Why do americans say Obama is black?

[Khuutra]

shio said:

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.

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?

I wondr why you aren't replying to me, shio.

Anyway.

Never call anyone "mulato" in the States - we understand the term as being related to slavery and colonialism. The word finds its root in mule, after all - half horse, half donkey, completely sterile, and good primarily for hard labor. It's dehumanizing for some, though others don't mind - still, better not to risk that kind of insult.