If Obama isn't black, does that mean I'm not white?

[hedgehog]

I' Irish Catholic from an immigrant family. Asked to self-identify, I would say Irish, not "white". I don't identify with any of the various "white American" subcultures. I'm not southern, western or Texan. I'm not Establishment Wasp or hillbilly or country. I'm Irish.

At the same time, I'd bet you that if Senator Obama and I tried to get a taxi, I'd get one sooner than him 10 out of 10 times!

[Colobo]

1. He's a black American

Like many black Americans who are not ethnically "African-American", me being one, for example.

[etherealtruth]

2. As an other American of Irish heritage ...

I am reminded of how Irish immigrants were viewed in this country a little over a hundred years ago.

We were viewed as NOT human ...
http://www.haverford.edu/engl/faculty/Sherman/Irish/19thc..htm

[ScratchyPearl]

3. You are what you are.........

I'm pretty darn white. Though I love to be a bit more ethnic. Perhaps I could call myself black? Well, I'd still get a taxi, too.

[newyawker99]

13. ScratchyPearl!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[madrchsod]

4. god when will we ever learn....

"In a very real sense, "race" is a distinction that is created by culture not biology."

http://anthro.palomar.edu/vary/vary_3.htm
Modern Human Variation: Distribution of Blood Types



"The difference is that ancestry-informative DNA markers identify continent-of-ancestry admixture, not ethnic self-identity. Hence, they cannot match the U.S. "races". For example, the DNA of an Arab-American, an African-American, and a Hispanic of precisely the same Afro-European genetic admixture would be "racially" indistinguishable. And a "White" woman with, say, 25% African ancestry such as Carol Channing would show exactly the same BGA as a "Black" man of the same admixture "

.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race
Race - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[3121guitarist]

5. They really gave it to Obama at the Tavis forum.

Wow.

[Akoto]

6. Sorry, but ...

I don't see color. People tell me I'm white, and I believe them.



Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

[AspenRose]

16. Stephen!

:loveya:

:thumbsup:

[BlooInBloo]

7. Anyone who *says* he isn't black is an idiot. Or a bigot.

[uppityperson]

8. I'm beigey sort of.

I wish it didn't matter, but I get past airport security much easier than my aged father does.

A fair chunk of years ago. Am I white? Is my father? European heritage and other (maybe E.Indian?)=white for me, not for papa

[Vinca]

9. He looks like a nice man whatever he happens to be. nt

[uppityperson]

10. He is. Whatever his ancestrial genes are, he is a nice father.

He was due to fly a couple times mid Sept 2001, got pulled over for lots of extra screening. I hadn't thought about it until it happened and was amazed. I am looking forward to a time when skin tone doesn't matter. Probably not in my lifetime.

[Vinca]

12. I'm of Scottish descent. The comedian Billy Connolly calls us "blue"

in color. Everyone's got to be something. Here's to Billy. :beer:

[AspenRose]

15. "Pale Blue Scottish Person."

I love that bit. :D

[Crabby Appleton]

11. I'm kind of pinkish tan nt

[hedgehog]

14. As far as skin color goes, I am so white that my kids can change

the channel on the TV by pointing the remote at me and using the reflected signal! I'm one of those natural redheads that shouldn't be left in direct sunlight. Some of my kids are a little darker; some have blue undertones to their skin and some have yellow. It's only when I see them with other people that I realize how white we all are. It has made for some interesting encounters. People look at me and think it's safe to make certain comments that they wouldn't make if they realized I have two black nieces! I am enraged whenever I think about the shit that those two little girls are going to face sooner or later just because of their skin color. I imagine there are a lot of mixed race families like mine now.

[Pachamama]

20. I'm kinda "Peachy" with little spots of brown (freckles)... and Obama looks "brown" to me, not black

Isn't classifying people by skin color awfully silly??? :eyes:

Hey there Uppityperson! :hi: You look awfully cute when you were younger!

[Octafish]

17. We're all ''Flesh Color.''

Some of us have dark complexions, those coming from places where the sun shines for much of the year.

Some are lighter, those coming from places where the skies are cloudy for much of the year.

The body adjusts to the environment in order to protect itself from UV and Vitamin D deficiency.

[ExecutiveMom04]

18. who cares what color you are if you are good at what you do

it kills me that we have "minority" hiring. If you are good and qualified for the job, then you deserve the job just as much as anyone else. And aren't we all AMERICAN - doesn't really matter where you orginally came from - I am white as paper but I am African-American...probably more than anyone who is black. Can most trace their ancestory back to africa? My mother was born in Africa. I can trace my heritage....again, who cares? yellow, purple, green - if you are qualified - you have a right to fight for what you want...that's the American Way!:banghead:

[The Straight Story]

19. Soon they will call him Ba-Lack Obama to clear up confusion (nt)