Obama Checks "Black" On His Census Form

[Lemur]

The Spanish structured their entire American empire on a "one drop rule." Even people of Spanish decent born in the western hemisphere were considered lower class than "peninsular" Spaniards.

And if we were discussing your status in Spain, that would be entirely relevant. However, the thread is about the President's ethnic status on the U.S. census, which inspired your smug aside about how being 1/16th Spanish means you should call yourself Hispanic. Also, the article I linked to disagrees with your glib summation of the entire history of South America:

The one-drop rule is nearly unique to the United States and relates both to the Southern oppressive culture and other discrimination after general emancipation of slaves, as well as the Black Power Movement of the 20th century. People in most other countries tend to treat race less rigidly, both in their self-identification and how they regard others. Just as a person with physically recognizable sub-Saharan ancestry can claim to be black in the United States, someone with recognizable Caucasian ancestry may be considered white in Brazil.

In the caste system of colonial Spanish America, a racial and class hierarchy developed in the society. Many soldiers and explorers took indigenous women as wives, but in time, upper class men were able to bring Spanish women to the colonies. Combined with the Iberian purity of blood rules, the hierarchy classified those with pure Spanish blood and wealth at the top. For the rest, the status of a mixed-race person would be determined by the proportion of "white blood"; an elaborate system classified the combinations of black, Amerindian and white by different names. A proportion of Spanish (white) ancestry was enough to position a person above (or later, African.) Racial caste not only depended on ancestry or skin color, but also could be raised or lowered by the person's economical fortune. After the abolition of slavery and Latin American independence, the caste divisions blurred into wider groups.

[KukriKhan]

Mr. O. grew up (partly) in Hawai'i. There, to qualify for some nativist assistance programs, you have to document 25-50% Hawai-ian-ness. To qualify for a net-fishing license (everybody else has to use a pole and line) you must show 1/16th Hawai'ian-ness. So, there is some precedent to the 1/16th "rule" (I think I've read similar requirements for Navajo, Apache and other SW US natives for qualifying for programs).

Anyway, Obama picking "Black" reflects his personal identification since he left the islands, I guess, even though none of his ancestors were ever slaves. According to family legend I'd be 1/32nd Chippewa (a great grandma married to a French-Canadian ancestor), but I didn't check "Native American" on the census - not cuz I'm ashamed of great-grannie (to the contrary) but I know I don't much look Chippewa, more Irish-French. I really wanted to scrawl "American!!" in black crayon on the form, but figgered I'd get a vist from a Fed if I did. Then I'd hafta yell at him, kick him off the property, then the black choppers would come, and...

[PanzerJaeger]

@ Lemur - What, exactly, does the one-drop rule have to do with anything? Are you suggesting Obama's decision to only identify as black has anything to do with it?

Anyway, "Barry" was white in High School when it suited him, became black to get into college, stayed black to get ahead in Chicago politics, varied between black and white on the campaign trail depending on his audience, and now he's just black again because it fits into his civil rights hero narrative and he needs blacks to come out strong in 2010. Look for white Barry (without Harry Reid's famed "negro accent") to make another appearance around 2012.

[LittleGrizzly]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Anyway, "Barry" was white in High School when it suited him, became black to get into college, stayed black to get ahead in Chicago politics, varied between black and white on the campaign trail depending on his audience, and now he's just black again because it fits into his civil rights hero narrative and he needs blacks to come out strong in 2010. Look for white Barry (without Harry Reid's famed "negro accent") to make another appearance around 2012

Sounds somewhat like I treat my nationality, half english half welsh, big football fan. At a young age (about 8 in '94) I realised wales were pretty poor in international football (never made it to a tournement in my lifetime) so i switched my alliegance over to england (ironically they also didn't qualify for this tournement) for the sake of watching international football* Now if I ever stood for election in Wales I would probably say im welsh if asked or I thought it would help, though for any forms I fill in I always put my nationality as English.... except for my university application forms as I would have been charged more for not being Welsh.

So im pretty much as happy to swop and change my nationality as Obama, and seemingly as happy to deny my welsh background as he is his white background*. It indicates to me that he cares as much about race as I do about nationality (not at all)

He like me is just happy to use it for its advantages but then there are disadvantages, for one you may be somewhat unaccepted by both groups (I was always considered Welsh in England and English in Wales) the people who have more extreme thinking about race may wish to exclude this mixed person from being part of thier race. So as far as im concerned you deserve the little advantages you get being partially in 2 groups as you usually lose out along the way as well...

*Im not ashamed of my welsh background and I doubt Obama's ashamed of his white background...

One more little note I think Obama's black side comes from his father who left him, my English side came from my father who left me, I do think this somewhat pushed me more towards english as some symptom of missing him....

I can't seem to help but talk about myself, it seems logical though that Obama possibly uses it in a similar way (and I think thats fair enough)

Contains what Sasaki said below only in about 300 words instead

[Sasaki Kojiro]

@ Lemur - What, exactly, does the one-drop rule have to do with anything? Are you suggesting Obama's decision to only identify as black has anything to do with it?

Anyway, "Barry" was white in High School when it suited him, became black to get into college, stayed black to get ahead in Chicago politics, varied between black and white on the campaign trail depending on his audience, and now he's just black again because it fits into his civil rights hero narrative and he needs blacks to come out strong in 2010. Look for white Barry (without Harry Reid's famed "negro accent") to make another appearance around 2012.

This just sounds like he doesn't set much stock in race, and doesn't have race as a big part of his identity.

[Reenk Roink]

...and the only people who are gonna make an issue about it are white republicans...

[PanzerJaeger]

...and the only people who are gonna make an issue about it are white republicans...

I don't believe Mrs. Chang is particularly partisan or even a Republican, and it's hard to believe she cares very much about race considering she married a different one than her own. In any event, her article had nothing to do with politics.

I wonder if I can call PanzerJaegar, PJ or nicknamed as Pajamas.

Im sure there have been times when being half black or being half white have disadvantaged him, why shouldn't he get the perks of it as well ?

I agree. The only thing that bothers me is when he plays the race card for political gain.

[CountArach]

Although I knew Obama self-identifies as African American

And that is where I stopped caring. Self-identity is what truly counts, within reason obviously, in my mind.

[PanzerJaeger]

This just sounds like he doesn't set much stock in race, and doesn't have race as a big part of his identity.

...and that he is a very intelligent man that has used what is traditionally a disadvantage to his advantage.

I can't seem to help but talk about myself

Neither can Barry.

[Beskar]

I wonder if I can call PanzerJaegar, PJ or nicknamed as Pajamas.

[LittleGrizzly]

Im sure there have been times when being half black or being half white have disadvantaged him, why shouldn't he get the perks of it as well ?

[Pannonian]

According to family legend I'd be 1/32nd Chippewa (a great grandma married to a French-Canadian ancestor), but I didn't check "Native American" on the census - not cuz I'm ashamed of great-grannie (to the contrary) but I know I don't much look Chippewa, more Irish-French. I really wanted to scrawl "American!!" in black crayon on the form, but figgered I'd get a vist from a Fed if I did. Then I'd hafta yell at him, kick him off the property, then the black choppers would come, and...

Are they entirely black, or just 1/8 black?

[Husar]

He looks pretty black to me, you people need glasses.

[Centurion1]

no he is 50% husar. and of the unique African-American nationality. Meaning- lighter than actual africans, living in afirca. at least thats been my experience.

It does not matter to me. i myself choose white, yes even on my college applications even though im part chinese. i just dont give a **** and that is imho the only way people are ever going to get beyond racism. JUST STOP TALKING ABOUT IT DARNIT! Blacks are just as guilty as whites in this as are latinos, asians, martians, and mole people.

oh and lemur if you are spanish at all you are considered hispanic by the federal government. My buddy is part spanish and it bothers me to no end when he saws part hispanic because its part of GD europe for cripes sake. but yes spanish people are hispanic as well according to fed.

[AlexanderSextus]

no he is 50% husar. and of the unique African-American nationality. Meaning- lighter than actual africans, living in afirca. at least thats been my experience.

It does not matter to me. i myself choose white, yes even on my college applications even though im part chinese. i just dont give a **** and that is imho the only way people are ever going to get beyond racism. JUST STOP TALKING ABOUT IT DARNIT! Blacks are just as guilty as whites in this as are latinos, asians, martians, and mole people.

oh and lemur if you are spanish at all you are considered hispanic by the federal government. My buddy is part spanish and it bothers me to no end when he saws part hispanic because its part of GD europe for cripes sake. but yes spanish people are hispanic as well according to fed.

Not talking about racism will not make it go away.

[Centurion1]

yeah but using it as a crutch only creates more resentment and anger.