Woody Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 Can anyone tell me the percentage of African American blood that Obama actually has? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Bravus Posted September 7, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 7, 2008 Um, a couple possible responses: 1. Why is it important? 2. Ain't no such animal as 'African American blood': AS far as I know his father is African and his mother American, so perhaps half one and half the other - except that there's no such thing as either, either, since Africans would typically regard themselves as members of a specific ethnic group rather than 'African' in terms of race and America has long been a melting pot. And so on... Quote Truth is important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
there buster Posted September 7, 2008 Share Posted September 7, 2008 I'm with Bravus on this one. Quote “the slovenliness of our language makes it easier to have foolish thoughts.” George Orwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Um, a couple possible responses: 1. Why is it important? 2. Ain't no such animal as 'African American blood': AS far as I know his father is African and his mother American, so perhaps half one and half the other - except that there's no such thing as either, either, since Africans would typically regard themselves as members of a specific ethnic group rather than 'African' in terms of race and America has long been a melting pot. And so on... #1. What made you think it was important? It's chit chat ... which is what we do here. There isn't a requirement on this forum that what we talk about be 'important'. #2. Now to the details .... I had heard that his father was not African. But, I could be wrong. Just mostly curious. Does anyone know where his father was from? Which brings me to the other question. Why do African American's call them selves this? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted September 7, 2008 Author Share Posted September 7, 2008 Okay ... here is what I've read. I read that Obama is part Irish and part Welsh. Now ain't that somethin. Can you see that in him? Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators lazarus Posted September 8, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 8, 2008 I had heard that his father was not African. Quote: Why do African American's call them selves this? Quote Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence. Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators John317 Posted September 8, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 8, 2008 If someone tells me that he wants to be called "African American," I will be glad to do it. Otherwise I will call him American the same as I do any other American if he's an American citizen. I understand why some want to be called by that, but personally I think it's a bad idea for them as a people. It reinforces the idea in people's minds that blacks aren't fully American. It would be the same, I expect, if all white Americans insisted on being referred to as "European-Americans." But we don't want to be European. We like Europe and admire some things about Europe but the reason we or our ancestors came here was that they and we want to take on a new identity. That new identity is American. By the way, if anyone is interested in the difference of it means to be American as opposed to European, a good writer to read is Henry James. That was his main theme throughout most of his very wonderful (though some would say tedious, complex) books. James Baldwin, in books such as, Another Country, did somewhat the same for the black Americans. He often wrote about the American black man in France. Richard Wright also lived in France but I can't recall of any book about the topic. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Allan Posted September 8, 2008 Share Posted September 8, 2008 Quote: If someone tells me that he wants to be called "African American," I will be glad to do it. Otherwise I will call him American the same as I do any other American if he's an American citizen. ............................... Quote dAb O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted September 8, 2008 Author Share Posted September 8, 2008 You guys can sigh all you want. But it is better to know the truth than a rumor. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Bravus Posted September 8, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 8, 2008 Wasn't 'African American' largely just a move on from 'black' and 'negro' and other terms that defined people only by the colour of their skin? So rather than simply a colour, it was meant to connect to a heritage. There are plenty of other groups in America: 'Irish Americans' seem to have a population explosion each St Paddy's Day. I agree it'd be better in some ways if everyone was simply 'American', but if it's necessary for some reason to describe a particular group of people, it could be argued that 'African American' is a better alternative than 'black'. (I'm pontificating on this from a very uninformed position on the other side of the world.) But I believe we should look at Obama on the issue of qualifications, not race, just as we should look at Palin on qualifications, not gender. Quote Truth is important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators John317 Posted September 8, 2008 Moderators Share Posted September 8, 2008 I agree completely with your post, Bravus. His race should have nothing whatever to do with his selection or election. It should have only to do with experience, judgment, issues, character, etc. It was Jesse Jackson who announced that from then on, black Americans were to be referred to as African Americans. One of the problems is that there are many black Americans who do not want to be referred to that way. Besides, having spent years with black Americans, I can tell you that they almost never refer to each other as African-Americans. Even Jesse Jackson. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 I ... as a Swiss n Swedish American ... Agree with you. But in that case ... Obama clearly loses in my opinion. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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