Nappy Headed Black Child

Now i was listening to NPR and came across this.

Essentially there are people out there at are upset that Obama identifies himself as an African american.

I was immediately amazed at how people just couldnt understand why Obama identifies exclusively as being an African American when obviously he is decended from multiple ethincities.

*cue flashback*

Barack was born August 4th 1961

Now lets think critically here. Was there really a sense of "bi-racial" in the 60's, 70's, or 80's? The answer to that question is an emphatic "No". The closest thing to bi-racial was half breed. There was also a little thing called the One Drop Rule. Which basically says one drop of black blood makes you black. So in light of these things its not really that difficult to see why Obama identifies with the African American community.

Now during the course of this discussion there were several issues brought up that i found interesting. Particularly this lady calls in saying that she is insulted becasue Obama doesn't identify as biracial becasue her children are biracial and its difficult to explain to her kids why he doesn't call himself as such (the lady is white and her husband is black btw).

Personally, I was like tell your kids the truth about the ugliness of this country. But I suppose she didnt consider that and the above conditions so i can understand her frustrations because it would look like Obama is ashamed of the other part of who he is. But a little word like "why" and some critical thinking goes along way.

Another part of this that was also said in the interview was that Obama's victory is a historic victory for the African American community and i think a lot of people who aren't African American want a piece of the victory that us black folk claimed along with Obama and there's nothing wrong with that. Obama's class and presentation represented the best in all of us white, black and otherwise. But also at the same time the cynic in me also says that Obama claiming himself as an African American shatters traditional stereotypes (combine that with holding the most powerful office in the country and a strong democratic congress .) of what it is to be a black male and that maybe very unsettling for people so they highlight his biraciality to make his win more palatable.

Good little jawnt NPR had though