Althouse: Why Barack Obama is "authentically black."

January 18, 2008

Why Barack Obama is "authentically black."

"He is being black by choice. That is more authentic."

20 comments:

Ron said...: Gee, if I chose to be black can I be president too?; 1/18/08, 7:05 AM
Moose said...: So, race is about how you talk? How you act? And please someone explain to me why this guy gets off calling Colin Powell a "mutt"?; 1/18/08, 7:31 AM
MadisonMan said...: The quote you pluck is very odd. But the point I think is that Barack Obama identifies culturally as black -- whatever that means -- which differs from Rice or Powell -- so the argument goes, as far as I can tell.

I do think that if Barack Obama can summon black cadence while talking to youth, that could be a good thing -- but I'm not sure if my parents are ready to listen to it. You can't talk to everyone at once.; 1/18/08, 7:41 AM
Meade said...: That may be true but Hillary can be more authentically Scottish if she chooses to be. That could be a real asset when speaking to groups of so-called white Americans who are emotionally over-controlled, uptight, and angry.; 1/18/08, 7:47 AM
Astronaut Mike Dexter said...: "Damned Scots! They ruined Scotland!"

"You Scots sure are a contentious people."

"Ach! You just made an enemy for life!"

[/simpsons]; 1/18/08, 8:11 AM
EnigmatiCore said...: A woman could be born with a huge rack, or could decide to get one via plastic surgery.

In the latter case, because she chose, it would be more authentic?; 1/18/08, 8:34 AM
The Drill SGT said...: Fascinating:

Powell with 2 black parents, born in Harlem to garment district workers, growing up in 1940's and 50's NYC and graduating from CCNY isn't as "black" as:

Obama, born to two grad students (1 black) in Hawaii, first moves to the CONUS when he is 18 to attend Columbia and Harvard.

Obama is black because he uses a (learned as an adult) black inflection? Powell is more white because he speaks standard English?; 1/18/08, 8:35 AM
Anonymous said...: Wonderful, how Obama is enabling us to put the race issue behind us!; 1/18/08, 8:36 AM
dbp said...: This is not a new sentiment. Isn't there an old saying about blonds? The only true blond is a bottle blond, since she is blond by choice.

It could be that Senator Obama identifies with african american culture since he looks far more African than caucasian. On the other hand, he was raised by caucasians, so he probably feels pretty comfortable around them too.; 1/18/08, 8:37 AM
George M. Spencer said...: I love the way the professor kept saying, "Now, I don't mean to put words into your mouth...."

And then he would put words into the other guy's mouth.; 1/18/08, 8:39 AM
Peter V. Bella said...: Obama should have learned something from Tiger Woods. When this came up he used humor and came up with his own racial definition- cabalasian. It diffused the issue.

Obama should have done the same then there would be no controversy.; 1/18/08, 9:11 AM
KCFleming said...: During the 1980s, Glenn Loury was a conservative. Since the 1990s he has been left of center, and has adopted the mantra of "institutional racism". He states this early on in the video, but only parenthetically (i.e "we have formations in the centers of our cities ...you know how the litany would go ...the material structural root of the society etc. etc."), in order to quickly establish that both he and John McWhorter are in agreement "that racial stigma is deeply ingrained and highly influential" (see First Things, using what has obviously become a shorthand for the whole argument.

Saying "What? to that would have exposed a nonbeliever rather quickly. But McWhorter agrees ("Sure ...I completely see ..Obama's different ...Colin Powell's not culturally African American...")

That is, Loury blames black social failure and disadvantage on institutional racism, rather than, say, "antisocial and self-destructive attitudes, values, and conduct within black culture" (not genetic, but learned). Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, and Oprah are not abnegations of that concept, but proof of nothing at all.

Obama, and not Colin Powell, is therefore authentically black less for the other minor reasons they go on to discuss, than that Obama agrees with the belief in institutional racism, and Powell does not (or does not appear to do so).

This concept, institutional racism, is dangerous enough by itself. In a serious candidate, it is horrifying.; 1/18/08, 9:22 AM
Meade said...: That's not a bad idea, Middle Class Guy.

I'm going to start a brand new race of humans starting with myself. Henceforth, all my descendants and I shall be known as belonging to the "Meaderoid" race. You may defer and refer to us as "Meadeiorites" or "Meades" for short. Thank you and may god take pity on the rest of you pathetic subhumans.; 1/18/08, 9:27 AM
Anonymous said...: If Barack Obama is elected President, a lot of issues like this will magically begin disappearing. So will the people who spend all their time propagating them.; 1/18/08, 10:49 AM
Roger J. said...: Middle class guy mentions Tiger Woods. Here's a little story about a flap regarding Tiger Woods (its on Drudge's page). Note Tiger's reaction to the story:

"Kelly Tilghman was suspended for two weeks because of comments she made during the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship, when she and analyst Nick Faldo were discussing young challengers to Woods.

Faldo suggested that "to take Tiger on, maybe they should just gang up (on him) for a while."

"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman replied.

Tilghman said she apologized directly to the world's No. 1 player, and Woods' agent issued a statement that said it was a non-issue."

Tiger Woods for president.; 1/18/08, 10:53 AM
Mortimer Brezny said...: It could be that Senator Obama identifies with african american culture since he looks far more African than caucasian.

You realize that is impossible.; 1/18/08, 12:53 PM
Moose said...: So I guess that the takeaway here is that race has morphed from a classification inflicted on you by society to a classificatoin that you choose for yourself. And is judged by others of your classification.

Damn, I'm good looking! And unless *I* consider you good looking too you can't judge me! Nah, nah!!; 1/18/08, 1:48 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Randy (Internet Ronin) said...
If Barack Obama is elected President, a lot of issues like this will magically begin disappearing. So will the people who spend all their time propagating them.

Does that mean we will see the last of the Clintons, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton? Obama is da man!!!!!!!!!!!!!; 1/18/08, 2:52 PM
dbp said...: Mortimer Brezny said...
"It could be that Senator Obama identifies with african american culture since he looks far more African than caucasian.

You realize that is impossible."

I realize nothing of the sort. The difference between phenotype and genotype are well understood, as is the dominance of some genotypes over others. Just a simple example: My eyes are blue, my wife's eyes brown. All of our children have one blue gene and one brown gene for eye color. Their eyes: Beautiful deep dark brown, exactly like their mom's.; 1/18/08, 4:36 PM
TMink said...: "He is being black by choice. That is more authentic."

Just read the sentence and pay attention to the words instead of what you know it means.

"Being black by choice" is postmodern absurdist schlock. Now race is not about race, it is about choice! Charming the way the words have been savaged of their meaning.

The emporer may be losing his skin as well as his clothes.

Trey; 1/18/08, 9:47 PM