by Marie Anne

Created on: July 12, 2008   Last Updated: September 19, 2008

Fact - Barack Obama claims to be a black man.

Fact- His father was black, but his mother and maternal grandparents that raised him were Caucasian and he could just as easily have chosen to covet that portion of his ethnicity. Why didn't he? I submit that it's because there is no benefit in doing so - he wouldn't be able to play the race card.

Many prominent figures throughout history were quadroon or octoroon, including several former presidents. They didn't claim their black heritage because unlike today, it was more 'politically correct' to claim their white roots.

Were they less qualified to fulfill the duties of the office because their grandparents were slaves? Of course not! Would they have had less of a chance of being elected if their parentage were common knowledge? Possibly. It's all a matter of the perception of the general populous at any particular time.

Today it happens to be more glamorous to be a black man rising up from oppression against dubious odds, never mind that he's riding on the coat tails of his 'brothers' of color. Obama's parentage may be half African, but his ancestors were not brought to this country on a ship against their will, sold into slavery by their very own black brothers. On the contrary, his father was chosen for a scholarship to a school in Nairobi and later to the University of Hawaii, where he met Barack's mother.

My own Caucasian forefathers were likely indentured or forced to work in inhumane conditions in sweat shops. Shall I start making demands due to the atrocities that they may have endured? Slavery of any type is abominable, but we rose above it. Why do some people keep bringing it back?

Quit playing the race card.

Who cares if Barack Obama is the first black man to sit as the President of Harvard Law Review? Isn't the title prestigious enough in and of itself? Does his being black make him any better than the scores of young men before him who filled those shoes that were not? Would he have gained as much notoriety if he had claimed he was white? I doubt it. Has his being black tainted that position, making it a less lofty goal for a man devoid of color (or any man) to strive to achieve? I don't think so.

Quit playing the race card.

Should someone of a particular color or gender be elected simply because it hasn't been done before and some claim 'it's time'? What if 'it's time' and there is no one qualified? Do you usher someone into that position simply because they fit a particular profile and can talk a good talk,

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