Biracial (?) Barack

A friend emailed me with a question, and I thought it would be the beginning of a good discussion. Please add comments I would like to gain perspective.

"Jordan, I keep hearing this: "Barack Obama is the first Black this..", "Barack Obama could be the first black that"
But here's where my question pops up (that I'm sure other people have addressed): Biologically, he is just as Black as he is White. Black folks get zealous to have any part of them represented in the seat of the presidency and claim him all as Black. White folks see that he is not 100% White and call him Black. Both disregard the fact that he is just as much Black as he is White, biologically. Why don't we call him White? (He was pretty much raised by his mother anyway). I know that sounds like a silly question but my friend who is half Samoan, half white doesn't call herself White or Samoan. She says she is mixed.

I'm definitely not one of those Black people who says "oh he's not black enough." I am just calling into question the validity, logic, justification for the way the American culture labels people and things. (Frankly, I don't think race should have too much to do with someone's candidacy or campaign...I think culture and faith (not religion) might serve as better indicators)

Anyways, I would like to know your thoughts on this, with regard to Barack. Also, do you feel pressured to have to say you are either Black or White?"
-VM

MY RESPONSE:
yes ive heard this biracial question many of times. its always a tough
call. even for me cause i never really feel quite settled on my
answer. I do not feel pressured to label myself one or the other,
because White is not really an option. If i walked around calling
myself that, people would think I'm crazy, and rightfully so. I do not
deny the fact that I'm mixed, but I always considered myself black
growing up, so its hard for me to detach that part of my identity.
As a youth, I felt black because people saw me as being black, for the
most part, and not mixed. They would make black jokes, I would embody
the token black guy role; I identified with black images in the media
(rappers, athletes, and especially malcolm x), not with Biracial
images. There was not a biracial discussion going on when I grew up,
so I never engaged in critically thinking about it. And I'm glad I
didnt have to cause thats alot for even an adult to put on their
shoulders, let alone a kid. I think college is the appropriate place
and stage in life to go through that self identity process, which I
went through at many different stages, not only with my racial makeup
but also who my masculinity, spirituality, and suburban kid identity.
The good thing about most colleges (i'm not sure about howard because
many people are so sure of themselves the whole time) is that you will
find people going through similar processes of assessing and forming
their self identity.

As for obama, America is obsessed with race and no matter how much
progress races will make, and how much multiracial babies we make, it
will be very hard to destruct the race-oriented mentality. Race
matters because we keep saying it matters, and keep believing it
matters, and historically it did matter. And while our situation is in
large place due to the fact that we were racially categorized and
discriminated against for 400 years legally. But, race is so
intertwined and yet at the same time out of context in most arenas
where it is discussed, it is perplexing (mind blowing). Like you said,
Baracks race shouldnt have much to do with his candidacy, but it does,
because we all think it does. Because we've been conditioned and
propogated to believe that it matters much more than it does. Sadly,
Barack Obama, if he gets elected, will only be an object of symbolism.
And we will vote for him because the meaning of having a black
president will be so ironic and anti-american, that it will symbolize
a real change that people really are looking for. Just not the right
way. He will symbolize something that isn't really happening= improved
democracy, equality, justice, and end of racism.

those are just my thoughts. It doesnt really matter what barack thinks
of himself. folks are going to label him as needed. on a good day, to
black folks he's black, on a bad day, hes mulatto to blacks. And vice
versa!

-jordan