Why on earth does this matter? His degree of blackness? And please don't hand me that "African American is blacker than African" crap. Because it is crap.

This would make him mulatto. If he chooses to pay homage to his black parent, he has every right to do so. Many half black people choose to be called "African-American"

I aggree that he is American. He has a multi-national background, but was born in the United States of America. He can be considered both African American and Arab American I guess, as the way in which we determine our ethnic group has been by our color. If it was by his background, then I guess he could also run as a caucasian, depending on the age he started living with his adopted parents.

He identifies himself as "a black guy" and African-American. Last week I heard author Debra Dickerson ("The End of Blackness") claim that he's not authentically "African-American" because she says that should mean only slave descendants, and he's the son of an African student who was here temporarily. She said he should be called an "African African-American," which I think is absolutely ridiculous. He's black. He's African-American. And no matter how white his mother was, or how Kenyan his father was, or how Hawaiian and Asian his childhood was, or how good his education has been, when he stands on a street corner trying to catch a cab at night, he's just as black as anybody whose great-great-grandmother worked on an American cotton plantation. He has never tried to deny his blackness, and it amazes me that people are trying to deny it for him (or, from the way it's been presented, AGAINST him, as if he's getting some kind of advantage by faking being black). He's never tried to deny being multi-cultural, or his white heritage, either. HE is comfortable with who he is, and it's sad to watch commentators who AREN'T comfortable try to cheat him of his full identity.

He's an American. Period. Since when has ethnicity been debatable anyway?

What would make him black in then? Does he have to grow up in a ghetto to be a black man in today's society? I think he has a very good understanding his roots and no matter how he was raised, he has been treated as a black man throughout his life. Whether that's right or wrong in today's society is a separate question. I think he can identify with most people very well and he is above and beyond an American before he is black man.

I found this interview with Debra Dickerson on this subject rather interesting: http://www.freedomtodiffer.com/freedom_to_differ/2007/02/is_barack_obama.html

How can you not agree that he is an African-American? His father is African and his mother is American. What does being middle class have to do with anything? Are you saying African-Americans cannot be middle class?

black is black honey

HE IS A BLACK MAN JUST LIKE TIGER WOODS YEA HE IS MIXED BUT IF HE WERE TO GET PULLED OVER BY A COP THEY WOULD DISCRIBE HIM AS A BLACK MAN

Was at least one of his immediate ancestors (father) from some part of Africa? Is he American? Well then he's African-American. What does class have to do with how black someone is? I hate when people push the ideal that it is bad to be well-mannered and well-spoken if you're black.

I believe he is Martian.

why are we so hung over on color and labeling a human being. if we take our skin off can you tell who's black, white, hispanic, asian or martian. we are all beautiful human beings that god created and we should look at the inner beauty and the kind of person we are not what color is our skin.

we need to get rid of that box that asks the question - race? on our applications. why do we have it in the first place?

Who cares, he isn't going to win anyway:)

I could care less if he was purple with green polka dots... he still has my vote.

He is mixed race....so are a lot of people in this country. I don't see why it matters so much, anyway. Some people, unfortunately, still have "issues" about race. I really don't care about race...that doesn't have any bearing on why I'm voting for him.

By law he has to put down that he is African-American (black). My daughters father is Cuban, in his background is white, black,and Hispanic. I am lily white. She has to put her race down as Hispanic....stupid....yes it is....I wonder if it is due to the "white purity" aspect of the "good old days". To label him white or black doesn't affect what he stands for, only gives those that have a problem with it something to complain about. African-Americans can be white also....and not all black people are of African decent....such troubling times....

As opposed to being born of American-Born black parent(s), who might have been descendants of slaves, he was born of a Kenyan-born African who might have been descended from slave traders.

White supremacists think he's black. If those douchebags think he's black...

shit, I´m not calling you a europo-american either. Can you just quit being so narrowminded..