Soledad O'Brien Talks About Race And Boxing In 'Latino In America 2: In Her Corner'

Soledad O’Brien believes America has changed radically in terms of race during her lifetime and she's devoted her most recent project to documenting that change.

O'Brien’s daughter reacted to Obama’s election as President with great concern. But, only because as a six-year old at the time, she simply couldn’t fathom the idea that Obama was the first black person to hold his position. This, O’Brien says, was a great indication to her that the racial climate she grew up in was a thing of the past.

“She said, ‘But the FIRST?’, like I was completely lying to her and had misleading her for months…‘Well, how many girls have been President?” And I said, “No girls. There have been no girl presidents.' She couldn’t believe it,” O'Brien said in an interview with HuffPost LatinoVoices.

O’Brien defines herself as “a bi-racial black girl from Long Island” that is ethnically Latina. Her father is Australian and her mother is Afro-Cuban. O'Brien's ethnic and racial background have always been important to her. She even refused to change her name when a local news station told her that “Soul-Dad” was too hard to pronounce. Instead, O’Brien changed jobs. She eventually went on to be a CNN news anchor and is now the host of “In America”, a documentary series on the same network.

During Hispanic Heritage Month this year, O’Brien is airing her newest documentary, “Latino in America 2: In Her Corner.” The story centers around a young female boxer, Marlen Esperanza, and her journey to the 2012 Olympics.

“As a Mexican-American, there’s a really good chance that she’ll be representing the United States, the very first time that boxing for women is allowed. There’s a really good chance a Latina is going to bring home the medal. What will that mean not just for her community, but for the nation as a whole?” O'Brien asked.

"Latino in America 2: In Her Corner" airs on CNN on Sunday, Sept. 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Comments

[Karen1]

04:32 PM on 10/30/2011

Don't care for Soledad O'Brien. She knows little or nothng about the majority of American Latinos, and her specials are awful. CNN should find somebody else to do the Latino in America series, such as somebody who is actually Latino.

[Pleneras]

08:07 AM on 09/29/2011

Ayyyyyy! Latina(o) is the spanish words for masculine and feminine LATIN. That is all that the word means! There is no such thing as a Latina(o) ETHNIC GROUP. You are part Afro Cuban and part Irish and that is beautiful! So learn to say it correctly or else future generations would not know what they heck their ancestors were and will end up looking for some darn country called Latination when doing the family tree.

[GravitonX]

09:53 AM on 09/29/2011

The word describes a type of person. While we can debate how accurate the word is, it's clearly an identity in and of itself. She has succinctly described her beyond all that we have debated. She grew up in the States as a Black person with heavy Hispanic American influence. This is what makes up her psychological identity. It's a contemporry manifestation. The confusion for most of you regarding identity is confusing family origins with identity. If that were the case, there would be no Irish, no Cuban, not even any Spaniards or Europeans, and certainly no Americans...we would all be Africans, but that is clearly not descriptive enough of the various identities around the world. So, one is left with these "new" ethnic groups as they arise, e.g. Latinos (which, btw, includes both masc. and fem.) I prefer HispanoAmericans, but I will respect their right to call themselves as they wish.

[cantah]

08:17 PM on 09/28/2011

@ Graviton.

The link you posted is of a lady who has spent a lot of her life in the USA so she has seen how Obama will be refered to in the USA. The people she deals with have that exposure as well.

Infact look at the comments on the link. People there are also questioning why he is refered to as "black".

The natural inclination of all humans when you see somebody that looks different from you is to associate them with the "other"

In Obama's case he has features that the locals can identify with like his hair so even though they might think he looks different, he has some semblance to them. Even at that people called me to question why anybody would refer to him as black.

Unlike people like Wenworth Miller or Mariah or Soledad who look nothing like people in Sub-Saharan Africa and look more like Whites

[cantah]

07:46 PM on 09/28/2011

@ Graviton

I think the problem is that today, most white people are not stuck on stuff like "one drop" thing but black people seem to be. When they see a kid like Soledads who has germanic blond hair, they would see the person as white. The police dont profile people based on "one drop". When the police profile black people, they would not profile Soledads white kids.

When Wenworth Miller who is part black and part white but is actually as white as any white person was asked if he has ever had any of the experiences that black people talk about, he said no. His experiences would be just as that of any white man

If you are a black person, your real life experiences will be different from theirs.

They resemble Europeans/whites and look nothing like anybody in Africa.

That is the hard truth. I dont even get why we are arguing with reality



And what I said about mixed people who look less white than Soledad being seen as white is very true. It happend to some of the mixed kids I went to school with who are not even as white as Mariah or Soledad

[Pleneras]

08:08 AM on 09/29/2011

exactly stuck on the one drop rule not realizing that it was meant to taint them.

[GravitonX]

09:39 AM on 09/29/2011

AfricanAmericans have played racial jujitsu and turned it on their former oppressors, sort of like grabbing your oppressor's gun and turning it on him.

[shawshank]

12:49 PM on 09/28/2011

She's a beautiful human being. Regardless of race or ethnicity.

[Blackitolist123]

12:44 PM on 09/28/2011

i think some of you "hispanics" are not happy with her claiming to "black" because she looks more "white" then the average "non-white hispanics" who likes to imagine that they are white. fyi; these "non white hispanics" only claim that they are white when real white ppl aren't around lol

[island fever1]

11:35 AM on 09/28/2011

I'm confused. If her Mom is Afro-Cuban and her Dad is Australian of Irish descent, how is she racially black? If she gets the genes from both sides of her parents, it would seem that she is just as much caucasion as she is black. I never really thought about her race when I looked at her. She doesn't look black to me. But, I really don't care one way or the other. I just think she's good at what she does and it doesn't much matter to me if she's green with purple polka dots. I do envy her the Cuban background though. Cuba is one place I've always wanted to visit. But, alas, it is not yet possible for Americans to go as tourists. What a rich heritage she has all the way around.

[liberalcomesfromliberty]

11:52 AM on 09/28/2011

Afro anything means you are black in America.

[island fever1]

11:59 AM on 09/28/2011

She's married to a white man and has kids with him. So, her kids have 1/4 of her Mom's genes. So I guess that would make them more white than black. In any event, they are as cute as buttons. What a lovely family!

[shawshank]

12:51 PM on 09/28/2011

If you met her for the first time, will you call her white? No. Latina? Yes, but a darker skinned one. Black? I wanna believe she can easily pass for that.

[GravitonX]

09:41 AM on 09/29/2011

Visually, Black or café con leche. No question. If she spoke in English, AfricanAmerican...at least in Spain and most of Europe. If she spoke clear Spanish, she's American Hispanic.

[GravitonX]

08:43 AM on 09/28/2011

African's on Obama

Barack Obama: He’s black. He’s my brother. He’ll save Africa!

http://grandioseparlor.com/2008/08/barack-obama-hes-black-hes-my-brother-hell-save-africa/

Begone, cantah, you ridiculous white troell.

[Jibaro del Centro]

07:37 AM on 09/28/2011

During the mid 1800s in Puerto Rico, a colony of Spain at the tiem, people had to proof their purity of blood if they wnated to marry someone out of the racial catogories that were used to classify the island inhabitants. Pardos or mulattoes wit monies would go to great extents to marry whites but had to prove in court that they were not pardos or mulattoes. At the time, Puerto Rican as such was not an ethnic group but the name for those who inhabitted the island. As the society evolved then the word Puerto Rican was used to indicate the ethnic group. A word tha has different meanings since how Puerto Ricans view and classify themselves in the island is completely different from how the USARicans view themselves. A few yeas ago I met a Chilean who would be considered a mestizo in other parts of Latin America that claimed to be completely Euro descendants. Racial cassifications and self perception in Latin America does not follow the same principles as it does in the USA nor it has had the same history.

[Blackitolist123]

01:48 AM on 09/28/2011

the 1st rule in understanding black ppl when u are black is know that; Every brother aint a brother nd every sister aint a sister. with that said soledad is cool with me...

[cantah]

01:16 AM on 09/28/2011

My point still remains the same people.

Bush, Clinton, Mariah, Soledad, Queen of England etc would all stick out completely in a Black African society. So would all the mixed Mexicans and Sparniards on this thread.
They simply dont look like people in those societies.

That is just the fact and no amount of calling somebody a" light skinned black" can ever change that period. Is such a simple fact so hard to comprehend?

[GravitonX]

08:40 AM on 09/28/2011

Your strawman argument only impresses yourself.

[papapj]

12:27 AM on 09/28/2011

I think our friend cantah is undergoing some cognitive dissonance, right about now....Claiming his statements are 'fact' when they are clearly and absolutely refuted by anyone with half a brain, and vehemently labeling those who disagree with him as 'delusional' in a huff...as if he has the sole right to declare what is and what isn't right.

Yes folks, what we have here is White privilege laid bare. Dubious assertions presented as absolute fact with nothing to back them up with other than faux rage, righteous indignation and the drool dripping from his chin...Someone needs to tell him that this is the 21st century, and we just aint listening to his c**p no more...we know better...

[cantah]

01:09 AM on 09/28/2011

Dude stop talking nonsense.

I already told you that I am a black person from Africa and that all these so called "black" people will stick out like sore thumbs in African societies.

It doesnt matter if Clinton or Bush or Mariah or Soledad calls himself a light skinned black or. They will stick out like sore thumbs because they dont look like people from those places

Thats the reality and it does not matter if you want to accept it or not. Even if you take a trip to mars and came back that would remain the reality

The only thing you are expousing here is your total ignorance of the continent called Africa

If you knew anything about Africa, you would have understood 100% what I am saying but you obviously dont.

[GravitonX]

08:46 AM on 09/28/2011

White Americans, British, and Germans tourists stick out in Spain, but we are all white, so your point is meaningless. Learn how to craft a solid argument.

[papapj]

09:21 AM on 09/28/2011

Lies never fortify an argument.

'Black" is a sociologically defined appellation, nothing biological or scientific about it. It covers a wide range of skin shades as my example with the Congressman showed. The point is, people might mistake him fro a White man simply because of his skin shade bu this geneology shows that he is clearly of African stock...something YOU clearly are NOT - I've NEVER heard an African address someone as 'dude' - busted...trolls will say anything to be argumentative, but eventually prove themselves to be an utter waste of time...

Begone tro//....

[GravitonX]

08:44 AM on 09/28/2011

He is clearly delusional. It's didn't take but one google search to hit this:

Barack Obama: He’s black. He’s my brother. He’ll save Africa!

http://grandioseparlor.com/2008/08/barack-obama-hes-black-hes-my-brother-hell-save-africa/

[kemarie21]

12:48 PM on 09/28/2011

He's half and half isn't he?

[cantah]

11:54 PM on 09/27/2011

I also needed to add these couple of points

Soledad and Mariah look as white if not more white than many people seen as white in Latin America.

And you guys shoud understand that if you are in an African soceity, if you have a Spaniard mix or a Mexican mix, you stick out completely and look completely out of place.

People in those societies know who look like them and who does not

That is a permanent fact that will never change.

You guys can be assured that the people of these societies are not looking forward to their native people being supplanted by people who look white like Mariah or Soleded and neither people who are mixed Spaniards or Mexicans who clearly dont look like them nor their ancestors at all.

No amount of repeating this meaningless "one drop" thing or labelling people "light skinned black" is going to change that ok

Remember that before you jump into the next debate about race


peace people

[papapj]

11:59 PM on 09/27/2011

Delusional.

[rrobinnyc1]

11:24 AM on 09/29/2011

Completely.

[Gaaltero]

12:11 AM on 09/28/2011

Koo Koo!

[cantah]

11:26 PM on 09/27/2011

And I have seen people like Obama perceived as a white man as well. Heck when Obama was elected people called from Africa asking why they called him "black" when they thought he resembled the white members of his family more than the Kenyan ones.

I have seen half whites perceived as white and associated with whites. People like Mariah Carey and Soledad O'Brian will be seen as white as the queen of England in many soceities

Some people just jump out here and talk about things they dont know anything about.

In every monolithic soceity, the people there associate you with the "other" hence half white/black are associated with whites in those soceities.

I have seen this happen over and over again so I know what I am talking about unlike some of you guys

[papapj]

11:50 PM on 09/27/2011

Oh boy.

This guy,

http://butterfield.house.gov/

Is BLACK, despite appearances he has two Black parents and identifies himself as African American, though he could clearly 'pass' for White as many have done.

See? Proof positive that we Black folk come in all shades. It's not about how others see you, it's how you self-identify and if Soledad says she's Black, as all of us are (see explanation below), that's good enough for me.

Her's a pic with him posing with his mom and dad;

http://tinyurl.com/3bhy3aq

What would you call him..."delusional" no doubt....?

[Gaaltero]

12:12 AM on 09/28/2011

That's why black folk was jumpin up and down when Barack won, here and in Africa. You some ignernt white boy.

[cantah]

12:25 AM on 09/28/2011

Many people didnt understand why he was being refered to as "black" in the first place.

And what is more ignorant than thinking that people would see a person who does not look like them and assume he is one of them?

[Raymond Fernandez]

05:03 AM on 09/28/2011

To all of the above...i gotta say...cantah sure seems right to me, I have many african american friends who have gone to visit the "motherland" and they would not be perceived as mixed here in the US....in West Africa...to their dismay the people there referred to them as white even though they would not in a 100 years pass a white here...they just didn't fit in and the people there let them know it. Now...with that said...here in the US with it's own racial history...these people are black.

[cantah]

11:21 PM on 09/27/2011

Most people here dont even realize that "black" people in Africa can tell the differences in how they look based on ethnicity. A Somali looks different from a person from coastal Ghana and the difference between them is clear as day and night. The same with somebody from the Sahel of west Africa and somebody from the coast of west Africa and somebody from the horn of East Africa and inner East Africa.

If you are mixed at all, you stick out like a sore thumb.

Its silly to think that you can come where you dont look like the people there and call yourself "light skinned black" and they will no longer see that you dont look like them at all?

Its delusion at its height.

[Gaaltero]

12:13 AM on 09/28/2011

Crack. Pipe.

[cantah]

12:40 AM on 09/28/2011

For somebody claiming to be an "African-American", you sure do know a lot about Africa I see.

Do yourself a favor and dont display that you have no idea what you are talking about. The next time you see a black African, ask him for example if people from say Southern Nigeria can distinguish themselves from Sahel people or Somalis.
You seem to have no idea what you are talking about