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Why is Obama called an African American when he's actually a Multi-Continental American?
I suppose this is more of a sociological / anthropological question, but it is an honest one--not trying to belittle anyone or anything. But I have several questions regarding racial identity.
1. I'm just wondering why we as a culture call anyone whose features look "black" (i.e. darker-skinned) African American? I would imagine we offend Jamaican or Haitian Americans all the time with our misnomer of them.
2. Furthermore, why is the identification of a mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity person usually with the minority, rather than identifying with the person's whole heritage (such as Obama being identified as an African American or my Native friends who are 1/4 Native identifying as Native American)?
3. And why do we subcategorize in the first place? For my part, I'm a multi-continental American, but I prefer just American (though I don't begrudge calling people whatever they wish to be called).
7 Answers
- jwthoughtsLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Dang. I would hate to list my heritage...Native, German, Dutch, Italian, African, (not sure how many more)-American.
I agree. I am an American.
- fdm215Lv 71 decade ago
He identifies as African American because quite frankly this has been the custom for 400 years in this country. It's not unusual for a biracial person to identify more with one culture than the other. I think younger people might be more likely to resist the push to "pick a side" and instead identify as biracial/multiracial.
Of course, when this same group was pushing to change standard forms to included a biracial/multiracial category, there was a lot of backlash!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Typical of the breakdown of our country....and the extremism of this "politically correct" nonsense. In my book, a person is either an American or from another country and has an allegiance to one or the other. Too much time spent on splintering our country rather than uniting it has degenerated our union as "Americans". Just that simple.
- ElleLv 61 decade ago
It's his choice. He identifies himself as African-American.
I agree that the term "African American" is kind of, well, silly. I don't identify myself as a German-English-Irish Native American.
Source(s): Obama's first book, in which he stated that he denounced his "whiteness" at the age of 12-13 years old. - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- slyham166Lv 61 decade ago
In America the closer you are considered to"Black" makes you damaged goods! That is in breaded in Americas fabric!Sub charectorizing is form of "Racism" on the down low! As per the U.S.Constitution "one drop" of" Black" blood from any culture,in America you are" Black"! Un pure. Wake up!.Thats why Hillary & Bill said Obama is unelectable! Pure "Racism". You can't hide that from a blind person!Only Hillary supporters! They know all to well!Black is Beuatifull Black & White together is "Great"!
Obama 2008!
Ebony & Ivory President!
Source(s): Black & White should go together in perfect Harmony! - 1 decade ago
in his heart he is nothing but a Muslim who wants to destroy the US to avenge Saddam Hussein, just watch and soon we will see him holding hands with Osama Bin Laden making a new plan to finish us!
