US Elects Multiracial President

During the recent U.S. presidential campaign, the 'talkingWoods has forced Americans to come to terms with
heads' referred to Barack Obama as possibly the firsthis multiracial identity. Despite his racially mixed
black president. This puzzles and outrages me. Why?background-Woods has clearly demanded that he
Because calling Barack Obama black is denouncing hiswants to be recognized as a multiracial person. In
Caucasian ancestry. This is racial discrimination of arecent years how often have you heard a sports
different kind, but none-the-less racial discrimination.caster refer to Tiger Woods as the most prominent
Likewise, referring to his race as Caucasian isblack golfer in America? None that I have heard.
denouncing his black ancestry.Woods' recent stunning victory at the U.S. Open could
His mother, maternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, andnot be more timely, say activists who are campaigning
cousins back several generations are Caucasian. Hisfor a "multiracial" category on the U.S. census for 2010.
father is black. Does the fact that his father is black"He is completely articulate on the issue," Ramona
qualify him to be referred to as the first blackDouglass stated, half Italian-American and half
president? Since Obama is half white and half black,African-American, woman who is president of the
he qualifies as being a white president as much as heAssociation of Multi Ethnic Americans and a member
qualifies as a black president.of the U.S. census advisory committee on the
A case in point is Tiger Woods. Tiger's father isproposed category.
one-quarter white three-quarters black. His mother is"He [Tiger] has made it clear he has no reason to
Thai. Unlike many celebrity-actors Brandon Lee, Halledeny his mother," Douglass stated. "Whether he wants
Barry and Jennifer Beals, who have been recognizedto or not, he is sort of becoming the poster person for
only as Asian, black and white, respectively, Tigermultiracial identity.