[lbo-talk] Why is Obama never identified as a mulatto?

[ken hanly]

 Better I should have asked: Why is Obama identified as an African American rather than of mixed ancestry or something of the sort. I did not realize that the term mulatto was pejorative..

 
Blog:  http://kenthink7.blogspot.com/index.html
Blog:  http://kencan7.blogspot.com/index.html

________________________________

 From: Dennis Claxton <ddclaxton at earthlink.net>
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org 
Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 11:25:10 AM
Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Why is Obama never identified as a mulatto?

 
On 3/14/2012 7:52 AM, ken hanly wrote:


> Is there a stigma to being mulatto or what.

The word has a lousy history:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mulatto

mulatto

1590s, from Sp. or Port. mulato "of mixed breed," lit. "young mule," from mulo "mule," from L. mulus (fem. mula) "mule," possibly in allusion to hybrid origin of mules. Fem. mulatta is attested from 1620s.
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