Given that by this point most people in America descended from African slaves have some non-African ancestors’ blood coursing through their veins, all of them could check both white and black boxes or either, depending on preference. So what is the point of Obama releasing his choice? Stir up a racial debate? ‘Settle’ the question asked in the image above? Media distraction?
An individual’s responses to census questions are confidential, but one of President Obama’s answers on the 10-question form adds more fodder to the ongoing conversation about how America sees itself.
After media inquiries, the White House confirmed that Obama checked only the racial box that says: “Black, African Am., or Negro,” the Associated Press reported.
Obama could have checked more than one racial box, given that his father was an African from Kenya and his mother was a white woman from Kansas. He could have checked “white” as well, or even “some other race” and written in “multiracial.”
Obama’s internal struggle over his racial identity was a theme in his memoir, “Dreams from My Father.” But it is a struggle faced by other Americans, and it is an element in the country’s efforts to come to terms with race relations.
The news quickly made the rounds among not only political commentators but citizens with mixed racial ancestry. Some second-guessed Obama’s choice while others said there are no right or wrong answers to that question.
While it is the last thing that your government wants to do, the U.S. Census Bureau can impose fines for failing to answer the 2010 Census questions or for intentionally providing false information.
HAHAHAHAHA
After going to his racist church for so long, I doubt he can bring himself to acknowledge he has whitey’s blood in him.
So even though this question is only on the census to help politicians with adjust their racial pandering, maybe it can be helpful in forcing people to come to terms with their racial identity.
Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…
Very awesome news. What else ya got?
If Obama checked both boxes, he’d be forever known as America’s first “half-Black” President.
My question is, why did the Census Bureau chose to abbreviate the word “American” in the listing “Black, African Am., or Negro”? There was plenty of room on the form to spell it out. They also did it to “Mexican, Mexican Am., Chicano” but not to “American Indian”.
Are the Census people unpatriotic, racist, or what?
What no box marked MULATO?
Heard elsewhere, but in this “race doesn’t matter” society that bHo is trying to foist off on us, that question shouldn’t be there at all….
Think about it….
I told them how many lived in the house and that I owned it. Skipped all race or ethnic based questions. Last thing we need is government making decisions based on your racial background.
Youthful angst aside, the man has self identified as black for as long as I’m aware of. His release of his census answers had nothing to do with race, if only because there was nothing new or interesting about his answers.
He released his answers to prove he’d actually done the census. It’s the band wagon idea. Show people actually doing something, and other people are more likely to want to (Keith Olbermann did it on his show for the same reason). He just wants people to do the census. There was no racial agenda involved.
>this “race doesn’t matter” society that bHo is
> trying to foist off on us,”
It’s the GOP that’s trying to make “race doesn’t matter” by taking it out of the government. I’m sorry, but race does matter – it mattered to OJ Simspon, Natalee Holloway, and the people of New Orleans. Democrats aren’t the ones that say “race doesn’t matter” – a lot of legislation they’ve passed makes race a central issue.
Being color-blind doesn’t mean being blind to the reality of American society and history.
He choose black because there was no Aryan option.
The politicians will misuse the race data otherwise the data is harmless.
A better question would have been: Are you here legally?
In cases of a split parentage, the father’s race is the one of record.
those of you who care about this are showing your colors
were you all so upset when Bush 41 asked you your race in 1990?
can you prove it?
Cary Grant.
Actually, there more Mexicians than Blacks.
Oh darn I guess I screwed up. Under race, I checked “other” and wrote in HUMAN…..LOL!!!
Hey Buzz–just to take your joke a bit farther==I think in most African Tribal Systems, its the mother’s race ((actually tribe)) that controls.
“You know”—regarding this great country of ours and our near apotheosis of our Founding Fathers, its the continuing issue of race in America that shows the hypocrisy of man. I can accept the FF declaring “All men are created free,,,,etc” in the same document that kept blacks as slaves==that was political dealing with other folks who wanted slaves or the country would not be founded. “A necessary evil.” What I can’t resolve is all the talk about freedom when too many of the revered characters had slaves themselves.
How can anyone revere a proven hypocrite of the most anti-human sort? Perhaps, the Pope is a current example, but I just assume he is brain dead to begin with.
I guess Obama had that man to 3/5th’s man talk with Grand Kleagle Robert Bird (D-WV) to figure out that the US Census is still running on the old “one drop of negro blood” rule.
It’s so confusing. I’m just glad we still have a Klansmen in the Kongress who can still answer these questions.
How about dropping the race question? Aren’t we all Americans? The fact I check off “Caucasian” means nothing. Have I not had a difficult path learning and earning?
And saying that someone is “African American” means little as well. I have many black friends. They openly talk about discrimination within the “African American” community. How “Black” are you? Dark? Light? Mulato? It’s almost worse within.
People – we all just need to get over it. There’s good and scum in all races.
My question is why was the media asking how he answered the question. Were they asking just to see if someone was listening? They have nothing better to ask? Reflects poorly (if that is even possible ) on the media. Too bad they don’t identify the people asking.
#20
good morning cap’n
I see some of the media coverage of this sort of thing as a observance of the United States having moved far enough past racism as to be able to elect a non-white President. Lets hope years from now after we have elected a few more non-white and/or non-male presidents this sort of thing will no longer be news.
I already filled out my census form. A lot of Americans are of mixed descent, AKA “race.” Big deal. I selected “White,” because there was no place to choose (for instance) “Indy 500” “Formula 1” or “NASCAR.”
I would suggest that the race question be dropped from the next census questionnaire, as it’s not really important anymore.
We’re all out of Africa anyway.
Ho hum. Next story.
Seeing how there is only one race and that skin colour is an adaptation, I feel the box Other with penciling in Homo Sapien would be correct.
But then people in the US are so poorly educated in biology and firmly indoctrinated in ideas of the 19th century.
Cursor_
I thought O’bama was Irish!
just write in American and get past the race BS. The only reason it’s on the census is so they can continue to bias govt help and furthuring differences between races instead of treating everyone EQUALLY
I left off what race I am and what my phone number is. I also didn’t answer whether or not I am Hispanic, a question that could have been combined with the race question. The only reason to have race as a question is for gerrymandering unless the representatives are apportioned differently based on race. If pressed, though, I will say I am an Eden-American since my ancestors came from the Garden of Eden.
My Census form said that they cannot use your answers against you in court. They can’t impose fines on you without taking you to court.
#1 said, “While it is the last thing that your government wants to do, the U.S. Census Bureau can impose fines for failing to answer the 2010 Census questions or for intentionally providing false information.”
>> So what is the point of Obama releasing his choice? Stir up a racial debate? ‘Settle’ the question asked in the image above? Media distraction?
Yeah, right, Uncle Dave. It is _Obama_ who “stirring up” racism in America!
If Obama had _not_ released his answers you know darn-well the “birthers” and other racists would contrive some conspiracy theory about it.
Heck, they will, anyway…. just like you running this non-story full of the most negative spin possible on a perfectly innocuous act by Obama.
>> # 10 Allan said, on April 4th, 2010 at 10:32 am
>> I’m sorry, but race does matter – it mattered to OJ Simspon, Natalee Holloway, and the people of New Orleans. Democrats aren’t the ones that say “race doesn’t matter”
Of course race matters.
Race also matters when WHITE people hail a taxi, apply for a job, browse in a swanky store, apply for a job, send their kids to school or get busted with a small amount of drugs.
Conservatives whites are pushing this insane claim that the tables have completely turned and now WHITES are the oppressed minority.
What cynical stupidity.
Strangely, many Blacks in this country today subscribe to the “one-drop” rule even though this was a vehicle to discriminate against the decedents of Blacks by Southern Democrats.