African was not a label or classification for Negro in the 1950/60 era. The reference did not become acceptable until much later. Therefore he should have been classified as either Black or White but surely not african in 1961
I’m thinking they put african because Sr. was from Africa.
I filled out the personal information on my daughter’s BC, including ‘race.’ My best guess is the same happened in this case. Obama Sr was a black man from Africa.. no doubt influenced by the pan-African movement represented by Jomo Kenyatta (sp). He probably just wasn’t used to the term ‘negro’ to describe himself. This wasn’t a ‘check the box’ sort of form. Obama Sr was conspicuously African and even though that isn’t a ‘race’ he probably put that down as his regardless.. or someone else did.