Does 'Postracial' Just Mean Light-Skinned?

There are four politicians who are always hit with that label:

Senator Barack Obama.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty.

Or is that just a coincidence?

G.D.

G.D.

Gene "G.D." Demby is the founder and editor of PostBourgie. In his day job, he blogs and reports on race and ethnicity for NPR's Code Switch team.
G.D.
  • I would guess it’s derivative as opposed to coincidental. Being of obvious mixed-blood, these politicians faced the requirement to bridge a racial divide since they wouldn’t be totally supported based on their race by either side. They also had the opportunity to bridge that sort of gap for similar reasons.

  • Big Word

    I think it’s just indicative of racial bias as to what actually constitutes “black” on the part of the media. Even at this late point in time “black” still doesn’t equate to what these men represent in the mainstream media.

  • Steve

    I think to some degree its coicidental because it doesnt just imply being mixed or beyond a black identity… to me it implies going beyond the traditional role of what people thought a black politician was or could do. There are other examples that might pop up in the future… see Linda Dorcena Forry in Boston, the second black female state senator in Massachusetts who is a young rising political star..she’s haitian.

  • kaya

    is it a coincidence that they all FINE!?! ***TEAM LITESKIN!!!***

  • LH

    Wow … it’s safe to call light-skinned men fine again?

  • Yeah, it’s SAFE! ~;

  • ‘postracial’ means a COMBINED U.S. ethnicity [REGARDLESS OF SKINTONE],
    i.e. ‘NO’ “PUREBLOODS”.

    Keep It Real,

    ‘Lil