On Obama Not Going to Memphis

I want to say that I'm deeply disappointed that my dear brother Barack Obama decided not to go pay tribute and lay his wreath for the great Martin Luther King, Jr. That brother Martin's profound love and deep sacrifice for black people, America and humanity is in no way reducible to political calculations, even for the campaign for presidency. That Martin Luther King Jr.'s deep commitment to unarmed truth and unconditional love can in no way be subject to strategies for access to political power. Hence, I have a very deep disagreement with my dear brother, Barack Obama -- in this case, commitment to truth is in tension with the quest for power.

Comments

[mrdontplay]

Mr. West,

I understand your point of view but I think honoring MLK doesn't require his attendence at the observation in Memphis.

I think this could have been done ANYWHERE in the world.

The message the Dr. King stood for is UNIVERSAL and maybe not going to the south can help spread the message.

I don't see it as a mistake, I don't think he can cater to everything that's out there with an appearnce.

Will you also be disappointed if he doesn't attend next year, and the next?

See this is the lapel pin effect.

Is it important to visit the site and reflect or to keep working and LIVING THE DREAM?

[djelimon]

Didn't Obama already visit King's family a few weeks earlier? Didn't King's family not show up to Memphis either? Didn't Obama try and talk about MLK's dream on that day albeit in a different state?

Seems to me the people in Memphis already know about MLK. They don't need Obama to tell them about him. But others do.

Reconciliation is a two-way street my friends. It requires both parties to venture out from where they are to meet the other. Obama's taking it to places outside of Memphis.

Don't be trolled by racial politics into voting against your own interests. The separate camps must unite. This requires all of people, black, white or whatever, to seek out people outside of your normal circle of friends and communicate.

Personally, I think Obama's not throwing Wright under the bus is a bigger endorsement of King and his ideals (King preached a lot like Wright) that going to some photo-op.

My opinion, of course.

FWIW, i am biracial

[speedy2009]

West and Smiley have the right to their opinion and critique of Obama. However, if Obama listened to them he would have been out of the race along time ago.

[dtd]

And I think that may very well be Tavis's objective.

[BrooklynLager]

I respect the opinion of Cornell West, although I don't agree with him on everything. This is a good example; Cornell West, as a literature buff, is so hung up on symbols that it clouds his thinking. That being said, and in all respect, why is his opinion any different than anybody elses?

What gives him and Tavis Smiley such cultural veto power over every black person? Have you ever organized anything? Led anything? I'm so sick of the commentariat class.

[jayburd]

I really think Dr. King would understand. In fact, he would probably encourage the good Senator to focus his attention on his task rather than laying a wreath. After all, isn't what Mr. Obama is doing right now the culmination of Dr. King's dream?

[drmommy]

...What is the true meaning of 'crabs in a barrel'?

[NursePatric]

No Memphis; no dialogue with or mention of Gays: He is not representing.

[AjicNYC]

It was just sad to see the mostly African American community in Mephis with tears in their eyes and holding candles and having to listen to McCain talk about how he voted against MLK day. While Obama stayed on his campaign trail tlking to the whites

oh ad i forgot to give the proper opening to my post

I am WHITE male

[drmommy]

Then perhaps as a white male you also missed all the BOOS that were showered upon McCain with the rain. The 'African-American' community understood that although Hillary and McCain 'showed up', they were physically absent from the actual march (Al Sharpton referred to their appearances as 'drive-by's'). Also, in case you haven't noticed, Obama is actually running an organized campaign that can't always stop for every 'African-American' function as you might expect him to...but then again...he is not your typical black male is he?

[SCMagnolia]

Actually he is.

[JosephGapp]

Barry, As it is said has almost learned the Art of faking it till you make it. A year young than me, bright, eloquent as well as strategic, yet still making mistakes.

Ultimately someone will pull of his mask find an old white guy named Newt Gingrich. He has paid close attention to the importance of the message, the importance of the attack and response to attacks. He hasn't until recently taken a solid stance on any specific issue. And when questioned simply utters some grand idea while down playing the question. Specifically if you look at the attack responses his campaign uses they are right out of Newts use of the language Play book. In it your opponent is corupt, dark, demented, dellusional. In it you are Bright, inspiring, clear, and innovative.
Change and hope are your friends...­they are superficial but in a TV conditioned electorate soaring praise appeals and policy talk puts to sleep.

He is so Ronald "well, there you go again" Reagan. Ultimately if he is elected we will get what we don't deserve.

He needs to do the right thing and Concede to save us and nation.

[copesthetics]

get over it, dude. you can honor the man ... anywhere, like in your heart for instance. why does he have to parade around for the cameras? oh, because two-bit intellectuals like you, stuck in your ivory tower where pro forma is the end all be all, will hassle him. that's right, brother, west, pro forma.

[Selam]

Prof. West

Obama is a principled, responsible and ethically driven politician. He is navigating well under tremendous pressure from Clintons and the right wingers – he was not absent from remembering the horrible day of King’s assassination. It was a sad day for Obama and for many peace loving people – he was present, so do I, in spirit, pushing King’s dreams to end racism and bringing justice for all – he showed up.

Prof. West, you are a master for interpretation, and I don’t expect you to miss this – Obama was present so do others wherever they are.

[Endora]

I think people should let up on Obama. If he had gone to Memphis, then people who are nervous or looking for ammunition because of the flap over his church affiliation, would try to find a way to use that against him, trying to marginalize him and stirring up fears among the Archie Bunkers of the planet. He is trying to fulfill MLK's dream and has a very real chance of doing it. He has not backed away from discussing race and yet is able to come back time and again from those who attempt to pigeonhole him. That is no small feat, considering that he is being attacked by rabid Hillary supporters as well as neo-cons.

[dora rice]

I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS YOUR BROTHER. UNLESS YOU ARE A COMMUNIST. THEY CALL EACH OTHER BROTHERS. I NEVER HEARD A WHITE CALLING THEIR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE A BROTHER.

[kenyaw]

They are brothers. It is a term of endearment used by a lot of us in the African-Am community.
I believe that you already know that in anyway. It comes from our faith communities. We will continue to refer to each as brothers and sisters, just so you know.
To the point of the post, I agree with most people on here, that you don’t have to go to any particular ceremony to show your commitment to the cause for equality or your grief for an American hero.
Senator Obama can do that anywhere he wants to do it.
However, Dr. West has the right to be disappointed as well. Honoring Dr. King’s legacy is not a black or a white thing. It is just the correct thing to do.

[djelimon]

We are all brothers under God my friend

[RonRico]

I agree with you Mr. West and I've seen this tendency in Obama with other matters; it's subtle but nevertheless, it's there. I have a lingering question: Is Obama in it to serve or to rule?

[maxwellinformed]

Being there in Memphis would have been playing politics, and not the other way around. What John McCain was doing in Memphis was obvious ploy to make nice with his anti-King Holiday anti-Civil Rights Laws actions. Obama's speech in Indiana was much more than just a political photo op if you actually listened to the message. If ever other presidential candidate is in Memphis for photo ops, then where's the criticism of their political chess games? Does the man's message not mean anything to you because he didn't give it in the state you wanted him to? With all due respect, you Dr. West are wrong.

[Pressmatters]

That is the kind of critical-assessment from an Obama-supporter(Dr. West), that gladens me.