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Mar
1
Framing Barack Obama and Black Voters
Filed Under Black/African American Issues, Media Praises and Critiques, Original Essays and Analysis, Politics, Race and Racism, Sociology, Uncategorized by Rachel
April sent me a link to this CNN article titled “Is black America Ready to Embrace Obama?“? I just wanted to point out the absurdity of the “story highlights” listed at the top of the page.? There? seems to be? an assumption that black people should like Obama and vote for him because he’s black–as if his other policies don’t matter at all.?
The article starts with highlights:
In a new poll, Obama leads Clinton 44 to 33 percent among black voters
Some blacks doubt that Obama understands their experience
Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, is the Senate’s only black member
Polls say blacks are less likely to believe America is ready for a black president
Are you missing the irony here?? The title seems to imply that Black Americans are skeptical of Obama, but then points out that 44% of Blacks favor Obama, in a race where there are a bazillion candidates.? He leads everyone else, but people are questioning whether or not Blacks are loyal to Obama?? The doubt angle is reiterated in the second “highlight,” and then the last highlight seems to reinforce Black Americans’ doubt in Obama, which is expanded in the text:
Blacks, in part, may be slow to warm to the candidacy of Obama because, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll suggests, they are less likely than whites to believe that America is ready for a black president.
The poll, conducted December 5-7, 2006, found that 65 percent of whites thought America was ready, compared with 54 percent of blacks. The poll’s margin of error was plus-or-minus 5 percentage points.
I think they are missing the point here; just because people may think the US is not ready for a Black candidate, doesn’t mean that they are not willing to vote for a Black candidate.? My perception is that the vast majority Black Americans are ready for a black President, but most Black Americans? believe that many White Americans are not ready for a black President.? (I tend to agree.)? So I think reporters are confusing skepticism about whites willingness to accept a black President with skepticism about Obama himself.
The article goes on to suggest that Black Americans are skeptical of Obama because:
Part of Obama’s problem with black voters is that he is viewed by whites as the first black candidate with a legitimate shot at the White House.
“When white America has embraced a candidate — as they have with Barack Obama — there is a certain amount of distrust that goes with this among a number of African Americans,” Wilson said
In an interview with National Public Radio, Obama acknowledged the dynamic:
“In the history of African-American politics in this country there has always been some tension between speaking in universal terms and speaking in very race-specific terms about the plight of the African-American community,” Obama said. “By virtue of my background, I am more likely to speak in universal terms.”
I am sure that there are a few blacks who feel this way, but I think this? is an over-generalization that? has been? perpetuated by many media outlets.
This is the same problem we see time and time again with the media coverage of Obama and Black voters.? Many people seem to be perplexed as to why black voters are not flocking to Obama in droves, and then they are shocked that black voters are deliberative, taking time to analyze Obama’s positions.?
Imagine the tables were turned, and we were talking about John Edwards or Hillary Clinton.? I personally would hope that we would see the same “highlights:”
In a new poll,? Edwards/Clinton leads? Obama 44 to 33 percent among black voters
Some blacks doubt that? Edwards/Clinton understands their experience
Why am I not seeing those stories, particularly for Edwards and the other white male candidates (and to a lesser extent Clinton)?? Maybe that’s because people are surprised that Barack Obama isn’t automatically getting Black support (although as Black voters learn more about Obama, he is garnering more support), but the recent statewide elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland should have shown that black voters don’t just run willy nilly to the first Black candidate that comes along.? Maybe these reporters? believe only whites have to prove themselves to black voters.? Would we ask similar questions? to white voters–why are you skeptical of John Edwards; do you feel he’s not white enough? Why are you voting for Obama when there are several other white candidates.? ? Either way the assumption is really unfair, and it reveals some unfortunate racial double standards.
I wish the mainstream media could just accept the fact black voters don’t automatically vote for Black candidates.? Perhaps black voters care more about policies than they do about a candidate’s racial identity.? Now isn’t that a novel idea, voting on policy.
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When white America has embraced a candidate as they have with Barack Obama there is a certain amount of distrust that goes with this among a number of African Americans, Wilson said.
“as they have with Obama”??? The only group of white America who has embraced Obama are from the far left. Support for him wains rapidly as one approaches the middle. Obama’s problem is not his race, but his politics, and even moreso, his lack of experience therein.
I’m assuming that you don’t read CNN.com daily, but this story has been on there since the last polling data came in before the 20+ point swing. All that they did was add the new data to the top and since it’s a single data point bucking a previously consistent pattern, I can only assume the editors decided not to alter the rest of the article.
Many people seem to be perplexed as to why black voters are not flocking to Obama in droves, and then they are shocked that black voters are deliberative, taking time to analyze Obamas positions.
I don’t quite get it….so if this new poll shows that they _are_ now flocking to obama in droves….what does that show? I can totally understand why the media is framing the situation in this manner. The clintons have a history with the black community that stretches back decades and the record there is rock solid. Compare that to obama whose accomplishments there have been far more meager and spotty….added to the fact that polls still show that the vast majority of people have no clue what his views on most political topcis entail….and it’s hard to frame these sort of 23 point swings as anything else. Now, maybe the swing is just an outlier blip, in which case rationality might just be restored.
Rachel.
Many aspects are highlighted in your post:
1. White America’s double-standard towards her black citizens
2. White Americans who broke their necks running to embrace Obama
3. Many black Americans who skeptically hold back on “willy-nilly” accepting Obama just because white America so desparately want us to accept him. White America’s still continued decrepit belief that ALL of black America walks lock-step “Nazi-Gestapo-style” in agreement with any and all black candidates who run for office
4. Black America’s knowledge of white America’s quick acceptance of Obama because he DOES NOT SHARE the same history of black America. (He is afterall, of Kenyan/white American woman descent, NOT, black American father/mother descent, OR, at least non-black American father/black mother descent.
The last comment is very important, and I will speak the most on that aspect.
Point 1.
Due to white America’s hypocisy in her mistreatment of her black citizens, she has shown disregard time and time again in what black people truly want in this country. Equal rights. (Yeah, we’re will still fighting for that.). The right to be treated as citizens of this country, and not as aliens. The right to have better schools, neighborhoods (if we can go to city hall meetings and ask for repair, upgrade of our communities, just like white and other citizens, then we have just as much right to have our voice heard. And by having our voice heard, that means don’t start on repairing the predominantly white neighborhoods FIRST all the time. Have enough spine to start on black neighborhoods, as well (and lest anyone boo-hoos and thinks I’m leaving out other non-whites [I'm not], and to start on reparing their neighborhoods as well. White-run America still has a me-myself-and I mentality when it comes to all of her non-white citizns, especially her black citizens. It’s been that way, and it is still that way. Her favoritism for non-black non-white groups reeks, and is very obvious to those who want to open their eyes and see the truth. Her constant grabbing by the collar, by the shirtsleeve, non-black groups over to her side as “Honorary Whites’, is very sad, very pathetic. All it does is make her look like the hypocrital Jezebel that she is in the world’s eyes.
White America’s stalking/racial-profiling/insulting degrading treatment of her black citizens is legendary, and there obviously is no let up in sight.
Point 2.
Those out there in white Americaland who’ve broken their necks (well, at least have given themselves a severe case of whiplash), embracing Obama just shows that some of them have a colorstruck mentality mindset. Yes, Obama’s cute, he’s so nice-looking, he’s not jet black/skillet-black/coal black looking, so white America can not only embrace him with their eyes. Heck, they can even embrace him with their arms. When Shirley Chisholm ran for president of America, she was not embraced whole-heartedly by white America either. And she was coal-black. Yeah, some of you may say, well that was then, in the 1970s, this is now.
Well, if you’re thinking that, then pay attention to what’s going on now. “That was then” is still with us, and white America suffers from a still racist standard for black America.
Point 3.
White America is standing on the sidelines waiting with **baited breath** for black America to just rush into the arms of Obama.
Sorry.
Not gonna happen.
And why you may ask, white America?
Well……can it be that we black people have minds of our own? Wow. Will wonders ever cease. Yes. Black people have minds, desires, thoughts, and mental capabilites. Yep, that secret is out of the bag. Sorry to have to burst your bubble white America, but we black people are fully capable of thinking for ourselves. We are conservative. We are liberal. We are middle-of-the-road. We do not believe in thug-gangsta behaviour. We believe in morality and abstinence. We believe in frugality, thrift, industriousness, responsibility, resourcefulness.
We do not all agree on the same thing, but, many times, we are able to agree to disagree, and get on with our lives.
Bet you didn’t know that white America? Those of you who don’t pay attention.
We definately don’t need or want your help to think for us.
Remember, we black people want to excel and improve in this country, not slide backwards in this country. No thanks, but, we don’t want your way of thinking. (Well, some of us don’t.) We want to progress, and the only way to do that is to think and make decisions for ourselves. If we let ya’ll think for us, we’d be right back into slavery (thanks, but, no thanks). As for segregation, well white America, let’s just say that segregation never left the house, and is still alive and well.
Obama has not proved himself to many black Americans.
And neither have so-called white candidates proven themselves.
Black America has every right to distrust Obama. Juat becuase some white Americans are falling down and worshipping Obama does not make him okay in my eyes. Dems and Repubs have stabbed black citizens in the back time and time again, and I have no proof that Obama will not do the same to black citizens.
Just because some white Americans say he is okay, does not make him okay.
Will he be wishy-washy when push comes to shove if elected? Will he be a puppet in white America’s hands or will he be a real man and stand for ALL Americans? Will he work for the best interests of all Americans? Will he abandon and kick to the curb, then turn around and spit on black Americans the way so many white candidates have done? Will he really make a difference to any and all people who so desparately want to see some real change for the good in this country?
The jury is still out on Obama with me. He has yet to prove himself to me.
So, I’m holding my vote close to me. Obama has not earned my vote, yet.
And that goes triple for Edwards and all the other non-black candidates out there.
You have to earn my vote, and I do not cast my votes like pearls before porcines (not saying anyone’s a porcine). It’s that my vote is precious to me, and too many people died that I might have a right to vote for me to just throw it up in the air for grabs just because white America said so.
Which brings me to my final point.
Point 4.
Newsflash white America!
Obama is NOT a black American. Yes, he has “black blood” in him, albeit, African blood, but not black American blood, therefore, he does not share the same history with me. Oh, yes it is all nice that he self-identifies with black America. Hell, anyone can do that (Arab, Jew/Israeli, Native American, Latino, Asian), but that would still not make them a “black American.”
Big, very important difference.
Obama has no ties to the history of black America, and therein lies the crux, the real truth of the matter.
White America has not, and never will come to terms with her viscious, sadistic mistreatment of her black citizens during slavery and the recently departed, at least on paper, reign of terror known as Jim Crow segregation. White America knows she has done the most savage cruelty to her black citizens and she has not owned up to that, and never will. Hence the reason she so willingly embraces Obama. He is not a black man born of a black American father/mother, and he is especially not a black man born of a black American mother.
Since he has none of what white America would see as black American history (slavery, segregation) to contend with, and he is of African (Kenyan father), and white American (white American mother), that makes him more palatable in white America’s eyes.
When white America looks at Obama they do not see in him 400 years of brutal chattel slavery. They do not see 400 years of barbaric, sadistic, sanctioned mass gang-rapes of a race of defenseless women. They do not see 100 years of denying the most basic human rights to their fellow citizens: the denial of the vote, the denial of an entire race of people’s humanity, the denial of a people’s right to be treated as citizens who have contributed tremendously to this country.
White America does not see in Obama 100 years of lynching, castration of black men and boys (which, if you want to be honest, castration of black males were sex crimes in themselves). White America does not see the slow torture of black men, when they look at Obama. Torture that would go on for hours and hours on end, with the burning of the black human being, and the remains handed around as souvenirs to grasping greedy hands of the sadists who attended the lynching as if they were at a carnival or picnic.
When white America looks at Obama she does not see the many centuries and decades of beating, starving, tearing to pieces, denying, disenfranchising, forced peonage, chain-gangs, and killing of innocent black citizens and throwing their dead bodies into lakes, rivers and earthen dams in the middle of the night, like those black women, men and children were so much trash to be disposed of.
When white America looks at Obama she does not see a little 15-year-old child who was so brutally tortured and then murdered for just whistling at a white woman. A child whose body was so twisted and mangled from hours of torture, that even his own mother could not recognize him if not for the particular ring he was wearing the night he was taken to his death by two middle-aged racist white murderers.
That child’s name was Emmit Till.
When white America looks at Obama they do not see four little girls. Four little innocent girls who were blown to pieces while worshipping at their church, the 16TH Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, by vicious savage racists who threw a bomb that destroyed the church and took those little girl’s lives, a bomb that had so much TNT in it that it destroyed the front of the church and houses that were nearby, and seriously injured 20 people.
Those little girls had names, white America.
Their names were:
Cynthia Dianne Wesley
Denise McNair
Addie Mae Collins
Carole Robertson
When white America looks at Obama they see a man who does not share the same history with me.
And that makes it so much easier for white America to embrace and accept Obama, when many of them still will not accept as equals their own black citizens who have contributed so much to this country.
This country that we black Ameicans have loved so much, but, has not loved us back.
No.
I do not need, nor want, white America to speak for me.
I can do that very well myself, thank you.
And my vote is very precious to me.
I will decide whom I will vote for, and I definately do not need nor want white America’s stamp of approval.
Obama has to earn my vote just like any other candidate out there.
And his identifying with my people is not enough.
He’ll have to put his money where his mouth is just like any other candidate.
And he has yet to do that.
“I think they are missing the point here; just because people may think the US is not ready for a Black candidate, doesnt mean that they are not willing to vote for a Black candidate. My perception is that the vast majority Black Americans are ready for a black President, but most Black Americans believe that many White Americans are not ready for a black President. (I tend to agree.) So I think reporters are confusing skepticism about whites willingness to accept a black President with skepticism about Obama himself.”
Yes, many black Americans are ready for a black president. A black president who will not be more of the same flotsam and jetsom that white presidents have vomitted on everyone. We also see with the behaviour of white America (racial-profiling of black Americans, racist patterns in home loans and residential segregation, racist stereotyping of black Americans, racism in renting/buying housing in certain neighborhoods [when a black person speaks on the phone to real estate agent for an apartment, etc, and is told of a vacancy, then appears to look at the property, and is then in turn told there are no vacancies, or the black person is steered to another apartment/house in another part of town, and then when a white person is sent to inqurie about the very same property, but is given a different and more positive response], then it is understandable that black America is convinced that white America is not ready for a black president.
Lips can speak anything when someone is not paying attention.
But, actions speak louder than words.
And white America’s actions speak volumes.
Actually Rachel, given the way blacks have “automatically” voted en bloc for Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and invariably for the Democratic presidential nominee, I think the mainstream media can be forgiven their stupefaction over Obama.
But anyone familiar with black intra-racial politics understands implicitly why it took most blacks so long to warm to Obama. In fact Obama himself has already lamented that he suspects it has more to do with “racial identity” (ie. being perceived by them as “not black enough”) than any careful deliberation over his policies.
After all, Obama has been a national phenomenon for over 2 years and I doubt any black, including Al Sharpton, can proffer any policy reason for supporting Hillary or any other candidate over him.
Alas, the only thing these polls reflect is the inevitable retreat of blacks to racial politics, which means that they will vote for Obama to the same extent they voted for Jackson and Sharpton. (Indeed, in a race even between Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton, I suspect blacks would vote overwhelmingly in favor of Condi…and whites in equal measure for Hillary, regardless of party affiliation. )
Crisis!
Contrary to the belief of many, something tells me that blacks will not be voting in droves (the majority) for Condeleezza Rice if she were to run. In fact, we saw how moderate Republican Steele from PG Maryalnd lost the black vote. If anything blacks are likely to support Democratic candidates- and if that Democratic candidate is black we are even more likely to support him- because we tend to agree with many of the key platforms.
One minute I hear the argument that blacks only for Democratic candidates and the next minute, I hear that blacks only vote for black candidates regardless of his/ her political affiliation. Which one is it?
Ann would you really vote for Hillary or any of the current candidates over Obama? I am a Republican most of the time but I voted for Clinton once and he paid me back by cheating on his wife. Now if Colin Powel, Congalizza Rice or any Black Republican was on the other ticket then Obama would not get my vote. I often vote color and I am not ashamed of it. When there are school elections with multiple candidates of whom I do not know or have seen, I will vote for the most Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, Arab, or East Indian sounding names. If I had to choose between an English name like Jones or Polowski I would go with the Polish sounding name because I believe in racial diversity. This has been my pattern for years. It is a great formula to advance Interracial Power. If the equality of minorities is your main issue it is time to vote for minorities and give them the benefit of the doubt.
If the U.S. elects a Black President, this will be good for America. There would be less of an excuse for all children to self destruct. No longer will the thought The White man is holding me down carry as much weight. That Black Vice President or President would do so much as a symbol to the rest of the world and America that it would be crazy for me to vote against him because he was against abortion. I know that the president has very little control over abortion. So long as the Black candidate is not an awful criminal he has my vote. I am slow to vote against Interracial Power.
I have a low opinion of African Americans who vote against Black Candidates. Voting against Black candidates stops African Americans from forming political elite. Black more people need rich and powerful elected officials so they can get their relatives into good jobs. Yes America needs a larger Black good ole boys network. That network would also include Women. Imagine Black family names with weight like the Kennedys, Clintons and the Bushs. Until the day that Race Relations Change dramatically minorities need to vote for minorities. There are exceptions to this rule but this should be the rule for everyone interested in diversity. Vote for minorities unless you really feel that the will be awful leaders. Interracial Power must be advanced
For White people this really is your chance to make up for many of the evils that this country has done to African Americans. You will be helping race relations in a concrete way every time you vote for a minority candidate. I am so tired of those people who say that voting for one minority doesnt do anything for minorities. Every positive step in the right direction is better than doing nothing. Sometimes people are so angry about the past that they underestimate the power of little steps in the right direction. I am not one of those people. Presidents change things not everything but they are some of the most influential people on this earth. Their families remain powerful for a long time. They get jobs for their friends and relatives. Tokenism is a positive thing for minorities most of the time. The first Black doing most things helps African Americans to believe that they can achieve. Think of the legacy power the first Blacks in Music, Athletics, and Medicine ECT. The influence Power of the First Black President will be an Atomic bomb to reduce racism. It will not solve racism but it will be very positive. Please dont underestimate how many doors that an African President of the U.S. will open. He or She will be one of the most popular leaders of all time. This will shake the earth in race relations and will stand one of the greatest achievements in human history.
What really disturbed me was one of the titles of CNN’s videos titled:
“Whites say U.S. ready for Obama, blacks don’t”
Are we ready for more replies from whites that they’re not racist? From what I”ve seen in my 29 years, I’ve noticed that whites will have no problems voting for someone because they wouldn’t have to deal with them on a daily basis.
The general mentality I get from whites is that minorities are fine but they’re “NIMBYs.” To the ones that don’t know what that means, it’s an acronym home owners use: Not in my backyard. It’s used to describe certain things they don’t want near their homes such as nuclear power plants, sewage treatment plants, airports, etc.
I have a big problem with the whole “Barack isn’t really black” argument. Yes, he doesn’t have the same ancestral background as most African-Americans but, is he not an obviously black man living in America (and yes, I realize he has lived other places also)? Simply having black skin in America will get you related to in a particular way but white society. No, he may not have the same ancestral history but that has nothing to do with his personal experience. He lives on the South Side of Chicago, a highly African-American community. He goes to one of the largest Black churches in Chicago. He had to go through an ivy league education as a Black man. People don’t care how you got to be black, if it was from an American slave or a free African. In America you are black no matter what.
Mike Reynolds.
“Ann would you really vote for Hillary or any of the current candidates over Obama?”
Hell, no.
ANYONE running for office has to never forget that THEY are a public servant.
They are to answer to their constitutients who voted them into office.
I am not the servant to Obama, Edwards, Clinton or anyone else runnning for office. They are to be servants to me as well as the rest of America. That is what running for office involves, only so many people, in office, and out of office, have conveniently forgotten that.
Once in office, you do what your constituents ask of you, and you do not kick them to the curb, once you get into office.
I vote for the person who I’ve talked to BEFORE I go to the polls. I ask them where they stand on issues of importance to me.
But, I don’t just vote on political candidates, only.
When I go into that voting booth I vote for the following:
-Propositions
Anything that helps the community as a whole.
And if it means an increase in taxes, I will live with that. If it means more municipal/county/state/federal funding for libraries, neighborhood parks, firemen, police officers, street/sewer repair, better lighting in neighborhoods, more employment for citizens, anything that helps the citizens as a whole, then I am all for it.
People running for office is not all there is to vote for, and I can assure you, there have been times where I would vote for NO ONE because none of the candidates represented MY best interests.
If in extremely rare instances where they did show capabilities to do for me and my fellow citizens what they promised, and did not renege once in office, THEN, I voted again for that person, whether he was white, black, red, yellow, etc.
Not just because she/he was black. Not just because she/he was white.
And as far as president is concerned, we citizens do not elect the president of America.
It is that useless piece of chicken-fried crap known as the Electoral College that says to hell with our votes, and then decides whom it will put into office. We can vote for president until the cows come home, but, still the issue of the electoral college has to be taken into consideration. I will believe that my vote for president counts when I see the so-called “popular vote” of the citizens is treated with the respect that it deserves.
“I have a low opinion of African Americans who vote against Black Candidates. Voting against Black candidates stops African Americans from forming political elite.”
And I have a low opinion of people who vote for someone just because of the color of the candidate’s skin. If Obama can sell me on his stand on issues that matter to me, then I will vote for him. If not, then neither he, nor H. Clinton, nor Rice, nor, anyone else will get my vote.
They all have to earn it.
And my vote remains not up for grabs as if it is some mess of pottage to be sold to the highest bidder.
“I often vote color and I am not ashamed of it. When there are school elections with multiple candidates of whom I do not know or have seen, I will vote for the most Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, Arab, or East Indian sounding names. If I had to choose between an English name like Jones or Polowski I would go with the Polish sounding name because I believe in racial diversity. This has been my pattern for years.”
So, you mean to tell me, that you do not take the time to learn of a candidate’s stand on issues that may be of importance to you. You lad-de-da, vote ‘em all in just because they are minorties? Doesn’t sound like you are using your vote for all it’s worth.
I will vote for the candidate who is least likely to stab me in the back, and as far as I am concerned, the vast majority of them pretty much do that. If you do not keep on them, and yes, that takes time and effort to do, but, if you do not let them know that your vote put them where they are, by calling, writing or e-mailing them as to what you need from them, then you have no one to blame but yourself if things that you, as a citizen require, don’t get done.
“Yes America needs a larger Black good ole boys network. That network would also include Women. Imagine Black family names with weight like the Kennedys, Clintons and the Bushs. Until the day that Race Relations Change dramatically minorities need to vote for minorities. There are exceptions to this rule but this should be the rule for everyone interested in diversity. Vote for minorities unless you really feel that the will be awful leaders.”
And I agree that America does certainly need more black leaders elected, as well as women of all races/ethnic groups. And the few people whom I have voted for (men, women, blacks, whites, etc.) who have worked in my best interests still get my vote. But, only because they have a proven track record.
I did say that UNLESS Obama can sell me on his approach to what I consider of importance to me, that he will not get my vote.
If he can convince me otherwise, then he gets my vote.
In the end, when I go into that voting booth, I will vote for the BEST candidate.
Not whom white America says I should vote for.
Not whom black America says I should vote for.
Not anyone.
It is up to Obama to convince me, not everyone else.
Natalie.
“I have a big problem with the whole Barack isnt really black argument. Yes, he doesnt have the same ancestral background as most African-Americans but, is he not an obviously black man living in America (and yes, I realize he has lived other places also)? Simply having black skin in America will get you related to in a particular way but white society. No, he may not have the same ancestral history but that has nothing to do with his personal experience. He lives on the South Side of Chicago, a highly African-American community. He goes to one of the largest Black churches in Chicago. He had to go through an ivy league education as a Black man. People dont care how you got to be black, if it was from an American slave or a free African. In America you are black no matter what.
Yes, we are all black in the rest of America’s eyes.
True.
But, as I said to Mike Reynolds above, my vote must be earned before, and after the election.
I have a problem with the whites out there who are just a little-bit too gung-ho for Obama. Makes me very leery of them for championing Obama’s cause a little too much. Especially with the way this country still shits on its black citizens. Unless Obama shows that he can work with ALL citizens, then he has to prove it to me, the same way a white candidate has to.
It’s not enough that Obama lives in the Southside of Chicago. It’s not enough that he goes to the black church he attends that I have read glowing reviews of.
Show me NOW what you’ve got, Obama. I at least deserve that much now, in the early part of 2007. Show me what your voting record is on many issues that affect most American’s lives. Show me where you stand on America’s problem with education, health care, employment, Iraq, the prison system, how you will be capable of working with foreign governments, such as Iran and Pakistan.
And I do know that I have a right to know where Obama, and all the rest of them, stand on just these few issues.
Yes, he does not have to have black American ancestry, and yes, he has aligned himself with black America.
Fine.
But, I need to see what he’s capable of.
How he will handle himself now, when the real tough questions come down the pike, will say alot about him to me.
And as for Hilary, I wouldn’t advise her to start gloating now.
She/he who laughs last, laughs best.
Mike Reynolds.
So, what if the majority of black America votes for Obama?
Then what?
We black people are going to vote him in all by ourselves?
Wow. When did the majority of America become black? Hmm? No one told me that.
And you also have to accept the cold hard facts Mike Reynolds that unless white America, and the rest of non-black America wants to get with the program as the old saying goes, we black people better accept the fact that our votes ALONE will not get Obama into office.
Yes, it’s high time that white America let go of its death-grip of holding on to race hatred. White America has never been the voice of moral reason in this country, and from all accounts, never will be.
Yes, this is white America’s chance to be better than all the racist, murdering and destroying white people who came before them.
This is white America’s chance to stand tall with her black citizens and to start treating us as fellow citizens and human beings, and not as 2ND and 3RD class citizens.
Until white America decides to stand up and be MEN and WOMEN, and not crying, sniveling, greedy “all for me, and none for you” people, I have no reason to believe that white America is ready just yet to share power with black America.
White America has to prove itself to me.
And white America hasn’t done to good a job of doing that.
Oh, a few you can count on one hand.
But, the majority of them who are truly ready to work with ALL of the citizens in this country.
I ain’t holding my breath.
I’m not going to be waiting to exhale.
I’m just going to keep on breathing.
Ann,
How is your knowledge of Kenyan history and how the English treated the Kenyans before and during colonialism, the Mau Mau rebellion and decolonization? Lots of parallels there to ……… Non-American blacks have gone throught the SAME THING and in some cases (the French in Santo Domingo) even worse. Africans as a whole were victimized by Europeans as a whole and although sometimes they don’t have the African-American experience they have worse (the Portuguese in Brazil, the Belgians in the Congo). I take umbrage at intra-racial racism!
Anthony,
“Actually Rachel, given the way blacks have automatically voted en bloc for Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and invariably for the Democratic presidential nominee, I think the mainstream media can be forgiven their stupefaction over Obama.”
Get a grip dude. We don’t have secret meetings to decide who to vote for.
Ahhh. I absolutely love the fragmentation of opinion in these cases. It’s like watching a pair of conjoined twins trying to beat the crap out of one another. What’s best is the arguement for each side is always nicely flavored with a preface of ‘how dare you believe that…’. If black america itself can’t even come to grips with the whole issue, then maybe media should be cut some slack too. At least until opinions unify a bit and we’re all told what we should believe. Is obama black enough? Does it matter? Within a political party, do blacks just vote for blacks? Which is more important, a candidate who has the right policies or the one with the right skin color? And so on and so on.
Sammy.
“How is your knowledge of Kenyan history and how the English treated the Kenyans before and during colonialism, the Mau Mau rebellion and decolonization?”
Very well, thank you. And I am familiar with Jomo Kenyatta, and the Mau Mau Rebellion against the brutish atrocities of the British towards the Masaii and Kikiyu of Kenya, and Leopold of Belgium and the Belgium’s insane depravity, and especially the Arabs, BOTH PAST AND PRESENT. Their filth and abombinations with the continued love of slavery gives them no damn high marks in my eyes whatsoever.
Thank you for reminding me of that.
And I never said that other non-American blacks have not suffered atrocities like black Americans have. I am very well aware of the destruction that colonialism and racism have done to devastate the entire African continent because of Europe’s rapacious greed towards other black human beings.
“I take umbrage at intra-racial racism! ”
No.
It just goes to show that not all black Americans see everything in a lock-step monolithic viewpoint.
Ann,
Your essays on Barack Obama and Black America and White America’s double standard were well put. I could have said it, but you nailed it.
What America doesn’t want to believe that there is tremendous diversity in Black American thought. Some are liberal, others conservative, moderate, radical, etc. Still others, apolitical. Why is that a surprise in White America that we don’t think alike. That we do think outside of the box all the time. It’s white America that is obsessed with race, racial profiling, the one-drop rule because they want to maintain the illusion of white “purity, supremacy, and privilege” by all means.
Rachel,
Thank you for having the courage to put the article on your blogspot. This needs to be aired out. I’m so sick and tired of White America dictating to Blacks and multiracials of African descent that they should support Mr. Obama because of his African ancestry.
Ann and Rachel, thank you for the commentary.
Stephanie Baldwin
Henry.
“Which is more important, a candidate who has the right policies or the one with the right skin color?”
The candidate who works for my best interests gets my vote.
Many white people voted for George Bush in 2004. He started trashing the country then, and everyone just blew it off as, “Oh, well, he’ll do better next time.”
Come 2004, and not only has he NOT done better next time, this freak has f****d the whole country up with his stupid cowboy mentality. But, that’s what happens when people refuse to see not only the writing on the wall, but, insists on taking everyone else in the country down with them because they (those who voted for Bush) just had to prove a point.
And that was to aid in the destruction of America with the HNIC, Bush.
Henry.
Ixnay on the Eng and Chang comparison, okay.
Black people do not have to agree to everything that the rest of non-black America wants us to agree on.
Where is it written that Asians, whites, Latinos, etc. ALL agree on the same thing?
Maybe in that Pollyanna forest you live in.
In the world I live in, people have a differing of opnions, and are able to learn to agree to disagree.
Well, the mature people are able to do that.
I guess the point flew over your head then, ann. If there are a plethora of views, then it’s hardly fair to preface any one particular take with the moral outrage brought to the discussion. If some blacks do believe in the points the article lays out, the question of whther obama is black enough for blacks, then it seems sorta ridiculous to lay thick the condemnation, no?
No moral outrage. Just telling it like it is.
And if some black people consider that Obama is black enough for them, then they have that right to their opinion.
Just as I have a right to my opinion that Obama must be the right candidate for me to vote on concerning how he stands on the issues that are of importance to me.
And “condemnation” is your choice of word.
If I do not want to vote blindly for Obama just because of the color of his skin, then that is my perogative.
Guess that flew over your head as well.
Not above my head. Beneath my notice.
Ann
Obama needs 80% of the Black vote and he could have a minority of the White vote to beat Hillary for the Democratic nomination.
Oh I am dreaming again.
He would still have to beat a Republican.
Ann I like how you were ballanced in your opinion of Bush. I too think that his stupid cowboy ways have hurt the war. Think about how much better we would have done with the support of an Islamic partner like The nation of Turkey. Bush did not want to give the Turks the money they asked for. We could have had an Islamic ally!! I bet if he had it to do all over again he would have given them double or tripple what they asked for, if needed.
Obama will probably make a good vice president if he is lucky.
I still will shake my head at any African American who votes for Clinton over Obama in the primary.
There’s reason for “the media” to be just a bit puzzled at the poll numbers. Not just for the expectations created by political candidates in past races (not just for President, but for Senate, Congress, dog catcher) but the way that Black people responded to Obama before he announced. It isn’t like Black folks were lukewarm about the guy. I don’t wanna use the word “rabid,” but . . .
I think the initial poll numbers were just a function of the Clinton name and reputation.
Also, I think it’s . . . puzzling that some Black people don’t see Obama as a “Black man.” He did grow up in this country, he probably knows a little bit about racism first hand (going Ivy likely opened his eyes if nothing else). Moreover, I fail to understand why it should be held against him, especially if we are supposedly making decisions about the candidates based on the issues and nothing else. It isn’t like the guy is going to come out against Affirmative Action or vote to build a wall on the Mexican border.
Ann didn’t condemn Obama. Only white projections about Obama.
She has the same attitude as the blacks in Rachel’s post. A wait and see attitude.
You make a good point. I’m not jumping on the Obama bandwagon but it’s not because I don’t want a black president but because I don’t know enough about him except that he makes these wonderful speeches.
I completely agree with you that you wouldn’t vote on a candidate because of race politics are what matters. It just seems that there has been a lot of focus on the “he isn’t black like us” idea rather than the let’s examine his politics idea. As someone who is of mixed ancestry but identifies as black, it really saddens me to see division in our own community because of such things. His race certainly isn’t a reason to vote for him but I have seen many people saying that because he isn’t “really black” they don’t think he understands the black experience and therefore wouldn’t be a good candidate. They aren’t looking at politics either. Obviously, I think your opinion is solid, I was more talking about people who use that argument in such a divisive way.
I look forward to seeing the same people who claimed that I profited directly from slavery (despite the fact that my ancestors came here long after slavery was abolished) criticize Obama for having descendants who actually did own slaves. What are the chances? DO you think these same people will call for Obama to pay reparations? oh the irony !
Thanks Ann.
Keep up the good work!
Stephanie B.
I think most white people like Obama for two reasons:
1. His position on the war in Iraq.
2. He seems honest and sincere.
I have been really surprised by the high number
of white people who are considering Obama, and
I think it’s his message of “hope” that moves them.
I think all people are tired of the same old same old.
I don’t really believe whites are flocking to Obama
in droves for any other reason, though there could
be a bit of white guilt thrown in for good measure.
Rachel, thanks for this topic. I have learned a lot
here.
Yeah I’ve heard some good things about Barack Obama. I heard he had an Iraq de-escalation act. Even people who supported the Iraq war when it began, would probably now agree that it resulted badly, with civil unrest and violence still occurring in Iraq: so probably Obama’s policy is favourable, there. I heard he also wanted to improve the schools, and increase literacy rates, and all of that. I guess I’ll have to read what some of his detractors have to say, to learn the negative side. I’m trying to decide whom it would be best to vote for!
[...] Framing Barack Obama and Black Voters Blog: Rachel’s Tavern This is the same problem we see time and time again with the media coverage of Obama and Black voters. Many people seem to be perplexed as to why black voters are not flocking to Obama in droves, and then they are shocked that black voters are deliberative, taking time to analyze Obamas positions. [...]
[...] Framing Barack Obama and Black Voters Blog: Rachels Tavern This is the same problem we see time and time again with the media coverage of Obama and Black voters. Many people seem to be perplexed as to why black voters are not flocking to Obama in droves, and then they are shocked that black voters are deliberative, taking time to analyze Obamas positions. [...]
I am a seventy-five year old African American man who has been and continues to be enthralled by the presence of Barack Obama on the American political scene. Since his electrifying speech to the Democratic National Convention in 2004 I have seen Senator Obama as a unifying gift in our severely polarized nation. In August, 2006 Rivers Bend Press of Stillwater, Minnesota published my first book, When White is Black, which is a memoir of my own mixed race heritage. In the concluding pages of When White is Black (pages 190-191) I note Senator Obamas powerful reminder in his 2004 keynote address that we are One America. And Barack Obama, the next President of the United States, is the personal embodiment of that reality—one nation indivisible. John A. Martin, Jr.
Does anyone remember stories of crabs in a bucket? Well, simply stated, they pinch and climb over each other to get out first.
We Black Americans do not support too many candidates as it is. Please do not lie or try to discourage the voting of the people at such a historical time.
Senator Barack Obama is Black. In the grocery store he is seen as BLACK, in the gym he is BLACK, in politics he is BLACK. I beg the question, “Why is it that Black people do not see that he is Black?” He is a Black Senator, husband, father, organizer, christian, humanitarian, dreamer of mixed heritage and familial background. All of this informs who he is and his understanding of what humanity and humility are.
Compare his record to the other candidates and you will find a man that is true to his word. You will not find a record filled with lies nor a dishonest running platform. This is a chance to see the Democratic party really execute their values.
Please brothers and sisters of the world, do not lessen the standard of dignity and humanity for our human race. Do not attempt to invaldate the Senator based on his ethnicity.
Framing? What did we do now?
Framing LOL!! Ok, Temple3 not that kind of framing. This kind of framing.
It’s a common term in social science research.
I thought you’d just smile. Perhaps the link will be of use to folks who didn’t understand the terminology…then again - ain’t too much of that ’round these parts.
“For White people this really is your chance to make up for many of the evils that this country has done to African Americans.”
I don’t feel that I have to make anything up to African Americans. I am white and have experienced MUCH racism in my life FROM black people. White people were harassed in my high school, and in my area, there are many black on white hate crimes. This is exactly why white people like me will not vote for a black candidate. The majority of strong, educated black people do not feel they are owed anything, unlike some lesser educated black people. Black on white crimes get ignored every day because, for some reason, America feels guilty only for white on black crime. I realize slavery was an awful, terrible thing, and it should never be played down like it wasn’t a horrendous thing for those people to go through, but current racism is being ignored. My white family never had slaves, they were Irish, and considered to be the scum of the whites, so I don’t know why I should ever pay for what evil, slave driving whites did. I don’t agree with it and think it was horrible too! So why should I have to pay every day just for being white? I shouldn’t! AND I am half puerto rican, so what category do I really fall into? When BLACK America acknowledges that the majority of white America today are not slave drivers and stop PUNISHING these generations for things they NEVER DID, then maybe we can be one step closer to racial unity. Until then, I don’t see much happiness amongst the different races, and cannot see whites in predominantly ethnic communities feeling comfortable electing a black president.
Barack Obama is a good candidate, but he lacks in experience. If I totally ignore that Barack Obama will indirectly cause a huge increase in black on white crimes, he is still not the right candidate in my eyes. I will not vote for him based on the fact that he is a great speech giver, but does not have realistic plans to implement healthcare for all Americans. I believe that he could possibly stand for something wonderful in the black community, and I do agree with the fact that it could possibly give more black youth hope, and possibly increase the number of black youth who stay in school. I believe that it truly COULD BE a really wonderful thing for black people as a culture who have suffered through a LOT in their history. I feel that Barack Obama could be a wonderful inspiration to African American people in terms of how one race can really break barriers in so many ways. However, with the good comes the bad, and considering how much black on white crimes are already overlooked, I feel that hateful African Americans will take Barack’s position in a negative light and see it as justification of their hate crimes. I feel that hateful African Americans will see having a black president as free reign to harass white people even more. This is not being acknowledged in our society at all, and it is wrong because it is real, and it is not ok. And if any black person stands up for a white person’s rights, they are seen as a traitor, or as less black, or as not caring about their own race. So it’s a vicious circle. African Americans want racial equality, yet they don’t give it. This is not going to be solved because hate only spews more hate. African Americans should forgive slavery. No American doesn’t learn about slavery. Everyone knows how horrible it was, and not one of us was alive in that time. I cannot understand how any African American person can think it’s ok to punish white people of this generation for something this generation of white people never did, and something that this generation of African Americans never even went through.
Don’t African Americans look at white Americans and see that we’ve all got the same struggles? I never had time for racism, and was never taught to hate other races. Ever. If I ever learned hate, it was from the African American people at my school who hated me for something I never did to them. I never called them, “black girl.” But they called me “white girl.” You want respect? Give it. You want equality? Treat people like you want to be treated! It’s that simple. We are all people, and we all have to work to live, and unfortunately, most of us live to work….
Our country is going through so much that we don’t need a racial war. What would make me feel more comfortable voting for Barack Obama is if he acknowledged the black on white crimes, which according to the US Department of Justice, there were 110,300 black on white crimes in 2007, a much larger amount than white on black crimes, which only totaled 9,560. That is a vast difference, and I feel that this is seriously not getting addressed at all in our society, and it needs to.
^^^^
ROFLMAO
I was going to debunk that whole — thing — up there, but I’ve had a day and a half today. Take it to Amren, Stacey… or take it back to Amren, I don’t know which. Why do so many people think we’re obsessed with slavery? Why do so many people ignore/minimize all of the horrible crap that went down after that? *headbutts monitor*
Stacey’s passive-aggressive moaning is a perfect example of what I was writing about in this post. Black people failed to live up to Stacey’s vision of saintliness, and by their unforgivable failure, they cruelly transformed her into a racist.
As for the statistic… interesting how the DoJ has such exact racial statistics for 2007, a year which ended less than two weeks ago.
“Won’t somebody PLEEEAASE think of the”–Eh, you know the rest.
So that’s minus one vote for Obama. Oh well.
I bet I can count on one hand how many Black people you’re actually familiar with. (Familiar = know their names and know of their families, have introduced your family to theirs, talked about things that are important to you, etc. Familiar =/= Some Black lady you used to work with or a Black client, some Black guy you dated back in junior high, etc.)
Lemme guess; you and Alex watch the news together, right?
Good for you.
Isn’t irony a beautiful thing?
Yes, current racism is being ignored, and it’s because whiney little snots like you have no idea what racism really is.
Everyone take out your bingo cards!
Oh, and by the way, the discrimination that the Irish faced was, very often, in comparison to what Black people faced. In other words, Irish were seen as “just as bad” as Black people.
Also, I happen to be part Irish. Do you think people will notice?…Or care?
You win another cookie!
You already answered your own question: “I am white…white people like me…”
If “white” is what you identify as, then fine.
**takes out a map… Let’s see…There’s North America, South America, Central America, The United States of America…Where is this Black America of which you speak?
…Nope, can’t find that either. Sorry.
Are you sure about that one? It’s true that there is no more legal slavery in the US, but to say that those generations that came after slavery did not benefit - and, as a result are not benefiting - from the many generations of Jim Crow laws, and the resulting imbalance of power today, is. not only ignorant, but willfully blind to the racism that exists in this day and age.
Hey, y’all! Watch this…
As if healthcare is the first thing that you noticed when you looked at the brotha.
As compared to what community?
Just keep on scrollin’. There’s way too much in there to touch on, and I’ve got to get up early tomorrow morning.
First with the maps, and now with the these strange news broadcasts! Am I missing something?
Is it just me, or is anyone else picturing a certain scene in “Airplane”? Y’know, the one where everyone is so eager to keep that woman from panicking?
I could have more fun with Stacey’s tirade, but this quote by Angela sums it all up for me:
As a person who feels an affinity with currently and formerly oppressed peoples (because it’s strangely comforting to know you’re not the only ones) and is extremely interested in how the latter overcame/ascended from it, it’s especially annoying when some members of those groups use that, not as an opportunity for empathy and understanding, but as a bludgeoning implement. “See, we were like you once, but we’re better, we GOT OVER it!” Which involves, in all likelihood, an extreme truncation and trivalization of how the process actually transpired. When the shackles were broken, our bootsraps were cut. For almost a century post-slavery, black people were categorically, explicitly, systematically, legally barred from everything good about America… how difficult is that to understand? Once you do understand, how easy is THAT to brush aside?