Amidst concern that the White House Press office lacked diversity, it was revealed that 36-year old Bill Burton, the Deputy Press Secretary is biracial. Throughout his career as a communications director for both John Kerry's and Richard Gephardt's Presidential campaigns, and later national press secretary for Obama's successful bid, he'd never publicly spoken about having a black father and white mother.His background came to light when the media called inquiring about the issue of blacks in the press office and was erroneously told that by a press assistant that Mr. Burton was white. He subsequently had to clarify to surprised colleagues that despite his appearance, he wasn't white. It is wonderful to have a self-identified biracial individual with such a pivotal role in the White House and it's nice to see us mixed-race folks finally comin' up.
We been coming up. Blanche Bruce became a U.S. Senator in 1875, Pinckney Pinchback was Governor in 1872, and Frederick Douglass was actually a Vice-Presidential candidate back in the late 1800s as well.
ReplyDeletei love to hear and see biracial people embrace both of their races instead of one. It definately makes me proud.
ReplyDeleteI Never thought he was anything but black. Very light skinned, but black.
ReplyDelete"It is wonderful to have a self-identified biracial individual with such a pivotal role in the White House..."
ReplyDeleteUhh, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty sure that the office of President of the United States is a "pivotal role in the White House..." Isn't that guy biracial, too? Yeah, I think so.
Oh, and Holder, and...