Obama : Black Man Only or Multi-Racial Icon?

So like everyone else I watched the Inauguration all day while entertaing the idea of Daniel one day being the first “Asian” president. LOL. So, I found it interesting that everyone keep saying our first “black” president. That people felt that “finally there’s a black man in the white houese” and that “we’re making progress racially as a nation, race will no longer be such an issue, etc, etc, etc”.  But how true is this?  Have we really progressed racially?

President Obama hugged his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, at her December 2003 wedding to Konrad Ng (Chinese) in Hawaii.

First Obama might not be the “first” black president. It’s long been rumored that Abraham Lincoln might have had some black in him . Which could futher be argued that Obama is not out first bi-racial president. Which I’ve noticed was a fact majorly downplayed by the media. The fact that Obama had a white mother, asian stepfather, hapa sister and a diverse cultural background was on no channel I could find. To be fair, maybe I missed something while switching channels but I doubt it.

Obama doing a "shaka", a common greeting in hawii.

Adding to this none of the Inauguration “guest commentors” included these facts either. The most I could find that even hinted at Obamas diversity was a float from Hawii and a photo highlight of his school years in Hawii. Both ridiclously brief and if you were channel surfing you would have missed them. Sadly, they did make a comment about his middle name and his influence within the muslim community and what they might mean *rolling my eyes*. But leave it to Obama to make his history know by doing something that might seem insignificant but made a large statement in my mind. He did a “shaka“, a common greeting in hawii. My man did not forget his roots and culture. I can respect a man like that.

Obama Family's MultiCultural Roots

I can’t help feeling it was a media blackout (pun intended) about his bi-racial background. So while it’s of course great to have a minority president,  the issue that he’s being boxed in as being only “black” shows we’re not as racially progressive as it all might seem. Maybe by the time Daniel is ready to run for president racial issues might be further along on the road of not being racial “issues”.

Later Edit: I found a news article that addressed this issue.

Nation’s Many Faces in Extended First Family
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/21family.htm (link opens in new window)

Credit for the photos highlighted in the blog is all theirs, but literal witty writing is all mine

DNA and Race – Black or Asian?

DNA and racial identification.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/12/us/12genes.html? _r=1

The idea that people are using DNA results to qualify for affirmative action, college admissions and scholarships and membership in wealthy casino tribes.

There’s alot of comments going back and forth in one of the mixed race groups I’m part of online. At first whenever convos start on whether affirmative action is a good or bad thing I could only think of myself. I mean hell yeah it’s a good thing if it gives me an extra boost in areas where being “black” meant being passed over or limited. Now after having my son my views on affirmative action has expanded in an unexpected way.

A few months ago one of my sisters bf, Kevin had some very interesting things to say about Daniel and my insistence that he can claim being black. Seems Kevin thinks if Daniel doesn’t look black then no one will think he is. He felt that Daniel will never be allowed into…

- The projects…unless he’s delivering food
- Basketball court…unless he’s with black friends.
- Howard University…unless he can prove his blackness by taking me along

Now, I tend to take uneducated comments like this in stride. No sense trying to explain something’s to some people. But it did make me wonder about colleges and such. I mean of course I want Daniel to go to college but it’s not cheap so I can use all the help I can get right? But what happens after filling out the applications, getting all the required paperwork and Daniel has to go in for the face to face interview? Will they say he’s a faker to the claim of “black-hood”? Can he claim protection under the umbrella of affirmative action? What happens when having 50% of black blood doesn’t show? Will Daniel have to walk around with DNA evidence to not only prove that he’s black but he’s also entitled to all the rights that come with it…if he chooses to claim them that is. He might just claim to be Asian and get into college that way. Shyt, No problems there right?

Hmm, I only have questions with no answers…but maybe Daniel and I will have to make our own answers.

Race and Politics : How far have we come?

Blacks and Blasians voting for Obama

Today is a great day…Daniel and I get to vote. It’s truth that Daniel is still too young to vote but being a US citizen, he will be able to one day so best to learn the process now. Not to mention I wanted him to share in the support of voting for our first minority presidental canadate. Yeah man.

So we get to the school, sign up and get ready to cast our ballot. While waiting at the booth this older women comes up to me and starts touching Daniel. Well I know he’s cute but she didn’t even ask if she could. I was annoyed but grin and bared it. I’m in the middle of making history so no time for being annoyed…until she had the nerve to ask me the famous question I’ve gotten since he was born…is that your baby?

*sigh*

I said yes he is…then she said, ‘I don’t believe you, he’s not your baby.”  What? What! This strange women is touching my baby and telling me he’s not mine. I immediately took her hand away from Daniel and said…well if you don’t believe me then don’t touch my child. I guess she thought I was joking cause she kept trying to touch him again and I kept blocking her. We stood there doing the touch and block in front the voting booth in front of a room full of people.

Eventually it was our turn to vote and I escaped into the booth but I was struck with this thought…here we are as a nation trying to elect a bi-racial president but most of us are still not racial aware or open. I would think having all that mixed race dialogue and info swirling around would open some people’s minds. I guess making the leap from a white women having a bi-racial child to a black women having a bi-racial child is still a bit much for some people. No matter…Daniel and I have already taken part in history.