The Race Card -- President Obama Forced to Use His Black Card

Just as the title of this article suggests that President Obama "Quit Playing the Race Card," I am hoping that the author and those who agree with her would "Quit Playing the Ignorance Card." Our president has been identified as the first black president, but I'm not sure that I've ever heard him use the term "first black president." Our society and media felt compelled to label him this way. But as a person of color, let me assure you that he was labeled a black person long before his run for presidency.

Let me introduce you to the "One Drop Rule." This common belief was that anyone with a hint of African ancestry would be classified as black. This means that even someone like Mariah Carey, who appears white, would be classified black. Although those beliefs no longer exist on paper, they still exist in people's minds. Especially when someone appears black on the outside.

Furthermore, it's hard to see the "glamour" that you mention as a "benefit" of being black and rising to the top. Being black means being treated like a second-class citizen your entire life. Back in the day, this meant being treated inhumanely, with animals having more rights than a person of color. If there is any glamour in his "rise," please place that responsibility with the media, and not with the person being labeled. This is more of a success story, and not nearly as glamorous as you try to make it seem.

Sure, it's a possibility that your forefathers were indentured servants. The obvious difference is that indentured servitude was by choice, while slavery was not. Another difference is the fact that people don't really care about your background if you are white-not as much as if you are black, or at least appear to be black. This is obvious when you consider that someone like Sarah Palin was unnervingly close to becoming our vice president. I am sure that if Sarah were black, she would have been crucified for her lack of knowledge, lack of experience and overall shallowness. So please don't tell me that there is anything glamorous and easy about being black and running for office.

By the way, your forefathers weren't forced to do anything. I'm sure that indentured servitude probably was payment for their trips to America, as was the case with most indentured servants. Had they stayed in their own countries, they still would have been free. Guess what? This was not an option for African slaves who were brought to this country and then intentionally kept ignorant, all against their will. The residual effects are still apparent.

Now let me address some of your other points: We need organizations like the NAACP, so that someone like myself, who holds a master's degree and has tons of experience won't forever be subjected to lower pay than my white counterparts. Or so I won't continue to be passed over for high-profile assignments. Or so I won't have to worry about being pulled over and harassed by the police. Or so I won't have to worry about being SHOT by the police because I have a Coke bottle in my hands, but he assumes it's a gun. Or so black female law partners don't continue to make up to a $100,000 less than their white male counterparts. Or so people like the one who wrote this article aren't able to make one-size-fits-all laws.

You see, you consider being born into this "great land" a gift, but to people who come from countries where we reigned supreme, that might not be so true. And you mentioned that you had people of every race and origin serving under you. Food for thought-how many people of different races and origins were serving above you?

Perception is reality. And the perception of millions of people is that because President Barack Obama is half black, looks black, and has other black traits, he is black, then that is reality as well.