Sen. OBAMA is Black! Any more questions? Cause there shouldn't be!

[FrenchieCat]

I was surprised to read and hear so many question Obama's race. Some folks say...well, he's just as White as he is Black, etc...

Well looking at the facts, I hope that this post will be the last in where this issue is raised (I should be so lucky!) -

Sen. Obama says he's Black. Check!
Sen. Obama is married to a Black woman. Check!
Sen. Obama is the father of two lovely Black Daughters. Check!
Sen. Obama was the first "BLACK" President of the Harvard Law Review back in 1990. No one claims different. Check!
http://www.answers.com/topic/harvard-law-review

OBAMA IS A BLACK MAN, BECAUSE HE SAYS SO.....
IT REALLY IS JUST THAT SIMPLE.

FURTHER DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE JUST ISN'T REQUIRED.

Here are other Black Famous folks who have a White parent.
Has anyone questioned their Blackness? :shrug:


FREDERICK DOUGLAS


BOOKER T. WASHINGTON


W.E.B. DU BOIS


ADAM CLAYTON POWELL


MALCOM X


KATHLEEN CLEAVER




SADE


BOB MARLEY


HALLE BERRY


ALICIA KEYES


RAE DAWN CHONG
(My daughter is her spitting image, attends Harvard, went to a bilingual French school, and traveled the world...and she's black!)


KOBE BRYANT


JENNIFER FREEMAN


HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.


JASMINE GUY


JILL JONES


EARTHA KITT


LENNY KRAVITZ


YANNICK NOAH


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN


FRENCHIECAT

NUFF Said!

[Ian David]

1. Soledad O'Brien doesn't count, because she's not a real person.

She's a Repuke-controlled fembot version of Max Headroom.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Well, you may have a point there.....

But she's still a "Black" Repuke-controlled Fembot nevertheless! :)

[pitohui]

2. after superbowl a winger told me tony dungy is not black

i about fell out of my fucking chair

if a man achieves greatly, they just can't admit it, can they?

[FrenchieCat]

14. I would have fallen out of my chair if I were you as well!

Cause that man says he's Black too!

Isn't that weird, that folks would simply not want that to be the case. Sick! :(

[pitohui]

26. what's whacky is that he was actually rooting for this coach and this team

but it just doesn't fit in his worldview that a black man can achieve this, i guess

people! who can understand them?

[aquart]

3. I didn't need to know that Lenny Kravitz has nipple rings.

I just didn't.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Well, that wasn't my point.....

Lemme look at that again.

Yes, you are right......some may not need this information, but nevertheless, they will now know this tibit! It's not like I was trying to make that as a point.

Some people like Nipple Rings on their men, I would think, though. :rofl:

[pitohui]

13. AND he's an outie

personally i think we can ALL benefit from a closer inspection of this particular photo

:-)

[FrenchieCat]

25. I thought that was a Belly "Cover" of some kind.....

:rofl:

[mondo joe]

51. I can ALWAYS stand a reminder about 'em. NT

[goclark]

4. Soledad is Black? I didn't know that one nt

[FrenchieCat]

9. She may not want you to be reminded.....

but yes, the woman is Black!

[Orangepeel]

90. huh. I thought she was Latina/Irish.

but I guess that's mostly because her name is Soledad O'Brien. :rofl:

[saracat]

15. I didn't know that either! Does she say so ? Just curious.

I've never seen that mentioned anywhere.

[goclark]

53. Never heard it in my life, not saying it isn't true

I do recall that she was very involved with Katrina efforts and I also saw her do a Dedication to the MLK Monument Ground Breaking but I have never seen her in Jet magazine.

993/4 % of all famous African Americans are in Jet at some time or other.


Never heard it.

Does anyone have a link?

[FrenchieCat]

56. Look under "O" on the list provided here....

http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-multiracial-people

[Orangepeel]

91. Yes. This is from her CNN bio --

She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/obrien.soledad.html

[BlooInBloo]

6. Of course he is. White folks just like to say shit like that...

... in order to be racist in a nya-nya-you-can't-blame-me-for-being-racist way.

[spooky3]

50. Actually, Debra Dickerson was on Colbert recently

making the argument that she, but not he, was black.

See the thread in DU about it. I am not sure if that is what is motivating the OP.

[BlooInBloo]

52. Yup. I didn't say white folks were the *only* ones who say that kind thing....

... and it is to be noted that it means something very different, depending on the color of the mouth uttering it.

[AtomicKitten]

8. Black IS beautiful.

Thanks FrenchieCat!!!

[FrenchieCat]

57. Yes......you are correct!

:headbang:

[AspenRose]

10. Add DesertedRose to that list

...and WHERE is that *fine* Shemar Moore on that list, hmmm? :D

[FrenchieCat]

27. oooh...yes, that is right, isn't it? The list in not all inclusive....

but yes, Shemar Moore is fine...ain't he? :loveya:

[Kutjara]

11. 'Nuff said indeed.

People love to get hung up on race, especially when the issue isn't "clear." The only reason there's any debate about Obama's race is because he is a person who has achieved much. If he was a 17 year old kid charged with armed robbery, everyone would readily agree he's black. Since he's not, there must be some other explanation (because black people can't do well in fields outside of entertainment and sports, can they?); his abilities must therefore come from the "non-black" side.

I think a lot of the current "debate" is a more or less veiled version of this view. It's racism, pure and simple(minded).

[FrenchieCat]

18. simple minded....indeed! and Pretty Telling, IMO!

And I agree with you that somehow some would want some to disavow our Blackness.

But I think it will be clear soon enough, that most Black folks, no matter the hue, are proud of who they are!

[Kutjara]

28. Sooner or later (I suspect later)...

...people will stop looking at race as some sort of crystal ball of intelligence, temperment and talent. We've heard over the years that black people are great at A, B and C, but crap at D, E and F. Or that women are, or asians are, or Native Americans are, and on and on and on. None of it is true. Time and again it has been shown that, given the same opportunities and encouragement, the different races, sexes, ethnic and cultural groups perform just as well (or just as poorly) as eachother. Human just aren't that different.

If an alien came to Earth from planet Zog, they would think we all looked alike. And they'd be right.

It is right that black people should be proud of who they are. It is even righter that we all be proud of who they are; because they are all of us.

[goclark]

69. You are so right! nt

[Colobo]

12. Blackness is not exclusive to "African-Americans"

I feel the problem is that people in this country say "black" as if it meant, automatically, "African-American". It does not.

I consider "African-American" to be an ethnic group based on the culture created and shared by the descendents of African slaves in American territory. It is more of a cultural group composed by black people than a racial group with a distinct culture. In fact, there are white Americans that could be considered culturally part of the African-American community.

In this country, there are many, many, many blacks from other parts of the world that have very little to do, culturally, with African-Americans. I am one of them. I'm darker than Frenchiecat, Obama, and many of the people in the pictures. I'm treated as an African-American when I'm in public, until I open my mouth. I'm Puerto Rican and have very little to do, culturally, with African-Americans. (And please don't come up with the "Puerto Rican/Hispanic is a race" because it is not. There are more blacks in Latin America an Brazil than in the US).

For instance, Obama is racially, phenotypically, a black man. That's obvious. Him being part of the African-American community is an issue that should have nothing to do with his skin color.

[David Dunham]

17. Hillary is a woman, and many attacks on her reflect lingering misogyny on the left

Many of the extreme left seem unable to accept the idea of a dominant or tough woman candidate. They appear to want Democratic women to be weak patsies.

[pitohui]

19. i'm thinking if your dad comes from kenya you qualify as african american if you're an american

i don't care if you're green with purple polka dots if your father is a kenyan then in what sense are you not african-american if you're an american citizen?

not all americans of african descent were slaves, the majority may have been, but i don't think this makes the others whose parents or ancestors emigrated later somehow less valid as human beings or citizens

[hedgehog]

21. As I've already noted and he himself did on 60Minutes tonight -

he passes the taxi test for being black!

BTW - my kids were watching an old Muppets episode and were shocked when my husband told them that Lena Horne is black! All they saw was a good singer and beautiful woman having fun with Kermit. I guess we failed to educate them about the one drop rule!

[FrenchieCat]

30. I was born in France....to a French mother and was raised for

part of my life there...and then I came here.

Once I was here, even with a White Mother, I was still raised as part of the African American community. It is who I identify with regardless of my background...and I believe that Obama is similar.


Obama, considering what he has done in his life (civil rights attorney in Chicago) is part of the African American community. That's what I think.

[Colobo]

32. Exactly

You have embraced African-American culture. That doesn't make you more or less black than anyone, because your phenotype is the one of a black woman.

You are BEAUTIFUL, by the way... :)

[FrenchieCat]

41. I agree........I am a Black Woman, and if anyone was to debate me

on that issue, I would win! :)

Thanks for the nice compliment..by the way! :hi:

[AspenRose]

84. The telling part about Obama's interview on 60 Minutes

was when Steve Kroft asked him how he came to 'choose' to identify as being part of the black community, being raised in an all-white family (his grandparents). Obama said something to the effect that it wasn't necessarily of his choosing.

Meaning, if you LOOK black in this society, regardless of any other ancestry you may have, you WILL be considered black...that decision will be made for you by the larger American society.

[butterfly77]

79. African Americans are multi racial

[FrenchieCat]

81. That is the point-- In other words.....

Many "mixed" folks (which is just about every Black person in America) may still have two Black parent...and many folks that most don't really question as being Black may only have one Black parent.

Harold Ford looks more "mixed" than Obama....but both of his parents are Black. In fact, each of his parents are fairer skinned than Obama is!

So in the end, if someone says they are Black, then it is best to take them at their word.

It gets to me that some would question what Obama is racewise.....if he has already stated it!

[Djinn]

16. Not that it matters at all

but Malcolm X did not have a white parent. His maternal grandfather was white. Obama's platform could have been taken word for word from the corporate playbook so white/black or purple isn't the question it's GREEN.

[saracat]

20. BTW Frenchicat, you are gorgeous!

[FrenchieCat]

23. Thanks.....

Just thought I sneak myself in there somewhere....with my peeps! LOL!

[Solly Mack]

22. !!!!

Thanks, FrenchieCat...recommended

[Colobo]

24. Some non African-American blacks that made it here in the States

Roberto Clemente, Puerto Rico


Celia Cruz, Cuba


Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Puerto Rico



Felix Trinidad, Puerto Rico

Just 4 out of way too many...

[FrenchieCat]

60. Celia Cruz.....she's one of my favorites....

:thumbsup:

[AspenRose]

85. AZUCAR!!!!!

Sorry I couldn't resist :D

[wndycty]

29. Damn Frenchie Cat can I have your number. . .

Looking very good, but on to more serious things. . .while I'm not mixed (all 4 grand parents are black), I'm very light skinned (so we know there was a ton of mixing going on somewhere) and I have never ever questioned who I am, Black and proud.


This whole is Obama black enough thing is a Red Herring!
wndycty

[FrenchieCat]

34. You are looking like a mighty fine Black man to me.....

but since I've been married for the past 23 years (and going steady for 27), my number is unavailable.....

Although a "heart" would be nice.... :)

And yes, I didn't put up the photos of so many Black Americans who are mixed although not directly! My post would be as thick as a phone book had I done that! LOL!

:hi:

[wndycty]

36. 23 years, going steady for 27. . .

You guys have been together since you were 3? Damn!

[FrenchieCat]

42. Something like that......

or other! :)

Although politics is aging me at an alarming rate! :(

[wndycty]

35. Add my other girlfriend (beside Frenchie Cat) Suzanne Malveaux

Its funny but those of us who are "light, bright and damn near. . ." can spot others like us.

-snip-
Malveaux earned a 1996 Emmy Award and contributed to New England Cable News' AP award for Best Newscast in Boston. She was part of the coverage teams that earned CNN a George Foster Peabody award for its Katrina coverage and an Alfred I. duPont Award for its coverage of the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. Malveaux was also named one of "America's Most Powerful Players Under 40" by Black Enterprise magazine, EBONY's "Outstanding Women in Marketing & Communications," and the National Black MBA's "2004 Communicator of the Year." In June Malveaux was selected to participate in Fortune/Aspen Institute's 2006 Brainstorming Summit.
-snip-

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/malveaux.suzanne.html

[FrenchieCat]

43. Yep.....Suzanne too!

there's a few others at CNN in particular, and don't forget that new young gal at MSNBC, with that show "More" or whatever.

[amandabeech]

62. With that French last name, I thought that she might be Creole

from New Orleans or the general area.

She is beautiful.

[Clark2008]

31. Why anyone would think otherwise is beyond me.

:hi: Frenchie... and I didn't realize Solodad O'Brien was black. I thought she was of Mediterranean descent (I guess it was her name that through me off).

[Colobo]

33. Soledad O'Brien

would not be considered black in Latin America. In fact, several of the people in Frenchie's pictures wouldn't be either... race is so subjective.

[wndycty]

37. Well this ain't Latin America . . .

:kick:

[Colobo]

38. Oh, sorry

I didn't realize it...

[FrenchieCat]

39. Well she is Black.....in my book.....

Soledad O'Brien, television personality, Irish/Australian father, Afro-Cuban mother
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-multiracial-people

Apart from Soledad, I didn't list anyone who believes themselves to be anything but Black.

Notice I didn't include Vin Diezel or Tiger Woods.....since they don't totally claim being Black....although in my book, they still are.

[Colobo]

40. Afro-Cuban mother

Interesting! Afro-Latinos representing! :)

[Clark2008]

47. I just never thought about it, to be quite honest.

I just thought her name sounded Mediterranean. :)

[Catherine Vincent]

77. I knew why you didn't include Tiger but I didn't know about Vin

liking himself to being black.

[FrenchieCat]

89. Actually, I don't know what Vin has said on the subject......

I didn't list him cause I don't remember him being advertised as a Black star, although he's no different in terms of his background as the rest that I have listed.

I know that Mariah Carey started out saying she was all kinds of things....ended up, her dad is Black but from Venenzuela or something.

[Orangepeel]

92. She seems to consider herself Black (and Hispanic)

Her CNN bio says that she is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/obrien.soledad.html

[goclark]

68. I am African American and I know lots of African Americans

that look like Solodad O'Brian.

When I first saw her I thought she was African American but when I saw the name O'Brien, I thought she was Latino and married to a Irish man.

[salinen]

44. He is?

Then maybe there should be an intervention, like Ted Haggard. It only takes 3 weeks to go from black to white, or white to black.

[FrenchieCat]

45. Problem is Obama likes who he is......

there is no doubt in my mind of that!

[Nikki Stone1]

46. Frenchie, you're adorable!

And you're OP is right on.

[FrenchieCat]

48. Thanks on both counts.....

:hi:

I'm just tired of the nonsense about this.

Waiting to get to the meat of the policies, I am! :headbang:

[spooky3]

49. Also James Blake, one of the best tennis players in the world.

Mother is white (English) and father (who died several years ago) was black.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

63. ooh, i love him! I saw him play at our local club

in a Challenger event we have every summer.

He's hot! I mean, he's a great tennis player! :)

[spooky3]

64. He's smart, he's talented, he's gorgeous, and he seems quite nice.

I saw "seems" only because I don't have the pleasure of knowing him personally.

Now, if only he could be clean and articulate...

:sarcasm:

[FrenchieCat]

66. for you....

with hair,


or without!

[spooky3]

67. ooooooooooooooooo!!! Thanks!

I loved his hair--I know he cut it off for charity but wish he'd let it grow back.

[soothsayer]

54. and derek jeter!

[Olney Blue]

55. Great thread, frenchiecat!

:hi:

[Imagevision]

58. Frenchiecat this must be a load off of you, I'll bet you feel lighter now? c'mon, yes, right?!!

[FrenchieCat]

59. I don't get it?

But I know that I am as light as I want to be!

I've always wanted to be a bit darker....but I had no control over that....and sitting in the sun invites problems that I'd rather not have to deal with. :)

[Imagevision]

61. no! no sitting in the sun, it screws your skin up....it's why Hollywood is so"light"

[Quixote1818]

65. He is black and he is awesome! nt

[FrenchieCat]

70. amen!

That's what I'm talking about!

[ecstatic]

71. Not that it matters, but I didn't know that about Kobe Bryant and Malcolm X

And I thought Soledad was Hispanic? :shrug:

[AspenRose]

86. Afro-Cuban mother, Australian (Irish) father.

eom

[WI_DEM]

72. good post

[Karenina]

73. One that gets another

:kick:

[happydreams]

74. He is 1/2 black...

according to "60 Minutes" interview Sunday.

[Catherine Vincent]

75. Love your pic, Frenchie!

I didn't know Soledad had black in her, you learn something new everyday.

Lenny Kravitz has an outty. :)

[Tatiana]

76. OMG, Frenchie, Rae Dawn Chong really favors you.

I say she favors you because I assume you came first ;)

Great post. I'm black too... Afro-Latinos represent!!!

[Quixote1818]

78. I agree. I see a lot of resemblance.

Both very stunning!

[Quixote1818]

80. She also looks like Soledad O'Brien nt

[FrenchieCat]

87. Hey...hey!

Clarkista Sista! :pals:

[maxsolomon]

82. PE has a little song about this:

but the sample is what i'm referring to

Fear Of A Black Planet

Man you ain't gotta
Worry 'bout a thing
'Bout your daughter
Nah she ain't my type
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
Are you afraid of the mix of Black and White
We're livin' in a land where
The law say the mixing of race
Makes the blood impure
She's a woman I'm a man
But by the look on your face
See ya can't stand it

Man calm your ass down, don't get mad
I don't your sistah
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
Would you still love her
Or would you dismiss her
What is pure? Who is pure?
Is it European state of being, I'm not sure
If the whole world was to come
Thru peace and love
Then what would we made of?

Excuse us for the news
You might not be amused
But did you know white comes from Black
No need to be confused
Excuse us for the news
I question those accused
Why is this fear of Black from White
Influence who you choose?
Man c'mon now, I don't want your wife
Stop screamin' it's not the end of your life
(But supposin' she said she loved me)
What's wrong with some color in your family tree
I don't know

I'm just a rhyme sayer
Skins protected 'gainst the ozone layers
Breakdown 2001
Might be best to be Black
Or just Brown countdown

I've been wonderin' why
People livin' in fear
Of my shade
(Or my hi top fade)
I'm not the one that's runnin'
But they got me one the run
Treat me like I have a gun
All I got is genes and chromosomes
Consider me Black to the bone
All I want is peace and love
On this planet
(Ain't that how God planned it?)

Excuse us for the news
You might not be amused
But did you know White comes from Black
No need to be confused

Excuse us for the news
I question those accused
Why is this fear of Black from White
Influence who you choose?

-a white guy

[AnnieBW]

83. And then there's Keith Hamilton Cobb

Even though he cut off his dreds, I'd still do him, and I'm a 42-year-old married white chick!

[FrenchieCat]

88. Duh...ye-ah......lookit!