2012

I agree it has bothered me from the beginning. He is biracial and should be sad as the first biracial president. My children re biracial but I make sure they both sides.

Ashley - posted on 04/27/2012

I'm bothered by it... I'm mixed black/white and ppl always call me black. Which is strange because Im very pale. Lol I tend get upset when ppl assume my race. It's just rude! If your not sure and you really want to know, politely ask! Also when black ppl call me white or white ppl calll me black... It especially pisses me off. But on the flip side if Blk assume I'm black I'm fine with it. Some mixed ppl pick a side to identify with... I dnt identify with one any more that the other. I'm just me.

Michelle - posted on 04/22/2012

First off, please let me state for the record that I am a 52 year old mixed woman. My mother is Caucasian and my father is mixed (his father was 1/2 white 1/2 black, and his mother was Native American Indian).



Race is not a determinable concept. There's no specific test to determine if you're white or black or anything else. You're whatever you want to be. Once upon a time there were all sorts of classifications based on how many "black" ancestors you had. That's all gone away, although you might run across the term "octoroon" in an old novel.



I would like to offer another answer if I may. The way the question was worded leads me to believe the person wanted to know what "RACE" is appropriate or recognized if the Father is black and the Mother is white. The question of race still appears on Birth Certificates, school entry's, college loan applications, school grants and the Census Bureau just to name a few so it is a very determinable factor. However the Standards of classifications are in the process of being revised with the public's help.



You cannot pick a "race", you are who you are. People of mixed heritage as mentioned in the Standards for classification as of 1989 were able to identify themselves by the race of the Mother. Before this date the race was determined by the Father.

Classifications of race in the US can prove to be very useful for certain individuals in many different instances. The information below comes from the offices at the Whitehouse. This is strictly a quote from the office of Management and Budget and Information and Regulatory Affairs. The title in case you are interested in further reading is called: "Standards for Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity"

"Since 1989, the National Center for Health Statistics has tabulated birth data according to the mother's race. The racial and ethnic categories set forth in the standard should not be interpreted as being primarily biological or genetic in reference. Race and ethnicity may be thought of in terms of social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry. The category which most closely reflects the individuals recognition in his community should be used for purposes of reporting on persons who are of mixed racial and/or ethnic origins." There were four public hearings on this issue named Directive No, 15. in June of 1994.



This public issue remains unresolved at the moment and no changes have been documented at this time according to this briefing. It is appropriate to claim the race of the Mother or to go by how they are recognized in his or her community. Both are acceptable.

Shannon - posted on 04/20/2012

Yes...I am bothered by society ommitting the fact that Obama is technically bi-racial.

Grandma - posted on 04/11/2012

I agree. If a cop even fires his or her gun, there is an automatic suspension with pay. It is terrifying that armed cowards can get a shot off, spend a couple of hours in a police station, and then walk away. And what about an autopsy on the dead person? This case is so flawed. Every one involved failed the justice system.

Another thing that gets me is how people can't understand why some of us are so passionate about this. This is a landmark case, and will make the history books (hopefully), along with Emmett Till. A youth died!

Nikki - posted on 04/10/2012

Grandma Becky,



One thing that perplexes me more than people that look at race is how the Trayvon Martin case became a partisan issue....I'll NEVER EVER EVER understand that one....



And I will never understand how someone can support someone shooting an unarmed child. I don't care if you got into a fight or what...to shoot someone dead. Really?

Who would support that? Even if a cop did it, he would have been questioned by DIA and/or the FBI and something would be placed in his file at the least....but I'm not so much mad at Mr Zimmerman as I am at his supporters.....I wonder how they would feel if it was THEIR child.....?

Grandma - posted on 04/10/2012

Thanks, Nikki. My boysies are in my picture today. We have so much fun together. They were both adopted via social services as infants. The Trayvon Martin murder has broken my heart. It is terrifying to imagine what they will face. This "Stand your ground" law is ridiculous, and reminds me of the Old West. Amazingly, I know liberals who back the shooter, and conservatives who back Trayvon, and vice versa and everywhere in between. This tragedy has set race relations in this country back 200 years. I am praying that justice will be served. You just can't shoot somebody like a dog that you are afraid of.

I go to a big church where the crowd on Sunday morning is very colorful. Honestly, it's like we don't even notice our differences. We all work together to help people of countries all around the world, and in our country and locality. On our work Saturday to clean up the church for Easter, our FB page showed all kinds of people working together. People who stick to "their own kind" are missing out on being human. We are all one race, and it is called "Human".

Nikki - posted on 04/10/2012

Grandma Becky,



I agree 1000% with you. I don't understand why we categorize people. It is beyond me...some people link it to biblical times... I don't know....



As far as what your grandsons will face.... I'm a black woman with a Black Father, and 3 black brothers......Since your grandsons are 1/4 Black and 50% Hispanic, I think you can look to the Trayvon Martin case to see how some of America will view them, unfortunately....



If they looks white, they might not have any issues....but it's also about attitude...if they go through life trying to be the best Men that they can, that will help.....

CJ - posted on 04/10/2012

Nicole, I agree with you wholeheartily.It has bothered me that President Obama is classified as our 1st black president. My daughters are multiracial(white, black and american indian) why would or should they have to say or be caterogized as black. The one drop of black blood saying, makes you black statement is from slavery days and we are well past those days...

Kyrie - posted on 04/09/2012

No one ever said that he hid anything. The issue is that he publicly identifies with only one race. It's sad. He is not one race so why only call himself one. It's inaccurate and puzzling and reinforces the one drop rule and America's vision that mixed people are black. I live in a state that is 95% caucasian and have been fighting people insisting I'm black since I moved here. I'm not black, I am mixed. Obama comes along and just put a major dent in any headway I've made. He grew up in a bunch of places were racism is scarce. I've spent my whole life dealing with racism person to person from black kids in the south beating me up for being too white and speaking proper english and getting good grades to moving north and listening to people talk about how blacks bring crime, cracking jokes about how I should rob the pizza man because I'm black, and having all kinds of odd ideas about me in the bedroom because I'm "black". I'm both, but not either and I'm tired of everyone trying to force me to pick a race. Even in elementary school, the schools would put me down as black because, they said, my mother is black so that's what I am. I still have the papers from them doing that. I think that people deserve to know why Obama did what he did and if he did it just for votes or fame then it takes away some of the respect I have for him. He seems like a fairly honest and sincere man. He should consider how his actions as one of the most powerful people in the country effects others.

Grandma - posted on 04/08/2012

...really sad. I wonder what my grandsons will face.

Grandma - posted on 04/08/2012

I've felt this same way about my grandson, who is .25 African American.

President Obama is not from a family that endured American slavery; Mrs. Obama is. The president is as much white as he is black.

But here's the real rub for me: There is only one race, and it is human. Why do we have to continue to separate people into so-called races, when it is really just based on color and geography. I come from a "white" family that really has no documented proof of where we originally came from, except by the sound of our names and the color of our skin and hair. When do we have to start calling ourselves European-Americans?

I am just an American, as is my grandson. BTW, my other grandson is .50 Latino. We hope that he is never subjected to the name Mexican-American. We are all one family, by love and adoption. White, black, cocoa? Just hope that maybe someday we will get a little almond-eyed, butter colored kid...maybe even a girl!

Ellie Richardson - posted on 04/08/2012

I watched on tv Obama an he went to Ireland with his entire family to share his irish roots so i totally disagree with the comment made that he should be proud of both sides of family.He has never ever hide the fact that he is mixed. It seems to me that your imposing ur own personal feelings about mixed race onto the president.He, nor you, or any one for that matter can not control what other peoples concept of how they see u racial identity.I am of mixed race myself and am light olive complextion. I cant force people to accept my black side because they are gonna want to catagorize me how they want to.I can only control how i see myself.I can't make u see things differently but I cant discuss with u My Own personal experiance an give u a little insight to someone elses perspective.

Nikki - posted on 04/05/2012

I see where you're coming from, and I have the same thoughts.

But I think if he calls HIMSELF black, then we can go with that...if he's been silent on the issue, then I think that he should be referred to as Bi-racial.



I'm black and hubby is white, and if my boys looked mostly white, and people knew that they had a black mother and still called them White, I would think: "Well, what about ME?"



Not trying to be mean, but I don't like the term "mixed"..... I know people use it all of the time, but to me it's the same thing as "mutt"......I think the term originated during slave times and was short for "mixed-blood".....frankly, I think I'd rather hear the term mixed blood than mixed because when I hear mixed, I think of mixed nuts or mixed salad greens.....



But I understand what you say about Obama...I mean, he was raised by his white mother and grandparents...but keep in mind that he was raised in the 60's and 70's...so he probably thinks of himself as black because that's how he looks, and that how people have referred to him....



But my temperature does rise when I hear him called "Black".

Lindze - posted on 04/05/2012

Yes, I am.



I'm mixed with White and Spanish.

While my son is mixed with White, Spanish, Native American and European.



That would be like somebody considering that I'm Spanish.

and somebody considering that my son is just Native American or Greek.



I hate that.

Toni - posted on 04/05/2012

I totally agree, it's like the "one drop rule" never went away (rule that use to classify you as black if you had 1 drop of blood from a black ancestor in you).



It would be so much better to acknowledge his white side to show the diversity and changing times we now live in, but guess we haven't changed enough...



I really think they call him black and not mixed because it makes mroe of a historical impact to say the 1st black pres. since all others were white.

Jennifer - posted on 04/05/2012

I like the work on the bi-racial identy process that recent scholars have done (many of them are biracial themselves) ----



There is a model put together by Kerry Ann Rockquemore that - I am going to condense it here - says that biracial people throughout their lives may self identify as a different "race" at different times and can also have a combbination of identities at one time - so that means to oneself the person could see themself as no race because they believe races are socially constructed and not menaingful for them - and outwardly with co-workers they may identify as one category and with friends they may identify with another. Then at later points int heir life they may identify with yet another category.



This fluid sense of self identity - I think - is more useful and helpful that rigid categories. It is more useful for all of us. It brings to the surface some interesting ideas and changes the conversation from one where we are arguing about where the color line should be drawn to questions about why we even have a color line.

User - posted on 03/21/2012

When I look at Barack Obama I see a black man, if he was waiting for a cab the cab would keep going. Real talk

Jaime - posted on 12/03/2011

I agree with Rachael - the way our society is, mixed children of any race will never been called "white". Even hispanic/white children are called hispanic and so forth. So yes it bothers me, but more so that he is being labeled the "Black President" instead of....the intelligent, family oriented, caring President.

Rachael - posted on 12/03/2011

it does bother me, but at this point it is just how things are. a mixed child can always be referred to as black, and often will be, but never as white. there is still to much focus on race and racial divisions for it to be different at this point

Carol - posted on 11/28/2011

I agree with you Kyrie. Obama has accomplished alot in his presidency but many haters choose to over look it. One this that will anger a few of you here, I am extrealy glad he decided to take it upon himself to elimante a potential threat to our country before anythign could happen. People complain about how he killed a Citizen, yet the guy commited treason, which is a crime punishable by death. But they are also mad because they guy didn't get a fair trial, neither did Bin Laden but people cheered in the streets he was dead. However, I would never vote for a Repub. unless it was Ron Paul. He is a very intelligent man and he is willing to make cuts to things we will always fight agasint, like drugs. I like the stance of health care for all - we alreayd have one its jsut run by states and thats called Medicare. So what would be the harm of the government took the control? I do think people should be fined, but it should be companies and there should be a form for people who have been turned away so they can report these companies to the government, and the companies can be fined.

Kyrie - posted on 11/22/2011

Awwww, don't attack his presidency. He accomplished everything that I voted for him to accomplish even though I feel he compromises too much and want to be the good guy who makes everyone happy. A lot of people are going to vote for him again. He would have won more votes from the military had he been a republican. lmao. That really bugged me, a LOT of people (people I know) refused to vote for him or at all out of fear of him cutting military spending and taking away jobs. Losers. I'm proud of him. I was always so sure that my first presidential election to vote in would be a farce and it was great. He's better than any other president since I was born. lol. And I didn't vote for him for his color any more than I would have voted for Palin to be vice president because she's a woman. Trying to use race as a point to promote a man I want to be president is not beneath me though. I was promoting him like no other for gay rights, to end the war, and for universal healthcare. He made advancements in all of these. My only reason for voting for a republican would be for anti abortion laws and to reduce the deficit and they have had years to fix the deficit on both party ends so both sides are a bunch of screw ups. :)

Kyrie - posted on 11/22/2011

The fact that he is mixed, but ran as a black man only reinforces the one drop rule as far as many people are concerned and it makes it hard for people who don't want to choose. I've spent my whole life having white or blacks tell me I'm one or the other and until the past decade things did not really improve. I remember in elementary school they would ask what my mom's race was to put it on school papers even though my mom insisted they put mulatto or mixed. I've been ranting about him calling himself black since he started running even though I voted for him after a lot of research and seeing him speak in person to see if he seemed like an honest man. Oddly, my brother is mixed and calls himself black. If someone were to force me to pick, I'd pick white. But I'd much rather be called mixed than either or.....

Bridgette - posted on 07/18/2011

No more than when I heard that Vanessa Williams was the first "black" Miss America!

Bridgette - posted on 07/18/2011

No more than when I heard that Vanessa Williams was the first "black" Miss America!

Bridgette - posted on 07/18/2011

No more than when I heard that Vanessa Williams was the first "black" Miss America!

Bridgette - posted on 07/18/2011

No more than when I heard that Vanessa Williams was the first "black" Miss America!

Bridgette - posted on 07/18/2011

No more than when I heard that Vanessa Williams was the first "black" Miss America!

Jane - posted on 06/12/2011

It doesn't bother me at all, even though there were as many as 5 presidents before him who were not entirely white. I consider Barack Obama to be an American first and after that a Democrat. I don't really care which part of his ethnicity he identifies with.

Jane - posted on 06/12/2011

It doesn't bother me at all, even though there were as many as 5 presidents before him who were not entirely white. I consider Barack Obama to be an American first and after that a Democrat. I don't really care which part of his ethnicity he identifies with.

Tarah - posted on 11/25/2010

Yes, It pretubes me greatly, and I have no problem correcting people.

Iysha - posted on 11/23/2010

well, it doesnt bother me...he may be mixed but if he himself identifies himself as a member of the black community and not as a member of the white community, then I dont see any reason anyone should have a problem with it. just because you're mixed doesnt necessarily mean that you grew up with both cultures' ideals/treatment/perception. If someone has been labled as a member of the black community, why would people start labling that person as mixed because it is "correct" in terms of biology only?

Cari - posted on 11/17/2010

Not so much, considering every president in the history of this country has been white, emphasizing the fact that he is part black is perfectly fine to me.

Jessica - posted on 11/15/2010

No I really don't have a problem with what others see themselves as really. It doesn't really mean anything to me. He sees himself as black. His wife is black. His kids are black. I guess it makes sense to me. He looks I guess black.
I have a son who's half african american half hawaiian. I honestly won't care if he considers himself fully black or half black. He's my son either way . Nothing would've changed. As long as he knows his native side I don't feel he would be forgetting my side of the family just due to race. tbh

Gina - posted on 11/15/2010

Yes! I can not tell you how many times I have brought this up! However, for some reason or another, bi-racial children are considered to be the race of the father.

Sharon - posted on 10/28/2010

The impression I have received is that it's President Obama's own choice to be identified as a black man. I respect that choice without approving it--but then, my approval hasn't been sought in the matter. When I speak of him under circumstances where it's appropriate to speak of his race at all, I always refer to him as biracial.

Incorrigibly,

Sharon