If he were a moderate or even liberal Republican?
I am mainly interested in the views of our african american colleagues and friends here, but anyone can contribute obviously.
The reason i ask, is that the African-American community is notoriously and overwhelmingly not supportive of conservative African American politicians, be the REpublican or even independent.
I would like to go further...normally, mixed race half white/half black people are marginalized, by both whites and blacks and have a very hard time gaining acceptance with a large portion of the respective communities.
Whenever a conservative african american is involved either as republican or independent, that person is usually scorned by probably 90% of the african american electorate...(in many cases, that person is also subjected to a lot of very nasty rhetoric, such as "uncle Tom", sellout, etc.)
So my question is this...if Obama was more conservative, or Republican, would the same 90% be calling him a "sellout" or "Uncle Tom" or half-white etc. ?
Why is everyone in the media and in the populace at large, calling him an "African American candidate?" He is in fact, half African American.
So my question to the African American community, is does it not seem strange, that an obviously intelligent and talented man like Obama, who was conceived by a Black Father who abandoned him, yet whose is from the white mother whose body he grew in and who bore him, breastfed him and nurtured him, and the white family who essentially cared for and raised him early in life who helped teach him the important values of decency as well as diversity that he has preached so well and honestly, should only be referred to as an "African American"?
IS this just another evidence of divisiveness over race?
I hear black people (and many white people) enthusiastically talking about this "african american" man running for president...
Would the same people be talking enthusiastically about this "african american" man running for PResident if his views were more conservative?
Would the african american community be as accepting of him as an "African american"?
I am just curious, since I have never seen this level of support by the African American community for an african american candidate since Jesse Jackson back in whenever it was, 84 or 88.
I understand African Americans are very proud of him, as well they should be...but shouldn't there also be some acknowledgement of the very real other half his humanity, his body and his soul, that these folks so admire?
The main African American family member in his life, his father, abandoned him. He was raised by a white mother and white grandparents and is half white. His stepfather was Indonesian.
How exactly is he more "African American"?
i am just curious as i think it is
1. A tad ignorant of the facts that this very bright and popular man, is in fact, part of both races, not simply one.
2. A tad unfair, that many African Americans seem to be "OK" with ignoring that very real and in fact much larger part of his early life because he appeals to him, but would likely disparage him if his views were less compatible with theirs.
So please, what do you think about these main issues?
-Are african americans overlooking his "whiteness" and just embracing his "blackness"?
-Are they ignoring that really the only contribution of his african american father to his life, was that of being a sperm donor, and for better or worse, he was raised primarily by white people (and one indonesian man for a few years)?
-Are african americans (and others) unfairly calling him "African American" When he is clearly half african american?
-Would african americans treat his racial makeup and upbrigning in a different way if his views were less aligned with their own? Would be still be considered a true "african american" by many of them?
This is something I have found utterly perplexing ever since i first became aware of him a couple years back.
Not only that...a poster in another thread said that "One drop of black blood makes you black because black blood was so strong" (roughly stated from my memory)...which i thought was rather interesting...since technically speaking, Obama does not have a single drop of black blood in him. The one sperm that fertilized the egg, in fact, contains no blood nor does the egg.
Every human beings blood is created by their body.
"When a human being is conceived the DNA material of the biological parents are mixed together and creates a new DNA." Stating that blood comes from one specific parent will be the same as stating that a lung, heart or the brain come from one specific parent...Blood is created by each individual and does not come from neither the father nor the mother.
so how exactly is this reconciled?
By appearance? By Political Views? Skin COlor?
There are many biracial (specifically black and white) who do not look African American at all.
take this fellow...Manchester United Legend Ryan Giggs
His mother is white/Welsh, his father his British of African Descent.
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05_01/RyanGiggs_468x717.jpg
http://static.liputanbola.com/200712/img_giggs-10.jpg
If he were american, would african americans consider him "African AMerican", "Half African American" or "White"?
This is a very sticky issue, and please understand it is not meant to stir up any feelings, but i find it a genuinely puzzling/intriguing/bizarre/ scenario not just for Obama but for all peoples...
but obviously, in this specific thread, related to African Americans visions of Obama.
Thanks...have at it :smile: