Jen, author of the informer blog, posted this today:
I must say that I agree with Jen completely on this issue. Barack Obama is 50% African American and 50% Caucasian.
After Obama won the election he announced on national TV, that his daughters have, 'earned the new puppy' they would be taking to the White House. Later that month, during the question and answer portion of his first press conference, he was asked what kind of dog he would get. He responded with, 'a mutt like me.'
For me, this brings up the question, who is labeling him as the first African American president? Is it his PR team or is it a product of the media and perhaps society at large?
Jen went on to explain that she has bi-racial children and she makes it a point to recognize every part of their heritage, African American and Hispanic. I have a multi-racial child. He is Filipino, African American and Caucasian. I refer to him as my little Blasianite (Black-Asian-White). I would be hurt if he grew to only acknowledge one part of his heritage. I wonder how Obama's mother would feel?
I think that it is cool that we will have a President of "color", but what I question is the fact that every ones use the term "The First Black President". Yes he is black, but he is half black and half white. What happened to his mother? Saying he is the first black president is like saying that his mother does not exist. That's why I have taught my kids to say he is the first bi-racial president.
I must say that I agree with Jen completely on this issue. Barack Obama is 50% African American and 50% Caucasian.
After Obama won the election he announced on national TV, that his daughters have, 'earned the new puppy' they would be taking to the White House. Later that month, during the question and answer portion of his first press conference, he was asked what kind of dog he would get. He responded with, 'a mutt like me.'
For me, this brings up the question, who is labeling him as the first African American president? Is it his PR team or is it a product of the media and perhaps society at large?
Jen went on to explain that she has bi-racial children and she makes it a point to recognize every part of their heritage, African American and Hispanic. I have a multi-racial child. He is Filipino, African American and Caucasian. I refer to him as my little Blasianite (Black-Asian-White). I would be hurt if he grew to only acknowledge one part of his heritage. I wonder how Obama's mother would feel?
My boyfriend and I have had this debate since his election and I can't agree with you more. Although the fact that he is the first president that does not fit the traditional 35+ white male archetype does mark a turning point in American history, he still comes from both Caucasian and African roots.
ReplyDeleteThe idea behind equality (whether it be racial, gender, and/or religious equality) is that we can refer to everyone as equals because everyone has the same rights and opportunities as one another. Believe it or not, equality begins with the linguistic building blocks of a culture. The mere reference to him as an "African-American President" gives his presidency a socio-cultural perspective that sets back racial equality more than it advances it.
I think you brought up some interesting points here. I really like the question you ask about who is responsible for how he is being labeled...post on this again if you have any new info to share or other thoughts on the topic.
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