Thank you-- I thought I had REALLY missed something!
It’s perfectly reasonable to point out that Obama is the first black POTUS. The fact is important and historic. Don’t let anyone say otherwise. Obama’s election is especially symbolic for America’s blacks. Just like Spike Lee said, this is a turning point. From this point forward, black people know they can do anything they are willing to work hard enough to achieve. No one can successfully argue that racism is completely dead, but it no longer has the power to hold a black person down. No black man, or woman, should accept racism as an excuse for not being successful in life. If a black man can be President, black people can do anything in this country. This is something we, as Americans - black, white, or otherwise, can all be proud of.
Actually, I don’t think that necessarily follows. In fact, if a significant number of people voted for Barack because he’s black, then race was certainly a relevant factor.
I would agree, however, that this event demonstrates that being black is no longer necessarily a hindrance to becoming President. Even though I’m not an Obama supporter, I can certainly take pleasure in that.
SEE!!! His Catholicism was such as issue he had to be a *whole different *religion!!!
Which might be a little high for a Presidential candidate (or it might not be), but is probably pretty common for any President.
Would it not be more accurate to say “the first black American President?”
Without any research on my part, I hazard a guess that an African head of state already has the title “first black President”. Liberia, perhaps?
I think a great part of the historic moment is pride for African Americans, and to say that out loud, The First Black President. Why deny that proud moment as a long suffering segment of American society? This is a culmination of a long struggle, unique among other US minorities in the huge diaspora subjected to slavery, and awful perjorative existence. Obama’s election as the leader of the country is a huge measure of pride in that journey; that all that work was worth it. I think it’s an accomplishment that should be claimed and exclaimed by everyone that’s been part of that.
I’m white, femme, with two Native American great great grandmothers, and I share in that exclaimation point, tears and joy, hopin’ we can see that barrier break open for every person now.
Because specificity is not a bad thing?
Why is “non-white” any better than pointing out his ethnicity?
There is a ‘urban legend’ of sorts in the black community about something called the Willie Lynch Letter.
And although the document is simply a myth that has never been verified as an actual letter, the idea of the letter was valid. The idea was that white racists had to implement psychological trickery along with their physical brutality to give the slaves a docile and obedient slave mentality.
Many black scholars have talked about how this ‘slave mentality’ is passed down, from generation to generation.
We make gains, we fight battles, we make mistakes, we have triumphs, as a people. But there is always the baggage and undercurrent of the ‘Willie Lynch’ mentality.
Some of these black scholars had suggested that there would need to be some sort of psychological shock to bring our people out of the mentality that was haunting us, and back into the reality that we are worthy, amazing people with so much to offer eachother and the world.
I do believe that seeing a black man in office could be the ‘shock’ that black people needed.
I know I am often all over the place when I am trying to discuss race issues, and this time is no exception. I ramble and get emotional because the truth is, my heart belongs to poor black people struggling in this nation’s ghettos, not believing deeply in their heart that they could ever accomplish certain things that white people can.
But the truth is, we can. We can accomplish anything anyone else can, even the highest office in the biggest super power in the free world. The shock of that reality may very well change black America in a way that will unleash multitudes of accomplishments from some people that have been written off by their own communities. That is awesome.
:rolleyes:
Um, no.
The concept of Ex Cathedra-“Papal Infallibility” is that the Pope is ONLY infallible when speaking on matters of the faith. AND it’s only been used ONCE, when speaking of the Assumption of Mary.
Please, try and educate yourself before you call another’s argument “ridiculous.”
Nitpick: I believe it’s faith and morals, and it’s also been used for the Immaculate Conception. Not that it makes any difference.
And for the record, American Catholics are by no means blind followers of the pope, as epitomized by the statistic that (IIRC) a considerable majority do not think birth control is wrong.
Thanks. I just get so sick of the whole, “The Pope is infallible! You can never do anything he says is wrong!”
As for the OP, considering most people set a great store by their heritage as well, I think to say, “Well, he’s just the first non-white president” would also somehow, I don’t know, trivialize the accomplishment? This is a major historical turning point. It’s like when people try to say, “We’re not black or white-we’re all just people.” Sadly, that’s not how it is in real life." (Like, I’m Pittsburgh, born and bred. 
Yes Obama is a great person, and candidate, and that is exciting. But the first black president is historical. It’s kind of like asking “why isn’t anyone talking about that America won a gold medal, when the competitor just broke a world record?”
As far as “not white”, blacks have historically been the largest minority in the US, as well as having a special status in the tradition of racism.