Rebel Rebel, you might as well

Here's the short of my view on President-Elect (note the use of capitals) Barack Obama and his being black: I think it's outstanding to have a president who isn't another white guy, but that's not anything on which to base his success or failure in office. I like him, and by and large I agree with his views and stance on things. Hell, even his personality (as portrayed by the media) is a selling point for me, making me feel he's both levelheaded and competent without being uptight-- something I feel someone of authority must retain. But honestly I don't care that he's dark skinned, just so long as he keeps this country afloat.

That said:

I was just reading an article where Obama, talking about what sort of puppy his family intends to adopt, said offhandedly "Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," in regards to finding a breed of dog suitable so that it doesn't flair up one of his daughters allergies. This statement strikes me personally, and it makes me even more glad to have him as president.

Everyone hails Barack Obama as the first President to be black/African-American. But in truth, dude is mulatto: his mom is white, his dad is black. He may be dark in complexion, but he's neither really here nor there on the ethnic divide. And the fact that he has no quarrels with this fact is all the more impressing to me.

The media is already and all to willingly foregoing the mention of his caucasian side, doing what can easily be called the Tiger Woods Effect. It's a simple misstep, an easy one to do, but one with some sometimes unintentionally harmful setbacks. Basically, if dude or chick looks black, then just call them that.

Tiger Woods is part black, part white, and part Asian. Does anyone remember that? Maybe you know he's part white, but do you remember the rest? No. 'Cause dude looks black, so it's easier to call him that. The media did it, and so can you! But in doing so you dismiss other parts of who he is, whether or not he closely identifies with that aspect of himself.

A good example of that last part: Jessica Alba (no relation). Jessica Alba is half-Mexican and half-white: this is common knowledge for a lot of you guys and dykes out there. How many of you, though, know that Ms. Alba cannot (or 'could not,' depending on circumstances) speak Spanish? She never grew up speaking the language, so why would she now? How could she? And yet the Hispanic community flames her and gives her crap because of her lack of association with that aspect of her heritage. They criticize her for not being what they want her to represent: a Latina.

Flip the script, though. Cameron Diaz can't speak a lick of Spanish either. Her father is Cuban (full on from Cuba Cuban even), and her last name is even Diaz-- if you're from LA, you might even know a curly brown-haired drawn-on-eyebrows chicana named Cameron. She's just as 'Latina' as Ms. Alba, and yet because she's of the blonde-haired blue-eyed ilk, no one has any issue whatsoever with her inability to speak spanish. Even though, in all respects, she is just as Hispanic as Jessica Alba by blood.

But I digress...

Back to Obama. Here we have a man, the most important figurehead of this country (lest we forget what we've already decided what he is by title alone) and he represents a growing minority in this country, even more conflicted and criticized than the black community (then, or now). What many people may fail to see is what he will be doing just by being where he is and having the view on life that he does.

Example: Every time I've had to fill out a census on federal paperwork I've always had to make a decision that seemed ridiculous to me: did I want to be Caucasian (non-Hispanic descent), Hispanic, or Native American this time? I'm all three at the same time, so how could I be just one for the sake of a census? In theory it makes sense: just simplify for record keeping. But life isn't that easy.

My prediction, my Hope if you will, with Obama in office is to finally see these simple overlooked things-- both in paperwork and in public vernacular-- wrought over and overturned. Simple and unnoticable to most, but for people like me-- multiracial folk who have to deal with these little annoyances-- it'd be a welcome change.

I feel fortunate that I live in a time where even before Obama came into the picture I could discuss my ethnicity without any issue. So that isn't my complaint. I'm just ready to see the last strands of this Old-Think fade away.

I'm proud of Obama, and I cannot wait to see what he accomplishes. I'm proud of Obama for already speaking so easily of his ethnicity. I'm proud of him for being proud of who he is without brow-beating people on the subject (like can be predicted much of the black community will do for at least a while, and I sort of feel have some right to). I appreciate that he has family in Nigeria. I appreciate that he has family in Indonesia. I appreciate that he's lived away from the US for various periods of his life.

I appreciate his views. I'm proud to call him President.

I'm proud that the US has their first truly International President.



One last note: I'm also proud of you guys protesting the Prop 8 decision. Fight hard, fight long, and not just when it's convenient. But moreover, please stop comparing Prop 8 with Prop 2. Animal rights and Civil rights are two different things.