To most, this question will appear absurd, and without the proper understanding, it ought to appear that way. Yet I will show, despite its peculiar formulation, that the fundamental question being asked is one worthy of consideration. I will not attempt to answer the question itself. Instead, I will examine the grounds on which the question is raised.

First, it is worthwhile to note that the question does not dispute Senator Obama’s black identity per se, but rather prompts reflection on the substance of his black identity. The question assumes and affirms the fact that Senator Obama is black. How else could one be or not be black “enough,” lest one first be black? Moreover, we shall see that any discussion of Senator Obama’s ethnic roots is irrelevant to answering the question at hand.

Second, the question assumes an understanding of blackness, the particular interpretation of which depends upon the inquisitor. One interpretation of blackness could rely on cultural and social signifiers such as musical interests and hairstyle. This conception of blackness is just silly and not worthy of defense. Therefore, it can be discarded. Another interpretation of blackness, though, could be based on a political identity defined as those who are subject to anti-black racism. Under this view, the extent of one’s blackness is proportional to one’s commitment to efforts to undermine anti-black racism. I will assume that the intelligent inquisitor has this understanding in mind when posing the question, “Is Senator Obama black enough?” though it is not at all clear that most or even some people who pose this question have this particular interpretation of blackness in mind. In any case, I make this assumption in the discussion that follows because it is the only conception of black identity I consider defensible.

If Senator Obama’s black identity itself is not being challenged, then it becomes clear that the point of inquiry is the extent to which he is committed to anti-racist struggle. Thus our original question can be reformulated as such: What is the extent of Senator Obama’s commitment to black liberation struggle, if it exists at all? This question, I believe, is the more sophisticated one that avoids the misunderstandings that follow from our first formulation. It is this question that, in its posing, has firm philosophical groundings in the discourse on black political solidarity.

I will remind the reader that I set out to clarify the grounds on which the question “Is Senator Obama black enough?” is raised, not to answer the question itself. Therefore, I will leave it to the reader to assess Senator Obama’s commitment to anti-racist struggle. Nonetheless, the above analysis begs a further question: Should Sen. Obama demonstrate a commitment to black liberation struggle, and if so, to whom? This question is a moral assumption contained within our original question. And, of course, it requires clarification.

Those who feel Senator Obama ought to demonstrate a commitment to anti-racist struggle generally argue as follows: Black political oppression exists. All individuals have a responsibility to eliminate it in order to create a freer society. Blacks, however, have a special obligation based on their membership in the oppressed group. Black people—especially black leaders—must be held accountable to other blacks if they fail to meet this special requirement.

It may be generally accepted that anti-black racism still exists, though the extent and content of it is widely contested. It can even be reasonably conceded that everyone has a stake in its elimination. It is not at all self-evident, though, that blacks have a special obligation to eliminate it, and it is even less clear why this obligation must manifest itself in an organized movement called “black liberation struggle.” The reader may reasonably reject the question “Is Senator Obama black enough?” if the question is built on the premise of Senator Obama’s special obligation to fight anti-black racism by virtue of his blackness. But the reader may be more sympathetic to the same question if it entails the general obligation every citizen has to eliminate anti-black racism.

What I hope is illuminated by the discussion above is that it is not enough to scoff at the question “Is Senator Obama black enough?” Instead, as is the case in most philosophical inquiries, by understanding the question more deeply, we are better suited to answer it. We have seen that the question affirms Senator Obama’s black identity, though it seeks to know the substance of it. Also, black identity should be understood on political grounds, not social or cultural ones. With this understanding, the question shifts to what the merits of Senator Obama’s commitment to anti-racist struggle are, if it is found to exist at all. Now, with the question properly understood, I ask the reader: Is Senator Obama black enough?

Anthony Kelley is a Columbia College senior majoring in women’s and gender studies. Strength to Love runs alternate Tuesdays. Opinion@columbiaspectator.com