Obama Is Just Not A Good Negro

I'm about at the end of my rope as it relates to giving certain people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to how they respond to and treat Barack Obama and his family.

By "certain people" I am referring to the mainstream media (MSM) and to be frank, conservatives, most of whom are white, but by no means is this category limited only to whites. And by the way, I include some Hillary supporters and other Democrats in this category as well, because I don't for a minute believe just being in the Democratic Party makes one truly liberal or progressive.

But I have tried for quite some time in this campaign, and even before, as it relates to other situations in my lifetime, to give people the benefit of the doubt, to offer potential excuses for behavior that is so undeniably indicative of at minimum a double standard for how minorities are treated as compared to whites, and at worst, outright racism, and I do hesitate most of the time to use that word.

What has become very clear to me in the aftermath of Obama's historic trip to the Middle East and Europe is that the root of the opposition to, and extremely palpable dislike for Obama (and Michelle), is that he is just not behaving like the good negro that is expected of him. He has stepped out of his "place," beyond his station, into a position that was not agreed to and chosen for him by others. In short, he is being "uppity," that ultimate charge leveled at blacks for generations when they dared try to equate themselves with those who they should know are better than them.

Just look at some of the things that have been said, loudly and quietly, about Obama since this trip, which clearly pushed some of these people over the edge. In report after report, comment after comment, you could hear the grumblings. Obama was acting like a rock star; Obama was already acting like he was President; Obama was presumptuous; the trip and his talking in front of large crowds are symptomatic of Obama's hubris, his arrogance.

It was truly strange. Here you had an American man who was welcomed with open arms, indeed with great excitement about a new era that he just might represent, and many on the right (and some in his own party) were acting like he did something wrong. The double standard that couldn't be missed was that John McCain had essentially taken the same trip, and more, since he also went to Mexico and Colombia. And not once do I recall the MSM, or even the Democrats, questioning his right to go and the value of such a trip. Not once. But Obama goes and is greeted with much more excitement (an understatement) and he has to defend the trip. Outrageous. It is like Obama said himself at the Unity Conference this weekend in Chicago, it's like he is being punished for doing the trip better than McCain could. And for being more popular.

But you see, I don't ultimately think it is about whether or not Obama did it better or not. It is increasingly clear that this is about the fact that seeing a Black man (at least one who identifies as such in his case) in front of that crowd in Germany, seeing him with those heads of state, in a role as possible leader of the free world, was just too much. True colors are just starting to bleed through. We could see it coming with some people even before this trip. There were comments that Barack and Michelle were trying to act like the Black Kennedy's and there was, and still is of course, the much talked about charge that they are elitists. This charge has always been the most curious. It has come mostly, though not entirely, from Republicans who elected a current President who comes from generations of money and truly elite circles. How much more elite can a person be when their father was a President? Even McCain and his wife fit the definition of elite better, his father a Navy Admiral and his wife from one of the wealthiest families in the country. The Obama's, by all accounts, are from working class homes with no one in their families in a position to have "given" them anything they got. And yet it is the Obama's who are called elite.

No, they are not elitist. They are just minorities who are above and beyond what certain people are used to seeing, are better than what certain people are comfortable accepting since they do force the undeniable realization that they are indeed anybody's equal. And that just seems to be too much for some people to handle.

And now, according to Politco.com, McCain's new strategy is to go even further and try to make stick the notion that Obama is simply "not American enough." Which, no matter how you slice that, ultimately is code for he doesn't look like what an "American" should look like. It'll be interesting to see how far he gets with this one. But I have no doubt that there are many out there who deep down believe dark skin is not representative of 'America," at least not for our highest leader. It is clear, that no matter what Obama did, said, or does, he will never be acceptable, not because of his liberal positions, because we have had liberals run for office before, and because we saw and still see with some Hillary supporters, even being liberal is not enough. No, he will never be acceptable to this segment of our society simply because of his skin color. Political disagreements are not uncommon and are expected. But what we are seeing cannot be explained simply as partisan discourse.

There really is no other way to explain this double standard in treatment and response, this constant cry that Obama is presumptuous, arrogant, elitist and any number of other nicer ways to say he is not behaving as a good minority should, which is done by accepting only what is given, and by not daring to overshadow or overstep the white man, or woman as he did in Hillary's case.

He is just not supposed to be where he is and doing what he is doing. Ultimately that is one change too far and too fast for those in our society who cling to the old ways and outdated concepts of societal and world order.

Follow Earnest Harris on Twitter: www.twitter.com/earnestharris

Comments

[trubluelefty]

Wonderful article... More please!

[boonjava]

Thanks for posting this. I honestly believe there are some unreachable individuals, even though we should never stop trying. There are some mindsets that will never leave until an entire generation dies off. Obama has come to exemplify the personal qualities we generally desire in presidents, except half his blood comes from a race not usually associated with the position of American Presidency.

I really thought than in the face of a shameful war, a crumbling economy and a scary future, Americans would be unconcerned with something as trivial as skin color. Suddenly, people have a problem with an American who spent a portion of his childhood in Indonesia. Then there's notion that he's arrogant because he's confident, or that he's being too forward because he thinks ahead.

Why aren't people hammering McCain for the subliminal racial undertones of his "Celeb" ad? Racially emasculating the first African American presidential nominee by likening him to a pair of infamous blonde, white, intellectually challenged women. What, Will Smith wasn't available? Denzel? Reagan was a celebrity and so is Arnold. Even if this stark, racial disparity were lost on Obama, you know damn sure it didn't escape Michelle.

[Twentylaws]

Welcome to a New World Order! Its as if the atmosphere over America is breaking another crack in the ceiling of hatred and racism! I believe Americans are seeing probably for the first time how low Republicans can go! If Obama did not proclaim in his many speeches he could win...demonstrate it with confidence, style and grace then why waste Americans time by running at all?

Republicans are "stuck on stupid" refusing to throw away the old playbook! Too little, too late for them to change course and convince the American public of a new vision ( ie tell em what they want to hear biz) in 90 days! Let's "elevate" Obama up out of these accusations of presumptuousness and onward to greatness! Go Obama Go!

[Tayo]

Mr Harris hits the nail on the head. Thank you for a job well-done!

[cryingmoon]

Earnest! We could talk! I am a 68-year-"young" White Female, born and raised in rural North Carolina. I know Jim Crow; lived and participated in discrimination.... fear and cultural ignorance. Yet I have been "granted the privilege" of being able to move beyond this undying disgrace. When Hillary "suggested" that "anything" could happen in June, my emotions "ran the scale".

So frustrated am I over the accusations of arrogance/­uppitiness­/presumptu­ousness/et­c.! When Michelle Obama was proud of America(really) for the first time in her adult life...., so was I. I longed to embrace her, absorb whatever anger she might understandably harbor, reassure her that in America, it is possible to "heal" misguided perceptions. No, I am not guilt ridden as a "White", nor am I self-rightous about my "enlightenment". I just know what is possible in ones heart and brain?....if one is willing to progress.

Yes, Earnest.....the Black-enou­gh/too-Bla­ck may just finish off a country breathing its last breath. I remain...angry, sad, and hopeful. Our only recourse is to get out the vote.

Secretly I wonder....why would Barack Obama want to be President, facing the mess left behind by the Republicans, even if the path were a cake-walk? Facing these attacks makes me wonder more. If he told "us" to take this failing economy, wars, energy crisis, health care disaster, et al, and figure it out without him, I would not blame him.

[Earnest Harris - Huffpost Blogger]

I really appreciate all the comments. It's good to know I wasn't just imagining these things and that I am not alone in these feelings.

Though I suppose some will think we're all just hallucinating and seeing something that is not there. But at least we're all having the same hallucination, right?

[robXdion]

No you're not imagining these things. I've often posted the SAME argument. Sometimes to even see it deleted because the truth is so inflammatory. If you've spent any amount of your youth in the South, what is happening in this campaign in regards to race is standard operating procedure. Since the 80s even calling out racist insinuations is more egregious than the initial insinuation. Ergo, the coining the "race card" phrase, which is really a metaphor for summarily calling out racists and making them feel guilty.

[tellit]

Thanks Earnest, great article. The MSM will continue the same exact track. Just tip around the issue with kid gloves. The low infomation voters will vote for McSame and then complain later that no one is looking our for them. No jobs, no food. The repubs gave this country exactly what it deserved. The ignorant vote ruled. This time we have a chance to change this situation. Thank God.

Your article also makes a great point about Obama and race. Now that Obama is becoming very well known, there are people in this country that are becoming very afraid of this black man leading this country. No matter that the world see something very good in his potential, some would rather see this country destroyed.

Just think for a moment, There are a lot of people that die and leave this world with these ignorant views. It does not matter about the future of their love ones or the country.

Last point, my patriotism is my precious right to vote even if this country still has to renew the rights for Black AMERICAN to vote while everyone else does not have to worry about that. Hopefully, Barack will change that once he is POTUS.

[galinha]

Mr Harris you have put in black and white what has been in my thoughts for quite some time. I have watched the double standards in the media and the unprovoked Obama bashing for so long and have often been driven to deep anger and despair. What has transpired in the media especially since Mr Obama's return from the successful Europe and Middle East trip has been most revealing.
Mr Obama is breaking stereotypes without lifting a finger. He is challenging the core ideologies of the KKK and many so called white conservatives in both the Republican and Democratic parties---that a Black person is inferior. If Mr Obama becomes President what will they use to justify their ideology? This for them is simply too much to bear. Its not about Mr Obama and whether he is qualified to be President. Its about a potential new order ----respect for the non-white American.

[mom2sons]

Finally, someone has put it out on the table. Now, if the MSM could put it out on the table as well. They don't like "uppity" negroes now or back in the day.

[tel8034]

AMEN, AMEN .................. Thanks for writing about the elephant in the room which is only spoken about in whispered conversations behind closed doors.

When Cohen said today that people still don't know who Obama is and what he is about, unlike McCain who is a POW and therefore has INTEGRITY, I almost threw a brick at the TV screen, because he was essentially saying that while McCain has intergrity Obama doesn't...­..........­. How dare he, when one only has to compare the 2 on family values, respect for women etc.

Obama has had to work harder in the primary and now the general than ANY other WHITE candidate, and he is STILL expected to jump through every hoop somebody holds up.

The criticisms about Obama - ELITIST, POMPOUS, PRESUMPTUOUS, ARROGANT, ACTS AS IF HE'S ALREADY PRESIDENT, ETC, are considered attributes to be admired when the same is applied to McCain.

It's been 40 years since the MLK dream speech and minorities are still fighting to be REALLY treated as equals.

If Obama with all his wonderful attributes was a white candidate he would now be at 60% - 70% in the polls.

I still can't believe that people would prefer to vote for 4 more Bush years before they vote for the Democratic presidential candidate, JUST BECAUSE HE'S BLACK.

[garth1066]

It just is not possible that the first black man to rise to this level without having race and racism be an issue. The first minority to accomplish anything extraordinary always bring these attitudes to the surface. Then, people get over it and its done. It is good to acknowledge it though, and to bring it ti light as you have done. It would be a tragedy for Mr. Obama to fail because of this BS. Thank you for the BLOG.

[ericmiami]

This column needed to be written. Thanks, Earnest. Too true and too sad. This bitter old white guy is voting for Obama.

[FogCityJohn]

Bravo, Mr. Harris. It's high time that someone pointed this out with the directness that you have. It's just too bad that it took an African-American to flag it. I would like to think that white Americans are capable of recognizing what's going on here, but sadly, perhaps I'm mistaken.

Anyway, thanks for saying something that needed to be said.

[kristycu]

You know what i believe there is a another Huffposter here that mentions the same thing. I think the title is something like"Obama doesn't know his place" i believe the writer is caucasion, but i can't be sure not the best of picture. It is actually a good article as well

[SurrealPumpkin]

The thought of getting stuck with McMediocre because some people can't recognize talent when they see it is appalling (sp?)

[justyn1976]

Sad to consider, but it seems like a plausible explanation for the seeminlgy deep seated dislike for Obama (and his family) by some of the McCain/Hillary supporters out there. Plausible in that their other arguments for disliking Obama (he is a sexist, arrogant mudslinger) just don't hold true when you look at his campaign.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I believe the term is "projection"
Typical in people with very low self esteem.

[blaqntelligence]

PREACH IT!!!!!!! *fist bump*

[KNadine]

WELL!!! tap, tap tap