Barack Obama is Not Black

In this supposed "Post Racial" age of Obama you would think that the silly concept of race would simply ease its way into obscurity. And I am not even talking about the stupidity of racism that has in some ways gotten worse as so many on the far right have simply lost their minds at seeing an African-American family in The White House.

No, I'm talking about our concept of race itself. The fact is that we have what some see as the first black president (sorry Bill Clinton) and what others rightfully recognize as our first bi-ethnic president, since Obama is undeniably not all or mostly black, he is half. Now I know to some, both blacks and whites, as silly and erroneous as it is to say it, half black simply means all black. This notion is the result of the concept of white ethnic purity which lead to the age-old but still going strong "one drop rule" that states, quite simply, no matter how stupid and wrong, that one drop of black blood makes you black. Frankly, I am still amazed that blacks accept this as much as whites do even though it means our blood is somehow tainted. But then again, I do know that for blacks, the acceptance is rooted in two things, one being the need to keep our numbers up for statistics and the other that any mixed person who does not unequivocally state that they are black is somehow ashamed of being black. So one is based on choosing to be inaccurate and the other based on self-esteem issues.

Ironically, the concept of race, which is a pseudo-scientific concoction anyway, has gotten more muddled of late than it has gotten better. I remember years ago people of mixed background had no choice on what to check off on demographic surveys that forced them to pick sides. Then came the "Other" category. An improvement in a way, but who wants to be "Other?" Well, thanks to a number of groups making sure the U.S. Census made more effort to be accurate in our rapidly changing society, one that is decidedly more mixed than it was just a few years ago, the choices increased. So we made progress. Right?

Well, just a couple of weeks ago I got my middle school kids' registration papers and, of course, there was the obligatory demographic survey for us to fill out. Much to my surprise and chagrin, the form proved that whoever is responsible for determining our governmental concept of that term "race" has gotten even more confused.

The form was simple enough in design, being a simple one pager. The top section asked you to fill out your "Ethnicity," for which you had but two choices. Ethnically, you were either Hispanic or non-Hispanic. That was the extent of all the world's ethnicities. Mind you, our kids go to a school that has over 30 languages spoken in it -- from Russian to Japanese to Armenian to Spanish to English and much more. But ethnically you were simply Hispanic or non-Hispanic.

Now the second and last section was even more interesting. In the infinite wisdom of the powers that be who try to define "race," the second section offered many choices. In this section, you were to pick your "race." Oh, oh, there is that pseudo-scientific word again. So much to my surprise, "race" now was defined by choices like these -- Japanese, Philippino, Chinese, Indian, etc., and of course there was black and white. White was seemingly the catch all for the Persian, Armenian, Iranian and other Middle Eastern kids who did not have categories of boxes for their "race." Why Asian's had countries for race and others didn't I had no idea.

I was flabbergasted. What used to be ethnicities and cultures were now separate races. And if you think I was confused my wife, who is Mexican American, was really thrown off. Of course, on the top of the form she could check 'Hispanic." But on the bottom there were no categories for "Mexican American" or "Mexican" or anything that related to a country of origin, though there was such for many Asian countries. Was she supposed to check "white," which she is certainly not?

And for our kids, who are half Hispanic and half non-Hispanic, which box should they have checked on the top of the form? And on the bottom they only had "black" but nothing to represent their mother.

Oh boy, this sure didn't seem like progress. It was pure unadulterated silliness. Many, many people, and the numbers are growing, cannot simply be defined by these stupid boxes. When will we let go of the concept of "race" that does nothing but continue to entrap us all in believing that that which is not real is way more than it needs to be?

Barack Obama is both black and white and he is neither black nor white, and he is mixed and he is half. He is all of those things and he is none of those things. They are simply labels that we use to make life supposedly simpler even though in the end, they make it much more complicated. It is stupid and I don't choose to participate in the silliness.

By the way we checked both boxes, Hispanic and non-Hispanic and we checked black and added a box for Mexican-American for the bottom.

Follow Earnest Harris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/earnestharris

Comments

[Knowitall]

What would we all be saying if Barack Obama had spent his life (actually wasting his time), claiming that he was white (only) and denying his black appearance? He would be laughed off the scene. He is accepting the reality of life in America. In America, he would be a black man if nobody knew his name. Why enter the public arena and insist on being called white or "mixed"? He would still be walking the streets of Chicago, or back in Hawaii, and John McCain and Sarah Palin would be running the country. (I digress)

All African Americans whose ancestors in this country pre-date the civil war, are "mixed". In fact, African-Americans with that lineage ARE the "bi-racial" "race" in this country. It just didn't start happening when Halle Berry or Alicia Keys came on the scene.

So I think the headline for this article is silly. The writer was frustrated because of his experience with a school form. Maybe I missed it, but had I seen a form that had places to check for "Hispanic", or "non-Hispanic", I would have immediately thought they were trying to determine how many Hispanics were enrolling--nothing more. Then I probably wouldn't have checked anything until I found out why they needed that information.

[dynwit]

This is precisely why a majority of Repubs believe that Obama is a Muslim--because if his father was Arab then Obama must also be Arab, and if you are Arab then you are also Muslim. We no longer have the ability to distinguish between nationality, race, culture, etc. Not that we should HAVE to distinguish between them. No one actually HAS to answer any question about race on any government document. You are allowed to leave that part blank.

[Knowitall]

dynwit, "Muslim" is a religion. Has nothing to do with race or ethnicity or being "Arab". Pres. Obama's father was from Kenya, a Kenyan. Not an Arab an African. However being "Arab" doesn't necessarily mean you are a Muslim. That's probably why a "majority of Repubs" should leave this subject alone.

[ItsMickeyBricksBaby]

Barack Obama is a black man. Why do you feel the need to tell him who he isn't, in order to justify how you classify and define your kids? Ernest, please.

President Obama, Halle Berry, Alisha Keyes, Mario Van Peoples, and Lenny Kravitz, have a white and a black parent. And they all refer to themselves as "black". As the poster Gogetter commented on this thread: "race in America isn't about science or genealogy, it's a political and social designation. And anyone with the faintest trace of "black" ancestry and a hint of "blackness" in his or her appearance is considered black..." This is true.

You will always have some folks with "interracial parentage" saying they're just "a person", but the realities of the society and world we live in says otherwise. Has Barack Obama ever disowned his "white half"? No. Has Barack Obama not spoken eloquently and movingly about his white grandparents? No. He is, to use his own words, "a black man who was raised by my white grandparents, and white mother."

I'm Latino. Like Gov. Richardson of New Mexico, I have a Latino father and white mother. And, like him, I designate myself "Latino". Not because I am ashamed of my mom. I'm not. But because of my appearance, and how I've been received in society. I know my "dual heritage", and I'm proud of it. But again, its about " it's a political and social designation".

[Alexander2791]

The central point of the author's article is that race shouldn't be about political or social designation. Obama and yourself are both biracial whether you like it or not. This is the unadulterated truth, but you are at liberty to check whatever box you want or chose the race you want. Do not let society decide who you are. This is the true test of self-esteem.

[eciaccio]

View "Race: The Power of an Illusion"

[ESerafina42]

Did a SCHOOL actually spell "Filipino" with a "Ph"?

To say nothing of the race/ethnicity hodgepodge - that's really sad.

[YunekFlava]

But you, Earnest Harris are a black man. Now what? What?

[Nommo]

Hmmmm, don't tell him that!

[Earnest Harris - Huffpost Blogger]

Indeed I am a proud Black man. Never questioned it nor would I want to. The issue on the table that is being overlooked by a lot of the comments here is that we need to look at the very definition of race itself. As it is defined it makes no sense for anybody.

I get it. What many posters here seem to believe is that by claiming that other half, or choosing to acknowledge it by refusing to be just Black, the Mixed person must be ashamed. Much like some think I am for even mentioning this. Is it also possible that it is simply about trying to be honest aout what is real? How a person that is 50% one thing and 50% another, all of a sudden 100% of one is simply strange and I hope we also recognize it is not really beneficial to us either to accept such a notion. And I am not talking about the fact that most Blacks (and others) have different mixtures in their heritage. I am talking about people who are fully half one thing and half another. As I said in the piece, Obama is indeed Black. So he can indeed call himself what he wants. But to deny he is equally White is just ignoring the truth no matter what we or someone else chooses to believe.

Thanks for the comments.

[Alexander2791]

Brother, you absolutely correct and I agree with you 100%. Let the ignoramuses think what they want, but raise your kids to believe that they are biracial. Let your kids eventually make their own decision and feel free to dismiss the black politicians with a statistician agenda. Their definition of self-esteem is as misplaced and incorrect as that of race.

[Nommo]

How is it relevant, one way or the other, that he is "equally White"? Did Black people come up with the "one drop" nonsense? Did Black people come up with these categories and classifications? Rather, we have been the victim of these notions of "race". Such classifying served the purpose of dictating who was eligible to go to school, be hired, even where one might live.

Who does it fall on to do away or begin the conversation of doing away with these things? When people repeat Dr. King's content of character statement, do they really know what the man was talking about? This system of classifying people serves one purpose and one purpose alone. When things go awry, someone has to be blamed. If the system in place defines one and all and differentiates one and all, then one's gotta be good and the other, bad.

Where one stands depends upon where one sits.

[Gogetter]

The author wrote: "Barack Obama is both black and white and he is neither black nor white, and he is mixed and he is half. He is all of those things and he is none of those things. They are simply labels that we use to make life supposedly simpler even though in the end, they make it much more complicated. It is stupid and I don't choose to participate in the silliness.­"

So does Obama get any say in the matter? Or is it completely up to you?
And if Obama were an ax murderer instead of POTUS, would there be so many white and biracial people promoting his "white half"?

If Obama wasn't a such a recognizable figure, would his "white-half" prevent him from being bypassed by taxis, or racially profiled by police, or followed in stores by security guards? Probably not.

The fact is, race in America isn't about science or genealogy, it's a political and social designation. And anyone with the faintest trace of "black" ancestry and a hint of "blackness" in his or her appearance is considered black and, for better or worse, that's how society responds to them.

[blaqntelligence]

Makes sense to me........

[lorsavus]

Please stop with the Obama is not black meme. Did he not state that he identifies himself as a black man? What is your point?

I am a black woman, my ex is white. Our son is mixed. I can assure you that despite his appearance­...light skin, straight hair...he is considered a black man.

[S1m0n]

If we didn't have race, we'd all be discrinimating on the basis of hair colour or height. Sorting the world into "us" and "them" is one of the universals of human behaviour.

[cgr]

I've been saying this to anyone who would listen, tired of hearing about the "first black President", etc. As he is half white, half black, who decided which half defines him? One idiot woman said, well he is black skinned, as if that solved it. I answered, no, he's brown, and I've seen blond surfers at the beach with darker skins than his. Really, can't we all just grow up and get over all this stupidity? Guess not, but oh, what a wonderful world it would be. Thanks for your post. If it awakens one mind, one heart, it'll be worth it.

[AfroLatina21]

Well you're going to keep hearing about the first black President.­..because that's what he is and that's what he identifies as....

[We-Are-The-Ones]

There is not a Black person who is native born who is truly "black." There was too much forced racial mixing during slavery. Thus, trying to claim that the President is not Black because his mother is white, suggest a complete and utter ignorance of history.

Obama is Black because this society deems him to be so. This is true of every dark hued person. Even many Hispanics are deemed Black by visual inspection because of color of skin.

Obama is also Black because he clams this heritage.

Regardless of your DNA and genetics, whether you or your children are deemed Black or not will depend on an instantaneous visual idenfication. Nothing more.

Welcome to America.

[Knowitall]

Co-signed.

[sixyfivepercentwater]

Obviously we are all one race. And just as obviously, we all come from mixed cultural backgrounds. The fact that Obama's cultural heritage causes him to have skin which is not white and not black is a moderately interesting facet of his entire makeup, but in no way qualifies him or disqualifies him for public office or says anything about his interior workings.

I was appalled by the blacks who voted for Obama simply because he was "one of them." No, he was not. Obama as an individual had almost nothing in common with the average person, black or white. Obama is and always has been one of the extremely privileged few in this country, blessed by an amazing intellect and the wherewithal and drive to hone his skills to the highest level. Those who voted for Obama based on the color of his skin were just as misguided as those who refused to vote for him on the same basis, and just as blindly racist.

If the color of our skin does not matter - and of course it's absurd that it should - then let's stop paying attention to skin color. Let's refuse to fill in forms which ask such questions. Let's call people on their assumptions when they talk about race.

And please let's move on to the real issues we need to be dealing with.

[Nommo]

What Black people known to you voted for Pres. Obama because, as you put it, he was 'one of them'?
And if they did, so what? Given the alternative, any reason for voting for him was legit. So what, by your estimation, was the reasoning in previous elections when none of the candidates for POTUS was Black? Are you suggesting that white voters are possessed of some intelligence that does not allow for reasons of identification?

Hell, if there were any sense operating in these matters, Dennis Kucinich would be in the forefront.

[Knowitall]

What an INSULT to black people, white people, and all other people, all over this country who chose to vote for Pres. Obama because he was the best candidate, who exhibited all the gifts you outlined in your post.

He offered a different direction for this country, a fresh new vision of the American dream--that is why most people voted for him. This country was on the brink of economic disaster, our image abroad was dangerously tainted, politics had turned ugly and arrogant, and the needs of the vast majority of the people were being ignored along with other priorities, from the environment to modern views on science and technology.

What was McCain/Palin offering to address these issues? Joe the Plumber? Drill Here, Drill Now?

The choice was easy. Do Not come and insult all of us now by telling us that our choice was based on race. Most considered his race a fortuitous Bonus. There was NO OTHER CHOICE!!

[sixyfivepercentwater]

You are reacting with great outrage to things I did not say and do not believe. I agree that Obama was the only rational choice, and I think he's an excellent president. I was also present for all of the history you mention, and then some. I fail to see how expressing my opinion can be an insult to anyone.

[AfroLatina21]

Here we go again...

President Obama identifies as black so therefore he will be labeled black. The majority of blacks who are descendants of slaves are not "all black", so with that being said should we apply the same rule you and others are doing with Obama, and label them not black??? Look at Henry Louis Gates he had a DNA test done that shows that he is 50% European the same exact mix as Obama, so should we label him as being "not black"...

[sixyfivepercentwater]

How about if we dispense with labels and regard everyone as a human being?

[Knowitall]

Good Luck on that one.