Obama's Census Choice: Just African-American

(AP)  He may be the world's foremost mixed-race leader, but when it came to the official government head count, President Barack Obama gave only one answer to the question about his ethnic background: African-American.

The White House confirmed on Friday that Obama did not check multiple boxes on his U.S. Census form, or choose the option that allows him to elaborate on his racial heritage. He ticked the box that says "Black, African Am., or Negro."

Obama filled out the form on Monday, supplying information for himself, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha, as well as for Mrs. Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, who lives with the family in the White House.

Obama Fills out Census, WH Asks, "Did You?"
Census Overkill? The Bureau's Many Mailings
Obama Stars in New Census Video
Illegal Immigrant Census Count Stirs Debate

For Obama, whose mother Ann Dunham, a white woman from Kansas, married his father, the Kenyan native Barack Obama Sr., the question of his racial identity has been a lifelong struggle. His first memoir, "Dreams From My Father," is an account of a difficult journey of discovery.

Obama the community activist and then politician always self-identified as African-American, and he now wears the mantle of America's first black president with pride. On a visit to Ghana last year, he took his wife and daughters to see Gold Coast Castle, the one-time slave trading depot from which thousands of Africans were sent in shackles to a life of toil in the New World. Mrs. Obama is descended from a South Carolina slave.

The president's multiracial heritage has been a subject for oceans of commentary in America and around the world. But it's also been a cause for teasing, and even satire.

"The first black president!" exclaimed comedian Wanda Sykes at a dinner last year of the White House Correspondents' Association. "I'm proud to be able to say that. That's unless you screw up. And then it's going to be, 'What's up with the half-white guy?"'

[wkillham]

I find it interesting that he signed the health bill in the memory of his "beloved mother who was fighting with insurance companies until the day she died" and now he simply denies her existence.

I am continually amazed at what a politician will stoop to in order to fulfill their agenda of the moment

[badognonama]

Liar, liar! cant you tell the truth yet obama? lie on the cenusus lie to americans you mobster get back in the box with R. Nixon.

[consh8theusa]

Oh now come on, you know that you and all your friends think of him as black and often refer to his as a ni**er, fess up now, nobody really believes your upset over him calling himself black, most of America does, why not him?

[guest173]

saying he self identifies as african american is a half truth. do you think when he went to elementary school and high school they called him anything but a black man? society labeled him long ago, and now that his children are mostly african american it is probably easiest to just be like his wife and kids, but of course race and culture isn't just about the color of your skin, it is very enriching to have a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural life, the census and some people seem to forget that and think too narrowly about race, but that is just a census form and too much shouldn't be read into it anyway. (and I am also a half-half and my son is 1/4 asian but since we live with asian grandparents he is actually very influenced by that culture more than if he didn't live with them, so we appreciate the multicultural aspects, I like it, and learning about other cultures is enriching contrary to what others who would rather see america only white try to push, white is good too but we don't have to totally exclude

[samuellenn]

I thought he would have marked Idiot.

[consh8theusa]

no your the only one that got that as a choice.

[consh8theusa]

apparently, your the only one that got that as an option.

[hateisafourletterword]

He filled it out this way so anyone who does anything against him will get charged with a hate crime.

[consh8theusa]

so your planning something pinhead?

[stormerF2]

He is of the Nergo race,That is what his birth certificate should say. African -American is not a race of people. African is not a race of people,it is a place. Caucasian is a race of people,Negro is a race of people,Asian is a race of people. White is a color,Black is a color neither are races of people. when did the anthropolgists change the terms for races of people to colors?

[tsigili]

The heavy emphasis on race, shows this country is a long, long way, from ever getting past the race issue.

[soapyrub]

I'm an old white guy and am ashamed of "my kind" of "real Americans". I voted for Obama. My support and admiration for him has grown stronger with the relentless attacks, lies and just plain stupidity that masks the even uglier truth of what is beneath this behavior.

[retiredgustav]

Here to you brother. I too am an old white guy who voted for him, work in his election and went to his inaugeration. He is doing an outstanding job especially with the party of know-nothing fighting him at every turn.

[hateisafourletterword]

Great for both of you. Where do I send my bills to for you to pay since you are so happy with his "progress"?

[stychokiller]

Gasp! You mean he did not count himself twice? And here I thought that was a prerequisite for being a Decepticrat! :D

[yellowbowl]

Does anyone realize he lied on the census? There were explicit instructions about how to fill it out along with warnings about not being truthful. I only wish I had known the president was going to lie on his before I filled out mine. I would have had a field day with it.