If Obama is half white and half black then how come people don't consider him to be a white man?

Question

But instead everyone titles him as being black.

How is he closer to being black if he is only HALF black?

It matters to me, that's why I am asking this question. Also, it seems to matter to a lot of people too.

Yep, his mother is white American and his dad is African. Well "was" they are both dead now.

Answer 1

A good point. People seem to have a lot of trouble with individuals who don't fit neatly into a category. Obama is mixed, he's just as much white as black. Culturally, he's probably much closer to other european-americans than he is to other african-americans, since he was raised in a middle-class family by his white mother, not his absent african father.

I think it recalls past prejudice. In the antebellum south, for instance, a person with even a single black great-grandparent was still considered colored.

OTOH, it could stem from a desire by a minority to embrace and accept the largest possible number of identifying members. For example, many native-american tribes grant membership to basically white individuals who can claim that a single great-grandparent was from the tribe.

Answer 2

Because none of the other presidents "looked" black. He is dark skinned so that is good enough for them to say he is black. I think only light skinned people acknowledge the fact that he is half white and not fully black. I guess if he had light skin, no one would be saying "the first black" anything. FYI: He is president elect. He is NOT the president yet. Not that I care- just saying. Let's say the correct thing for the time being.

Answer 3

Well, there just seems to be this notion that if you have any African American blood you're black. Its just something that sort of stuck but no one seems to know why. Then take into account he's not exactly light-skinned like some other people that are half black.

Answer 4

Not sure, why does everyone consider Tiger Woods to be black when he is half Thai?
I guess because it's easier to see the dark complexion inherited from a black parent than the lighter skin from a white parent

Answer 5

Because society takes you at face-value and from face-value he looks black. The same goes for someone who's half black and white but looks white society will view them as white. Its how this society works

Answer 6

I think it's because of his appearance. He LOOKS black.

I know what that's like, personnally. I'm half Mexican and half white. I look white. So white that people don't believe I'm Mexican.

People consider me to be white, so much so that I have to prove that I'm actually half Mexican. If I didn't speak Spanish it'd be a lost cause.

Answer 7

I never understood this about both the black and the white community. I have a friend who is biracial, and she says it is hard because she is not accepted by either race. But, as an identifying factor, since he is the only candidate of color, he is referred to as 'black'. Same with Hilary being referred to as 'woman'. IMO, there is much more to both of these candidates than their race or gender.

Answer 8

An ounce of black makes you black. I'm half white myself and am considered black above anything else. It has alot to do with appearance. Halle Berry is half white but looks black and is considered black, Wentworth Miller from Prison Break is half black but looks white so he is considered white.

Answer 9

his skin is darker. and people still believe that whole 'one drop of blood' rule.

I read some interesting articles on him and his race- one woman in chicago says he isn't black since he isn't a desendenct of a slave,
another says he is because he goes to a black church and has worked in the inner city,
and one black columist pointed out that although many black people in the city (chicago) are mad about the 'one drop' rule being brought up, its our black community that keeps that rule alive as well.

I think with mixed people it also depends on how you look- if you have dark skin the world percives you as non-white and treats you as such. if you have light skin the world percivers you as white and treats you as such.
(same goes for someone mixed with asian, hispanic, middle eastern, islander, or native american blood.)

Answer 10

I believe its the appearance that counts. For instance, if one's parents are black but came out with white skin, would they go around telling people they were black?