President-Elect Obama Furthers Jamie Jones “I’m a Mutt” Movement!
During his Presidential acceptance speech on November 4, Barack Obama told the world that he’d be getting a new puppy for his daughters. On November 7 at his first official Press Conference, President-Elect Obama was asked about what kind of dog they’d be getting, and he expressed the need to have a “low-allergy” dog, but that they wanted to adopt from a shelter. Then he said cheerfully: “Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me, so whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household.”
For the past few months, young singer/songwriter Jamie Jones has been speaking out on her multi-racial background, namely with her new single “Whatever.” Like millions of Americans, Jamie’s heritage is diverse, with a mixture of African, European, Latina… and more. She explained her thoughts on this topic in an interview which, ironically, ran on AllHipHop.com the day after Barack Obama’s statement:
“The mutt thing actually started because of my mom – she always called herself a mutt. So me being young and hearing her say it, that’s my mom, she’s a mutt and I’m a mutt too! I kind of embraced it; she doesn’t really know her background and I don’t either. I have to embrace it, I am who I am – I’m Black, I’m white, what if I’m Asian? I used it as a good thing, for anyone else out there that is of mixed race, it’s okay. Don’t feed into the gossip or the negative energy. Just be you!”
In this video from Jamie Jones’ first appearance on 106 & Park’s Wild Out Wednesday back in March 2008, host Terrence J asks Jamie: “What are you mixed with? What’s your nationality?,” and her answer was a shy “I’m a mutt.” After that appearance, Jamie received letters from people of all ages who related to her controversial statement.
Jamie Jones on 106 & Park “I’m a Mutt”
Due to the positive response, Jamie took things a step further by sporting a bold neon shirt reading “I’m A Mutt” for her September 11 appearance on 106 & Park, winning over viewers from across the country to claim the title of Female Vocalist Champion for the 2008 season of Wild Out Wednesday. See Jamie’s winning performance and proclamation in this video, as co-host Rocsi co-signs the “I’m a Mutt” message:
Jamie Jones 106 & Park All-Star Win with “Whatever”
As for the next President of the United States, we all now know that he recognizes racial diversity in ways that will speak to the masses. And in embracing a term once thought of as derogatory, people like Jamie Jones are finding their own identity in their own way. Watch Barack Obama‘s press conference and his comments on the next addition to their family… “A Mutt like me“:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_uGSBn__c
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