On Sunday, American runner Mebrahtom Keflezighi, also known as Meb, won the New York City Marathon. It is the first time an American has won the race in 27 years, but apparently, some folks don't think Keflezighi is American enough. He immigrated to the United States when he was 12 years old from Eritrea, and even though the 34-year-old spent most of his life here, he isn't being considered a true "American runner." Fans and commentators consider Keflezighi just another elite East African runner.
"I've had to deal with it," Keflezighi told MSNBC.com. "But, hey, I've been here 22 years. And the U.S.A. is a land of immigrants. A lot of people have come from different places."
The last American to win the New York City Marathon was Alberto Salazar, a Cuban who immigrated to the United States at age 2. That was back in 1982, and there wasn't any discussion about how "American" Salazar was.
"What if Meb's parents had moved to this country a year before he was born?" Salazar said. "At what point is someone truly American? Only if your family traces itself back to 1800, will it count?"
Check out his interview:
Comments: (10)
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By: citidelx on 11/04/2009 5:07PM
He's American!!! I bet if he was Europe somewhere this wouldn't even be news.
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By: Reginald Sanders on 11/08/2009 7:22AM
Racism rears it ugly head again!
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By: wisdom on 11/04/2009 9:10PM
He is a winner ,just like President Obama.
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By: John on 11/04/2009 10:48PM
He aint no American, he is a mix of Aaarab and some other mix from some strange country
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By: Lawrence on 11/05/2009 5:34PM
That comment reminds me of the predjudice all of America heard during the presidential campaign. America is a melting pot of ALL RACES CREEDS AND COLORS. The only true American is the American indian and we all know what happen to them. John remove yourself from the slave ownership mentallity that you have and accept the America that stands before you. Embrace new ideas and throw away the old thnking. America is not owned by white males anymore. We all are a important part of Americas' future. Good luck to you with your stuggle.
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By: Aaron on 11/05/2009 8:56AM
How about a governor of california Mr arnold Schwarzenegger is he an American ?
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By: MSSAPPHIRE on 11/05/2009 4:01PM
I bet if he had committed a crime, they would not be deciding whether he was American or not. he would be sentence as a American.
This should not be news...who is really American?
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By: tomduncan on 11/05/2009 6:58PM
Anyone born here or becomes an America Citizen is American, Id say people living here for over 10 years and have had kids here, even if they aren't citizens are American. Keep it up guy!
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By: filmone on 11/17/2009 9:03AM
the odd thing is, if you look at immigration law it says that non-citizens who fight for the US army are only offered American citizenship if they are killed in battle. you cant make this stuff up.
yeah, meb's eritrean american, like that irish american president, or the austrian american governor.
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By: Courtney on 11/30/2009 10:08AM
What is American? No one is truly American, we are all foreigners! Being born here wouldn't have changed his genetics, there really is no difference. People are truly ridiculus
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