From a white woman married to a black man...

I'm offended by the accepted comments that too often come from black women concerning black men married to white women. This is not the first time Ive heard black women commentators make remarks like the one made today about only fully respecting a black man if he "goes to bed" with a black woman.

Why wasn't this comment challenged by the host or any of the other commentators? Black people have fought so hard for equal rights, yet they are considered traitors if they dont marry only inside their race... or in other acceptable situations: another minority.

I am a 24-year-old woman, and I have my graduate degree in social work. I married my husband two months ago, and he is entering his second year of law school.

Here we are, two highly educated young people who love each other and have committed our lives to each other, but I gotta say... the ONLY (repeat: ONLY) in-our-face discrimination that we have received comes from the side of the black woman.

I know the stories - I know the history. I know black women have a hard media fight to fight. However, to know that the color of my white skin would be an obstacle if my black husband decides to run for office someday REALLY makes me think that somebody is condoning some hard-core backwards thinking.

Im also hesitant to tell black women that I meet that I am married to a black man. Unfortunately, instead of feeling like they have a confidant in me, they treat me as an underhanded sneak. Give me a break.

Sick of it.

A White Woman in California
Leslie

Sent by Leslie | 9:59 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Is Obama Black enough?

As far as I can see of him, he seems Black enough, but is he free enough to do the right thing by us Black folks or even White folk who are in trouble whether they know it or not. Bush and Co. have done a lot of damage to our standing in the world. The folks Black or white who vote Republican because they believe Republicans are more Christian and therefore, honest have been drinkhng too much of the posisened Kool Aid. Sen. Obama seems polished enough, light enough for White fokls liking and intelligent enough, but he is bought and paid for by his financial backers and his allegiance is to them, not the electorate, Black or White.

Gwen Debrow
Queens, NY

P.s. Love the show by the way.

Sent by Gwen Debrow | 10:03 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Leslie: I understand why you may have found parts of the conversation personally painful. But if you're going to have a conversation to explore why some black people feel the way they do about Barack Obama...which of necessity involves issues of identity and race, I don't see that the way to do that is to tell the guests why they are "wrong" to feel as they do. They have feelings too, and maybe they are rooted in experiences you have not had and may not understand. Which is why we're here.

The whole subject is painful, really. Nobody else has to answer these questions, as Joe Madison pointed out. I do understand what you're talking about, though, we did a Mocha Moms program about the special challenges of white mothers raising black or biracial sons...and one of the moms talked about the hostility she felt from some quarters when she was with her husband. She said it all changed when she had kids. Then she was "part of the club." Race is a painful subject, no question about it.

Sent by Michel Martin, Host | 10:45 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Is Obama Black Enough?

Enough Already!!! When do we stop questioning someone's blackness just because of his educational background or biological parents? I empathize with Obama because though I'm not biracial I do have African parents who chose to give me an African name. And just like him I was born in the States, though I lived in other parts of the world during my formative (pre-teen to teenage) years. The sad and most exasperating thing is people who looked like me were the one's who questioned my "blackness" the most. In my late teens and early twenties, a few Whites on my college campus thought it impressive (albeit insulting) that I spoke "proper" (you know the "articulate" crap) while some of my black counterparts thought I was too "edu-mi-ca-ted." In other words, not black enough. It didn't matter that I could flip the script depending on what environment I find myself in like countless of blacks.

I learned from a young age not to apologize for who I am and what background I came from. And the same goes for Obama; who cares what his name is? Can he deal with the pressing issues that the current president has downright ignored and will leave behind? Was Bill Clinton black enough? After all, we dubbed him "the first black president." So why do we give a real brother such a hard time about his blackness?

Sent by Moji Oderinde | 11:33 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Michel-

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with your comment:
"...if you're going to have a conversation to explore why some black people feel the way they do about Barack Obama... I don't see that the way to do that is to tell the guests why they are "wrong" to feel as they do."

So, for the sake of fostering an open discussion, racists should not be told WHY they are wrong to feel the way they do? Bigots should be applauded for their ability to express themselves openly, rather than called on the floor for their contradictory beliefs and opinions? How are we supposed to advance our complaint that we are being discriminated against, held back, kept out, and short-changed while we are behaving EXACTLY the same way towards some people in our own community?

I grew up being told that i wasn't black enough in MY OWN FAMILY because my english was too proper. The teasing bled over into my dating life and I got tired of getting 'no play' from Black Women. When I fell in love with my wife, I had to endure the accusations that I betrayed my race- but isn't it more like they betrayed me? I have always been Black, always will be. But I will not allow ANYONE to make me feel like less than a MAN for the sake of their own socio-psychological self-perception.

Trent
Black Man married to a White Woman

Sent by Trent W. | 1:12 PM ET | 07-12-2007

Personally, I'm sick of members of the political party bases asking if their candidates are conservative/liberal enough. What gives these people the gumption to hijack these politicians? How about pandering to the rest of us? Hopefully, those in the party bases will care more about the country than ideological standings of their party's politicians.

Sent by Steve Petersen | 1:48 PM ET | 07-12-2007

I am a white woman and have had my eyes opened listening to this discussion. I was not aware that there was such an issue as "black enough" within the black community. I understand that the USA is still sorely lacking in "equality", but how can a group expect to gain that when there is in-fighting as to who is and isn't "black"?

As for the election, I am choosing my candidate based on leadership ability. I have not considered it my obligation to vote for Hilary Clinton because she is a white woman. More than likely I won't vote for her because I don't agree with her politics.

Sent by Chris H. | 2:23 PM ET | 07-12-2007

The Wm. Rasberry piece: wonderful! They say love covers a multitude of sins. Well, pieces like that one make npr what it is and make up for a lot of stuff that isn't that great across the radio dial. It was meaty - not too short - and interesting. Great stuff.

Sent by Stanley | 5:04 PM ET | 07-12-2007

I was so intrigued to see the bookend comments from Leslie (white woman married to a balck man) and Trent (black man married to a white woman).

Fess up guys! Are you married to each other?

Either way, I understand why the subject is a tense one and I thank you for writing -- but I have to say...you used the word "discrimination" to describe some unpleasantness you've each (both?) encountered because of your relationship, but that is surely not the same as being denied access to adequate health care, housing, education and employment in a manner that has been legally enforced and culturally sanctioned. I think that's discrimination. You're talking about rudeness, and that's not the same thing. Regrettable, but not the same thing. Another thing that's interesting -- traditionally, African American communities were far more welcoming to interracial couples than white communities (re: The Color of Water by James McBride). That seems to have changed, from what you're describing, although it's always dangerous to generalize....

Thoughts on this? Tell US more...

Sent by Michel Martin, Host | 6:14 PM ET | 07-12-2007

Michel-

I am not married to Leslie- so the conspiracy ends there. As far as my use of the term discrimination, I think it is VERY appropriate. Your reference to "being denied access to adequate health care, housing, education and employment in a manner that has been legally enforced and culturally sanctioned" is about INSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION. To me, your argument kind of runs along the theory that "black people can't be racists". I beg to differ and can explain my position by first pointing out my personal definition of the terms racism\racist, bigotry, and prejudice.
In my opinion, the discussion of racism and discrimination often starts off by talking about racism in a way that does not accurately explain WHAT the word actually means.

IMHO, 'racism' and 'racist' are POWER-based. They are the expression and enactment of bigoted views.

In contrast, bigotry is irrational and unreasonable prejudice exaggerated to offensive levels.

Finally, prejudice is a natural element to everyone's personal PERCEPTION of the world around them. You take the opinions of others that are close to you and add them to your personal experiences and create a PRE-JUDGMENT of a situation before you have fully experienced it.

Prejudice is NOT ALWAYS a bad thing; a female business owner walking to her car in a deserted parking lot late at night is RIGHT to be prejudiced against ANY MAN that may be in her vicinity. When that prejudice goes TOO FAR and becomes bigotry, is when she adds the exaggerated perception of a particular race into the equation. It becomes RACIST if she has the power to enforce her bigoted views in some manner- be it calling the cops on every black man that she sees, barring black or 'urban' customers from her business, or refusing to hire black males.

Now, getting back to the term DISCRIMINATION- black people CAN discriminate against others when they are in a position the empowers them to exclude others that they find 'unworthy'. For your guest to say that it MATTERS to her whether a Black man shares his bed with a Black woman says to me that by expressly withholding her vote for any Black man that is not with a Black woman, she discriminates against interracial relationships. Her power being her vote and her voice over the airwaves. She may not be an INSTITUTION, but she has more ability to affect the opinions of others than the everyday person on the street when she speaks on national radio.

Trent
[In Colorado, not California]

Sent by Trent W. | 2:03 PM ET | 07-13-2007

By the way, interracial marriages were illegal in many states as recent as 40 years ago, Michel. So, I think discrimination in the definition\phrasing you use would still be an appropriate word. And if I were to accept your position and just chalk it up to 'rudeness', then would you admit that your guest was being 'rude' in her comment regarding her preference that Black Men share their beds with only Black Women?

Sent by Trent W. | 3:09 PM ET | 07-13-2007

I may just lose my mind. Black enough? Like one of your guest said, "What is the standard?" Black like Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James or black like that crack smokin poor, folk abandoning ex- felon Marion Berry. Remember when the Cosby show was 1st on TV? Black folks rose up saying, "Black folks don't live like that!" I am a 47 y.o. black man, and I have no idea when being poor and under educated became the mark of the "authentic negro." If that's true ALOT of us are without a tribe. You can't judge a book by its cover. Just because you wear your hat at a rakish angle does not mean you care one fart about your "people". I love the perspective of your show and that is not trapped in the black and white matrix. Michel you rock!

Sent by Raul | 4:29 PM ET | 07-13-2007

I wondered if Leslie and Trent were married to one another too. ;-)

I'm a black man dating a japanese woman. We sometimes get cold stares from black women on the street. It's not pleasant, but it sometimes goes with the territory. It's based at least in part to the historic discrimmination against black men and women in our country.

If you're confident about why you're married to whomever you're married to or dating then why would you let cold stares bother you? Yes, it's no fun, but you've got your love to keep you warm.

Sounds like Leslie might be giving only lip service to really empathizing with why some black women might not like seeing a black man with a white woman. If she really emphathized I don't think it would bother her quite as much. And to what extent has Leslie's husband discussed with her why black women might not be delighted with their union? He might (or should) have some useful insight.

And remember, as Michel noted, once you have kids I bet you'll find you've suddenly become a member of the club as the mother of mixed children.

Re Trent, it must have been hard to be accused of not being black enough in your family and in your dating life. There are plenty of black women who don't think the qualities he mentioned are non-black qualities. Again, if you can be happy with who you are and your choices then what does it really matter what others think? It's not like the behavior/comments of people who don't like such a union really have an effect your life, your job, your happiness. And if a little social heat is too painful then you're not really prepared to be in the kitchen.

Sent by Stanley | 9:39 AM ET | 07-14-2007

You know what Martin Luther King and Malcom X are turning in their graves. Why is this a topic of discussion? Why arent we talking about how he plans to better fund education,Reform black families and put more pressure on black fathers to make them father their kids! Is he black enough name a president of the United States who was blacker then Obama? And please dont say Bill because im tired of the same ol "Bill Clinton was black" slogan that us blacks were foooled by. Please Obama is more then black, he's blacker then the writer of this article he's about as black you can get! He's a true African American as well. I know my daddy didnt come from Africa! Were so "pro black" that it destory's the foundation of our people.

Sent by Lavelle | 9:32 AM ET | 07-15-2007

"Is he black enough?" - Now if that question isn't the VERY HEART of racism, then you have a far different definition of racism than my Webster's.

Sent by Tom Emmert | 7:31 AM ET | 07-16-2007

Stanley-

You missed the entire point, my friend. You may like to wall yourself into your own world and ignore everything that goes on around you with specific reference to how you are VIEWED by others, but some people like to 'check' the gawkers for their ignorance. You say "if you can be happy with who you are and your choices then what does it really matter what others think?" Are you suggesting that the only reason why someone would be upset in that situation is if they are 'unhappy' with themselves? Are you implying that there is something wrong with the people that are the target of this behavior, rather than the people inflicting their rude, ignorant attitudes on others?

That excuse and absolution has long sense been rejected by me and others like me. Reverse-psychology won't work on this subject. If I were to truly believe your position, then ALL Black people should get over the misrepresentations and inaccuracies posted about us in the media. After all, shouldn't we just be happy with ourselves and not worry about what others say about us or how they treat us?

Your words, not mine...

Sent by Trent W. | 12:39 PM ET | 07-16-2007

Trent,

If that's what you get from my note then I don't know where to begin to respond and I wouldn't have enough space here to do it.

Let's just say your mis-reading of my note is telling.

Sent by Stanley | 4:19 PM ET | 07-16-2007

I almost feel like calling a time-out from reading a few posts especially when it comes to the generalization of black women. Not all black women go into a funk when they see a black brother with a white women; some of us are quite enlightened and see interracial relationships to be "whatever floats your boat," "follow your heart," and other clich's that sum up to be "live your life." Does that mean I'm ignorant to how some black women see black men in interracial relationships? Definitely not! However, I think sometimes the discomfort comes from the individuals in the interracial relationships based on past prejudices than from outside individuals.

Case in point: I was at a Japanese restaurant a couple of months ago having a grand time with a friend who had rave reviews about the spot because of the Habatchi style of serving. Time seemed to fly by that I didn't notice when another party sat by the next grill until the new chef started talking while performing his tricks (show). I looked to the direction of the voice and my eyes made contact with a brother sitting next to a white woman; immediately the brother pulled the white women closer to him and put his arm on her shoulder. Since I've never seen such reaction towards me, my first thought was "is he alright" because I didn't understand why he looked at me as if I was an enemy while he protected his kin. It didn't occur to me till about a minute later that it was because I was a black woman and he was with a Caucasian woman. Oh my God! I didn't know whether to feel outrage or pity for such ignorance.

The brother was the one who called attention to himself because the restaurant wasn't the most romantic of settings; you go there to have fun. So there was no way based on the sitting arrangements that anyone would assume who was his date. Second; I thought to myself "who gives a bleep who he chooses to date?" Since our show was over, my friend and I started to leave but not before I asked her if she noticed the brother just some inches away from her. She answered "yeah," I was like "why did he react that way?" She went on to say maybe he thought I would attack like Queen Latifah's character in the movie "Jungle Fever." That made me bust out laughing. But on a serious note I said "but I'm not like that, you're not like that and besides this is South Florida (no big deal). . ." So please my dear brothers (and some Caucasian ladies); before you group all black women in a box on questionable attitudes concerning who you choose to date or have as a life's mate, consider for a moment that there are some sisters who think as individuals and could really care less.

Sent by Moji | 4:31 PM ET | 07-16-2007

1. listen white people/nonblack people - white women and other non black women with black men in particular:

you are not black by proxy or by proximity just because you are married to or lay down with a black man ok. believe me, a white woman's understanding of these issues is not greater than mine.

2. barack, not being a black ethnic american is already outside the traditional/historic black mainstream of the u.s. obviously, he doesn't have a certain history in this country. his "black" american culture is more acquired because his "black" culture is not directly of africa. why do people try to act as though it is not significant that he does not come from our cultural tradition? he doesn't. now, does that mean he's not black? no it doesn't. it just means he doesn't come from a particular cultural tradition. because of that, michelle, further legitimizes him. this is what is meant by "black" enough although nobody actually takes the time to explain anything. if barack were with a white woman he could not talk to me at all about how black he is. sorry, that's just the truth folks and i'll bet he knows it. get over it.

Sent by lookyloo | 6:34 PM ET | 07-16-2007

Lookyloo,

So Barack gets points for Michelle, but white women get no points for dating/marrying black men? By your logic they should get something, right?!

I think the entire idea of rating blackness is a dangerous thing. And yes, I am black. How black, you ask? Well, I have African features and I was born and raised in Kentucky. My mother and father are both black and hail from the Bluegrass state as well. Now when I tell some Black folks that I am from Kentucky, they often laugh and call it hillbilly country. And I did watch and enjoy Hee Haw as a child. Does that cast doubt on my authenticity? My grandfather once told me that his people came from Tennessee. Does that legitmize me? I now live on the west side of Chicago. I should definitely get some points for that! Wait, there was that time when I had a Shaun Cassidy poster and bought that Frampton Comes Alive album. There goes those Tennessee roots points!

What might we find if we started looking in your cultural closet, lookyloo? Culture has it's significance, but is the fact that Barack may not share in whatever you deem to be African American cultural traditions more important than the work he has done while representing Black folks on the southside of Chicago & other efforts?

And to all you Bluegrass haters out there, tell those hillbilly jokes to Muhammad Ali!

Sent by Lee | 4:27 PM ET | 07-17-2007

Lookyloo,

I can't believe I'm reading this statement from your post: "his (Obama)"black" american culture is more acquired because his "black" culture is not directly of africa."

The last I checked on Obama's biography, he was born to a Kenyan father. How directly African do you need Obama's blackness to be than that? How do you define or legitimize black really? Come on,the very fact of been black is been of different hues, tastes and ethnicities.

I had a black college roommate who loved heavy metal rock music and considered R&B as boring and I guess she lost her black card based on your assumptions on the guy she chose to date. The fact that her taste in music was so different from mine made for some interesting discussions during my college stay especially when another roommate (also black) who I'll call "Val" followed the teaching of Rasta and anything black power. Val watched the movie "Glory" so much I had to say something. But the same Val wouldn't miss a weeknight episode of "The Golden Girls." I don't even want to go into the Yoga (New-Age) girl before it was considered cool; then me (of African heritage but as Americanized as they come). The four college ladies (and should I say black ladies) who shared the apartment couldn't have been more different but never once (okay we did rib the heavy metal chick in fun a couple of times) did we question anyone's blackness. It showed variety, and after all; isn't variety the spice of life?

Sent by Moji | 6:49 PM ET | 07-17-2007

PAUSE: I should clarify that the "Lee" posted above in the comment thread is not the "Lee" (here) who authored this post.

OK, now that I got that out of the way...as you were.

Sent by Lee Hill with TMM | 6:54 PM ET | 07-17-2007

It's so clear what the traditional and historic black americnan culture is. why do we need to clarify this? but i will. black american culture is blues, spirituals, jazz, funk, certain folk tales, certain ways of talking, certain foods, certain hairstyles, literature/poetry and on and on.

now, these are things that come from the black american community. anyone who is willing to recognize the birth of certain musical traditions is not deterred by the 'my friend likes heavy metal hard rock so the black card is revoked' argument because they know that the basis of black sabbath, ozzie osbourne, cream, led zeppelin, and most popular western music, etc. is in fact the black american blues tradition. this is our culture - black american culture. believe it or not, we do have a rich culture that is in fact distinctive and identifiable to those of us who truly know our history and possess a knowledge of self. i understand that there are those of us whose goal is to water ourselves down and behave as though we don't come from a certain people or historical line or culture. well, i pity you if you feel so rudderless.

no, barack does not come from the black american tradition. his wife does. his father is kenyan. whatever black culture he possesses comes from a tradition/history that is not the same as mine.

does that mean i don't like him? nope.

does that mean he is not black? nope.

does that mean he is black like me, as in his peoples were the descendants of slaves and found a way to carve out something for themselves in this country from its inception? nope.

it's baffling to me that people would act as though black americans are a. bereft of culture and history and so b. are not a distinctive group in this country.

unbelievable.

and, for all of the above reasons, michelle obama gives him "black" american credibility.

finally, why in the world would a white woman get brownie points for getting with a black man? i said she is not black by proxy or proximity to black men.

Sent by lookyloo | 8:33 PM ET | 07-17-2007

Hi this is coming from a person born in the 60's to southern transplant parents in California. I was taught good diction, proper manners, respect for law and elders and told the only way to get ahead was to get as much education as I could, stay off the corner and stay focused.
I joined the Navy in 1979 and from that point up to the late 1990's I continuously encountered "Brothers and Sisters" questioning "What kind of Black man are you? Where are from?, Why do talk funny?, Why do you go to school?, Why are you always reading books and talking intellectual stuff?, You just try'n to be White?

This "is he/she Black enough" question I have heard for years and usually out of the mouths of less educated people, Black and White, who don't expect me to be, dare I say it?, that "A" word? Articulate there it's out I'm out of the closet. I'm Articulate America and I don't care who knows it. I'm in your face so get used to it.

I do take issue with the one female; sorry can't remember the names of everyone on the show, whose criteria to be Black enough is to be married to a strong Black Women. Would that mean the mixed raced couples I see, white men with black women are black enough? Are they down? do they get it?... Does it mater?
I see the stares when I'm out with my Japanese wife; I saw them when dating Japanese women. Hey I have lived in and currently do live in Japan.
Where were all those strong, well adjusted black women when I was looking?
I can tell you, they were dating smart stable White guys, or smart stable Asian guys.
They had given up on finding smart stable out of prison on the road to success black guys and I don't blame them.
With luck and learning I will raise a smart, stable, strong Black and Japanese daughter who will find success and become a positive contributing person on this planet and hopefully a strong stable ##### man.

As the panel said we need to get away from this silly question and understand what Mr. Obama's plan for our future is. We need to understand how we can help him put that plan in motion and carry it forward not just for us in the here and now but into the future and change the face of country and our perception to the world.
Most people don't think that matters much but when you live, not visit, in a another country and view the US from that position you see an entirely different picture and hear different views.
The Brother needs help I saw we give it to him until he gives us reason to do otherwise.

I hope the formats ok I cut and pasted from word.

Sent by Eric Jones | 12:16 AM ET | 07-18-2007

Lighten up Lookyloo! I was not insinuating that white women or anyone else should get points, credibility, or flack for who they chose to marry. I was questioning the logic of your statement.

If it the idea of white women gaining credibility through relationships with black men is silly, then isn't the idea of Obama gaining credibility through his marriage just as silly? Are you suggesting that because Ms. Obama might fry chicken for the family; might put on some Al Green records every now & then; or wear braids from time to time that she has provided a legitimate black experience for Mr. Obama? If so, then a white woman who is married to a black man who listens to Miles Davis; who bakes or gets his mother to bake sweet potato pies for the family; and
wears a wave cap at night should be legitimized as well. I am not trying to belittle us in anyway, but this is just how silly all this sounds to me.

Of course African American culture exists! But African American culture, or any culture for that matter, is not merely its art. Culture is expressed through music, art, literature, dress, etc. You can learn about a culture through what the art form and its content say about those who created it. So the themes of blues songs tell of African Americans' persistence in the face of adversity; the improvisation in jazz speaks of our history of negotiating & defying structure; and funk ...well I think funk just meant that we were tired of 60s pop!

So the issue isn't whether Obama listens to jazz, blues, gospel, or eats soul food; to me it's about his willingness & ability to identify & address issues from the Black cultural experience in practical terms, as they exist today. Now those issues are not exclusive to African Americans; other groups deal with their own versions of those same issues. Given that, the question then becomes can Obama find the commonalities; can he build & steer effective coalitions to develop feasible solutions; and God help him, can he get the government to act on those solutions? And oh yeah, can he come up with a plan to resolve the Iraq War?

Who's got time to worry about whether he has cultural credibility or how he got it?

Sent by Lee | 2:51 PM ET | 07-18-2007

i will not listen up! there's nothing to listen to, particulary since this is all in writing. lol.

i think you miss the point. please don't raise examples i've already raised - music as an ex. of culture black american culture -i've mentioned to turn an argument on me and make it seem like it was your idea. lol. clearly, i have an understanding of culture.

so, as someone who doesn't eat meat, i'm less impressed with fried chicken as being an example of blackness on display. and as i don't normally wear braids, that argument is equally dufuss as are many other ex. of so-called black culture you've used in a pretty lowbrow way.

further, i never said anything about him being unable to find common bonds, etc. with black americans and that experience. never said he was not incapable of finding a solution to the iraq war or any of the things that are the source of strife today. frankly, none of that is germain to this particular argument anyway.

finally if you don't understand the difference between existing as a black woman and existing as a white woman then i'm afraid your our understanding of racism and its underpinnings are entirely different.

i'm afraid that you will not understand the whole proxy/proximity comment as it relates to white women.

i don't subscribe to the 'we are the world' script that so many interracial couples presume they subscribe to - that they are immune from being racist because of their union. no, they carry it into the relationship and often pass it onto their children.

so, no brownie points for white women.

nope, like i said before, a white woman is not black by proxy or proximity because she is with a black man.

in a society where blackness is

Sent by lookyloo | 2:19 PM ET | 07-20-2007

PLEASE folks...don't cut & paste from MS WORD. The formatting isn't compatible...

Sent by Lee Hill with TMM | 5:54 PM ET | 07-20-2007

There are one or two black congressional representatives that have openly supported Obama. They mentioned that he will not have the mental hang-ups many african americans have. That kind of comment is interesting coming from african american congressional representatives. It shows that even they have seen the kind of destructive attitude that KEEPS BACK other african americans from reaching for the stars.

As other political analyst have said, the question isn't how well Obama will do with the black vote (or black Democrats where most of the black vote goes) but how well will he do with the white democrats. So while black may give up the extra push, his thrust has to do with the white democratic vote.

For an african american to be considered a presidential candidate by a mostly white population is absolutely amazing. That has not been done in ANY industrialized nation in the world where a person from another race is a front runner in a population where he is not apart of that race. This situation is even WORST in the developing world where I live now. Don't EVEN EXPECT TO BE ELECTED IF YOU ARE FROM A DIFFERENT RACE. HOLD ON TO YOUR SEAT OR DISTRICT AND BE SATISFIED.

I lived in Chicago and by extension, the state of Illinois. Carol Mosley-Braun was elected under two banners, being the 4th black person to go to the Senate and- I stand to be corrected- the first woman from Illinois to be elected to the Senate. She was and last time I check, still is black (West African descedant slave black for AL Sharpton) and Illinois like ALL the other states in the US are majority white. So what is up with race and Obama? My point is that candidates have to connect to with the constituents on issues or else they will be forgotten. Obama is doing that well with constituents of all colors, classes ages etc and that is going down too well with some people.

AL Sharpton and Hillary Clinton come to mind who are mad about Obama's connection to the constituents so far. In my opinion, if Obama and Hillary were to fight for Illinois senatorship ( where both of them have lived for many years) Obama WOULD SMASH Hillary in a heat beat. Obama is showing people you can reach for the stars without going through the racial status quo. If Illinois, with Jesse Jackson and Farrakhan, were happy with his 'Senatorship', why would people all across the country not be happy with his Presidency. Sharpton and Hillary should move aside and this 'race' horse - no pun intended- bolt away to that 'historical WHITE House'- no pun intended again. Now, that is RACE for you.

Obama is showing black americans, if you dream and work hard you can persevere no matter what your color is.

Sent by gc | 1:12 PM ET | 07-30-2007

What has being black or white or green got to do with anything? And just who is asking this question? Black enough for what? I am 3rd generation Northern black and I just don't get it.

Sent by leso | 4:34 PM ET | 08-11-2007

I believe that such language is used to seek rewards for attacking your own people with negativity. It is worst that the spread of Herpes: the communications is filty and it touches kids for years until they are able to deal and speak on it. The journalist get to speak to people around the world about something that is unique and unnatural, not spoken and understood by most and not true. Some people are rewarded with good jobs or money for doing wrong to people who they share a commonality-color. That money taken and stolen from our communities is used to purchase things that are impressive to kids and people caught up in materialism.

People who act and protest such negative attacks against them and other similiar situated have things taken away from them. They are not rewarded for their efforts. The do not have the resources to purchase or live the life that is impressive to people in their community or they do not have all the normal things that god blessed them with.

Sent by Tyrone Shanks | 3:59 PM ET | 08-16-2007

The fact that anyone is even asking the question is he black enough is a sign that this country has serious problems. I am a white, well-off male, but I do not care that he is black. I support his opinions and what he stands for, that is why we elect leaders to advocate our ideas. I personally loathe Hilary Clinton not because she is a woman, but because I do not like what she believes in. Democracy is about ideas not race, gender or otherwise.

Sent by Ben Jacobs | 10:04 PM ET | 09-09-2007