Obama isn't African-American, but an African and an American: does it matter?

In the United States, and much of the world, excitement has been circling around Barack Obama – a candidate for leader of the Democrats. So far he seems very promising, especially in his attempt to gather support for an NHS-type service in America. But lately the media seems obsessed with pointing out that he isn’t ‘Black’:

However, unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which correspondents say makes some African-Americans wary of him.

His mixed race heritage - with a white mother from Kansas, and a black father from Kenya - has led some observers to suggest that he is an African and an American, but not an African-American. (BBC: Obama launches Presidential bid)

If we are being really picky then technically Obama is American-African. His mother is American, he was born in America and his father was African. By my logic that surely means his American side outweighs his African? Obviously this notion is ridiculous – the point being that this arbitrary system of labelling based on ones geographical origin, cultural heritage and genetic lineage is intellectually flawed.

In her article, Debra Dickerson (probably the BBC’s basis for their supposed ‘observers’) seems to think differently,

‘Black,’ in our political and social reality, means those descended from West African slaves.

Let me get this straight: descendents only from West African slaves are okay by Dickerson. If we are to judge by those standards then so be it, but sadly that means we’re going to have to say bye to those Americans who originated from the 4.6% South-East African slaves; sorry, but you’re not black.

I doubt Dickerson meant to exclude the South-East Africans, but what is 'black' to her doesn't necessarily mean the same for other people; labels are inherently semiotic, and as such can provide multiple meanings. Here's some more of Dickerson's thoughts on the subject:

Lumping us all together (which blacks also do from sloppiness and ignorance, and as a way to dominate the race issue and to force immigrants of African descent to subordinate their preferences to ours) erases th significance of slavery and continuing racism while giving the appearance of progress.

I always thought that 'race' was about identification with a group of people? Lumping people together is exactly the point - it's tribal recognition, a defining characteristic that unites a particular group of people. How Dickerson can say this removes the significance of slavery is ridiculous?

Obama: Not black enough?

I do see Dickerson's point that cultural heritage is important, but hijacking a word and then creating a (quite confusing) criteria of what it means to be black just stifles the situation. If I call myself white, then it is because my skin colour is such - I don't tag any cultural associations to it. And this is the crux: the labelling of African-Americans black stemmed from a skin colour classification.

Perhaps though we should start thinking outside of pigmant, and more like Gary Kamiya in his brilliant article that summed up my thoughts perfectly:

Let me be clear. I am not talking about disavowing one's culture or background, acting "white," or any other external actions. I am simply talking about an inner freedom from a superficial defnition imposed by others.

Obama might not share a cultural link with African-American slaves, but the fact that white Americans could one day vote in a person, irrelevant of their skin colour, is a sure sign of a much needed progress.