WaPo Reporter Apologizes For Calling Obama "Much More White Than Black"

In an online chat last week, Washington Post reporter Jonathan Weisman said of Obama:

He really did not become immersed in black American culture until he left college and went to Chicago. The great irony is that he is much more white than black, beyond skin color.

After reader complaints, Weisman apologizes:

I was trying to say that chronologically, Obama spent his entire childhood either in the white environment of an elite Hawaii prep school or in Indonesia. But frankly, I'm not defending myself. It was a really stupid, insensitive comment, and I have apologized for it to the people who have e-mailed me.

Read the entire chat with Weisman here.

Comments

[c3m]

Something to live by...........

"Put your brain in gear before opening your mouth!"

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I'll preface my comment by saying that I am a genetics counselor, so I like getting into the geeky biology stuff.......

You are never genetically "more" of one thing than another. You are the sum of your absolutely super cool awesome individual parts. Each person is genetically unique (unless you're an identical twin/triplet/etc.)....that is what makes us fantastic!

Having said that, to reduce a person to what they look like, what their parents look like, where they went to school or how much arugula they eat for lunch is ridiculous. That speaks more to the weakness and inadequacies of the messenger, not the person.

Go out and enjoy your uniqueness people!

[heal57]

Okay, we forgive you.

[max]

He's 0% more white than black. What a small minded fool...

[RJII]

this is a non issue to me. He's a person with both racial backgrounds. Hey, let's put Obama in a pool and see if he can swim.

[Lupin77]

For the record, Obama only spent 3 years in Jakarta, Indonesia as a child - from 6 to 9 years of age while his mother was teaching at the US Embassy there.

[Rita1]

Retooling the brain to get away from seeing the obvious, and then speaking it , is difficult when you're older, but younger columnists are also getting swept up by the PC police. The younger are said to be far less biased than their parents generation. The brain's fascination with a viable, and dark skinned candidate for president, both happening at the same time, is a "no -no" for discussion apparently. I didn't read the article but like very much to read the discussion on the generational differences on the subject of racial appreciation. How's that, for a new term that is PC??

[Retrofuturistic]

At this point, after Obama cozied up to the evangelicals and stated his plan to continue a form of George Bush's faith-based initiatives, I would call him more of an appeaser than a savior. If he cannot fully support the separation of church and state, he does not have my vote.

[AnotherTry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4RgIc02QY4

[Revrob56]

I wonder what he thinks or thought about Ralph Nader's "he's talking white."

[ARTIST50]

Could we go one newsday and not talk about Obama's race? Do you think that would be a possibility? I am so sick of hearing about it - what difference does it make. Get over it!

[speedy2009]

I dont think he meant to be offensive.

[Revrob56]

I think you mean he didn't know that what he said was offensive. I think he does now. Or I hope he does.

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

Revrob56.....you're right on.

The one thing that has really stood out thus far in this election year is how out of touch reporters are with others that don't share their own background or experiences. He may not have intentionally been offensive, but it shows that if you're going to try to make some hip political statement that you may want to actually KNOW what you're saying first.

[BigBen]

How may I ask is a reflection on Obama's up bringing and stating that he was brought up by white parents an insult?Obama has revealed all that information. Was he insulting by revealing it?

[WRPrintz]

How long before the return of the "code of honor" where we can all duel each other over the slightest hic-up of manners or wording.

"I challenge you...to a duel!" slap.

[XME]

We have become obsessed with the words that people speak, rather than the intent that was meant. Clearly the man could have stated things better, but I think what really matters is that he wasn't indending what he said as a slight or to be damaging. I realize this had been a sensitive campaign year with a woman and an African American in the race as front-runners, but we're only making matters worse with the constant "gotcha"s.

[Revrob56]

I think as a country we need to begin to understand that "words matter". While I agree Imus' last statement about Pacman Jones was misunderstood and overreacted to by many, this case and Nader's statements were not in my opinion.

[IQ]

"The Audacity of Random Folks to define Who and what A Black Man is" never fails to astound.

Wars(social, cultural, with arms and the mundane daily variety) have been, and continue to be fought, in order for Black People in America to define their own existence. ALL of YOU who think YOU should have the RIGHT to tell him that he is not BLACK are still living in an era that has passed.

He has chosen and embraced African American culture as his own, while not denying his total heritage. He didn't come to this as some epiphany. Sen Obama has said that before becoming a Presidential candidate when walking down the street as a boy, a young Man, as an Ivy League graduate and Yes as a US Senator, he was seen by the world as a Black Man. THE AFRICAN AMERICAN community welcomed him and the culture welcomed him and made him feel 'at home'.

Race is a social construct because taking into consideration the 500+year history of undocumented interracial 'relations'(much of it the legacy of slavery) and considering Sen. Obama's Father is of direct African-Kenyan decent, Obama has a closer genealogical tie to Africa than most Americans that are seen as Black by the great majority of Americans.

[Scarllatti]

Hey, leave this guy alone. I do not think he meant any harm. His is just a clumsy expression like the much vaunted "bitter-gate". I understand what he meant. No offense.

[Michael45]

"He really did not become immersed in black American culture until he left college and went to Chicago. The great irony is that he is much more white than black, beyond skin color."

I really don't see what is so offensive about that comment. Taking the statement itself as a whole, it's basically true. Nothing stupid about it. Ironically, many African Americans would probably agree with it. I think the reporter was just basically bullied by some oversensitive Obama supporters to apologize.

[LisainNYC]

The offensive part of the statement is the implication that "black culture" means hanging out with black friends and working as a community organizer but "white culture" means doing well in school, having a high paying job, and having a respected position in society.

Maybe the reporter meant no harm but he was still completely off base and factually wrong. Walking down the street as a black child, a black teenager or a black college student IS, in fact, "being black." Being one of two black pupils at an elite prep school is not "being white" it is being a smart, successful student who is made very much aware that he is physically different from the others.

And perhaps the reporter apologized because he actually examined the faulty and stereotypical assumptions that were behind his statement, not because he was "bullied by some oversensitive Obama supporters."

[BigBen]

What you have described is the facts of the matter. Ask Barack or Bill Cosby and they will explain the culture of the absent black father.