Why do americans say Obama is black?

[shio]

Kasz216 said:

I mean, ask yourself this shio.  If Barak Obama was just some unknown guy walking down the streets of ANY europeon town... and someone were to go behind him, and ask the nice "non racist" europeon people in the streets.  "Say what race was that man right infront of me."

What do you think they would say?  Black... or "Half-white, half-black".  In the US we're just a little bit more straightfoward.

Outside of what someone on the street sees you as and the possible racism that might entail... what the heck does what race you are in the first place?

I would probably call him "mulato", which in portuguese means a person descendent of both black and white.

Listen, I know a couple of mixed guys, and one of them in particular I know no one would call him black EVER. He's got darker skin, but the features are very european.

alekth said:

shio said:
My point is, regardless of how you call yourself, your race will always be determined by your blood, not who you hang out with.

It is the same the few men that feel they should be women and try to have a sex change operation. They'll never be women, even after the operation. In comparison, there's no way for a person to change race (what MJ did isn't the same)

Woud you actually consider this one a man?

I can tell you I wouldn't call her a "woman" before the sex change, and the pre-sex change is the part that's better comparable to the black/half-black issue.

But yes, I would call her a woman now, but she isn't technically.

 

alekth said:

shio said:
My point is, regardless of how you call yourself, your race will always be determined by your blood, not who you hang out with.

It is the same the few men that feel they should be women and try to have a sex change operation. They'll never be women, even after the operation. In comparison, there's no way for a person to change race (what MJ did isn't the same)

Woud you actually consider this one a man?