Black enough!
So, I was watching the Jon Stewart show and they were making fun of the democratic presidential candidates. Jon Stewart was saying how candidates are still playing nice and they need to start dissin’ each other. Then, he said that Clinton should tell Obama that he smoked so much that the only black thing about him is his lungs.
I really did not think it was funny because I have been hearing a lot about how Obama is not “black enough� because his dad is from Kenya, his mom is white and he grew up in Hawaii. And this is not just about Obama or just the black race. This happens in almost every race, ethnicity, religion and country. And the worst part is that the media does a good job of maintaining stereotypes. How can we break stereotypes, (which I believe helps to integrate people of different background in the US) when we have people telling others that they are not black enough or white enough. What does a person have to do to prove themselves and do they have to prove themselves.
If Obama says he is a black man, then he is that, regardless of his parents’ race, nationality, upbringing, how they talk and dress. Lets not limit people to fit our standards of being part of a certain group
Comments
I think that you are absolutely correct in saying that Jon Stewart's comment about Obama not being black enough was horrible. I think people need to leave race out of the election and just focus on the political side of the election.
Posted by: Nicole | May 9, 2007 9:53 PM
It is really interesting that people question Obama's race. I have heard that Rush Limbaugh refers to Obama as a "Halfrican American." In the United States, there has been such a rigid white-black dichotomy. race relations have historically been based on the "one drop" rule where a person is defined as being black if they have any known black heritage. It may be that the same people who would, in another context call Obama black because of his African heritage are now calling his blackness into question for political reasons.
Posted by: Stephen Anderson | May 9, 2007 10:33 PM
While I think it is fascinating that two of the Democratic frontrunners are a female, and a black man, I am with you in wondering why it is being given so much attention? I would hope that in this nation, we could focus more on the issues at hand, and elect a president based on that, and not their gender or color of their skin.
While I do watch the Jon Stewart show and think that much of what he says is funny, he does sometimes take things too far. I think that this was one of those times, but what can you really expect from a person who makes a living by being outragous.
Posted by: Joe Wax | May 10, 2007 3:28 PM
I agree that Jon Stewart's comment is wrong. Still, he may be reflecting what millions of Americans are thinking. This election will be based on race and sex, along with political standing. I think that it will be interesting to see how Obama's race plays out, because as a mixed race and not the dicotic black or white, he identifies with a large percentage of the American public. However, the media is pushing for him to identify as either black or non- black.
In the end, race should not matter, it is merely the color of skin. Instead, with the assistance of the media, america has formed subcultures and stereotypes around this articifical category. I will be interested to see if race is what decides who is more qualifed to sit in the oval office.
Posted by: Jennifer Sanchez | May 10, 2007 9:47 PM
Not only have some people questioned whether Barack is 'black enough' but some well-established democrats have named him Barack the 'magic negro.' This was also sang in a parody to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon. The fact that a presidential candidate has been so scrutinized and disrespected over race, and his socio-economic upbringing is obsurd to me, especially y members of his own party. Aren't we supposed to support equality and opportunity?
What bothers me the most is the fact that these types of comments are coming from respected politicians whom the public listens to for advice, and if the advice people are receiving is centered around race and not around political standing and the specifics on issues, then how is the general public going to make a non-gender-biased decision on election day?
Posted by: Jessie Quinn | May 12, 2007 6:43 PM