The Black Question
Is President-elect Obama the first Black President? For that matter, was JFK the first Irish President? Was there ever a Jewish President? Was J. Edgar Hoover Black? Was there a Black Founding Father? How do you define Black?
The Preliminary
Before we get to the first Black President, let's discuss the other ethnic questions. JFK was not the first Irish President but the first Irish Catholic (or Green Irish) President. Actually, there were six other Irish Presidents before JFK who were Protestants (Orange Irish). In a similar fashion, there were Jewish Presidents - yep, precisely two Jewish Presidents - Teddy Roosevelt and FDR.
Say what?
I'm not mistaken - I am able to provide references and peer reviewed historical sources for my assertion. Both sides (paternal and maternal) of the Roosevelts were Jewish. This is important because a person is deemed Jewish only if his/her maternal line is Jewish or s/he converts to Judaism. For example, the Legendary Reggae Singer Hon. Robert Nesta Marley's father was Jewish (born in England of Syrian descent) but he would not qualify as a Jew because his mother is a Gentile (Afro-Jamaican). Similarly, Jamaican Rapper Sean Paul Henriques' (attended a private Jewish School - Hillel Academy located in Kingston, Jamaica) father is Jewish but his mother is a Gentile (Chinese Jamaican). As a matter of fact, Jamaica's Chief Rabbi Ainsley Cohen Henriques is Sean Paul's granduncle. Sean Paul wouldn't be considered Jewish unless he converts (or his mother converted before he was born) because of his maternal line as per the Orthodox Rabbinical Law. In my case, I am a Jew because my maternal line (mother's mother's mother) is Jewish although my paternal line (father's father's father) is Maroon. Sir Winston Churchill's was Jewish because his mother (born in Brooklyn, New York) was an Ashkenazi Jew. Great Britain's Prince Charles isn't a Jew although his paternal family tree contains a Jewish branch as well as an Indian branch and a Black (via Pushkin's daughter) branch. British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli was Jewish although he practiced the Christian religion since the day his father converted to Christianity due to a dispute with the English Jewish Community Leadership.
I digress; returning to the Roosevelts. The Roosevelt family is actually the Rosenfeld family (a Sephardic Jewish family) of Spain. They migrated from Spain to Holland (once under Spanish rule) before they finally migrated to New York. The rest is history as we would say.... I must add the Roosevelts worshiped at the Episcopalian Church during their lifetime. Let's not forget that former Republican Virginia Governor George "Macaca" Allen is Jewish because his mother was a Sephardic Jew born and raised in North Africa. As a matter of fact, Governor Allen's maternal grandfather was briefly detained by the Nazis because of his Jewish background. Today, Governor Allen practiced the Christian religion although some would argue that he is not exactly Christ-like. What would Jesus do in light of Governor Allen's 'Macaca' moments?
The Definition of Blackness
Before we return to the Black Presidents, let's look on Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. Alexander Hamilton was an Octoroon (8 parts Black) who was born and raised in the British West Indies. J. Edgar Hoover was adopted by the Hoover family and was raised in Washington D.C. However, as per irrefutable documentation, J. Edgar Hoover had a Black biological grandfather who lived in the segregated South. I hope I didn't offend my fellow Blacks that one of us sabotaged the great Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey (my greatest personal hero since the Christ); Malcolm X, and MLK. Yes, Mr. Hoover was hiding a lot more in his "closet" besides the dresses, the Halloween fairy costumes, skeletons and buried bodies.
Spit it out already - the first Black President?
In the United States, the definition of Blackness is the one drop of blood rule, and you're Black by nature and not by nurture. If not, President-elect Obama would be White (50% White and 50% Black - nature; he was born and raised in a White home and with White values - nurture) instead of Black.
The preceding paragraph brings to mind, "Kittens born in an oven don't make them biscuits," responded William Butler Yeats to criticisms attacking him for distancing himself from his Irish heritage (he's of an Orange Irish background). At least it's not like Tiger Woods stating "I'm not Black. I'm just a quarter Black and three quarter Thai [his mother is full Thai and his late father is half Black and half Thai]." Or worse, a famous Brazilian personality trying to convince a foreign interviewer that Soccer Legend Pele is not Black -
Brazilian Personality: "Brazilians (White or otherwise) doesn't see Pele as a Negro. He is a national hero and a national treasure to the Brazilian people. We are colorblind as far as Pele is concerned."
Foreign Interviewer: "Would it have anything to do with the Latin/South American phrase (as it pertains to race relations in Latin America), 'Money whitens...?'"
Brazilian Personality: "No, Pele is very elevated in Brazil. As a matter of fact, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan are so popular in your country that my White American friends stated that they don't see them as Negroes. Wouldn't you agree?"
Foreign Interviewer: "I wouldn't mistake their skin's color for a great tan." Would you?
The Solution - the Proof - the Drum Roll....
There were five Black Presidents before President-elect Barack Obama: Thomas Jefferson; Andrew Jackson; Abraham Lincoln; Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge. No, Bill Clinton is not the first Black President although he is an honorary Black President. With all his warts, the Black community accepts him as a 'brother'- welcome to Harlem, Mr. President - we still love you.
First, Thomas Jefferson's mother was a half-Native Indian and his father had Black heritage. Second, Andrew Jackson's mother was Irish and his father had Black heritage (Andrew Jackson's brother was of a much darker complexion). Third, Abraham Lincoln's mother had Ethiopian heritage and there was a lot of contemporary media speculation about Lincoln's paternity (his father was sterile from childhood mumps and was later castrated; his real father was speculated to be Black) during his Presidential Campaign. He was nicknamed Africanus the First in the newspapers during his lifetime. Fourth, Warren Harding never denied his Black ancestry even when he was challenged in a public forum. According to Dr. Leroy Vaughn, M.D., M.B.A.,
"William Chancellor, a White professor of economics and politics at Wooster College in Ohio, wrote a book on the Harding family genealogy and identified Black ancestors among both parents of President Harding. Justice Department agents allegedly bought and destroyed all copies of this book. Chancellor also said that Harding's only academic credentials included education at Iberia College, which was founded in order to educate fugitive slaves."
Fifth, Calvin Coolidge mother's maiden name was Moor. She was of mixed Native Indian and Black ancestry from New England.
Dr. Leroy Vaughn, M.D., M.B.A. continued,
"All of the presidents mentioned were able to pass for White and never acknowledged their Black ancestry. Millions of other children who were descendants of former slaves have also been able to pass for White. American society has had so much interracial mixing that books such as "The Bell Curve"[co-authored by American Enterprise Institute's Dr. Charles Murray - the author of "Losing Ground"], discussing IQ evaluations based solely on race, are totally unrealistic."
I highly recommend his powerful book - Black People & their Place in World History: a Dynamic, Honest and Powerful View of Black History. Unfortunately it's not required reading in the American Public School system.
The Conclusion
In conclusion, science tells us that the Cradle of the Human Race is in Sub-Saharan Africa (exactly, Ethiopia - derived from the Greek for "Burnt Faces"). In addition, scientific study researchers discovered that "blue eyes are the result of a genetic mutation that likely occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago." Copenhagen University's Prof. Hans Eiberg stated, "Originally, we all had brown eyes." As a matter fact, scientists postulate that all blue eyed individuals shared one common ancestor.
The Afterthought - the Barbarism of Racism (Reverse or Otherwise) as per this author
In closing, no one should sacrifice another 'identity' group on the altar of 'identity' ideology in the glorification of their 'identity' idol worship. To the point, no one (or group) should promote reverse discrimination (persecution and humiliation of other groups); often feels his/her racism (in spite of its inherent illegality, immorality and barbarity) is justified because of the "atrocities endured by their identity group." If not, he/she who racially discriminates against one individual discriminates against all humanity. After all, don't we belong to the human race? Didn't we descend from the 'cradle' (both Biblically and scientifically) of Mother Africa?
Hail Obama, the Next President of the Great U.S. of A.
pet barriers dead to the world
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