Actually he is 1st generation AFRICAN-AMERICAN. His mother is white and is father was African.

From "Dreams from My Father: a Story of Race and Inheritance", his autobiography




Actually, for much of his childhood, he was raised by his white grandparents and wasn't aware of his racial difference. His mother was kind of a world traveler.

About his religious upbringing, so far in the book, he says, in talking about his grandfather:

Lol..Barack recalls this about his grandfather...



Seriously, though, Obama sees it as his grandfather's way of "avoiding hard issues"....there are other sad examples of remarks that folks would make about him when he was with his grandparents.

He may not win the election but he is a VOICE of HOPE to us.

The nature of the media in this society is not Obama's fault. I have NO DOUBT that he does not agree with the viewpoints of his church.

Even on this VERY DAY, I do not agree with actions that my minister or my church is taking regarding some local issues. I have no control over that. But for many other reasons, I continue to belong to that church.

There are a zillion other instances that he DID NOT GET A FREE PASS because of his COLOR but if he mentioned those he would be "playing the RACE card".

It's amusing to watch Boomers and GenXers have their little racial skirmishes. So many in the next generation have just blown past it all, thank goodness.

Farrakhan MIMI...[offensive description removed]!

Abortion Mimi. You are supposed to be a Christian...yet here you are supporting the person with the WORST voting record in regards to unborn children! How do you rationalize these issues away.
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I know as black woman you might feel some pull to have a black president...but do not sell out your values to see that happen.

He is a racist and a murderer by proxy.

I am surprised that a woman that professes to hear God's will could even consider voting for someone that slaughters HIS children.

I think you are a bit too attracted by this mans ability to give a motivational speech and are not looking at the true character behind the persona.

GC, what planet are you living on?

Booooo, MEDC.

I'm not going to talk about this with you anymore, MEDC.

I don't feel the need to OPEN up MY HEART to you about this.

My SPIRITUALITY is so much a part of me and I FEEL that you are attacking that and that reaches deep into MY SOUL.

I don't need or want that type of discussion with a person on this forum who does not REALLY know or care about ME.

I WILL continue to support OBAMA.

That does not mean that I am not a Christian.

I don't appreciate anyone saying that about ME because I EXUDE my CHRISTIAN BELIEFS in most of all that I say and do.

But, if you have that opinion about me because of my support of Obama, I can't change that. That's your opinion.

It's FINE with me. Your choice...

Mimi...pray. Ask God if he wants HIS children killed. Then go out and support someone that will help make sure abortions remain legal.

Tough questions...so you tuck tail and run. Okay. And I am NOT attacking your spirituality Mimi. I am questioning a person that says she is a fellow Christian and yet her actions and words suggest that she is having a hand in destroying God's children. Voting in a pro choice candidate puts blood on the hands of every person that votes for that person, IMO.

GC...do you know my race? Do you know the race of the children that I have opened my heart and home to? [removed offensive comment]

Calling me a RUNNER is also SOUL STIRRING. So I will speak about this.

Capture a VISION of me in all my GODDESS SPLENDOR..standing firm, looking you straight in the eyes and telling you.."I'M NOT GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU MY VIEWPOINTS ABOUT ABORTION because I DO NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO".

I continue to support OBAMA..

For one reason..LOL..my OS told me yesterday that if OBAMA becomes President that it would solve all of his life's problems...LOL..I spit out the coffee I was drinking when he texted me that message...He's given this YOUNG GUY some HOPE..LOL...maybe my checkbook will have more money in it...

Oh, I hope so. I just love reading what that guy has to say.

Mimi,

My H and I are both seriously leaning towards Obama, well he is torn because he likes Clinton...

please do continue to share whatever info/opinions you have on this subject. (if you want to that is, if not it certainly is understandable)

Are you concerned about his lack of experience? That is my H's concern.

Mimi:

Interesting thread.

Obama, if elected WOULD speak to many individuals in this country who have never FELT that they had a voice.

Or a shot at ever getting one.

And THAT is a tremendous change in attitude for MANY people.

GC talked about the gulf between Boomers and GenX'ers.

There is a HUGE gulf between the attitudes regarding race, between these two segments of the population. And when you expand that population to the Boomers parents, and to the generation AFTER GenX, then the gulf is EVEN Greater......

Boomers think because they grew up in the sixties, they caused all this....LOL.

But MY 15 year old is AMAZED and ASHAMED that only 40 years ago police dogs were released on people who just wanted to cross a bridge.

WE, as a nation have come along way. We are not done yet, but the road ahead is shorter than the one travelled so far.

LG

And oh, by the way.... "some of my best friends are Black" How racist is THAT? I thought they were just friends.....? Do you expect a medal because you crossed over? Sheeesh.

You know, I found out about 7/8 years after my parents death that my mother was really Canadian Ottawa, and her ancesters not just of French-Canadian who migrated from Canada that we had always been told.

When her family came to this country they had to denounce their Ottawa Indian heritage for fear that their children would be taken from them by "Christians" and forced into that belief system...they literally had their heritage, both spiritual and cultural, beaten out of them, these children.

My mother never spoke of anything of this part of her ancestry, and now I can't ask her, and it's very possible that she never learned any of it either.

Now I have no history, oral or otherwise of her Indian heritage. Completely obliterated.

I am glad Obama's church is standing to keep their heritage alive.

My best friends family had to change their name from Morgenstern to Morningstar when they came to this country.

We are so much richer with our cultures and heritages kept intact...I just don't understand why anyone would be against that, or consider it racism (in reverse).

These political fights never work.

I'd done all my research in time for Super Tuesday but I was still undecided. I even wrote down pros and cons! It was a wash.

Clinton would know exactly what she was doing from day one, and you could count on her to make good competent Cabinet appointments.

And despite Obama's incredible rhetorical skills I think Clinton actually has more imagination when it comes to policy stuff.

And she really has out-debated him. No contest.

But she's so hated. I think almost all of this hatred is unfounded. But I know a plenty of people who generally vote but don't follow politics. Lots of them don't like her. Some don't even know why. Some don't like dynasties. Some just don't want to be spectators for another several years' worth of mudslinging, which would arguably be nastier if HRC were President.

I stood in line at my caucus and chatted up everyone who was willing. Most people were barely if at all in one camp or the other. The consensus was that most people wished nobody had to lose.

In the end... I'm ashamed to admit it but it's the truth: I tossed a coin.

Then I noticed the pretty girls at the Obama table and the old ladies at the Hillary table and knew I'd chosen well.

GC

From "Dreams..."


I happened to also LOVE, "THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X". It was a life-changing read for me when I was in college. WOW!!

Calling me a RUNNER is also SOUL STIRRING. So I will speak about this.

Capture a VISION of me in all my GODDESS SPLENDOR..standing firm, looking you straight in the eyes and telling you.."I'M NOT GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU MY VIEWPOINTS ABOUT ABORTION because I DO NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO".
**********************************************

Good for you, MiMI...stay strong and don't let anyone bully and shame you.
I can picture you standing there in all you Goddess splendor...you are beautiful.....and black.....I didn't know that 'till i read it in this thread.

Nia..IMAGINE..Haile Berry..when her hair was short..LOL..

But my H says that I look like Phylicia Rashad (when she was on Cosby..not now)...LOL...

LMAO

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They are both gorgeous. Halle is one of the only women I have ever seen who can wear her hair that short and look even more beautiful than when it's long.
I need my long hair.
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It's funny how you get a pictured of someone in your head.....I pictured you as a sophisticated southern (white) belle....sort of like Julia on Designing Women.

Actually LG I think I got misunderstood. I meant what you said. That Boomers and GenXers struggle with race in a way that the generation after seems to have much less trouble with. The progress is incredible.

My view is rosy though. The high school in my neighborhood is a total melting pot, a "magnet" school full of smart teenagers with parents who helped them learn to read.