My post had nothing to do with trying to “feel better”, “negate Obama’s blackness”, or judge the validity of his presidency based on the fact that he’s half white. It was certainly not an attack on the President-elect. It was merely an honest commentary on something I was at least moderately ignorant about (that being how we decide what race or ethnicity people fall into), as I mentioned. Heck, if the one-drop rule is the benchmark, I’m not white; but that’s neither here nor there.

We live in an age where many people foolishly claim “the race issue” is no longer an issue. The talking heads on the evening of (and I’d assume, in the days after) the election were quick to point out how we’ve “healed as a Nation” from the despicable aspects of our past. However, the fact that we’re all still talking about this stuff (myself included) shows that we’re not a post-racial people. There is still a ton of room for reconciliation and sensitivity.

I found the post you linked to interesting, and I think there is a lot of merit to much of what was written, though I would take issue with some of it, namely the last few sentences:

“Now that one from our community has risen to such prominence, some want to begin to change centuries old rules and definitions. Not because it’s socially correct to do, but because it becomes one more reason to try and deny the diverse African American community its place in history.”

I can assure you that there are those of us out there who want to have open and honest dialog about these issues, such as the post above, and it has nothing to do with denying anyone anything.

As you may have noticed from the site, I’m a pastor, and as such, I try to approach things the best I can through a Biblical worldview. Galatians 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This doesn’t mean we have to give up or deny our individual heritage, but God has called us to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:11-21).

My prayer is dialog like this will continue, and that we will continue to heal, and I truly believe that the Obama administration will (or, at least, can) be hugely effective at pursuing that goal.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m not actually arguing that we not consider him black. He identifies as black, and he’s more equipped to decide how to define himself than I am. I was just honestly confused about how one half of his genealogy became more descriptive of who he is than the other half.
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Why is it whites have to make themselves feel better by negating Obama’s blackness or somehow tell you he’s all right because he is half white. That is ridiculous. Get a grip. This blog should explain it all.

http://www.apooobooks.com/stripping-obama-blackness-rambling-raven/

Sandy: I’m sure he’ll think that’s hilarious too. Why do I think he’ll get some of the same reactions when he starts chillin’ with the seminary crowd?