Obama’s Achilles Heel: He’s Not African-American

September 2nd, 2010 - By TheEditor

Another Obama address, another failed attempt at messaging by the White House communications team. Instead of using his address from the Oval Office to remind us that he displayed true leadership by going against the tide and opposing the Iraq war when everyone else was for it, Obama proudly asserted that he’d made a call to George W. Bush to inform him that the war was over. Obama had the opportunity to be nostalgic, and remind his base that the candidate of 2008 is still alive in the President of 2010, but he didn’t. To the contrary, Obama listened to Republicans who’d been chiding him all week to give at least a modicum of credit to the one man who deserves all the blame – George W. Bush. And since Obama was ill-prepared for a skirmish with the Right, he gave in once more.

The issue is not just that President Obama is unprepared for the present fight that he’s engaged in, but that he’s unprepared for all fights – period. Obama doesn’t use the bully pulpit because he’s not a bully. This is a hard pill for most African Americans to swallow.

White liberals want Obama to fight because it’s the right thing to do. While African-American liberals agree with that premise, we are also goading President Obama to do battle with Republicans because we’ve collectively adopted clashing with despotic regimes as our solemn oath. The spirit of David and Goliath is alive in the African-American experience.

When Obama declared himself African-American, and not mixed race or biracial as some had hoped, the African American community celebrated with jubilee. To us, Obama’s bold assertion meant that he identified with the African-American experience.  It was proof that he’d accepted the chivalrous invitation of the African-American community and would soon glide into our open arms to meet our soft far embrace.  So far, much to our dismay, he’s proven to be a bit of a playboy.

In classic Obama style, he’s adorned the costume which we’ve come to associate with all rebellious agitators. Unlike some who’ve compared his speaking style to MLK, I see more of Malcolm than Martin in Obama’s mettle performance.  Short, decisive, snappy comments, which linger with the listener by virtue of their verbosity and in your face intellectualism.  This was Malcolm’s marker.  In 21st century America, Obama is Malcolm’s emulator, but not his heir apparent.

While African-Americans were busily working for change during Obama’s 2008 campaign, we absentmindedly forget that history often foretells future events.

Born to a white mother and a Kenyan father, young Obama’s world view was fashioned in Indonesia and Hawaii through the prism of his mother.  There is nothing unseemly about Obama’s upbringing, but it does belie the difficulty inherent in labeling President Obama as African-American.

Even if President Obama’s Kenyan father had been in his life, that wouldn’t have been enough to link Obama to an African-American experience which is uniquely different from that of Africans in the great vastness of the Diaspora. And to say that Obama is connected to the African-American experience by virtue of his Kenyan father is alarmingly simplistic.

The African-American experience is unique in the level of insight which it imprinted upon its members as well as the relative level of equality bestowed upon a previously enslaved minority group. We view life through a dual lens whereas for Obama, the lens is singular.

Truth be told, our collective defiance has negatively impacted us in a variety of scenarios. The mythology of the African American attitude heralds a people unafraid to speak truth to power.  Even in our day to day individual dealings, we are more apt than most groups to betray our own self interest by confronting our employer, government, or whomever else we feel may be engaged in double dealing. History has made us rebels.

Our expectation was that Obama would display some of the steeliness so overtly recognizable in the African American persona. But President Obama’s perspective is international, not African American.  It is time that the African-American community stops looking for its reflection in President Obama. He may be the first black President, but he’s certainly not the first African-American President.

Yvette Carnell is a former Capitol Hill Staffer turned political blogger. She currently publishes two blogs, Spatterblog.com and GoGirlGuide.com.

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  • Marcia Kia Simpson-J

    May I ask a question? How many Black people were actually sacrificed to 'put' Barry in place? How many Black people's political careers were sabotaged to give this 'African-American' denying president his seat in the White House.

    Whites assume that Black people are stupid, and they may well be right if we simply sit back, and assume that Barry Obama is Black. He is not. I need not repeat the fact that he was brought up by a white racist mother. I need not need to tell you that Africans are some of the most colonial, Black-hating people on this earth. Therefore, most Africans are racists. Therefore, unlike maths, two negatives do not make a positive. It is physically impossible for half-caste person to identify with Black people. Have no doubt, that there is an anti-Black half-caste political agender aimed at 'linking' up with people of their own complexion. Mark my words, African-Americans, half-caste people in England are quite prepared to use Black people to advance 'their' kind, but identify with esp. Black women and children, no way!

  • Bira

    When will people stop pulling the race card every time?! President Obama's father is Black/from Kenya/hence Africa, his mother's white American. He's African-American or have you find another definition, lol?

    Why would some of Black Americans want to usurpate the word African anyway? I was born and raised in Africa and now lives in the U.S.A. Well that makes me African-American. Get used to it.

  • Tiffany

    President Obama is half-white American and half-Kenyan, since Kenya is an African country and his father is Black, so by definition he's truly an African-American.

    By the way, why is it that American journalists who happen to be Black are so skin color-obsessed? Damn, give a man a break.

    The president even married an Black American, which some of the Black American don't do but you still find a way to question his being African-American!?!

  • http://Patricia PAOwens

    By the fact that Obama is a grown man, who has lived his adult life in the United States of America no matter what state, he has experienced the same issues the every black person here has because of the color of his skin. To the white people in this country if any part of you is black you are black. Do not be deceived, terms like: bi-racial, mixed, or the product of interracial couple is meaningless is you're part black you're all black, unless you can pass for white and no one knows that you're passing.

  • John B.

    The author seems to be another kool-aid drinking hate filled "African" American who identifies more with divisive hate mongering and blaming "da wite'man" for all our problems. Quit thriving off of your hate and look at your self values. Don't most black people believe in God, try to take care of their families without help from Uncle Sugar, and work for a living? Don't most black people do for themselves instead of waiting for someone else to give them a hand out? Don't most black people pay taxes and want to pay less in those taxes? Do the unions, gays, environmentalist crazies, and special interest groups who only take care of their own, have the same values and principals as most black people? I think not. You(blacks) may have been lead to think that its you all against the man, and the man is whitey. You have been voting Dumbo-crat BLINDLY for generations, and will never move out of your own social status funk, except through hard work, determination, and self satisfying achievements. 80% of you or more hold these 'CONSERVATIVE' values. Can't you be an American first, like everyone else in this country? It was John F. Kennedy – a Democrat who said "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". FYI Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, and so was MLK. Lie to yourself if you refuse to believe the truth in that one.

  • C. Joseph

    Excuse me, I am wondering where I can get the checklist of what constitutes a "real" African American? This is some of the most ignorant twaddle I have heard in along time. Black immigrants are American, we are over 15% of the black population. Get used to the fact that their are different types of African Americans.

  • Will Bostic

    I agree

    This is a stupid article. You don't get to be a community organizer, run for Senate and fail, run for Senate again and win, and then run for President without being tough. He is a strategist and our "authentic" AA's should take a page from his playbook and start thinking 3 steps ahead. Obama is privy to information that we are not, he is savvy, and he is black. May be not the kinds of blackman that smokes black and milds, while shining his rims, after walking his pitbull, but black nonetheless. Lastly, considering that 90% of the violence inflicted on AA's comes at the hands of AA's I think we really need to put a check on our agression. I wish all brothers and sisters would be more Obamaish.

  • ray

    Oh, so because Obama didnt grow up in some small country town in Georgia eating collard greens and fried chicken and beating a tambourine in some Pentecostal church he's not really afrcan american? Some people are ridiculous! He's doing an excellent job considering the state this country is in – he's not Harry Potter with a magic wand to wave around and fix everything in 2 minutes! Im proud of him and I'll be happy to vote for him again! Im sure in a 2nd term he'll be a different man!

  • Stephen

    The author from her picture is obviously mixed as are most Americans including Obama. Culturally she may identify with African American but so has Obama. If I had been born half African and Half European I think like Obama I would also had identified with the African American culture. Lady what more can the man do.

  • http://lukescorner.net/ LukesCorner

    There are so many good points in this article i wondered if i was the one that wrote it lol.

    I was an Obama supporter in 08 but approached with a cautious mentality of would it actually make a difference in the African American community because A: he's still a puppet politican —and B: He hasnt had any form of upbringing hardships that could relate to the struggle that minorities often encounter growing up.

    What i do disagree with however is that the fact he isnt a typical African American is the reason he becomes spineless to things ranging from fighting terror to the problem the author had with the speach. Obama forced Obamacare down the nation's throat even though over 60% of the population was against it….so we cant completely say he wont go against the grain.

    Damn,, commentors got emotional in this post lol…..always the sign of a good writer when they're able to strike a nerve without being over the top opinionated

  • JUDY LYNN CLARK FERG

    HOWEVER THOUGHT THAT (1) PRESIDENT BLACK OR WHITE COULD TURN BACK 400 YEARS OF HISTORY IS DUMB THANKS TO JESSE JACKSON, AL SHARPTON, NAACP, CBC AND ALL OF THE OTHER RACE HUSTLERS OUT THERE WHO ARE LAYING IN BED WITH CORPORATE AMERICA. BILL SENT YOUR JOBS TO CHINA, JAPAN, AND CANADA, PWT, AND YOU LOVE HIM HE IS THE ONE WHO SIGNED DEREGULATION INTO LAW THAT GOT ALL YOU NEGROS BROKE, LOL, BE CAREFUL WHO YOU VOTE FOR IN 2012.

  • NormanA

    Well if Obama is not AA what is he? People please know if a person is from a white and black parent in America he or she is black not biracial or mixed race. Also what is the AA experience? Please be aware not all AA come from from the Projects,but in saying this that does not mean that we are down and out .Obama was raised by his white americian relatives after his parents divorced,but they were not rich people and it could not have been easy raising a black child. But he raised himself up by going to College .So yes he did not grow up in the hood, so he does not have the black man swager so what as far as white america is concerned he is a black man.As AA poor or so called middle class it is no excuse not to push our children especially the black males to get a education ,pull their pants up,speak properly,this does not and will not make you less AA.As AA we do have a disadvantage it should not be but it is I am a black woman and I experience racisim especially on the job, why, because white people do not like it when their manager is black and have to tell them what to do, that does not stop me from being the best,its their problem not mine.
    NormanA.

  • Jane

    Obama works for the federal reserve owners which are rich old white men.

  • JUDY LYNN CLARK FERG

    I DON;T CARE ALREADY WHAT OBAMA IS SO LETS MOVE ON! FIRST OF ALL HE IS HUMAN, AND HAS MADE SOME MISTATES ALRIGHT, SO LETS DO WHAT WE KNOW HOW TO DO BEST AND FORGET ABOUT THE PAST AND LOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE!

  • John

    Well, he's half African and zero percent American, so you're kind of right.

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  • Honut Sinti

    Mr. Obama is indeed African-American. He is the child of an AFRICAN Father and an AMERICAN Mother. In fact, he and others in similar biological circumstances can lay true and proper claim to the descriptor. Simplistic and true.

    • Afro American

      Correction: his father I'd Kenyan his mother is English, his nationality is American. Let's not play dumb. I find it interesting how folks arbitrarily throw labels on folks and manipulate its meaning to advance their own agendas. I'm glad AA's are taking control of their identity rather than having whites manipulate it for them.

  • Badger1911

    The problem with Obama is that he's trying to copy all the failed European ideas. Obamacare (collapsing in the EU, check the NHS in the UK, or the bankrupt national health insurances in Austria, or how Germany has to squeeze more money out of the less and less working people to keep the utterly broken system going), "immigration reform" (leading to rising crime rates in the EU, chaos, no-go areas, etc), nanny state (which leads to massive spending and financial collapse, as seen in the EU, Greece was only the beginning, look at the national debts and deficits of big EU nations, like the UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, etc, they got there by having an out of control welfare state and now they're sliding down.)

    Those are the real problems.

    Anyone hopping at the color of his skin is a racist fool. Smack him for the real issue, not for the color of his skin (which he didn't chose) or his birth certificate (which, even if he's not a native US citizen, won't be solved anyway.)

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