Barack Obama's mother is white, so why is he African American?

Question

I Might be willing to vote for him if he had the slightest bit of experience. Then again, anybody is better than Hillary Rotten Clinton.

Answer 1

If you want to get into semantics, Mr. Obama is truly an African American. His father was African and his mother is American. But for centuries the one-drop rule, which was put in place by a ruling class, stipulates that one drop of black blood makes one black. Because of the stigma and discrimination that came with being labeled black, many with black heritage chose to pass and identify themselves as anything other than black. That practice of 'passing', sadly, still occurs today. Many people identify themselves as 'biracial' or 'multi-cultural', but others tend to place people in racial groups by what they may look like.

Answer 2

Well first of all you are what your father is and sense he was from Africa and his mother is white and from america that makes him a true african american. Quiet as it's kept if you got any black blood in you you are considered black but if you want to say that your white I guess that okay too. It's just that most mixed race kids have a certain look about them, a mixing of the two and look more black anyway. If they say they are white blacks will say they are passing a familiar term from the early 1900's. When I was in the Army there was a girl I wanted to get to know as a friend but she rejected me when I asked her "are you black', she cried 'no I am white". I looked at her like she was crazy. All that frizzy hair and black features with that tanned colored skin. But if she said she was white who was I to argue. But she was black, just in denial. LOL Pops was probably black she wanted to be what her mother was. Hey whatever floats your boat. By the way because everyone is on the Barrack Obama band wagon, would you feel more comfortable if he said he was white but his father was African. Would you vote for him as our next president. LOL

Answer 3

He IS an African-American, but he's not black. Remember that those are two different things. Besides the media is gonna use whatever angle makes a better story. It doesn't sound as good when you say "Barack Obama is set to be the first mixed-race president"

Answer 4

Same reason Halle Barry and most African Americans are . . . at least 1 black parent.

Answer 5

Barack Obama's father is FROM AFRICA. And most of you who answered this ridiculous question proved yourself to be as ignorant as the one who answered it. He is the epitome of an African American. His father was African and his mother is American. Know your facts before you start spewing ignorance.

Answer 6

Are you aware that there are many white African Americans. Many of them were born in Southern Africa. African does not indicate skin color. You know this, correct?

Answer 7

America has adopted the ways of slave masters. I worked in an OB and this is the way they also did it by the states definition. One drop of black blood meant black.

Answer 8

Because his dad is African American. He still has an African heritage.

Answer 9

hes african american? i just thought he was black...

is his daddy from africa? (honest question)

thank you terri...

Answer 10

Because if he picks the African American part then he gets more rights. And if the going gets tough he can holler racism and all these black people show up on tv screaming and shouting about how he wuz dunz sows wrong. And them whites is racist.