Why is our story "5 Black Presidents" causing such a stir? Since our story, Obama Won't Be First Black President, hit the web, DiversityInc has received hundreds of e-mails from readers applauding us for bringing this to their attention and suggesting other presidents, especially Dwight D. Eisenhower, who may have had black ancestry.
So we've been checking it out and will continue to do so. Presidents Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge may not be the only former presidents with black ancestors. According to research found in Wikipedia, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration confirms Eisenhower, the 34th president, also had black ancestors. His mother, Ida Elizabeth Stover Eisenhower, an anti-war advocate, was part black. This is also verified by Answers.com and several other web sites.
Here's more of what DiversityInc readers had to say about the '5 Black Presidents' and the research they have found:
Once again, I am learning something as an adult I should have known as a child. All of the responses which talk about equality and race and where our country should be are great; however, the article left me upset that I didn't know this already. Would I have lived my life differently if I had known five of our early presidents were men of color? I don't know. I do know, however, that President's Day just took on a whole new meaning, and "We the people" hits closer to home.
--Shirley Hall
Historian J.A. Rogers had a book entitled The Five Black Presidents, so the idea is not new. But I think Dwight D. Eisenhower was on the initial list.
--Juadine Henderson
My research reveals that Dwight Eisenhower was also African American. His mother was black. I have a picture of this mother that CLEARLY shows her as being an African-American woman. I have a copy of the EISENHOWER COLLECTION in my personal library. It's a collection of paintings by Eisenhower mixed with a biography of his life, including pictures of his family. On page 12 is a portrait of his father and his mother, Ida (Stover) Eisenhower ... I'm sure there are other black American presidents. With DNA testing, I'm sure we'll find out. But that's to be continued.
--Jack Hudson
I appreciated the article on 5 Black Presidents. I commend you for having the courage to publish research that has been in existence for quite some time. I often note we are all "mutts"--all of us originate from mixed heritage. While some may be offended by this revelation, the point is made that for far too long we have learned to fixate on the "wrong targets." The significance of bloodlines should be relegated to personal identity and not whether someone is capable of bringing certain talents and contributions to the table. Let's continue this critical discussion with the hope that once and for all we can begin to focus on the right "targets."
--Al Plummer
Great article. Great subject. However, these presidents were not representing the black race, so should we really call them black? I don't see black when I look at them. Their having African ancestry is the equivalent of the average 'family secret/shame' nobody talks about but everybody laughs about. And, no, Obama will not be the first black president, obviously. After all, he is only half black just like the 5 presidents before him. So I guest that means we are only halfway there.
--Patricia Graham
[Obama] looks black, is married to a black wife, and his father was black. Therefore, he is black. I think our people think too much; that's why we can never agree on anything. When Rev. Jessie Jackson wanted to run, we were divided. President William Jefferson Clinton, who is clearly white; just because he plays the saxophone and had a lot of blacks in his Cabinet and made ways for blacks, he was not a black president. Even though I voted for him and liked him. As an African-American Christian woman, I did not like him cheating on his wife. I watched the Travis Smiley Think Tank two weeks ago. Lerone Benett from Ebony magazine tore Obama down because he compared himself to President Abraham Lincoln when it came to being in the Senate and congress for two years. Mr. Benett took it the wrong way and out of context. He went on about how Abraham Lincoln was a racist and really didn't want to free the slaves. This wasn't the issue. Barack Obama was just trying to let the people know he isn't the first presidential candidate running with little experience. Abraham Lincoln had little or no experience also. [Obama] was just trying to say experience didn't matter. I think Lerone Benett, and the professor from Princeton, and Barack's teacher was [sic] jealous. Barack is young, full of hope [and] energy and not full of the political crap that the politicians who have been there a long time [are] full of. I was gonna vote for Hillary Clinton at first. But after hearing Barack, a true Christian from Chicago, I'm gonna vote for him now.
--Yvette Harvey
I think this is fantastic information. Assuming the modern use of black is a synonym for Africans of the slave trade ... it is highly favorable that the Kenyan, Obama, will be the 6th African president of the United States. He will need to defeat an admirable candidate, who hopes of being an unquestionable "first" of her own. Will history repeat itself in the order of the constitutional amendments? White women received the right to vote prior to black men. To some degree it seems logical for white males to be more comfortable to acknowledge some equality for their mothers/wives than their workers/other "race." Are we in a new day? Has power and voting strength shifted? ... Is this all because Republicans are slipping?
--Tone Walters
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