(CBS) Sunday Morning commentator Nancy Giles wonders what it means to be "black enough." Is blackness defined by how you talk or by where you grew up? Or by other people's stereotypes?
Is presidential candidate Barack Obama "black enough?" And does he appeal to white voters because he's only half "black?" And does his B.A. from Columbia and his Harvard law degree somehow make him "too white?"
And since his father was African and Barack Obama grew up with his white mother in Hawaii and Indonesia before moving back to the States, does that mean that he can't relate to the authentic African-American experience, and that black Americans would do better to vote for someone who truly relates to our unique history, like Hillary Clinton or Rudy Giuliani?
What does "not black enough" mean, anyway? Are you more black if you grew up in an all-black neighborhood, and less black if you grew up around a mix of cultures? Is hair part of the equation? If it's natural, does that make you more black? Then where does that leave Al Sharpton, or most of the black girl singers on the planet?
Is blackness measured in percentages, so that any white person in one's gene pool dilutes one's purity? So if you're half-black, you're mulatto; one-quarter black: a quadroon, one-eighth black: an octoroon? Do we really want to go back to that time in our history? And what about our natural talents at music, rhythm and athletics? I'm tall, but I've never been good at basketball. Where do I fit in?
Who knows? I've been told for years I don't sound black. Kids in school said I talked white. I've always been black and I've always talked like this. What they really meant was that I didn't sound like the stereotype that they were used to. But if sounding black means speaking one specific way, would Martin Luther King have been accused of sounding white? Would his speech have been more authentic if he "axed" us to march on Washington in 1963 to hear his famous "I Be Havin' A Dream" speech?
In his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Barack Obama spoke about the struggles of family life in the inner-city. "Children can't achieve unless we raise their expectations and turn off the television sets and eradicate the slander that says a black youth with a book is acting white," he said.
"Acting white"? It's time to stop the "divide and conquer" speak and acknowledge that we can come from different places and still share something unique. "Black enough?" Black enough for what?
The best thing that could have happened was for this "argument" to be thrust into the light of day for all to see. Once the mainstream media got hold of it, the abusrdity of it all began to show.
To be sure, many, if not most, AA's over the age of 35 have probably had their Black credentials challenged or questioned in some regard. It's frustrating, hurtfull, perplexing and sometimes funny. But there's much to be said about sacrifice and endurance.
I say it's funny, because we now have white media personalities questioning aloud whether a political candidate is "Black enough". Probably no harmful or malicious intent, but it points to a shallowness and superficiality of the whole issue. Suffice it to say, though, that some ambitious political candidate will invariably Vanilla-Ice himself right out of the running.
I wonder if the "suits" in the media, would tolerate an equivalent position from this CBS staffer or any media type on forging a "one size fits all" approach to Gays, Lesbians, Bi-Sexuals and Transgendered. That is, would they have tolerated discourse that basically eliminated any distinctions between members of the various sub groups of "gender issue" individuals. In fact, I think not. To wit: One of the reasons that Lesbians are distinquished from Gays, is to ensure that Lesbians have a voice in the Larger community to advocate issues unique to them.
I'm struck by the fact, that the commentator never discussed the importance of self perception as it relates to ethncity and race. Not, unlike what is accorded "Gender Issue" people. (And rightfully so). Nor did she mention the growing phenomenon of people identifying beyond black, Hispanic or Asia in America because family and religious affiliations may in fact truimph traditional racial affilitions. God forbid that she should reference that there are people with visble black ancestry, that are rooted fully in non-black communities. Basically, I took her spin, that one shouldn't even try to distinquish themselves out of "blackness" either by virtue of cultural norms and associations or biology. And then cleverly alluding to the oppressiveness of antebellum classifications i.e. mulatto/quadroon terminology of the past only to advocate a more restrictive "less freedom oriented" racial classifcation system.
The issue of the individuals right to self-identify their heritage should have been the thrust of her piece if one is to presume that she advocates as much freedom for the ethnic minority as the liberal media advocates for the gender minority.. And, as such, if Obama wants to be viewed as "black" so be it. Don't think that this will help his campaign--but so be it. But, instead, she focused on herself, and her choices, without reaffirming in principle, that others who may see themselves in a different fashion should be encouraged to make their choices.
Last edited by Christina on Tue 27 Mar 2007 01:07; edited 1 time in total
Conversely, I didn't find the article to be one-sizing or pigeon-holing of anyone's cultural self-ID. Rather, the author appears to reject the ironic premise of questioning Obama's Blackness even though he self-ID's as such.
But maybe I'm missing the basis of your point, Christina ...
Not to put too fine a point on it, DH, I seem to be among the tiny minority who gets your humor. We must share some unusual mental wierdness. (Alternatively, we are both extraordinarily inept humorists.)
Last edited by fwsweet on Tue 27 Mar 2007 21:53; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 07 Feb 2007 {Posts: 1829 } Location: Lookin DC Metro, Feelin Geneva
Posted: Tue 27 Mar 2007 18:48 Post subject:
fwsweet wrote:
Dragon Horse wrote:
I was joking, jeeeez
Not to put too fine a point on it, DH, I seem to be among the tiny minority who gets your humor. We must share some unusual mental wierdness. (Alternatively, we are both extraordinarily inept humorists.)
Posted: Mon 23 Apr 2007 09:22 Post subject: Black Enough? - The question should be "Good enough?"
"What does "not black enough" mean, anyway? Are you more black if you grew up in an all-black neighborhood, and less black if you grew up around a mix of cultures? Is hair part of the equation? If it's natural, does that make you more black? Then where does that leave Al Sharpton, or most of the black girl singers on the planet?"
Well then if theres no difference between Black and everything else, then what is the point of maintaining this distinction. Why even bother labeling people as Black in the first place - since theres no definition?
Is blackness measured in percentages, so that any white person in one's gene pool dilutes one's purity? So if you're half-black, you're mulatto; one-quarter black: a quadroon, one-eighth black: an octoroon? Do we really want to go back to that time in our history? And what about our natural talents at music, rhythm and athletics? I'm tall, but I've never been good at basketball. Where do I fit in?
I bet what she really means is that people who aren't fully African don't deserve to be anything other than Black. Why is she defining Black as being independent of how much ancestry you have? This sounds like forcing people to be Black who may ligitimately have some other identity.
Who knows? I've been told for years I don't sound black. Kids in school said I talked white. I've always been black and I've always talked like this. What they really meant was that I didn't sound like the stereotype that they were used to. But if sounding black means speaking one specific way, would Martin Luther King have been accused of sounding white? Would his speech have been more authentic if he "axed" us to march on Washington in 1963 to hear his famous "I Be Havin' A Dream" speech?
So she doesn't sound Black huh? And she doesnt actually look black - skinned, or negro, huh? Well, has it ever occured to her, that maybe she isnt actually "black"? That maybe...she is just a wannabe? That maybe she just wants to be an Afroamerican, even though she has no cultural affinitiy to them at all? That maybe shes afraid that if she isnt "black", then she cant be an afroamerican? I betcha anything she knows this.
"Acting white"? It's time to stop the "divide and conquer" speak and acknowledge that we can come from different places and still share something unique. "Black enough?" Black enough for what?
Question, phenotype aside, if Blacks act just like whites, then what is the purpose of labeling them as different in an ethnic sense? Question two, if afroamericans want to keep their culture, then how do they imagine to ever be fully included in American society? Question three, how do afroamericans think it is that they have a seperate culture in the first place, if not for being exluded from mainstream society? In other words, once the doors are open to being included - afroamerican culture will vanish just like Irish, Italian, German American culture did long before.
Question, phenotype aside, if Blacks act just like whites, then what is the purpose of labeling them as different in an ethnic sense? Question two, if afroamericans want to keep their culture, then how do they imagine to ever be fully included in American society? Question three, how do afroamericans think it is that they have a seperate culture in the first place, if not for being exluded from mainstream society? In other words, once the doors are open to being included - afroamerican culture will vanish just like Irish, Italian, German American culture did long before.
It would be news to many White Americans that their ethnic cultures have vanished. Grant you that most Americans have assimilated into the "mainstream" culture with its broad WASPy outline, including Black Americans, but there are distinct ethnic cultures that have been maintained in the U.S.
I think you're missing the author's point. She is speaking about a "black" ethnic identity and how some people challenge other's "blackness" based on many reasons, like speech patterns--"talking white." The author isn't imposing any identity on people. In fact, she is questioning why other people feel they have the right to question someone's self-definition.
The author's point about mulattos and quadroons isn't to deny anyone the right to call himself whatever he chooses but the opposite. Why should someone's mixed status prevent them from defining themselves as ethnically "black" if they want?
"Ethnicity" and "race" are not the same. Someone can be "ethnically" Latino and "racially" white, black, mixed, Indigenous American, or Asian. Right? Why should someone who is a multi-generational mixed-race person who identifies as African-American suddenly be told that she can't be part of the group?
Posted: Tue 24 Apr 2007 03:28 Post subject: Missing the point?
No Triguy, I disagree with you. I have the seen the behavior of these kinds of wannabes over and over again and have a pretty good idea of what their actual underlying motivations are. Thus, while yes you are correct, one could interpret her words in the way you are suggesting, this would be a false characterization of her actual intentions. Let me explain.
Her real contention, is that if Black is redefined in terms of ancestry levels, or behavior patterns, then people such of herself, who are neither mostly African nor Afroamerican in their habits, will not be able to identify as Afroamerican, or at least, their identity will be jeapordized. Hence, she intends to defend the modern ODR whereby any visible african features automaticaly makes one a member of the Black race, in order to evade her own identity being cast into doubt. Notice that she never expands her argument to other groups of people, say Whites, or Asians. This is a good indication that her only purpose is to maintain the racial status quo, and that she could care less or perhaps even resents flexible self-identification.
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