Obama is mixed races

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   PackSecureposted 13 years ago

   This article blew my mind, if it is true, I have lost any respect for Obama.  He should be proud of his multi-race.  Isn't the census supposed to be done accurately?  Opinions?
   
   ********
   
   It’s official: Obama is black
   President checks black, not black and white, on census form
   
   msnbc.com
   updated 5:01 a.m. ET, Sat., April 3, 2010
   He may be the world's foremost mixed-race leader, but when it came to the official government head count, President Barack Obama gave only one answer to the question about his ethnic background: African-American.
   
   The White House confirmed Friday that Obama did not check multiple boxes on his U.S. Census form, or choose the option that allows him to elaborate on his racial heritage. He ticked the box that says "Black, African Am., or Negro."
   
   Obama filled out the form on Monday, supplying information for himself, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, as well as for Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, who lives with the family in the White House.
   
   For Obama, whose mother Ann Dunham, a white woman from Kansas, married his father, Kenyan native Barack Obama Sr., the question of his racial identity has been a lifelong struggle. His first memoir, "Dreams From My Father," is an account of a difficult journey of discovery.
   
   Obama the community activist and then politician always self-identified as African-American, and he now wears the mantle of America's first black president with pride.
   
   On a visit to Ghana last year, he took his wife and daughters to see Gold Coast Castle, the one-time slave trading depot from which thousands of Africans were sent in shackles to a life of toil in the New World. The First Lady is descended from a South Carolina slave.
   
   'Half-white guy?'
   The president's multiracial heritage has been a subject for oceans of commentary in America and around the world. But it's also been a cause for teasing, and even satire.
   
   "The first black president!" exclaimed comedian Wanda Sykes at a dinner last year of the White House Correspondents' Association.
   
   "I'm proud to be able to say that. That's unless you screw up. And then it's going to be, 'What's up with the half-white guy?'"
   
   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36157764/ns … hite_house

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2. 92

   habeeposted 13 years ago

   I'm surprised that MSNBC would report anything about the POTUS that's the least bit negative, and they gave this a negative spin.
   
   I don't remember - is there even a box on the census for "mixed race"? I don't think this is a big deal, but I'm sure some will see it that way. I don't care if he's purple - I'm more interested in the type of leader he is.

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      PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There is a section that states "What is Person 1’s race? Mark "X" one or more boxes."

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         PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         There is a section that states "What is Person 1's race? Mark "X" one or more boxes."
         
         LOL that sure changed the way it copy pasted from the form.

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      AdsenseStrategiesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank God for a sane statement on the topic of Barack Obama.

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   In other words....who cares if he is mixed races. Big deal.

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      PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      It is not a matter of what race he is.  He is the leader of this country.  He sets an example for all.  If he cannot be proud of who he is, then what message does that send to the rest of the country.  Especially others of mixed race.

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         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         This topic isn't worth the discussion, because it deals with race.

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            PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It also deals with falsifying the census.

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               William R. Wilsonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               You are really reaching here.
               
               I'm mixed race/ethnicity too:  Irish, Scotch, Swedish, German, Native American... but I check white on the Census.  Who cares?

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                  PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  LOL, apparently the government cares or they would not be asking.

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                     PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     The form does not give options for any of the ethnicity you mention, except Indian and you need to list your enrolled tribe or principal tribe.

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               JOE BARNETTposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               pack it's because he is a communist ,socialist,christian,muslim ,shape shifting,left-handed,evil, anti-christ that wore tennis shoes sometimes, and they always put african american on their census forms, because their baaadd and not human!it's standard.

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                  Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Where has anyone on this thread said or implied anything negative about being African American? That is an offensively inappropriate suggestion.
                  
                  Why don't you stick to your anitgay agenda?

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                     JOE BARNETTposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     hey sab oh if you read the thread then you will see exactly why i wrote it. and why do you hide behind that mask. and how did you see me over there were you there too?
                     look sab my "opinion" is not going to be like yours and vice versa. if thats what you want then you are in the wrong place and if anger strikes you everytime you meet an opposing view, then you will be mad the rest of your life. i thought that was the fun of this place!the sparring!

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                     JOE BARNETTposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     sab have you seen my picture???? can you tell sarcasm when you hear it?

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                        Uninvited Writerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Sab/TK is not known for his recognition of sarcasm, satire or irony.

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            Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Race isn't worth discussing? That's a real helpful attitude...

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               Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Yeah, labels...you know?

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                  Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Nonsense. Avoiding topics doesn't solve anything, and we use labels all the time. It is childish to avoid them.

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         sandra rinckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I am mixed races and can understand it, why can't you?

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      mod2vintposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree who cares.

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         sandra rinckposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I also agree.

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         Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Apparently the president cares

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4. 92

   habeeposted 13 years ago

   Hi, Cags!

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hey Habee, How are you today? I hope you're doing well, like I am.

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   Sab Ohposted 13 years ago

   It is too bad he seems to have issues with his identity.

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6. 77

   Arthur Fontesposted 13 years ago

   When questioned about race on forms my question is always
   
   "Where is the box for human?"

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   TheGlassSpiderposted 13 years ago

   Shape-shifting? That's a new one by me.

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   prettydarkhorseposted 13 years ago

   Mixed race me, Spanish and Filipino!
   
   Race is a useless social issue~ The color of our blood is the same!

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   Uninvited Writerposted 13 years ago

   Starting to grow out of legitimate ideas to attack Obama with?
   
   Wait...I think some ran out of those months ago...

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    earnestshubposted 13 years ago

    This thread is meaningless to me.
    Who gives a flying fig what colour the President of any country is?

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       tantrumposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       The colour is not important.
       Sincerity  is
       
       One thing he lacks.
       
       Everybody will find out soon.
       Pity is that's going to be too late.

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       PackSecureposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I NEVER said I cared about his color, I said he should be PROUD of his multi-race.  That is a far cry different.

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          Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          You're right, and he should be. It would even be politically wise, as mixed racial people are the fastest growing demographic in the country. But I guess he's got his agenda...

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       LiamBeanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Sab Oh and others apparently.

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          Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          TK doesn't actually "care" about any issue or non-issue; he just can't help himself.

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    Colebabieposted 13 years ago

    But isn't race socially constructed? It is what you identify with/as. Or what people see you as. What do you think Halle Berry, Alicia Keys, Ann Curry, Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, or Dwayne Johnson put?
    
    It doesn't matter. Race is a stupid question to ask anyways. I suppose I understand why it is asked, but still a dumb question.

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       Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       "But isn't race socially constructed?"
       
       No, but attitudes toward it are.

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          Colebabieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          So who came up with the terms "white" or "black" or "African American"?
          
          Race isn't socially constructed? Really? Black typically means your origin is from where? And white?
          
          My friend is white and from South Africa. What does he put? (He put African American by the way)

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             Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             "So who came up with the terms "white" or "black" or "African American"?"
             
             Who came up with the terms "apple" or "desk" or "purple"? They're words. Pretending that race doesn't exist solves exactly nothing at all. It's beyond childish to imagine that ignoring words that describe different races will solve even one racial problem. Would MLK or Malcolm X say they were black or would they say they were not because there is no such thing as 'black'?

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                Colebabieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                I'm not gonna sit here and say that it isn't important to recognize that we are all different and to acknowledge our heritage and cultures. But race is a little different.
                
                The reason why I asked about the words is because race is based on how others see you and on how you see yourself. Maybe which "race" you identify yourself more with. It is just up to the person if they want to identify with the skin color or the heritage. Most people just see skin color, and thats pretty dumb. So most people just identify with skin color.

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       woolman60posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I will try to make it simple, if you own 51% of your company you are the majority owner, this basically means you have more stock then the others do, right.
       Now Obama might have a majority of African American, due to family bloodlines so he goes with that, and what is really crazy about this is, it is the  Presidents choice, it does not affect me, I have no problem with it.
       However people look for reasons for the President to fail, and who really cares he is the President, voted in by the people, and does anyone really think that if something was not right with him they would of did something about it before the election, and if they didn't that would mean that the Democrats and Republicans, wanted Obama to be our President, and  that would change what everyone thinks about Health Care. Think about that.
       
       Please do not think that I am making fun, I am just giving my thought.
       with respect always

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    Kenrick Chatmanposted 13 years ago

    In America, if you are mixed with Black... people will say you are either Black or African-American.
    
    For example: Tiger Woods is the first African-American X, X , or X. He is also Asian as well.
    
    I am half Black and half Asian as well. However, a good portion of people view me as an African-American since they believe I am mixed with Black and White....

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       Colebabieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       So would you say that race is socially constructed?

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          Kenrick Chatmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          In America especially in the South... Black, African-American, Negro, Colored (coloured), and other terms are used to describe people of African descent.
          
          I have been called one of the smart "colored" ones by several older White Americans in my lifetime. 
          
          

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             habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Like the way Biden referred to Obama in the primary??

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                Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                At least he didn't call him a big F***ing negro.

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                   earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   I still wonder who Biden is. He does resemble Maxwell Smart sometimes though.

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                      wyanjenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                      
                      You are astute.

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             woolman60posted 13 years agoin reply to this

             What you find to be cute in your sign I find to be sarcastic with a racial undertone; I am not sure who you are directing your meaning towards, or maybe I am reading it wrong, but I will respect your thoughts and what you have to say.

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                Kenrick Chatmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                It is tied to the "one drop rule." If you are an American do not try to pretend you do not know what I am talking about.

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                   woolman60posted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   I do not pretend anything my friend, it is not always about race, it is about morals, which I have , and yes I did vote for Obama and proud of it, so please try not to judge every book by its cover, like so many people do.
                   with respect

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                      Kenrick Chatmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                      And what are you exactly talking about?
                      
                      I responded to your comment: "What you find to be cute in your sign I find to be sarcastic with a racial undertone..."

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    Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years ago

    See?

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    habeeposted 13 years ago

    I've always wondered why people who are half black, half white are identified as black. Anyone know?

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       Colebabieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       It is how people see them affecting how they see themselves.

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       Kenrick Chatmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Maybe because some in the majority do not like seeing their own date someone outside their own race, especially an individual of African descent.
       
       I remember when the Steelers won the first of their two Super Bowls in the 2000s. Several Koreans in S. Korea were proud of the MVP Hines Ward (who is half Black and half Korean).
       
       However, when he was a child... several Koreans used to spit at his mother (who is Korean) or say nasty things to her due to Hines Ward.

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       wyanjenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       It's the "one drop rule".

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          earnestshubposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          That is one zealous rule!

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             wyanjenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             One drop of blood from an African ancestor is enough to qualify you as black, according to the one drop rule.

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       Ralph Deedsposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Well, the fraternity I belonged to in college had in its national constitution or bylaws something known as "the clause" which prohibited any one from joining who had 1/8 or more Negro or Jewish ancestry. For many years the chapter I belonged to introduced a motion at the national meeting to delete "the clause." Finally, in the 1960s it was deleted from my fraternity's constitution and that of others as universities threatened that they would be banned if they didn't stop discriminating. (I'm ashamed of the fact that I joined the organization.)

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    Colebabieposted 13 years ago

    I see what you're saying woolman, I guess you just described it in a different way.

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    Anolindeposted 13 years ago

    I am mixed race (half white, half Asian) and would personally choose to check the box "mixed race" if it were available.  Last time I had to fill out a form where they ask about race, I put Asian/Pacific Islander because I feel (and look) more Asian than I do white (strictly racially speaking because I am a proud US citizen).  I don't remember having the option of checking more than one box, but if that were an option, I would have checked one box for white and one box for Asian.
    
    I don't know why Obama chose to only check Black.  I guess he only identifies with his Black ancestry?  It doesn't really matter to me, though.  There are many, many other things to not like about him!

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       Sab Ohposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       " I would have checked one box for white and one box for Asian."
       
       Exactly. And the form provides for just that.

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