Does anyone else not understand why Obama is constantly considered Black?

Good question Thrask. I find it very appalling that in the 21st Century the color of one's skin still matters greatly but I guess old habits die hard or will never die with some folks in the 'Baby boomers' era and even our generation if you are between the age 30-45. I do believe that it has to do more with the color of his skin, than his heritage and even so, again you are right, why couldn't he be seen as white? or Mulatto? I believed also it has to do with the screwed up distorted thinking that stemed back from Slavery, that if someone has an ounce of 'Black' he is black and constantly being reminded was a strategic mehod used to demoralize and to put slaves in their place, that strategy used by many slave owners has since trickle down through their generation to form quite a few stereotypical opinion. The fact that he is constantly considered Black also has its advantage because a lot of stereotypical opion of 'Blacks' will be broken whether you are of black and white parenting or just black parenting. Quite frankly a man who comes from a white mom and a black father definately have the interest of both his heritage at heart.

I don't believe that Barack is considered to be a black man because of his heritage and family background but because he lives his life as a black man. He married a black woman and together they have formed a normal, traditional black family. Under those circumstances, it would have been unrealistic for the Party to promote his white heritage. It would have created the feeling, especially among black community, that being black is something to be ashamed of and that is not something a political campaign does. They promote the positives and both Barack and Michele are good examples of what a black child, regardless of his or her personal situation, can achieve in this country today.

I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that in many ways America is still a very racist nation. Also there is the fact that his campaign is playing up the Black heritage in order to gain the Black voting blocks across the nation. Then there is the fact that the media plays it up due to him being the first Black American to be nominated on a major party ticket for the presidential election, and the fact that if elected he will be the first Black American President. They are playing it up because of the historical quality that would give the election - the same way that they played up the fact that Hillary was a woman and would be the first woman president. I really don't think that race has any place in an election, but I do believe that these are some of the biggest reasons why it seems to matter so much in this one.

I feel that we call him a black man because of the color of his skin. I know that this isn't right, but we all judge each other in some way or another. We all just look at Barack, and say he has dark skin, so he must be a black man. I agree that it is wrong for us to think this way, but untill you get to know people we all go off of our first impressions.

Sadly, people are classified by how they look which I believe is very wrong: race should have nothing to do with this election and people should vote on the issues and on whether they believe a candidate is suitable to be president. The reason why Obama is called 'black' is because of his skin colour. Had the genes from his mother and father come up differently and he had had white skin, people would then not be calling him black. So for instance, though my wife is Indian, my two children don't seem to have picked up any visible Indian features, except dark hair and brown eyes. But the colour of their skin is white and so therefore, they are viewed as 'white' by others. If the gene mix-up had been different and the colour of their skin had been brown, then people wouldn't be labelling them as 'white'. So in terms of my personal experience, I would say that 'it's the colour of your skin, stupid!'

I agree with you. I think that everyone should stop the publicity about him if he wins he will be the first black president, he has just as much right to win as anyone else and he shouldn't be put down or even encouraged just because of his skin colour, what i dont think people realise is that singling him about because of this could be classed as racism.

I have a friend who is a mulatto. She is half white and half black. But that does not worry her, because she considers her Canadian. Yet we in Canada are guilty of multiculturalism. Now it seems that the States is getting also in the act. If you have mixed heritage, you should consider all parts of your heritage, whether it is African Negro, Moorish, German, Italian, Martian, from the planet Xion or whatever. You cannot dismiss one part of your heritage because you look like the other. I cannot dismiss the Austrian part of me even though I prefer the German, Welsh, and English part, nor can I dismiss the Viking part of me even though I might have an ancestor who could have been a psycho killer. And therefore Obama cannot dismiss his white heritage just because he and his mother may have had a spat.

Because it is the black side he associates with, leans toward, acts like....he uses his white side when it is good for politics.

I think it's only racists who believe that "one ounce of black blood and you're black" thing. For most people today, it's what a bi-racial person looks like. Obama is a "light skinned" black but nonetheless he looks much more African-American than Caucasian. I think the vast majority of people who have one white parent and one black parent look more black, because brown or black genes for skin/hair/eyes are dominant.

i don't think it is actually about his heritage in himself it is being used as a tool for either promoting him or discrediting him. it is a sales pitch only. the best thing you can do is look at the man listen to what he says he will try to achieve and treat him according to your own wishes for your future. all too often the papers or television media look for angles and with obama it is being "black".

You have a point there! For some reason, I too did not think of Obama as being white instead of black. Perhaps it is just we human's weak spot in generalizing the little little things in life. Heck come to think about it, people shouldn't be judged based on race. Its not fair to them, its not fair to us. Do we really want to let go the opportunity of getting a truly remarkable person just because of his race? What we should focus on is merit, no race, religion or gender. You have brought a new insight in this election. Thank you