Why Is Obama 'Black'?

TV host Chris Matthews is apparently in hot water for making the comment, "I forgot that Obama is Black".  I'm not exactly sure what the big deal is.  As far as I can see, it's just another case of hysterics when some public figure mentions race.  In this case, I agree with Mr. Matthews.  It's easy to forget that Obama is Black.  In fact, I wonder why he's considered "Black".

I don't question that Obama's father was a Kenyan, an African.  I have never seen a photo of this man, but I assume he showed the features and coloration of someone we'd call "Black".  Obama's mother was White, however.  That would seem to put Obama's "race" at half Black and half White.  I may not be the best mathematician around, but as far as I know, 50% Black + 50% White doesn't equal 100% Black.

If someon'e father was, say, German, and his mother was French, you wouldn't call the guy German.  You'd say half German, half French.  How does having a Black father make you Black?  And it's not just the father.  Having a Black ancestor any time in the past century apparently miraculously turns you Black somehow.

I don't see that Mr. Matthews's comment makes him a racist.  Referring to Obama as 'Black' is the racist part.  He'd more properly be called a 'Mulatto', a person who has one Black parent and one White parent.  I have never seen Obama referred to as a 'Mulatto', even though this is the proper word.  There is also 'Quadroon', a person with one Black grandparent (or one White grandparent); and Octoroon, someone with a Black great-grandparent.  A person with three Black and one White grandparents is called a 'Sambo'

These words are offensive.  They are relics of the slave trade.  You might get away with referring to Mr. Obama as a 'Mulatto', perhaps.  Referring to his children as 'Sambos' is unconscionable.

And yet, when we refer to Obama as 'Black', we're making an oblique reference to the fact that one of his parents was Black.  It's just a dishonest way of calling him a Mulatto.  It is both offensive and incorrect to call Obama 'Black'.

More to the point, it is irrelevant.  No one harped on George W. Bush's race.  No one referred to him as a 'White' president.  No one forgot he was 'White'.  No one wondered whether Bush would somehow exert a positive influence on the White kids of America.  To my knowledge, not one media whore ever mentioned Bush's race.  If it happened, it was rare.

Obama has some African ancestry.  He's now President of the United States.  Get over it and move on.