Ok. Someone has some 'splainin to do! I am confused (trust me it doesn't take much!). Everyone is all excited that if Barack Obama (I am voting for him, actually Mark is voting for him because I can't!) is elected as the next President of the United States, he will have made history as the first African American President. UH? True, his father is Black, but his mother is as caucasian as they come! Born and raised in Wichita Kansas! Why is Barack being labeled BLACK? He is just as much WHITE as he is BLACK.
Five other Presidents in American history have black ancestry. Harding, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln and Coolidge all have black heritage in their histories. Why were THESE Presidents not said to be black Presidents? Is it because their skin tone took after the caucasian side of their family? What if they had taken on a darker tone? Would they even have been voted in? Is Barack playing the 'black' card because he thinks America is finally ready for an African Amercian in the White House? If he was running for President 50 years ago, would he have said he was white?
I just find this all very interesting to say the least. As far as I am concerned, if Barack is elected President (and I hope he is!!) he won't be the FIRST Black President this country has had, he will be the 6th. He will also be the 43rd WHITE President elected.
I just don't get the hooplah. But not a bad American History lesson from a Canadian gal right? :)
Hugs to all,
Jaye
1 comment:
Very good point indeed! I also keep wondering how Allen Keyes feels about all this talk. He is a black man and was a Presidential candidate at least twice for the socialist party or one of the "lesser" parties, but nobody mentions that. I get that they're focusing on a "major" party candidates, but still.
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