Should Teresa be considered our first African-American first lady?

[HamdenRice]

This issue has been simmering away on the fringes of newspapers and the internet. Teresa was born in Mozambique and according to southern African usage, any person, even a white person, born in Africa calls himself or herself African. She since became an American citizen. Does that make her African-American?

As a black person, I was always bemused and a little convinced by Toni Morrison's argument that Bill Clinton was our first black president -- black being a post modern metaphor for a certain condition rather than a particular ethnic heritage.

I would really like to know much much more about Teresa's African experience. Unfortunately, she grew up in one of the most repressive African colonial settings -- pre-majority rule "Portuguese East Africa" or Mozambique -- surrounded by servants. Was her family a "good" employer? Were they racist like most southern African Portuguese and their white South African neighbors?

Also, ironically, the Portuguese in East Africa had been in the colony so long and initially under such strange conditions that there was a lot of unofficial "miscegenation" and passing back and forth in the 1700s. Most long term Portuguese families have some African ancestry -- just as a white geneticist from South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand caused a scandal in the 1980s when he showed, based on gene studies, that there was hardly a single Afrikaner in South Africa without some African genes. Do you think Teresa is from and old Portuguese East African family and has any African heritage? Should she mention it? Does she look mixed to you?

I wish Teresa would be more forthcoming about her early African years. Do you?

[Dookus]

1. More forthcoming about what?

what is she concealing that you want to know?

Has she done anything in her adult life that you find racist? Why do you need to be reassured about this issue?

[HamdenRice]

2. It's part of her world view

No I think Teresa has been exemplary on environmental and world poverty issues. I would like to know whether her experiences in Mozambique shaped her commitment alleviating poverty in poor countries.

Most presidents are deeply influenced by their wives. Would she be an influence on her husband to increase funding for development and poverty alleviation in Africa? The US has been brutal and destructive in southern Africa. Would she influence Kerry to pay some form of compensation to Mozambique for our supporting South Africa in virtually destroying the country in the 1970s and 1980s?

Look, candidates and their wives talk endlessly about their backgrounds as part of the humanization of them; when we vote we are in part "buying" a biography. I would like to know more about hers -- which must be one of the most colorful ever for a first lady.

BTW both Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter talked about being deeply influenced by growing up in a "Marse's" family in the racist south -- and it had a positive influence on their public policy. Clinton and Edwards were poor to working class and were close to black neighbors in the racist south in a different way.

I'm just curious about Teresa's very, very dramatic upbringing, how it shaped her world view, whether she had a transformative experience that changed it.

[deacon]

3. No, it doesn't matter n/t

[HamdenRice]

5. Why not?

I have to say I find it strange that so many white voters want to know all about the biographies of candidates and first ladies; but as soon as the biography of their racial interactions comes up, so many say we don't want to hear about that -- it doesn't matter at all!

Perhaps it matters more to African American, Latino, Asian and Native American voters.

[Another Bill C.]

4. We are all of African descent

according to a study done by Professor Marcus Feldman of Stanford University and his associates.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/06/09/MN52597.DTL

[HamdenRice]

7. Not by any current cultural definition

Yes of course, paleo biologists now agree with the "out of Africa" theory. We can all trace our ancestry to Africa. And yes, race has little basis in genetics.

But this has nothing to do with the cultural, historical and political definitions of race in the 20th and 21st centuries.

So, Strom Thurmond can trace his ancestry, eventually, to Africa; that does not mean that given his historical and political context, that it was of no consequence that he fathered a mullato love child.

[Another Bill C.]

16. Our current racial definitions

are outmoded extensions of tribalism. Tribalism was a survival mechanism at one time but no longer necessary.

I'm in agreement with this quote from the cited article: "People imagine there is much more difference than there is," Shriver said. "There is no such thing as black and white. There's a whole bunch of genetic variation between those extremes. We are all mixed up, part of the same family tree originally, who then evolved, then were together and mixed up again. So the categories don't explain much."

[HamdenRice]

23. I find this particular liberal approach to race annoying

I find this particular liberal approach to race annoying because it confuses genetics with history, politics, power relations and economics. Of course, genetically race makes no sense. And racism is old fashioned and tribablistic.

But this view ignores the fact that society is in fact, structured along racial lines. The schools are more segregated and unequal here in NY than they were before Brown v. Board of Ed. But if you say, race doesn't really exist then there's no need to address the pervasive racism in society. Unfortunately, as long as racism is pervasive, nationally and internationally, we will have to use these distinctions to address the issues it creates.

[DarkPhenyx]

6. Works for me.

It is a more correct usage of the term than others I have heard.

[bushisanidiot]

8. Let's Sit Back And Watch The Repukes Show Their Racism Publicly

by calling Teresa "african-american" with a chuckle in their voices..


NO, she is not african american and I'm sure she isn't trying to call herself that. It would be completely disrespectful to african americans whose ancestors were DRAGGED here against their will.

Stupid question..

[HamdenRice]

9. It is an important question

I don’t think it’s a stupid question at all, and in fact Teresa herself has been conflicted on this issue. It is stupid only to be narrow minded and dismissive of the issue. And you're wrong -- at times she has called herself African American.

For example on the DNC site, Teresa talks about her African heritage and her role in getting the Hispanic vote a bit here:

http://www.democrats.org/hispanic/news/200405290003.html

"Good morning. This is Teresa Heinz Kerry and I'm honored to talk with you about my husband John Kerry and the future of our country.

"I was born in Mozambique in the African continent - my mother was a great companion, and my dad was a doctor. As a physician, he taught me how to treat all people with compassion and a good listening ear. And Africa itself taught me the value and the importance of caring for one another, whether man or nature.

"Like many of you, I'm an immigrant to America. And maybe that's why I love it all the more. I see our nation as a great shining ideal — optimistic, generous of heart, and strong in spirit.


On the other hand, before 1995, she used to refer to herself as “African American” until, it seems, the right wing began to bash her with it. So one interesting issue is whether she should be cowed or proud of this:

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/2/24/121520.shtml

Teresa Heinz Kerry: I'm an 'African American'

First lady wannabe Teresa Heinz Kerry sometimes describes herself as an "African American," even though she grew up amidst segregated privilege in colonial Mozambique.
"My roots are African," she told a reporter in 1995. "The birds I remember, the fruits I ate, the trees I climbed, they're African."
Throughout the 1990s, Heinz Kerry referred to herself as "African American," the Baltimore Sun revealed on Tuesday. And when her use of the term set off a firestorm of controversy in 1993, she defended the claim.

"African-hyphen-American belongs to blacks," Heinz Kerry's spokesman told reporters, insisting that it was proper for his boss to call herself African American as long as no hyphen was used or intended.

So contrary to your dismissive attitude it is a complex and interesting issue.

As an African American I absolutely do not find it disrespectful. Our community has been incorporating Africans, West Indians and other immigrants of African dissent for years. Other black people may feel differently. What would you know about how we all will feel about this?

I find her African background fascinating and I think it would be a big vote getter in the black community if presented properly -- she will energize more black voters than she will turn off racist voters who are not going to vote for Kerry anyway.

[prolesunited]

10. Why are you citing articles

from NEWSMAX? The fact that you had to go there for commentary on this issue tells you all you need to know about it's validity.

[HamdenRice]

15. Look at the two sources

I am trying to show you how the issue is being used by her and the DNC and how it would be misused by the RW --get it?

[Judi Lynn]

14. You chose NewsMax as a source? Really?

I always enjoyed this treasure from that august monument to journalism:

Exclusive: Photos Reveal Elian's Day Out
NewsMax.com
Monday, June 19, 2000
Yesterday Elian, his father and their Cuban entourage attended a Father’s Day outing at the home of a man identified in the press as a "Cuban diplomat." The man resides on Connecticut Avenue in Silver Spring, Md. A NewsMax.com reader lives next door and took photos and offered commentary. We are publishing this information for the benefit of our readers (please click on the links to see the pictures indicated):
From the Neighbor:

"These photos were taken in a hurry and through the window of one the bedrooms of my sister's house. I just wanted to post them as soon as possible. Please, forgive the quality of some of the photos, but there wasn't much time to prepare for this.

"In one photo, Elian can be seen through the bushes holding a box. While most of the kids played in the backyard of the house, Elian was not allowed to be in the backyard for anymore than a few minutes at a time.

"Even though he tried to get out several times, he was prevented from so doing.

"In another photo it can be appreciated to the left of the Central AC unit, what appears to be a Gargoyle like figurine. It is a Santeria Deity, plain and simple. It used to be located by the main entrance of the house on the steps leading to the front door. Some have said that it is an effigy representing Eleggua, the opener of the roads in the Santeria pantheon of deities.
(snip/...)

http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/6/19/95231

Wow! They spotted this "Gargoyle like figurine" a "Santeria Deity, plain and simple!" The untrained eye would mistakenly call it "leprechaun!" Surely that's not a garbage can lid above it, is it? It's actually a Santería headdress of some kind, no doubt.



Also, I wanted to commend NewsMax on having the journalistic integrity to have its own section of important news stories, called "Late Night Jokes." That's telling it like it is!

On edit:

It just occurred to me that you more likely would find a NewsMax reader living next door to a nuclear waste site, or down by the river, in a hastily prepared lean-to. Why should we assume a NewsMax reader lived next door to the host of this internationally watched event?

[bushisanidiot]

28. But Why the hell bring it up?? It's an RNC smear talking point.

look at WHO reports on these types of "stories" - Drudge, Newsmax, New York Post.. all right wing propaganda rags.

So why bring that smear story here to "debate" it? It's complete bullshit. If Teresa referred to herself once or twice as African American a long time ago then it's in her past.. hell she was married to a repuke.. maybe he pushed her into saying such a thing.

Questions I want answered are:

Why was pres. AWOL in '72??
What were his grades in college? Why are they sealed?
Why hasn't his cocaine convictions been made public?
Who was in the Energy Task Force meetings in 2001 and
what was said?
Why has Enron been let off the hook for all the destruction
they did to California?
Why has Enron been let off the hook for destroying people's lives when Enron went under?
Why has the justice department been so hard on Martha Stewart in contrast, who "crimes" didn't her ANYONE?!
WHY DID GEORGE W. BUSH DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO PROTECT US ON 9/11? WHY DID HE JUST SIT THERE AND CONTINUE WITH THE PHOTO OP???!!!!!!!!

[Terran]

30. No, it's not.

She's the First Lady (or will be). What she does and how she thinks don't have any impact on anything of importance, unless she decides she wants to go into politics later. Her views are her own, they are purely personal. I fail to see why you're expending so much energy on this absurd topic.

[Redhead488]

12. She has called herself

a "non-hyphenated" African American. So the question is not so stupid to HER. This is what happens when one uses arbitrary labels to group people.

[Bunny]

24. You are quite right.

No offense intended to HamdenRice, but this whole "Teresa Heinz is an African-American" thing has been a wingnut talking point for some months now. And it is always said with a sneer and a smirk. I cannot figure out what the point of THAT is, but nevertheless, it is out there.

Teresa has been quite open about her childhood in Africa, how the loss of her parent's land due to social unrest has made her an ardent anti-Communist/Fascist. This is no secret and never has been. she makes no bones about it at all.

There are no deep dark mysteries about Teresa's childhood in Mozambique. None.

[HamdenRice]

27. See I learned something ...

I had never read anything about her being ardent anti-communist/fascist because her parents lost their land -- you learn something new every day.

This is very important also because if she means losing it to Mozambique's liberation movement, then I hope she has changed her mind. Because, it turns out, her family would have been on the wrong side of history and I hope she has changed her views.

Support for and the acceleration of land reform throughout South and southern Africa is probably the most important issue in the region other than AIDS.

If she means she lost her land to the repressive Portuguese dictatorship that is different.

Do you have any web cites about her views?

[Bunny]

32. Here's an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

<snip>
The irony of the dispute was that Teresa Heinz had come to despise communism with a particular poignancy. The home on which she was raised in Mozambique, an idyllic, rambling place where she climbed trees and watched the Indian Ocean, was taken from the Simoes-Ferreira family by the Marxist regime that seized power after the Portuguese pulled out. Her father and mother, like thousands of others, simply fled.

"They lost everything," Heinz Kerry says. "I know how communists work. And you don't want to be there. I know how socialists think: they mean very well, but generally speaking, they squelch a lot of good competitive principles as well as market forces."
<snip>

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04116/305510.stm

[HamdenRice]

33. Thanks -- and I found

a profile on a Peace Corp site reposted from a Baltimore Sun article. I have to say I'm now kind of troubled by her stance -- claiming to have this romantic connection to southern Africa, but never having returned to Mozambique or ever having directed any of her considerable environmental and poverty reduction charity toward that country.

I know there was some bitterness there 30 years ago, but a lot of people get over it. I used to be friends with a Vietnamese woman whose family lost everything in the takeover there. But when they were allowed to go back, the family became very involved in starting businesses there both to help themselves and to help the country.

I wonder whether she will be a good influence on her husband when it comes to policy toward southern Africa. Our country really has a lot to answer for there, given the decades of support for apartheid as well as for South Africa's genocidal wars against its neighbors, including Mozambique.

[wndycty]

11. It would be an insult and very cynical

. . .while it would be technically correct it would as be a slap in the face to those of who have been Negro, Colored, Black, etc. While it is technically correct, in the long run it is one more attempt to dilute what it means to be a Negro, Colored, Black, African American. . .at least that is my view. If she should be considered African American I would prefer to be called Black again. I love Teresa but let's not add one more insult to a group of people whose legacy in American started with slavery.

[Kahuna]

17. She's more African American than I am. I'm black. I'm American..

Truthfully, I'm not really African American. I think Jesse and the boys got it wrong when they gave us that handle. Makes me sound like my family are recent immigrants. They're not.

[wndycty]

18. Believe it or not I sort of agree with you, however. . .

. . .the term African American is not about accuracy its about symbolism. The term African American is identified with the Black community, and I think most people who would call Teresa an African American will do so to dilute Black, Colored, Negro identity.

[Kahuna]

21. Screw symbolism. I'm more a "reality-based" person, versus..

symbolism. Bah! :puke:

[wndycty]

31. Unfortunately perception often trumps reality. . .

. . .now I actually I would not mind being called Black again, African American is very misleading. For instance is Colin Powel African American? His family is from Barbados. . .what up everyone from the West Indies? Are they African American or not? I lot of people who are descendents from slaves who did not come to America directly from Africa often will identify with their homeland first before Africa and even African immigrants often identify with their country (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, etc.) so African American is very misleading.

[Tomee450]

45. Well

I disagree with you. I am proud to call myself an African-American. Just as proud as the whites who acknowledge their ancestry by saying they are Italian, Irish, Greek, English etc. When I was in school I was always asked where I was from. I had no answer. Strong blacks from Africa survived that horrible Middle Passage and endured hundreds of years of slavery. I am proud of them and happily acknowledge the continent from which they came.

[trof]

22. My African-English-German-American friend.

Arthur was born in what was Tanganyika, British East Africa, in the early '30s.
His father was English and his mother was German.
He laughingly calls himself a "polyglot".

His family returned to England in the '50s and Arthur went to medical school.
In the early '70s he was a physician Liverpool and decided he wanted to immigrate to the U.S. Two of his colleagues had, and spoke in glowing terms of life in the United States. He sent the required request forms and paperwork to the U.S. embassy in London. And was turned down.

A few months later he was attending an international obstetrics conference in London and met a couple of American obstetricians. Over drinks one evening he related his story. They advised him to show up in person at the embassy to plead his case. He did and was, this time, successful.

Was the initial turn down because he'd put his birthplace as "Africa"? And was he eventually successful because they saw he was white? I don't know, but that's what Arthur thinks.

[demosincebirth]

25. I agree.

I am of mexican heritage and I call myself "Mexican" not Latin, nor, especially, Hispanic.

[RetroLounge]

13. Whatever

:eyes:

RL

[seabeyond]

19. interesting response to larry king asked if nadar should get out

and her response heartfelt and quick, i would never tell someone not to run growing where i did in a dictatorship..........

her feel was the oppression of another really bothers her and didnt like the circumstance at all in africa

[Lancer]

20. THK isn't running for anything

therefore I don't see her heritage as a pivotal campaign issue. I full expect a lengthy profile in Vanity Fair or some such in the future that will address this question.

I find Teresa's personal history remarkable and fascinating, and I don't care what color the branches on her family tree happen to be.

[HamdenRice]

26. Cowed or proud?

I think this is resolving into two issues -- one is just that Teresa's biography is fascinating and some of us would like to know more about the evolution of her thinking in the context of her experience.

The other issue is strategic in terms of the campaign: should Teresa be proud or cowed? Should she talk about her feelings of being proud of her African background, which was her first instinct? Or should she worry about how the RW will cynically "play" the issue -- playing to white racists to rally them against having a "colored" in the White House, while also playing to black literalists who will be upset that she dares call herself African or African American.

I for one think on the strategic issue, she will win more votes for her husband talking about it and how it influences her activism in the Third World than it will lose him.

[SoCalDem]

39. An easy way to find out more would be to start googling

on some Mozambique websites.. I am sure that by now, people are coming out of the woodwork to share childhood stories of her.:)

I grew up in Panama, but I am not Panamanian :)

[HamdenRice]

40. I've noticed a change ...

that there are more stories about her than there were just a few weeks ago. A more complicated picture, and in some sense troubling picture, is starting to emerge -- and not just from RW smearmeisters. I sense that she has a profound sentimental attachment to Africa, but despite her environmental and other charitable work, has not done much on the topic and has never returned to the continent.

[SoCalDem]

41. There's that word again.."troubling"

Don't fall for the rightwing "code speak".. If it has the words "troubling"..."unnerving"..."worried"... "upsetting"....

Why would it be a "problem" or be "troubling" for anyone to feel a fondness for where they grew up???

You need to read some different source material.. Nowhere have I seen any articles even suggesting that there is anything in her background that is "troubling"..

Once her hubby is president, she probably will go back for a visit..:)

Bear in mind too, that every white person "from" Africa is by definition an interloper , and if one goes far enough back into family history there are bound to be some "bad apples"..

[lukasahero]

29. "any person, even a white person, born in Africa calls himself

African." I'd have to say that's a generalization. My BIL was born in Africa, but he calls himself Armenian - quite proudly. Maybe he's the exception to the rule but I think the point is he relates much more strongly to the culture he was brought up with than the place where he was born.

[mememe]

34. this whole discussion demonstrates the foolishness of labels

The discussion triggered by this question demonstrates the regrettable effects of trying to define individuals by applying labels to them. Is Teresa Heinz African American or Africa-American? Does the hyphen make a difference? Is an emigrant from Morocco or Egypt African-American? Why or why not? The whole idea of deciding who is or is not African seems to me like debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. The arguing over who does or does not fall into what ethnic category has gotten so out of hand that people from Spain are not considered by the government to be Hispanic!

Ms. Heinz's life story, her views, her ambitions, her efforts, her dedication, her goals, her accomplishments are important; whether or not we can apply a particular label to her is not.

Those on the right and on the left who are fixated on whether or not she is "qualified" as an African American with or without a hyphen are focusing on trivialities.

Disclaimer: I'm not intending to insult anyone. I'm just saying that her importance (and anyone's importance) is due to their innate worth as an individual, not due to their place of origin or ethnicity.

[HamdenRice]

36. As though race does not exist

To you, they are just labels. But you are either too young, or simply too limited in experience within the majority experience for these mere "labels" to matter.

Having grown up spending each summer in the south in the 1960s, and having to go in the "colored entrance" in the backs of stores, having to swim at the "negro lake", or to drink from the "colored only" water fountain, for me, in my experience, these "mere" labels have a great deal of importance.

To many white people, this is old history. But today, when my son, today, has to go to a segregated school, where better teachers try desperate not to teach, because it has a reputation as a "black" school, and when we have more difficulty transfering him to a district where he will have a more diverse experience because he has a "Spanish" last name and the better schools outside our district veto his transfer -- this to me means these labels are important.

I'm sorry and I don't mean to insult anyone either -- but this "race doesn't matter" anymore stuff is just neo liberal or neo conservative clap trap. Pure bullshit and drivel, as far as I am concerned. I suggest you take a field trip to Bedford Stuyvasent, Brooklyn's schools and Park Slope's schools before you assert that race is just an arbitrary label.

Now, what this has to do with Teresa is several fold: first, this country tends to overcome obstacles through a "first colored to ..." syndrome -- whether it is the first Negro to play baseball (Jackie Robinson) or the first Secretary of State. It's like a taboo that is broken, that then allows for the experience of a black person in that position to be "normalized." Hence it is very relevant to black people -- if not to you -- if having an "African" woman in the White House breaks some bizarre, unconscious American taboo on the most powerful man in the world being married to a "negress" of one sort or another, symbolic, post-modern or literal.

Moreover, as someone who has lived for several years in southern Africa and travelled there for over a decade, and seen the devastation our country has wrought there, having a powerful influential first lady who identifies with Africa is of vital importance.

For example, it may mean the difference between life and death for 30 million HIV positive Africans if the first lady has a strong identification with Africa and persuades her husband to help make anti HIV drugs widely available there -- as opposed to (as Gore did) focusing on fighting third world countries that use compulsory licensing to produce cheap AIDS drugs. I want to understand precisely how she sees herself in connection with Africa and whether it will have any influece on a Kerry's administration's foreign policy.

Obviously "race" labels mean nothing to you because the benefits of those labels to you have occurred in hidden ways -- having, presumably been labeled with the "non-label" of "white". On the other hand, if racial labels play a big factor in your life, then changes in how these symbols and labels play out in America are very important.

[HamdenRice]

37. Addendum

And BTW, one definition of a white progressive on race issues is, whether that person, despite perhaps not having first hand experience of racism, accepts the accounts of people who have, as well as the overwhelming evidence from empirical social science, and has empathy or understanding of the reality of racism -- even if that person has no first hand experience.

This is what distinguishes some of our greatest white progressive leaders, from Lyndon Johnson to Bill Clinton, to Ramsey Clark or Bill Moyers. Or in South Africa, Bram Fischer or Joe Slovo or Ruth First to ANC designated "mother of the nation" Helen Joseph.

This quality is exceptionally rare in America today and vanishingly rare on DU.

[mememe]

44. I think we agree more than disagree

It seems to me that we are aiming at the same target although we may be coming from different directions. I agree with much of what you say. I don't think that you comments are particularly in opposition to my views.

I agree with you that "if the first lady has a strong identification with Africa and persuades her husband to help make anti HIV drugs widely available there" it could make a tremendous difference. That is what I meant when I said that her goals, ambitions, efforts, etc. were what is important about her. She can make that difference whether she has the African American label or not.

I certainly do not make the claim that our past history of labeling has not been harmful, that is my point exactly. The labeling has been harmful precisely because it allows us to look at people as other than individuals. I too spent my summers in the 60's in the south along with my springs, falls and winters and I saw firsthand the deleterious effects of decades of sorting people by label rather than by character. Fortunately, I was also able to witness firsthand the difference people could make by refusing to fall into that trap. I'm not talking about national or regional leaders, just common everyday people who treated others respectfully no matter what label the majority of people may have hung on them.

I am not wishing for some Pollyanna type world where everything is good just because we think good thoughts; I'm just saying that if we collectively start to drop our preoccupation with labels that maybe we can start a trend where others will follow suit.

[Cleita]

35. I have a friend who is one of your African Portuguese mixtures.

Most people born in Africa consider themselves as such no matter what their race or ethnicity is. If they weren't to do so then we who are of European and African descent can't call ourselves American even if we were born here can we?

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. In the sense that she was raised in Africa, but not sure if

black Americans will embrace her for that reason.

[blm]

42. She's been VERY forthcoming about her life in Africa. YOUR story is WRONG

and packed with innuendo.

Teresa's father was a DOCTOR, who cared for the poor. Teresa worked alongside him throughout her childhood. Her father was never even allowed to vote.

She marched against apartheid in the 60s when it was truly a dangerous undertaking.

I suggest you learn more about her yourself. Your slanted innuendos against her are more in keeping with the GOP machine.

[Myrina]

46. Good Gracious, calm down !!

The original poster obviously posted with questions he/she was looking for answers to, not in search of the dressing down you've given him/her !!

WTF is everyone's problem here lately ?!? I've seen many posters asking truly innocuous questions, in search of answers or more information on various candidates and their platforms - only to get backhanded and dragged through the fire for being a troll, ignorant, or in your case, posting 'slanted innuendoes'. :eyes:

Way to make people feel welcome !! :wtf:

[blm]

47. Asserting she grew up rich with servants?

Asserting she was disconnected from the black population?

Asserting that she is NOT forthcoming about her childhood and asking why she isn't?

Those assertions are INNOCENT to you?

[Tomee450]

43. I am African American and

I fail to understand why you are so concerned about Mrs. Kerry's background. If you were a Republican I would believe an attempt is being made to treat Kerry as John McCain was treated in the primary. Some people might, because of prejudice, not vote for Kerry if his wife is perceived to have black ancestry. That is not what you are attempting to do, is it? I couldn't care less about her background. There are plenty of whites who have been in Africa for centuries. They don't have to have black ancestry at all.

[HamdenRice]

50. Maybe I'm a bit of a one issue voter...

The reason I am very interested is that my work revolves to a large degree around African development issues -- especially southern African issues.

One thing that almost every American president and politician has in common is lack of interest in Africa, except occasionally as a humanitarian gesture or a public relations ploy to get a few more African American voters.

If Teresa is really and truly proud of her southern African background and really considers herself an African immigrant, and she is married to the most important political leader in the world and has an influence on him, this could be the most important change for Africa since decolonization.

If a president Kerry could be persuaded to spend as much on irrigation and water development through USAID as the government spends on ONE stealth fighter bomber, we could basically eliminate recurring drought in the horn of Africa. If Teresa can persuade a president Kerry to divert one half of one percent of the military budget to AIDS drugs, we could treat 3 million AIDS patients in Africa for a year.

I am surprised that the source of my interest and concern in Teresa's background isn't getting through. I am really interested in whether the things she says she feels about Africa are real, and whether it might have an effect on her husband's presidency.

What worries me is that in the past, her expressed sentimental fondness for her original homeland has not translated into action through her charitable work, even though ironically, she has done a lot of work on environmental and poverty reduction issues elsewhere.

I was wondering whether there was anyone who knew about her or had an opinion on this, but mostly the response on this board has been either (1) ethnic labels shouldn't matter or (2) why are you (how dare you be) interested in her background, because some republicans seem to be interested in it.

[oasis]

48. Bad idea. What can be gained?

[americanwomanone]

49. It Doesn't Matter. Why do we need a label? n/t

[Yupster]

51. Some months ago

there was a high school that had a king and queen elected for A-A History Month, and some South African exchange student won the vote, and he was excoriated and the school refused to let him be eligible because he was white. I guess a similar situation.

Back then it seemed most on DU agreed with the school that the student shouldn't have been able to run.

[meow2u3]

52. I say absolutely YES!

Given the biological fact that not all African-Americans are black (what about Americans of Moroccan, Libyan, Algerian, or Egyptian ancestry, for example?).