At a recent debate, Senator Barack Obama was asked if he was "authentically Black enough".Without any introductory comments, let me ask...
What does it mean to be Black? And how "Black" do you have to be to be "Black enough"?
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The question posted is very interesting. I don't have an answer to the question, but only to say that I have had to defend my blackness for most of my life. So I empathize with Senator Oboma.
I don't know what Black is. Black folk in NYC are a whole lot different than Black folk in Mississippi and Texas.
This is one of those things where its hard to define, but you know it when you see it. By saying that I guess the criteria has to do with visible cultural "clues": how a person dresses, talks, walks, the types of food they eat, etc. When you hear a Black person speaking a certain way, people respond that "He ain't Black". Or if you see a Caucasian person dressed in hip-hop garb, people say that "He's trying to be Black." So I would say that people are defining Blackness by external cultural identifiers.
Family,
"Black Enough" is a false state of being... no person of African descent should allow themselves to be defined by others with such a lable.
It is tragically ironic how our ancestors had to fight off the labels of oppression that stated what we could never be in America... now we fight within our family as to who is or isn't "Black Enough?"
We are truly a unique and diverse race of people. That is too shallow a concept to place upon a race that has accomplished so much and will continue to give this world so much in the future.
Do our brothers on the Mother Land ask each other if someone is "African Enough?"
Peace, Love and Strength!
Yes
I do not think the question should be is Senator Oboma black enough, but is Tiger woods. Any time you have a black man marry a black woman he is black enough for me.
Isn’t it interesting that black women are good enough for black men when they have nothing, but when he gets a little notorieties she is no longer good enough. Not to mention his mother and sister…. Relatives are black.
I work in white corporate America and I do a lot of community/school speaking and the number one question I am asked is your wife a black women. Why is that because people do not think that successful black men marry someone in his OWN race.
I believe the question should not be is Oboma black enough but why do so MANY black successful men marry WHITE WOMEN?
Dr. Smith
If "blackness" is defined by who you marry, then are you saying that white men or hispanic men that marry black women are black?
I don't agree that if you marry a black person then you become black.
Sheila but the question was about a blackman.... you must keep that in mine, if you are going to comment stick to the facts.
Not white men or hispanic men...
Let me make sure I have the facts right in my MINE:
You make the determination that Barack is Black and Tiger isn't based on the fact that Barack married a Black woman and Tiger didn't. In other words, your criteria for whether or not a person is Black is based on the race of the person they marry.
Based on your argument, I thought my question was pretty fair and simple, "Does a non-Black person who marries a Black person get any 'black points'?
Family,
Sheila... I support your comments my sister.
Are we really serious with these comments about black men marrying white women being a statement of their blackness?
I guess our sisters are not black as well if they marry outside of their race... I'm sure the host of this website will not agree with that.
Also, I guess bi-racial persons are not black? Or do they become black again if they marry someone that has two black parents? Remember, our brother Obama (spelled correctly) is bi-racial... his mom is white and his dad is African.
This statement is a little simplistic (no disrespect).
I still cannot believe we debate "Blackness" in our community... why do we waste valuable time trying to define ourselves as if that is all we are or should attempt to be.
Please don't try to define me because that sets limits on me and yourself. No single definition provided by one person or group is adequated to lable others with.
Would any of the accomplished people responding to this topic like to be defined by what they wear, where they go or what they look like?
Look a lot deeper into the soul of a man and woman for their definition and let them tell you who they are as you get to know them.
Advance the debate beyond who you marry or where you live.
Hope, Grace and Faith
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