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Obama is an authentic African American

January 25, 2007 by Roland  
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One of the insidious rituals any high-profile African American must endure in order to establish his or her credibility with some other African Americans is show that are “down with the brothers and the sisters.” 

See, you can’t just be a Fortune 500 CEO, politician, civil rights activist or journalist who happens to be African American. In order to be fully accepted and embraced, you are required to show your “ghetto card” at the entrance of the black gates of Black America. Otherwise, you are forced to stand outside, proving your worthiness to the masses as if you are a sinner trying to convince Saint Peter that you are good enough to get to heaven. 

This may be surprising to many of my white readers, and my black readers may get offended and accuse me of airing our dirty laundry, but this type of silliness has been seen time and time again. And as it relates to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s decision to run for president, some are already demanding that he prove himself to the peeps. While preparing for a segment on his presidential chances on CNN’s Paula Zahn NOW, I read the transcript from a San Francisco radio show where a co-host said that Obama has to work overtime to get blacks to trust him because he doesn’t have a “hood” experience. The other co-host went on to say that because Obama didn’t grow up impoverished on the streets of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas or in the northern slums of Chicago, New York City and Boston, then he can’t truly identify with the black experience in America. 

Because his mother is white and father Kenyan, and the fact that he grew up in Hawaii (that’s still the United States for the map-challenged folks) and Indonesia, then his blackness is somehow under review. No doubt this comes as a surprise to some, but this is the kind of nonsense that is pervasive in black communities nationwide, and yes, he is going to have those folks on the campaign trail and who call into radio talk shows and make similar statements. 

On one hand, Obama has to convince skeptical white voters that he can do the job, even though he is an African American, because of their biases. On the other hand, he must convince skeptical black voters that he isn’t some white creation that appears to be black, but if elected, will crush the aspirations and dreams of black folks once in the White House.

 Don’t think for a second that I’m making this up. I’ve already started receiving the emails and phone calls on my radio show on WVON-AM in Chicago, so there are some nut jobs who have taken this position. 

This is offensive because anyone who has ever sat down and listened to Obama can understand that he fully understands what it means to be African American – because he is! Now, for the people who question his race, I wonder how many of them will claim Obama as one of their own if he wins the White House? These are likely the same people who screamed when joy with that talented, beautiful and fine sister, Halle Berry, won the Academy Award. Was she questioned considering her mom is white and dad black? Are these the same folks who clapped loudly when Mariah Carey took home Grammy after Grammy, but refused to admit that her makeup is similar to that of Obama? Could it be that these brothers and sisters claim Tiger Woods as one of our own when he is winning major golf championships, even though he considers himself a “Cablanasian,” a combination of Caucasian, Black and Asian?  We have reached the day when black folks are going to have to quit forcing others to pass a black test to establish their worthiness.

Every black person in America doesn’t have a “hood” experience. They all don’t have the same story of their father leaving them as a child, having to grow up in a single parent home in a public housing complex, their brother on welfare and sister twice pregnant by the age of 18. We all didn’t belong to the Crips and Bloods and had to fight our way out of the gang in order to go to college. No, we all didn’t grow up in the black church, singing “Precious Lord” and memorizing the speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We shouldn’t assume that every black person had to work three jobs to pay their way through college. Segregation no longer limits where we live, work and play. So if Jim Crow is dead, then why do we allow the system to continue to pervade our minds? 

The day has come when we judge a black man or woman for who they are, where they stand on issues and what they believe in. If Obama offers a political agenda that speaks to the needs of African Americans, good. If he choose to offer one that is broad and more universal, that doesn’t make him any less of an African American (Truth be told, Obama is more African American than most of us can claim. At least his father hails from the Motherland while his mom is an American). 

There is too much work to be done to raise the collective black community in the areas of education, economics and healthcare. And worrying about whether Obama or anyone else is black enough to do so should not be a part of the dialogue.  

 

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Thumblated Related Post
  • I couldn't understand some parts of this article Obama is an authentic African American, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
  • Rhiannon
    I feel very bad for Senator Obama even though I won't vote for him this really burns me up! I can't believe these are the very same IDIOTS that would cry racism at the drop of a hat if Halle Berry wasn't given an oscar.
    The are you black enough question is enough to make me wanna go on a violent rampage against every racist moron who uttered it! If a white person asked that there would be a never ending wailing and gnashing of teeth and the idiot who uttered it would have a 30 mile lyinching mob after him. Fortunately for the idiots in this scenario they are black and safe from retribution.
  • georgiap
    could it simply be envy? Truly dismayed that Maxine Waters, Juan Williams, Al Sharpton and others are distancing themselves from Senator Obama. I would think if Dr.King, like Lazurus would be resurrected
    he would die again post haste. Consider: most of his goals and aspirations for us are easily recognizable in Senator Obamas path to success, achievement, power, etc.

    So sad that our "leaders" cannot, will not, cloak him in the mantle he so clearly deserves. These same "leaders" have withdrawn their support and spend countless hours on talk radio dissecting and dismembering the senator. Can't wait to hear what they have to say - next month - Black History Month

    We are in an argument that merits no discussion Case closed, hopefully
  • Johnny
    I sent this e-mail to Roland and I thought just as well to post it:

    I would like to thank you for your SHOCK AND AWE commentary in the January 29, 2007 Defender. I was initially shocked that you said it and then in awe that you were right. I never cease -- although I should according to 'Pavlov's law' -- to be astounded at the philosophy, mind-set and reasoning of African Americans (I believe it's self hatred at the root of all these vain philosophies). We are so narrow minded that we can't even appreciate our own broad range of lifestyles -- should we not by now have some fruit of the labor of so many African Americans that sacrificed at least for the last couple of centuries? ... "...and that's all I have to say about that".
  • georgiap
    What gives with us? Why, oh why do we continue tobe so fractious? How silly to criricize Obama as
    not being "black" enough? Who else can we attack? Colin Powell ? Harold Ford? Adam Clayton Powell?????
    They and many others were educated at prestigious institutions, aimed high, suffered indignities and guess what managed to like a phoenix rise above (just barely) the ashes of slavery and repression.

    Is being black being ignorant, contentious, envious - do we all have to literally be "niggers" in order
    to pass this self-imposed litmus test? Who do we really want as role models four our children; 50 cents
    or barack obama?

    The South will rise again - with the Klan (in the cut) and black intelligentsia/ and blacks miserably
    uninformed and lacking rational thinking - these 3 will succeed in destroying years of progress
    and yes marching, praying, etc

    Finally, there's Oprah - Why oh why this unfair criticism> She doesn't claim mixed parentage
    (as so many of us do) My grandmother/grandfather uncle,etc was Indian - . . .)
    When will we stop this nitpicking? She chose to build a school in Africa - Too black, apparently.

    Obama, a product of multi-cultural education - not black enough, apparently. Bill Cosby
    black children are not committed to learning - liar, liar, pants on fire!!!! How could he say that
    about our poor children who score lower on academic tests than any other group, teen pregnancies
    at an all-time low, who act like absolute fools on Maury Povich every afternoon??

    We must stop this irrational, mis-guided thinking. It's becoming pathological

    Georgiap /
  • k. brisbane
    It's interesting that the questions we ask about Black
    politicians, in some instances, are never asked about white ones. Can we
    presume that Obama is able, willing and committed to working on behalf of
    the AA community because he's Black? I don't think so. But why do we
    assume Hilary Clinton is? She has shown herself to be less involved, less
    capable and less interested in our concerns than Obama and she has had more
    time to prove herself.

    I think we should question everyone. Maxine Waters and Barbara Lee are
    committed, demonstrably so and both of them are concerned about Obama.
    While Ron Walters would raise that question about anyone that didn't see
    him, Ron Walters, as an intellectual god of the black community, there are
    concerns and there should be. For the most part Obama is an unknown entity.
    He hasn't had a long political history outside of Illinois and let's be
    frank, anyone that the white elite appear to be pushing, should be suspect.

    I have read Obama's first autobiorgraphy and have the second one to read and
    still I am cautious because we have been used and abused too often in the
    past. Ron Walters can't tell me who to vote for but I am not convinced by
    the white press either. Actually, I would go with Ron before I went with
    the white press.

    But all that aside, I think the "old guard" referred to in the article is
    using a common sense approach of caution. I didn't read anything in the
    article that was inappropriate. What does disturb me are the holes in the
    argument. Is the issue that Obama may not be an African American? What
    does that mean? He's in America, its 2007 and he looks like me. He's
    black. He has demonstrated his relationship to and concern for his
    constituents in Illinois. He represented AA in the state legislature.

    The concerns I have about him have to do with his decision not to vote
    against pulling out of Iraq. Aren't we, the AA community concerned about
    the loss of so many young black women and men in a war of profit and world
    domination? The question I have is: how does he relate to the issues that
    we, as Americans have about the world and the US economy that will surely
    impact our lives and those of our children? The questions I have are: what
    position will he take on the continuance of the UN; decisions handed down by
    The International Court of Justice; the American led attempts to overthrow
    Chavez in Venezuela; the impact of trade agreements on fair trade with
    countries in this hemishpere and around the world?; who will he put on the
    Federal bench when vacancies occur?, on and on. These are AA concerns and
    concerns of other Americans as well.

    In other words, are we asking the questions that we, as Americans, need
    answers to in order to make an informed decision about who to vote for as
    the president of the USA in 2008? There is not one America for whites and
    others and another for AA. Trust me, what happens to one is going to impact
    all of us. We can't continue to live a myopic existence. If Obama
    continues to support the war in Iraq, we lose. If he continues to ignore
    rulings against the US in the world courts, we lose. If he can't get
    Congress to address the trade deficit-meaning the war in Iraq and everywhere
    else that is syphoning off all our resources, and the manufacturing hegemony
    of China- we lose. If he is too weak, too scared, too beholden, to
    uncommitted to the AA community to demand the expansion of equality and
    equity, then we lose. Not just we, the AA community, but we, the US
    population.

    Why do we continue to fight over nothing? Wouldn't we have been better off
    now, if the "black intellegencia" had supported both Booker T. Washington
    and Dubois, A. Phillip Randolp and the communist League, Malcolm X, the
    Black Panthers and Civil Rights organizations? While I know Derrick Bell's
    answer would be: "probably not", who can say for sure, since we continue to
    hold down everyone by our divisiveness.

    For once, it would be nice to see us think through our needs in unison and
    ask the questions that we need answers to. Yes, we need to move forward
    but we need to rely on ourselves more too. We need to remember that the
    21st century is the continuation of the 20th century and everything from
    before has come with it. If we are interested in changing that, then we
    need to be clear about our role in our history. For me, it is not only
    Obama we need to question, but ourselves. Do we know what we want, need and
    how we can go about getting it?

    If we can answer those questions, then we can make the decision about who we
    need to take us to another level of being on this planet.
  • rikyrah
    I am not surprised, but disheartened by those in 'our' community who continue to perpetuate this ' is he authentic' nonsense.

    Barack Obama spent years organizing in the Black community. On the ground. How much more ' authentic' does the man have to be?

    He's a TRUE African-American.

    I'm so weary about this mess.

    We as a community better WAKE UP.

    I don't have 8 kids by 8 ' Baby Daddy's.
    I've never been on welfare.
    I've never lived ' in da hood'.
    I've never been involved with a drive-by shooting.
    I didn't drop out of high school.

    I was raised by BOTH of my parents, in a two-parent home.My father was good Black man who got up and went to work everyday, and came home to my mother, to whom he showed honor and respect everyday they were married until the day he died a little after their 28th anniversary. My 2 sisters and I finished high school, then college and graduate school.

    I am no less Black than anyone else. Mine was an 'authentic' Black experience.
  • Dr. Jack A. Milavic
    Thank you for your comments on Senator Obama. I feel he is a breath of fresh air, honest, charismatic and not yet spoiled by the Washington DC elitists. Yes, I completely agree many will vote for Hillary only because she is a women, and many will vote of Senator Obama because he is Black. I am voting for him because I am a very conservative, registered independent white male, that adamantly believe it is more important to support the individual rather than a party, gender, or race.
  • Fronse Pellebon Smith
    Mr. Martin,

    Mr. Obama does not have a 'black' problem. A father from the continent by direct lineage certainly makes him 'Black.' There is an undercurrent among American born and raised
    'black' African Americans whose ancestry is traced back generations in America. We choose to call ourselves African Americans for political and cultural reasons. Our culture here in America is an homogenized 'african' culture (based on what we define as African other than DNA). Much of what we deem as Black Conciousness is homogenized intellectual choice so we have a broad race identity. This was formed mainly as a response to being stripped of language, culture and customs from Africa.

    Yes we define ourselves as African American, in reality we are a mixed race group identifying with pseudo-Africanized culture in America.
    So Brother Obama is looked at askance by 'us'. Why ? He IS 21st century America. Directly mixed race, intelligent, world traveled and educated outside of what we know as American 'blackness.'

    WE have to either clearly define who/what WE are before we can get into the slanderous mode of questioning someone's blackness.

    Three generations removed I have African, Native American and Irish roots, yet I was raised as a Black man in Altgeld Gardens, Carver Hign School, Chicago. I believe my genotype is more normative of 'Black' men than American born 'African' men.

    Thus we have our own version of African American Xenophobia when it comes to leadership.
    A Brother is always questioned if Euro-Americans say they will/actually vote for him.
    Let us question ourselves about 'race' before we question Barak Obama's 'Blackness' or 'blackness.'

    Keep on keepin' on,
    Fronse W. (Akintunde Kafule) Pellebon Smith

    ps And yes I have travelled to Africa...a lot !
  • Mr. Nickels
    The fact that the African American community allows the system to continue to pervade our minds long after Daddy Rice created Jim Crow and all of the ridiculous "codes" that followed suit is due in large part to the number of "prominent African Americans" in the media and the images they intentionally or unintentionally protray of themselves, their race and their supporters.

    Whether it be referring to their "bruhs and sistahs" or their "peeps" or claiming alliance with the Bloods or Crips when it does them good and shunning them when it would do them bad to flaunt that association (see also Tookie Williams and all of his see-saw supporters). Or whether it is claiming we can't get invited to speak on anything other than racial issues and yet when we do get that invitation, only speaking to the racial issues we have ingrained so far under our skin. Or even pulling the race card when there was no reason for it at all.

    Instead of being happy for a human being who just may be similar in race, face, color, country, county or creed to us, we now want to judge the validity of his background and race. The more things change the more they stay the same.

    Will Smith summed it up pretty much to the T when he said this:

    "Maybe I should just have a shoot out
    Run up in the bank, bustin', grabbin' all the loot out
    Whoop somebody ass, taking my boot out
    Right on TV so ya'll can see me
    Just ignorant, attacking, actin' rough
    I mean, then will I be black enough
    Oh wait maybe I'll jack a truck
    Full of cigarettes, guns & drugs & stuff"
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