Barack Obama?

Barack Obama is a proud, self-identified "African-American". But he cannot be called as such because he is not a direct descendant of slaves and hasn't had an authentic African American experience. Barack Obama calls himself US's first black president to be. But is he really a black? Please, don’t refer to his "look", because a.It would be Racial profiling and b.Indo-Aryans are of white European descent, but look pretty black. Here is the question: Why the person who is the son of the white mother and the black father is called almost by everybody "black" or "African-American"? Do you think that it is because women are inferior to men?

Public Comments

1. From what I understand a lot of people consider him mixed race despite the way he identifies. I prefer to think of him as mixed race because that's exactly what he is. He isn't black. So even if he does win it, it won't be the first actual "black president" but rather the first "mixed race president"
2. I don't call him anything but an idiot!!
3. Can't be called African American because he wasn't descended from slaves????? What? Father from Africa, mother from America, American citizen,....he is African American.
4. since his father is African, and his mother is American, i'd say that pretty much makes Barack Obama African-American.
5. He looks black to me and the media proves it by steering clear of attacking him.
6. You present a very valid question and I too am curious as to why he or anyone would consider him anything but BiRacial. I really have no idea as to why and would hope it is not the reason you stated about women being inferior to men.
7. Because that's how the US has divided people going wayyyyyyy back to slavery days my friend. A child of mixed heritage (born of the white slave master and a black slave woman) could "look" white and they were still called black. A select few were caucasian enough to 'pass for white'. In Obama's case, if race still followed his mother (as it did in slavery times) he might be 'white' on his BC but his appearance would clearly put him in the 'black' category.
8. No, I am not sure why, but I learned it from a black family, while looking at a blonde haired son of a black man. That child had to be filed as black, because his father is black. I was amazed at that, but they knew what they were talking about. People here give me thumbs down, but don't know why. That is the way it is. I don't know who made the rule, but that is what it is.
9. I believe it is more for publicity. I mean the headlines will read next president a black man or a woman. This race is already going to go down in history. Naming him black just makes it a permanent reader. Two groups completely different, none like this country has every seen before competing for the most powerful role usually reserved for the white guy. I'd read it.
10. My mother was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, and my father is Greek born is Greece, By agreement I take after my mother, I'm Protestant and used to go to churches made of wood. Lot of people can't understand that I am not Greek Orthodox. Retired above-very good
11. Obama.uses his heritage to gain popularity among the black population. If he were Hispanic, he would use that to gain favor among that part of our population. He's not running for office because he has experience, or even any real answers to the problems facing the nation. If he is elected the political system will eat him alive,
12. Because those with small minds think that if any of your parents are black, then you are black. Here's a little test to figure out how you feel. Tell me if these people are "black": Halle Berry Tiger Woods Mariah Carey Alicia Keys *Halle Berry- White mother black father *Tiger Woods-Asian mother black father *Mariah Carey-White mother black father *Alicia Keys- White mother black father
13. I am afraid, you are right in your assessment, men consider themselves superior to women. I am positive that if his father was white and his mother black, he would be just an American, not African-American. There is no reason to remind everybody the meaning of black or African-American, even Oprah playing it loose: "I am voting for him, not because he is black, but because he is brilliant". Also, I think, from media perspective African-American Obama creates more excitement and sells better…