The Seven Black Presidents Before Barack Obama

[snopes]

Were there Black US Presidents before? The people thought that Barack Obama is the first black President of the United States. Wrong.

http://fookembug.wordpress.com/2008/...-barack-obama/

[Jay Temple]

Didn't you already debunk John Hanson? Not about being black, about being the first President. That undermines the others' credibility.

[Spam & Cookies-mmm]

They left off Bill Clinton.

[Photo Bob]

It is my understanding that this could all be proven by simply looking at their SSN's.

Photo "That's right, every president was issued a SSN retroactively as proof of eligibility" Bob

[Chloe]

Hmm. An article that uses terms like "half-breed," "squaw,"and "mulatto." Very convincing.

Also, Thomas Moore was black?

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Spam & Cookies-mmm

They left off Bill Clinton.

snerk [and letters]

[E. Q. Taft]

I certainly wouldn't be surprised to learn we've had a "black" president before if you go by the "one-drop" theory -- i.e., any African ancestor, no matter how far back. (Actually, if our anthropologists are right, by that standard we're all African-descended, but even if you stick to the last 6,000 years since the earth was really created...)

I believe I had heard rumors about Harding before. (And if true, he wouldn't be a very good precedent....)

Somehow though I'm reminded of an Onion article...

Do We Really Want Another Black President After The Events Of Deep Impact?

[Mickey Blue]

I do sometimes wonder how far back one can go to still be considered 'black', I mean Obama is I guess 1/2 if you go to his parents but still identifies as black and isn't (so far as I know) challenged on it regularly. What if you had one black grandparent? Great gradnparent? Does it matter how dark or light your skin is?

-MB

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

well, race is really a social construction more than anything else. The experience of a person who appears black and who is rasied with a family who appears and is socially constructed as black will differ significantly from that of a person who appears white and is raised with a family who appears and is socially constructed as white.

[Richard W]

4. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, he served from 1861 – 1865 and he was black. His mother was from an Ethiopian Tribe and his father was an African American. It was told that his father was Thomas Lincoln, a man to cover the truth, but he was sterile from childhood mumps and was later castrated, making it impossible for him to have been his father. Lincoln’s nickname “Abraham Africa-nus the First.”

I thought it was turning into parody at this point, but they seem to expect you to take number 5 seriously again. Since when has "Moor" been the European word for a black person? Moors were largely Arabic surely? Even if it did refer to some black people I don't think it ever meant all of them...

[Mickey Blue]

Surely you mean the Moops..

Originally Posted by Ryda Wong, EBfCo.

well, race is really a social construction more than anything else. The experience of a person who appears black and who is rasied with a family who appears and is socially constructed as black will differ significantly from that of a person who appears white and is raised with a family who appears and is socially constructed as white.

True, but in terms of our culture and society as a whole where is the line drawn? Is it always in looks or is it in ancestry or is it both? If I had a black father but looked white could I call myself black (or perhaps more accurately, should others if I want them to?) What if it was my grandfather? Great Grandfather? What if I want to apply for a black scholarship or be recognized as the 'first black man to do X'? Can I 'count' as a black person when applying for a job? The same of course applies to the reverse as well or picking any other race combination.

Race is a social construct but its one that nearly everybody seems to feel exists and is relevant no matter what color you are, and while many people are quick to discredit the old "One drop of blood.." rule I am curious as to where they draw the new line, particularly if one is trying to claim some sort of title or benefit.

-MB

[Ryda Wong, EBfCo.]

Originally Posted by Mickey Blue

True, but in terms of our culture and society as a whole where is the line drawn? Is it always in looks or is it in ancestry or is it both?

I don't know that there is a really clear answer to this. Many white folks have black ancestors, but they look and were socialized as whites, so they are white. However, no matter how white you act/are socliaized as, having black features/hair/skin tone will normally result in you being othered to some degree.

So, yeah, it varies, and it's heavily dependent on social perception.

[RealityChuck]

It was routine in presidential elections for someone to charge that a candidate had Negro blood. I'm sure you can find people saying all these things about anyone running for president prior to 1940 or so. So the article just picked a few of the smear campaigns and printed them.

The silliest comment:

His mother’s maiden name was “Moor.” In Europe the name “Moor” was given to all Black people just as in America the name “Negro” was used.

Right. I know a Joe Negro and a Mary Negro and a Tom Negro and a Larry Negro and an Alice Negro . . .

[snapdragonfly]

I"m totally reminded of the old In Living Color skit, "The Niggers." Can't find any clips of it though, just Men on Men and Wanda and Firemarshall Bill. Sigh.

Man, that was the funniest damn show...

[Simply Madeline]

Are you thinking of the Dave Chappell skit, The Niggar Family?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtqqMchhUkw

ETA: The last name "Negro" is actually somewhat common.

[snapdragonfly]

That was it!! Not the Wayans, but Chapelle. No wonder I couldn't find it under Living Color. It's been a few years since I watched either Chapelle or ILC. I can't even find ILC reruns on tv. (but I'm always on Snopes instead of watching TV except for a few shows anyway)

He's hysterically funny too and that skit always cracked DH and I up.

[Johnny Slick]

There was also that Mad TV sketch about the guy who said he was being persecuted because he was 1/16th black. If memory serves (and for once wiki is not helping) the drawing line for "whiteness" was that you had to be 15/16ths white to be considered white for the purposes of the anti-miscegenation laws in Virginia which were overturned in '67. It wouldn't make sense for the dividing line to be 1/5th because humans are produced by pairs of parents, not 5doms.

Anyway, that's just a data point, not an opinion. My opinion is that race is a human construct.

[Lainie]

ILC is on DVD. And I loved "Men on Men."

[GenYus234]

Originally Posted by Mickey Blue

I do sometimes wonder how far back one can go to still be considered 'black'

3/5ths?

Gen "Extra Text" Yus

[purpleiguana]

You mean Lincoln was black and gay?? Cool!