What is up with prominent white actors and politicians claiming that there is no cultural difference between black Americans and white Americans by completely erasing the unique history and communities belonging to black people?
Last week, it was Meryl Streep who waved away questions about a lack of diversity in a panel by claiming that “we are all African, really.”
Now, it is former President Bill Clinton who proudly reclaimed his title as “First Black President” despite currently having a real black president in the White House. Clinton went so far as to pedantically state that unless a black American can trace their roots 100 percent to sub-Saharan Africa, that they cannot call themselves black. What?!
“Unless your ancestors, every one of you, are 100 percent, 100 percent from sub-Saharan Africa, we are all mixed-race people.”
Like the ignorant person who claims to “not see skin color,” Bill’s comment works to undermine the struggles and unique cultural position that African Americans face. Why do the Clintons lead among African American voters when they so clearly do not deserve it?
