Soledad O'Brien's "Who is Black in America"

[soulflower]

That someone given the escape valve of biraciality would choose to be black, would see some beauty in his darker self

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...#ixzz2EVc6EWGJ

I'm guessing this comes from a desire to please his father. According to O'Brien, mixed children are the fastest growing population in the US.

Physically, he looks African American. If he were in the South in the 1950's he would have been forced to ride in the back of the bus.
Blame society not individual

[Baltimatt]

Soulflower--

And if as a young child he boarded a bus with his mother in the Jim Crow era, how would that have gone down?

[flyboy56]

Physically, he looks African American. If he were in the South in the 1950's he would have been forced to ride in the back of the bus.
Blame society not individual

Where'd that come from?

[soulflower]

When the Indians first saw the white Spaniards they thought they were gods. And wanted to look like them.

The irony in that line of thinking is that Northern Europeans in the not too distant past have been biased against the darker complexioned Spanish and Italians. Southern Europeans have been stereotyped as being less intelligent and more hot tempered.

The obsession with skin tone isn't exclusive to America. It exists in other parts of the world and in other cultures.

[Baltimatt]

Flyboy--

It appears Soulflower was answering your question about why Obama chose to identify as black. White society has not been traditionally welcoming to mixed black-white people. Have you ever heard of the one drop rule?

[soulflower]

Soulflower--

And if as a young child he boarded a bus with his mother in the Jim Crow era, how would that have gone down?

I have no idea. Race mixing was illegal in many parts of the Jim Crow South. Maybe his mom would have been tossed in jail.

[flyboy56]

The irony in that line of thinking is that Northern Europeans in the not too distant past have been biased against the darker complexioned Spanish and Italians. Southern Europeans have been stereotyped as being less intelligent and more hot tempered.

The obsession with skin tone isn't exclusive to America. It exists in other parts of the world and in other cultures.

When the Spanish Conquerers first came to the new world over 500 years ago they were the first white people Indians had seen. And with their mighty armor and weapons and large sailing vessels the Indian were in awe of them.

[flyboy56]

Flyboy--

It appears Soulflower was answering your question about why Obama chose to identify as black. White society has not been traditionally welcoming to mixed black-white people. Have you ever heard of the one drop rule?

Actually the first time I heard of that was here on this site. Very similar I guess to how the Spanish Conquerers tried to classify the new mixed race with the inclusion of white Spanish blood. They eventually gave up trying.

[soulflower]

Flyboy--

It appears Soulflower was answering your question about why Obama chose to identify as black. White society has not been traditionally welcoming to mixed black-white people. Have you ever heard of the one drop rule?

Thanks Matt

I really believe that attitudes are changing and in the future, mixed race people will be able to have their own category in society.

However, in the era that Obama grew up in, mixed race people didn't have a choice.

[bmore_ken]

Actually the first time I heard of that was here on this site.

I find that incredibly hard to believe if you're an American

[flyboy56]

I find that incredibly hard to believe if you're an American

Believe it. Maybe someone mentioned it in passing but it probably went in one ear and out the other. I never was quite concerned with my blood mix or any one else's. I grew as a military brat so it was not unusual to see mixed race families. I never cared one way or the other.

[dialtone]

Believe it. Maybe someone mentioned it in passing but it probably went in one ear and out the other. I never was quite concerned with my blood mix or any one else's. I grew as a military brat so it was not unusual to see mixed race families. I never cared one way or the other.

You saw a lot of mixed race families in the 60's?

[flyboy56]

Thanks Matt

I really believe that attitudes are changing and in the future, mixed race people will be able to have their own category in society.

However, in the era that Obama grew up in, mixed race people didn't have a choice.

Mixed race families were not unusual in the military where I grew up. Lot's of my friends were considered either Nisei or Mulatto. I grew up in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

[flyboy56]

You saw a lot of mixed race families in the 60's?

In the military community, yes. It was not all that unusual.

[soulflower]

Mixed race families were not unusual in the military where I grew up. Lot's of my friends were considered either Nisei or Mulatto. I grew up in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

It was unusual the South. Interracial marriage was illegal in some States until the 60s

[dialtone]

It was unusual the South. Interracial marriage was illegal in some States until the 60s

the late 60's I believe.

[flyboy56]

It was unusual the South. Interracial marriage was illegal in some States until the 60s

Being a military brat I was obviously sheltered from much of that. I guess when you sleep in the same fox hole with folks of all different colors, then what's the big deal with interracial marriage.

[flyboy56]

Louie Bellson spent much of his time as Pearl Bailey’s musical director, writing her arrangements and leading her accompanying bands. The Couple were married for 38 years, until Bailey’s death in 1990, at age 72. Bellson died at age 84, in 2009. The couple adopted a boy, Tony, in the mid-1950s, and girl Dee Dee, in 1960.

They were married in 1952.

[Baltimatt]

the late 60's I believe.

1967, when the Supreme Court decided Loving v. Virginia.

[flyboy56]

Louie Bellson spent much of his time as Pearl Bailey’s musical director, writing her arrangements and leading her accompanying bands. The Couple were married for 38 years, until Bailey’s death in 1990, at age 72. Bellson died at age 84, in 2009. The couple adopted a boy, Tony, in the mid-1950s, and girl Dee Dee, in 1960.

They were married in 1952.

These two were married in London.