Race, in One Race, is an Issue: An African in America Versus an African-American

The U.S. Constitution requires the president to have been born an American citizen, but other than that, few place-of-origin requirements exist. Illinois has had two governors who were foreign-born; many senators, legislators and even aldermen are born out-of-state and out-of-city.

Birth requirement might not seem to be an impediment to performing the duties of being a Cook County commissioner, but it became an issue in the campaign and voters in the district had a range of opinion on the issue as they went to the polls on Tuesday.

"You should be American, born and raised American, to be a candidate," said Annie Smith, a Chicago resident who was on her way to vote Tuesday.

Cook County Board Commissioner Earlean Collins last month derisively identified Ade Onayemi, her Democratic primary opponent in the race for the 1st District seat, as "the Nigerian candidate."

Onayemi, who was born in Nigeria but moved to the U.S. 25 years ago, is a naturalized citizen. He lives in Oak Park.

Alie Kabba, United African Organization president and a candidate for township committeeman in Will County, said African empowerment is growing and participation in the political processes in the U.S. is becoming more relevant.

"Most of the time we are invisible," Kabba said of his African-born colleagues. "Political participation is a new phenomenon now."

The black community's opinion about immigrant candidates is not monolithic.

Doretha Stafford, a 77-year-old African-American said she believes everyone should have the chance to run for office.

"It is as hard for an African to run against an African-American as it is for an African-American to run against a Caucasian," she said.

Eugene Peba, a Nigerian immigrant, said what's most important about a candidate is whether he understands people's problems, not where he was born.

"It doesn't matter if it is African or a not-African candidate," he said.