Does Obama Transcend Race?

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Early on in the presidential primaries, it seemed that Barack Obama had managed to do the improbable, if not the impossible -- transcend the thorny question of race in American politics. I had hoped this situation would continue.

It was not, alas, to be. The whole issue of Reverend Jeremiah Wright reared its head, once again bringing race to the forefront of the Obama candidacy.

I had wondered what stereotypes about Black men would bubble to the surface on the long, winding trail of the campaign. Raised in Washington, D.C., on the edge of the segregated south, I was familiar with many of them

Three major stereotypes about Black males, research finds, are The Sambo, The Brute, and The Respectable Black Man. Sambo is lazy, no-account, and not very smart, a comical, pathetic figure. The brute was personified by Willie Horton, and this particular stereotype has its own dubious niche in presidential campaign history. Imprisoned for murder in Massachusetts, Horton was on a weekend furlough when he committed rape and armed robbery. His face was used very effectively by George Bush pere to terrify whites and to discredit Michael Dukakis as being soft on crime. A variant of this stereotype is the Angry Black Radical, gun-toting, slogan-spouting and harboring nothing but ill for his (white) fellow Americans

The respectable Black Man looks like Sidney Poitier and talks like an Ivy Leaguer. He's too perfect, too polite. Melissa Harris Lacewell, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, told the Associated Press that learning to adapt is at the heart of being an American Black male.

"Black mothers and fathers socialize their sons to not make waves, to not come up against the authorities, to speak even more politely not only when there are whites present but particularly if there are whites who have power," she said.

I thought Barack Obama could not be imagined in either of the first two categories, and seemed too self-possessed for the third. His father was African and his mother was white, and so in many ways he doesn't conform to the typical African- American experience. Some have even complained that he's not Black enough.

So it's surprising that the stereotype that emerged in the campaign was the Angry Black Man -- embodied in Reverend Jeremiah Wright's sound bites. Even though the cool, urbane, extremely rational Obama is the antithesis of the hate-spewing radical, that is the image that the Republicans will surely use if he is the nominee. We've already been told that Obama isn't patriotic because he doesn't wear a flag-bedecked lapel pin, and because his wife intimated that she wasn't proud of being an American before her husband ran for president. Obama will be portrayed as a closet radical, his cool demeanor a benign cover for what he really believes. He's Stokely Carmichael in a tie, Huey Newton with a Harvard degree, a guy who believes in his heart that the U.S. deserved 9/11.

The irony is that while all this is simmering, Maureen Dowd in the New York Times has quite a different take: Barack's not radical, he's effete. She writes:

"His strenuous and inadvertently hilarious efforts to woo working-class folk in Pennsylvania have only made him seem more effete. Keeping his tie firmly in place, he genteelly sipped his pint of Yuengling beer at Sharky's sports cafe in Latrobe and bowled badly in Altoona. Challenging Obama to a bowl-off, Hillary kindly offered to "spot him two frames.

At the Wilbur chocolate shop in Lititz Monday, he spent most of his time skittering away from chocolate goodies, as though he were a starlet obsessing on a svelte waistline."

It's a bit daunting to have to contend with those two absurdly incongruent images. Maybe Barack should do a photo op where he's stuffing his face with a Ring Ding, wearing an American flag shirt and throwing his arm around a steelworker (if there are any left) who's sporting a White Power tattoo on his forearm. Then they could play a few rounds of pick-up basketball. (Or is basketball too Black these days?) Barack certainly isn't going to climb on a windsurfer as John Kerry did, or on a tank like Mike Dukakis.

It's a difficult line that Barack Obama will have to walk if he's the nominee. The assault from the far right will no doubt be fierce -- after all, these are the folks who accused a Vietnam vet who had lost three limbs in that war of a lack of patriotism. Unbelievably, Max Cleland lost his Senate seat (Georgia) due to this onslaught

John Kerry, another war hero, got himself "swiftboated" and didn't fire back fast enough to wipe out the insurgents. Obama can't make that mistake if he is the nominee. He will have to take a page from Clinton One and set up a rapid response team so that as soon as a scurrilous charge is made, it can be batted down and defanged.

As Bette Davis said, "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."

Boston University journalism professor Caryl Rivers is the author of "Selling Anxiety: How the News Media Scare Women (University Press of New England.)

Comments

[GemStone1972]

Is it enough? Absolutely not! In fact what Obama has said and done is going totally in the wrong direction! Excuses! Rationalization! Continued allegiance! If it had been Clinton's or McCain's white pastor who preached not just 5 snippets but rather month after month, year after year that another race with in America is the enemy and America is not our friend because that race controls America do you really think what Obama has said and done to date would be enough if it were Clinton or McCain? Absolutely not! If Clinton or McCain"s pastor had written supporting Hamas and had visited terrorist states in support of those terrorist states and we found that out would what Obama has said and done be enough if it were Clinton or McCain? Absolutely not! If Clinton or McCain had thrown there grandmother under the bus but not the pastor, especially if that grandmother was of the race that the pastor weekly"s innuendo called the enemy would we think that was the right thing said and done? Absolutely not! Americas answer should be a resounding absolutely not to Obama! If it had been Clinton or McCain"s involvement with this kind of pastor and spiritual adviser the cry from the public and the media would be non stop as it absolutely should be. Obama"s handling of this issue should absolutely not be enough for any TYPICAL AMERICAN citizen of any race, creed, color, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

[djelimon]

" If it had been Clinton's or McCain's white pastor who preached not just 5 snippets but rather month after month, year after year that another race with in America is the enemy and America is not our friend because that race controls America"

You realize of course that Wright has said no such thing

[yourkillingmelarry]

I have seen this same comment on every article I have read about Jeremiah Wright and Obama's speech from the Huffpost to the Austin Weekly. Is somebody paying you?? I did not see or hear any semblance "Excuses! Rationalization! Continued allegiance!" I heard as straight forward a speech as anyone has been able to give on a topic as explosive as race in this country. No matter what Obama said it would never be enough for you or people like you. That is just a given in this election. The fact that Obama's polls did not collapse is an indication that that you are sitting in a minority opinion. An opinion that will hopefully grow smaller smaller with each passing year.

[vsign]

I think a new stereotype will emerge from Obama's campaign run - the black preacher man.

Obama has run his campaign on hating Hillary and Bill and this reminds me of Rev Wright sermons. Obama is a preacher and a little too much the intellectual snob. This image will be ridiculed by the Republicans - and rightly so, I might add.

Inspiring young people to not wait their turn, tear down the bridge to the past, focus abuse on the woman, and believe without question - are not good foundations for anything good happening in the end.

[TinaFreeman]

Obama has never made a "hateful" statement about Bill or Hillary. Where have you been?

Pointing out differences of opinion is not hateful, sorry. It's what political debate is supposed to be about. Obama is doing it right.

[anon004]

"a little too much the intellectual snob . . ." Yeah, because voting for the not-so-smart guy you'd rather have a beer with worked out SO well the last two times!

"This image will be ridiculed by the Republicans - and rightly so, I might add." Wow, you actually approve of Republican attempts to appeal to Americans' anti-intellectualism?

"Inspiring young people to not wait their turn, tear down the bridge to the past . . ." Since when has the presidency been a right of succession? Didn't we have a revolution 225+ years ago to get away from hereditary rulers?

" . . .believe without question . . . " Do you have an actual speech where Obama told his supporters they shouldn't question him? If so, please produce it. Only in the minds of charisma-challenged candidates like Hillary Clinton and her supporters could the ability to inspire people to action be a liablity.

[missette]

I'm sadly struck by this article by how perfect a president George W. Bush has been for the current state of the nation. Here, in Obama, we have a candidate who's highly accomplished, managed to master the thorny politics of Chicago - South Side no less, former President of the Harvard Law Review, inspirational in a way we haven't seen for decades, thoughtful, and poised and yet he has to keep proving not only himself tp us but anyone he's ever known as well. Bush, meanwhile, was given pass after pass when he could barely utter an unscripted sentence, often became petulant when his lack of knowledge was exposed, would only answer questions from "friendly" crowds,and surrounded himself with the likes of Rove. But, certainly he wore a flap lapel, thought the search for WMDs was a great subject for a home video - such a kidder, and was fun to have a beer with, and the media asked for nothing more. He was their guy. Bush had to transcend nothing (and believe me, he didn't), but no ladder is high enough for Obama. There's always one more rung to climb to "prove" that he's Black enough, White enough, common enough..

[jstock]

He does transcend race; it's the MSM and some of his opponents (I let you guess who) that are always bringing up his blackness or lack thereof. We really need to grow up in this country. We need to demand non-silly and adult news coverage. I will be unleashing a big old fashioned tirade at the NYT when I've finished this, because Ms. Dowd does this to our nominee EVERY TIME, and I've had it! These corporate media monsters are reason # 1043 why we need to maintain Net Neutrality. We must each remember to take what they say and write with a whole shaker's worth of salt.

Write the NYT and give 'em hell about the horrible cynicism of Maureen Dowd, folks. If you're a Hillary supporter and you haven't read Dowds recent stuff on her, I can only tell you that she doesn't write glowingly about Clinton either, not by a mile. It's important to call them on this stuff because it creates the meme for the rest of the lazy MSM to use. And so, we Democrats once again get it from both sides. Again, write the NYT and complain about this. If enough of us complain, believe me, they'll get the message.

[PioneerKing]

CARYL:
Why must blacks be required to transcend race yet asians, latinos, whites are not obligated to do so?

[4wehttam]

I agree with you on one hand, but I also believe that if an Asian or Latino American were running for potus people would be saying the same thing. No one should have to transcend race, but in this day and age, where race plays a big role, Obama is forced to transcend his race. And he HAS. He's done it beautifully.

The repugs, racists and fanatical Clintonites will be the ones bringing this issue to the forefront whenever they can..............i.e. Lanny Davis just wrote another Op-ed about Wright. Tthe Clinton camp won't bring it up themselves because it will look bad for Hillary, so their using him to do it.

[Zeusthunderbolt]

Part 1

Everytime the discussion of race and gender stops, I fail to see the three candidates as White man, woman and black man. I just begin to see them for who they are. Three candidates, who are trying to be president, presenting their case before me, why do they deserve my vote? I have asked a lot of friends, black and white, they all feel the same.

I think it is the politicians and the media who bring up race in a way as to inject it into the minds of the public. Left alone, all the candidates, would have been judged by their merit, and not their race or gender. HRC is the only candidate that I recall during a debate asking for votes of women voters. Her husband appeared to me in this campaign, to have wanted us to become aware that Obama is black so the whites would somehow find it difficult to vote for him. But above all, I find that it is the likes of Wolf Spitzer, who have done more to inject race into the public's minds. The repeated question they ask is, Does race matter? Will it drown Obama? Can he rise above race ? So on and on and on they go.


If no one was to question, ask, raise, discuss, race from here till the election, most voters would vote without racial or gender prejudice.

[ChrisS13]

That's somewhat naive. Not talking about it, is mis-leading, not talking about and nother will ever change. Just because no one talks about it doesn't mean everyone knows we have a black man, an old white man and a white woman. That's a reality. It's not like after SC someone said "Wholly Shit, you mean Barack Obama is black"

YOu can blame Clintons supporters if you choose, but Obama supporters have shown to be very sexist in the comments.

[Zeusthunderbolt]

Part 2
Unfortunately, there is too much money to be made by instigating racial hatred by the media. For ruling elite, the office of the presidency and its power is too important , not to inject racial hatred or any other means to retain it. There is also too much money at stake in every divorce white and black, for gender to be left alone.
.

Both race, to instigate hate, and gender to rally support will remain inalienable and essential tools and components in this race for the white house. And in the end they might prove to be essential ingrediants and tools as envisioned by the likes of Bill Clinton ( a political genius ), and implemented by their lackeys ( the so called independent Journalists of the free world like Wolf ) that will win the all important post with the ability to order 3 am strikes against any in the world, 3 am FBI raids into political enemy homes, 3 am fundraising phone calls, and last but not the least, the speaking fees that come with the title President after leaving office.

[PioneerKing]

Rev. Hagee and Rev. Pardee will be used by the Democrats.

[AnitaBee]

You're missing the point. Obama has spoken to Americans honestly, like they're intelligent enough to understand that corporatism is the problem, not their next-door neighbors.

And you know what's wonderful? The majority of people who have voted so far in the Democratic primaries and caucuses have proven they really ARE intelligent enough to get this.

Americans, against all my expectations, anyway, are showing themselves to be thoughtful, involved citizens who understand nuance and want change.

Race is only an issue among people who can't figure out how else to stop his momentum. There are racists in this countries just like there are sexists. There always will be. He's not allowing himself to be distracted by it -- and neither is most of America.

[ChrisS13]

So what you are saying is that anyone who doesn't vote for Obama is an ignorant racist? What kind of ignorant hateful speak is that? IS that what the Change motto is all about.

[rgersmrk]

I don't think Mr. Obama's skin color will affect his chances in the general election nearly as much as Mrs. Clinton's last name will (also the GOP will pull the "female" card out on her as well unfortunately).

Mr. Obama will do fine. He needs to stay the course, continue to address issues head on and treat people like they are adults.

I did get a feeling that I was all of the sudden stuck in the past reading this article. Hopefully Ms. Rivers can move beyond her stereotypes and look at the candidate for who they are, not what color their skin is.

[amamomofsons]

I had dinner with a fool who still uses the N word in civilized company two weeks ago. It was by accident that I was at his table at a Florida Country Club, but it made me realize that there are still ignorant fools out there, even in so called educated circles. I will say this. I think that the Tiger Wood phenomenon opened huge doors in everything from sports to politics in this country. His multiracial heritage has worked to enlighten many and his admirers can attest to his class and honorable behavior in a world of bigots and racists . It took a young powerful, intelligent sportsman to turn the tide where others have failed. YOU GO OBAMA! YOU GO HILLARY! These are amazing times for us all.

[TheRebel82]

Obama will handle these right-wing clows with witty retorts. I'm confident in his ability to defend hismelf. Look how well he's done against the smearing of the Clinton machine.

[SCMagnolia]

Really, what does "transcend the thorny question of race in American politics" mean? This oft-used meme gets on my last nerve with its implication that once a Black person "transcends," they are NOW a more acceptable, even likeable person with whom whites can deal. Sounds like "racism" is the "research" that "FINDS" these well-worn stereotypes you've listed.

I'm not an Obama supporter, but I am a Black woman with two grown sons. And while I did NOT "socialize" my sons as described above " except maybe to not come up against the authorities if they're stopped by a white cop on a dark road somewhere with no witnesses - you better know I did teach them the truth about people who, as a result of "research," might not have their lives or best interests at heart.

I have neither the luxury nor the inclination to "transcend the thorny question of race in American politics" - or anywhere else for that matter. That's how we got where we are today. If Barack Obama is the nominee, the only line I expect him to be walking, difficult or not, is the one begun in truth (not transcending) and leading to some semblance of honest governance - for a change.

Oh, and by the way, given the antics of the CIA and J. Edgar Hoover's COINTELPRO, you might just find some people who believe there was something to Stokely's take on institutional racism and Huey"s stand against the police abuse of power against

[jdm58]

Great post!

[SCMagnolia]

jdm58...Thanks! The last word got cut off for some reason - "police abuse of power against Blacks." is what it should have said (a little OCD kicking in!.)

[AnninCA]

Dang, Dowd is sharp-tongued, eh?

But that was funny.

I just think he should steer clear of bowing. :)

[grendl]

If you're having a real problem figuring out who Barack Obama is, just listen to what he has to say.

The real conundrum in this race has been Hillary Clinton, a white woman like yourself.

She's been the one who's been changing colors like a chameleon in this race, at one moment the dutiful Democrat, expressing the importance of putting a donkey in the Oval Office, the next endorsing an elephant.

At one moment crying for this country, another strongarming superdelegates to buckle to her whims or face the consequences. Those aren't pantsuits, they're second skins which can be shed depending on the political climate.

I know this is a well intentioned piece, but the reference to fifty year old stereotypes shows a profound disconnect. The youth vote have gotten past race, that's why Barack's doing so well. It's the older folk, who can't seem to reconcile their own experience is a racially divided past that have the problem.