Since we can have discussions about this stuff here, let's see how this thread goes. (crossing fingers)

I had an interesting discussion with a friend of mine today who has a Vietnamese mother and African-American father. When discussing Obama, she referred to him as "the man who could be our first black president."

She discusses her own issues as a biracial person with me from time to time, always stressing that she has one foot firmly in each culture, so I was curious as to why she didn't consider Obama biracial like herself, since his father was a black Kenyan and a white American.

She told me "In this country, if you're just 1% black, you're black." She said her relatives on both sides of the family, the African-American side and the Vietnamese side, consider her a black person, no "halfsies." She said that's the way Americans percieve Obama, too, without exception.

I guess I've encountered something similar in my family, although it isn't race-based. Despite being the child of first-generation Americans whose parents were from different European countries, either side claims me as belonging to their particular group. I just think of my nationality as "American-American."

I realize that race/ethnicity/nationality/etc. are just social constructs anyway, but if I had to put a label on Obama, it would be "biracial," neither "black" nor "white."

What about everyone else here?

can we get a 'who cares' option?

I'll consider that a write in vote for "who cares." ;p

Roger, as much as I respect you, I have to go with HMS here and say:
Where's the Who fuckin cares option!?!


The fact that you even created this as a poll is worrisome and troubling.
Whats the relevance?

Is it even a factor?
Should it be?!

human

"I went to get a loan and they asked my race
I wrote down human inside the space"
-Beastie Boys

if there was a "tiger woods" option, i'd pick that

I'm struggling with this. I'm never referred to as the 'white dude' at work, so why should I have to refer to Obama as being 'white', 'black' or 'biracial'. And what the hell is biracial? what if my mother was Welsh, my Father was Scottish and I was born in England, would I be triracial?

Well isn't he, factually, biracial? I consider him what he is, both. I'm confused. Why would someone just say one or the other? His father's black and mother's white, right? 2 different races, bi = 2, biracial. I consider him a dirty politician, regardless of race.

Lol, without exception? no the media doesnt = what we all think.

why would you need to say either?

Well I was just responding to the question. "What do you consider..." implies an opinion, but this is a fact. I don't, nor does anyone, "need" to say either, but we were asked. I don't give a crap all around.

By the time someone posts "who cares," obviously you do care on some level because you not only read this thread, but you hit the reply button.

So let's not be silly geese. Let's get past the squirminess and talk about race. Everybody thinks about it on some level. It would be wonderful if we didn't, but unfortunately we haven't reached that level of conditioning yet. It doesn't make us racists.

The reason I think it's relevant is that if Obama becomes President, many people are going to be calling him "the first ____ President." Based on who's saying it, though, I think the answer's going to be different, and I think the way they fill in that blank might be motivating them to vote one way or the other. That's what I think I'm trying to find out.

Furthermore, racial issues have taken center stage in his campaign, and it's mainly because the candidate himself has placed them there. Most people I know that support Obama consider this speech one of the most important things he's ever done:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/1 ... 92077.html

(This post was made after five gin/tonics and I think I did pretty fucking well, BTW.)

And besides, we've got two other threads here talking about Palin, most of which revolve around issues about her being a woman, so we can talk about Obama's race. I officially sanction it.

actually, the black/white thing plays a big factor in this election, regardless of "who cares" opinions.

To paraphrase the old Crass song: "We are all niggers".
Discuss.



Actually, no ... don't bother.
What's more important is how I, an expat Brit living in Japan,
can cast my vote for Sarah 'Hottie' Palin,
and possibly father her next child.

Any suggestions?

this is totally off subject. but that opening "we are all niggers" reminds me of the song by everydaylife with the chorus being: "don't call me whitey, nigger. don't call me nigger, whitey." gotta love the whole early to mid 90's christian hardcore scene....

Funny story (I hope):

One of my friends listens to FEN
(formerly AFN, the American Forces Overseas radio station)
to practice her English.

"But it's very racist!" she said to me today.
"Oh, why do you say that?" I asked.
"Every time they talk about Obama," she replied,
"They call him 'Black' Obama!"

no coverage of the white Obama?

HAHAHA your friends family says no halfsies?
Thank goodness you are just considered one race here, otherwise the news media would call him halfrican or something ridiculous. From these pics he seems pretty white though.