Former President Barack Obama is the son of a white mother and a black African father, but more often than not he is referred to as black. What does this suggest about the nature of race in the United Sates? What are the consequences, if any, of this perception?

Social Psychology (10th Edition)
10th Edition
ISBN:9780134641287
Author:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Publisher:Elliot Aronson, Timothy D. Wilson, Robin M. Akert, Samuel R. Sommers
Chapter1: Introducing Social Psychology
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Former President Barack Obama is the son of a white mother and a black African father, but more often than not he is referred to as black. What does this suggest about the nature of race in the United Sates? What are the consequences, if any, of this perception?

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Introduction

The concept of race in America is complex, entangled with many cultural and national constructs. Although not explicitly, race in America has become one of the critical markers of self-identification. This is perhaps one of the reasons why racism and racially-inflicted violence and still present in American society. Let us talk more on this concept below. 

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