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| Feb 16, 2007 2:41 am |
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re: Why Is Barak Obama Considered Only African American? |
Debra Shiveley Welch
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Linda, you have touched on a subject so dear to my haert. I won't be able to keep this as coherant and well thought out as you have, because right now, I'm shooting from the hip.
First of all, I'm ready for Obama too! Do you know who he reminds me of? Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II.
Why? Because one of the reasons Cardinal Wojtyla was proclaimed Pope was because he had a similar mix...not racially, but socially, environmentally and pshychologically. He spoke, I think it was eight languages, had touched so many different cultures, been part of the Polish Resistance, an actor, finally a priest, and was an incredible conduit to a large range of people. I see Obama in the same light.
I think in another forum I mentioned Mesagination, and the "one drop" theory. It amazes me how this theory bounces back and forth according to convenience.
For instance, I am 1/8 Cherokee, yet many will not recognize that part of my heritage. Still, no one has any problem agreeing that I am about 1/2 Irish. Where do we draw the line? How are these decisions made? And beyond discovering individual ancestry, what does it matter?
So much energy is wasted on "blood." I wish I could find the quote from Michener, one of my favorite authors, regarding this very subject. I do know that it came from the novel "Hawaii," and I'm pretty sure it was in reference to Woo Chow's Auntie's husband...and how he thought he was 100% Japanese, but he had the blood of this invader, and that immigrant, etc., and was really a mix of different ancestries. This summer, I will reward myself with a leisurely read of that book and find that quote.
You know, what really got me was when my husband and I started the adoption process. We were not allowed to adopt a bi-racial child, because they wanted that child to be aware of their African American heritage. I asked "What about their white heritage?"
Much ado about nothing!
Debra-Author of "A Very Special Child"; co-author "Jesus Gandhi Oma Mae Adams"Private Reply to Debra Shiveley Welch (new win) |
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