For some mixed-race couples, Obama is a symbol of acceptance

[ChromeFoundry]

Some see Obama's interracial roots as step toward erasing stigmas
12:00 AM CST on Monday, March 3, 2008


NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Barack Obama was nearing his sixth birthday when the Supreme Court struck down the last 16 state laws banning interracial marriage. Forty years later, the offspring of such unions and folks who crossed racial lines to find a spouse, like Mr. Obama's parents, are watching his campaign with special pride.

Usually they're anonymous in the crowd. Rarely do they get to thank Mr. Obama directly, as a local pastor, Leon Forte, got to do Sunday morning at a town hall in Ohio's rural Appalachia region.

"I'm the father of two biracial children, and your campaign has lifted them into a whole new dimension," he said before asking about home foreclosures, a problem afflicting his congregation. "And so, I'm proud, as an African American." Mr. Obama thanked him for saying so.

Voters of many ethnicities find meaning in the Obama candidacy, just as many women root for Hillary Rodham Clinton to break the gender barrier.

But for mixed-race families, he represents a lifting of ancient taboos.

"My son's half black, and I'd like him to be able to run for president" or at least feel that his choices in life have no limits, said Carol Lennox, waiting for the candidate to emerge at Wednesday night's rally in Fort Worth.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-interracialobama_03pol.ART.State.Edition1.461fccb.html

[Skidmore]

1. Absolutely! Which is why it is so disheartening to

see the open bigotry in the press right now, especially that pushed by Democrats who are supposedly the party that legislated civil rights.

[shadowknows69]

2. Having a mixed niece strongly influenced my choice for Obama

Why did I choose to root for that hurdle to be overcome more than the one her gender provides? I'm not sure, except that my niece has experienced more racism than sexism in her young life. One battle at a time.

[MoJoWorkin]

3. Outstanding observation.

[Scurrilous]

4. Thanks for posting this.

:thumbsup: