Is Black America Strong Enough For An Obama Presidency?
African-Americans should be careful of what they wish for. They just might get it.
In February of last year when Sen. Barack Obama officially began his run to be the Democratic nominee for president, the collective response by black Americans was "Well, whoop-tee-do!" if poll reports are to be trusted. Political pundits intoned that he might not be black enough for most African-Americans.
Over the past year and a half, according to those same polls and pundits, black America has revised its opinion about Obama. African-Americans now shout "Run, Obama, run!" and celebrate as they see him seemingly on the cusp of clinching the Democratic nomination, and perhaps in November grabbing the brass ring to become America's first black president. (Note: the one drop rule for being "black" is still in full effect.)
But should black folk be celebrating? If elected to the nation's highest office, President Obama will likely be unable to effectively address problems that disproportionately affect black Americans.
Obama's campaign has already been under intense scrutiny about how "black" it is. Just one example occurred four months ago when Sen. Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, said "for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country. . ." referring to her feeling that America was poised for positive change. Her husband's critics descended like a vortex of angry hornets on what Fox News called her "newfound national pride."
The next day Cindy McCain, the wife of Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain, volunteered: "I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country."
Of course, those words come easily to Mrs. McCain: She is rich, white, and blond to boot. But for black Americans who like all Americans carry in their pockets portraits of slave holders -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson -- to be blindly patriotic is to be blind to important parts of American history. It is to be blind to their personal experience which is pockmarked, albeit less frequently of late, with injustices due solely to the color of their skin.
True: Sen. Obama's official campaign Web site addresses not only the war in Iraq, the economy and health care, but unlike the websites of Senators Clinton and McCain, Obama addresses civil rights in a ways that seem to have particular relevance to black Americans. In that section he promises to "ban racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies and provide federal incentives to state and local police departments to prohibit the practice", "Reduce Crime Recidivism by Providing . . . job training, substance abuse and mental health counseling to ex-offenders, so that they are successfully re-integrated into society," and to "Eliminate Sentencing Disparities. . .between sentencing crack and powder-based cocaine. . . ."
But if elected president how far would he get in implementing these reforms before he'd be accused of instituting a "black agenda," which one can only imagine is a sepia-tinted Protocols of the Elders of Zion. (The term "black agenda" was actually cited last week on National Public Radio by a Florida voter as a reason some people won't mark their ballot for Obama.)
If Obama is elected commander-in-chief, mainstream America will watch him like a hawk, and it's easy to suppose that progress will stall for the neediest segment of black America.
I base my assumption on my observations of a vocal segment of my fellow countrymen. In January of last year, for instance, in a conversation on a radio talk show about the two head black coaches at the Super Bowl, a male caller, who identified himself as white, said, "Now they'll finally have their black Super Bowl coach no matter what. What more do they want!?"
In a March 2006 review of race in television that ran in a prominent newspaper, the critic mentioned the program "Grey's Anatomy," noting:
"For obvious historic reasons, networks are geared to be most attuned to African-American concerns. Some shows try a little too hard: 'Grey's Anatomy,' set in Seattle, has among its lead characters three African-American surgeons and one Asian-American. . ."
It's likely that the person who tried "a little too hard," was not a network executive, but Shonda Rhimes, the creator and producer of the hour-long drama, who is black. But of course the television critic didn't know that.
In 2002 Pat Oliphant, the Pulitzer prize-winning political cartoonist, drew a four panel strip about slavery reparations. I've tried to find an online copy of the cartoon, but it seems to have vanished like an entry in the old Soviet encyclopedia. Still, accounts by the Associated Press and the Student Press Law Center, a non-profit organization in Arlington, Va, confirm my memory of the strip: In it Oliphant depicts a conversation between Abraham Lincoln and one of his advisers. Lincoln is offering black people civil rights, affirmative action and "all sorts of other preferential entitlements." (I was tickled to see Mr. Oliphant refer to civil rights as a "preferential" entitlement.)
In the strip the advisor tells Lincoln, "They want all that and the money." In the corner of one panel, Oliphant's trademark penguin adds, "They also demand the Academy Awards."
If Sen. Obama is elected president, mainstream America will likely say, "You black people have your Miss Americas. You have your black Super Bowl coach. You even have your Academy Award winners. And now, finally, you have your black president. What more do you want!?"
While it's unlikely McCain or Clinton will do anything to address problems specific to black America, it's unlikely Obama will be able to. No matter who is elected in November, the new administration will inaugurate a new era for native-born Americans of African decent. They will have to bring their full powers of analysis to figure out effective strategies for economic, political and educational progress. Regardless of who becomes president, black America will need to not only put on its collective thinking cap, but also fasten its collective seat belt, because the next few years will be a very bumpy ride.
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For anyone to deny that all minorities are at a disadvantage in America, is to exist in denial.
To expect Obama or McCain tomagically change your life for the better overnight is naive.
The whole appeal of the Obama presidency is that he is daring us to become the voice and chairman for our own communities. Most immediate appeals for people are to their cities and states. That is where you start to make inroads to change.
I have been volunteering for the campaign, and I am seeing groups of like-minded people gathering together, not only to get Obama elected, but organizing community improvement projects, every other weekend, to address areas of need in our own community.
If you have become engaged in following this race, then you are capable of extending your hand in helping those in your community who are in need.
Obama 08
Absolutely - I agree. . . (Eric, author of the article)
Note to the author: Can we plz - finally - stop talking about skin color? It's getting old. I don't care what color Barack's skin is - it's his ideas and words and vision that impress me. That's why he's got my vote.
Regarding the last paragraph- is that a bad thing? No matter if he wins or loses, or what happens if he does win, the around-the bend reaction to his candidacy by many (even liberal) whites should give us pause. Along with things like Katrina and the effective gutting of Brown v. Board, should be taken as a lesson, and we should implement that lesson by widening the focus to include both the political and self-help sides of the equation. There are opportunities in everything, and we should make this an opportunity to realize that, among other things:
-Some things are never going to change vis-a-vis "race relations".
-The emotional disconnect we have with America is not neccessarily a bad thing.
-We need to understand (as other peoples do) that the world is about competition, and stop being the only ones who actually BELIEVE (rather than just pretend to believe) the platitudes about it not being about group competition. It is.
the skin color thing may be "getting old," but it's ain't going no where no time soon. As I said in another part of these comments, if it's not going anywhere, black folk can embrace it and change the meaning.
And that's what I feel Obama does. He sees no contradiction between being a proud black man and being a proud human being, who leads a progressive coalition of black, brown, white and yellow. One pride does not exclude the other.
Yes, you are correct. But all Presidents are "watched carefully" for bias. It is true that a black President cannot heap goodies on black constituents; less so than a white President. All in all, though, a black President would be significant step psychologically. After all, how many European countries have had black prime ministers (or even black nominees for same)? The Obama candidacy puts America on the bleeding edge.
We're all moving past these race-specific issues. America will benefit from Obama's leadership, that that will include people of all races.
No one is going to ignore the problems specific to black Americans, and Obama isn't going to allow the current Republican-formed racial attitudes in the foothills of Appalachia and blue collar America stop him.
He'll help those people with their problems, too, and help them shift their resentment from blacks to the people who are actually screwing them. I doubt that mine owners, the failed auto business "leaders" or any of the usual parasitic interest groups will send Obama much money! And he doesn't need their pieces of silver, he's being funded by US, the American people.
Obama has become the presumptive nominee in part by appearing to be race neutral. I don't see why he would govern any differently. He is turning out to be a brilliant politician with excellent instincts, his campaign against Hillary Clinton has confirmed my choice of him every step of the way. Calm and cool and more than able to counter any critic.
Any president should address the few issues presented in the article, disparities in sentencing, prisons overflowing with nonviolent offenders, racial profiling. Any policy to fight poverty and to strengthen the middle class is clearly about strengthening the entire nation and not just African Americans.
November may see a landslide in the Democrats' favor in Congress, progress on these issues have been blocked by Republicans for years. This will be the time to address these issues no matter who is in the White House and I trust that Obama will have the skills to convince people that he is not governing with a preference for only one segment of the population, he has been convincing so far.
The stakes have never been higher: the planet is dying, the end of oil is here, and in the US there are over 2 million people behind bars. Life expectancy is declining, infant mortality rising and the gap between the rich and poor (globally and nationally) has grown exponentially. If we really want justice, if we really want change it’s not up to Obama. It’s up to an energized, committed, mobilized and organized activist citizenry. We (and here the “we” includes not just African Americans, but people of all sorts who have suffered) need to strap on our “thinking caps,” and more importantly we need to be engaged in democracy, to make change our daily business and the work of our lives. We need to lobby, petition, knock on doors, write letters to the editor, craft blog responses, and run for office. This is about being organized, being disciplined and working together. It’s about holding Obama, and all elected officials accountable. Obama managed to win the Democratic nomination because he relied on the power of ordinary people, the people whose lives are at stake. I don’t know how this is going to play out, because we make the road by walking. I do know that every one of us will have to rearrange our lives to make central the struggle for justice and change.
Here's my prediction: Obama whips McCain soundly and goes on to become a great president.
Not that I have to say this, but I am a black woman and really, I'm more concerned that AMERICA is ready for Barack Obama.
Divisiveness comes from both sides and I don't like it any more when it comes from this angle.
I think America is more than ready for President Barack Obama; I think America wants and needs President Barack Obama. We are ready to have a president that we believe in and trust; who speaks for all of us, not just the rich and powerful. I am white and I will proudly vote for him and know in my heart that he will be one of the best presidents this country has ever had.
We Americans must do our part to make things change as he has told us. We must take our country back.
"If elected to the nation's highest office, President Obama will likely be unable to effectively address problems that disproportionately affect black Americans".
Obama says he wants to "do something" about the mass incarceration of young black males. Its about time. And its not a black agenda. Its a justice agenda. Obama says government assistance should be provided for poor people, regardless of their race or gender. Its about time. And its not a black agenda. Its a justice agenda. If Obama becomes president it will be because white folks voted for him. When that sinks in, there will be a lessening of racial tension. That in itself is progress.
Um, I don't understand why the author can't even acknowledge that McCain has long been in favor of affirmative action. For some reason, his blanket statement that "it's unlikely McCain or Clinton will do anything to address problems specific to black America" is just false given the record. But then again, why not just massage the facts to suit the story.
McCain is showing himself to be the same kind or reflexive liar as Hillary, his pal. How can anyone believe anything he says? He's abandoned his criticism of the Bush tax cuts, he's shut up about torture, he' embraced the wingnut religious right he once disdained. And Obama recognizes the imperfections of affirmative action, as he made clear in his speech on race.
I'm the author - Perhaps I should have made it clearer that I was only looking at the candidates' Web site. Fact is, Obama has an entire section devoted to Civil Rights. It's called "Civil Rights."
Clinton and McCain did not have a section so labled. To me, regardless of where the candidates might have addressed civil rights, Obama devoting a section to it indicated an emphasis.
Posts like this are part of the problem of why some white Americans have reservations about voting for a "black" candidate. The notion that because he is black, Barack should pay more attention to the needs of black Americans is unfair to him and an insult to the rest of America--especially the non-blacks that voted for him. If he manages to take the White House, he will be the president of the United States, not the president of the United States of black America.
The problems that face black America are not unique; they are the same ones that other groups face to some extent or another: poverty, lack of education, crime, teenage pregnancy etc. These problems do not require special programs just for blacks nor should the president spend more attention on them solely because they are more pervasive in the black community. Quite frankly, the black community would be better served if it took ownership of these problems and addressed personal responsibility rather than waiting on some magical fix by the government.
If Barack becomes president he will have enough on his plate dealing with the issues of the nation writ large, without being saddled with the baggage of having to also be the champion of black Americans, or any other "special" group for that matter.
Say' Eric, get off the "Race crap", Im Native American and Black and to many folks continue to be blinded by the "Race game.
Tthe wonderful thing is that Obama is mixed race: He's the embodiment of our multiracial society. He's labeled as African American which isaccurate (African father, caucasian American mother), and he looks like a "black man." That said, it will not be his job to specifically fix Black America's problems or any other particular groups'--his charge and agenda is much higher than that. If he does well and has proper support from his cabinet and Congress, he'll help foster a climate in which Americans (color/gender/etc. unimportant) can flourish.
I think it's unfortunate that you see the presidents on the money as "portraits of slave holders." That ugly time in our history will never unhappen, but to use it today to fuel a sense of injustice is counterproductive. Moreover, your stating that if he's elected, "mainstream America will likely say, 'You black people have your..." is intentionally divisive and does nothing for your argument--it detracts from it. Who's "mainstream America?" Non-black people? Am I part of this group who is going to say that?
Mr. Copage, you have an audience, and you are at liberty to convey any message you want to that audience. My hope for you and your readers (of all races) is that your future message is far more hopeful and uniting. I hope for you that this current gloomy perspective on the potential impact of an Obama presidency changes, and that you become part of the dialog of solutions.
The mixed-race, "black" description dilemma reveals the idiocy and unscientific nature of these social distinctions. There's the old "one drop" definition, there are "mixed race" people who in some circumstances are described as a unique group. There are black "nationalists" and integrationists.
Count me as a white integrationist, I suppose. I'm Hungarian, which means that some of my ancestors were Asians, so I guess I'm also "mixed race." Does that matter? NO!
Phooey on all these divisive and ultimately meaningless distinctions. The original dream was and IS integration. One nation, one people, like the motto says "e pluribis unum."
Nothing like raining on the parade right as our candidate clinches the nomination. Obama has gotten past seeing things as black vs. white. You should too.
The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. The only glasses the president is allowed to wear are rose colored ones. But I digress. Nothing has been won yet. Democrats still have a major Obama baggage problem. The Stump is a cruel mistress. Should Obama learn it the hard way, I suspect, his journey will be unrewarded. But consider this, Harry Truman didn't want to run at all and eventually revealed a character and resolve not visible on first glance. History had other plans for him and he answered the call. Do be careful what you wish for, you often get it is very apt. The non-black voter is not keenly interested in just one song. Personally, I don't care if the right guy for the job is an Eskimo as long as he becomes President for all Americans.
There will be a lot of pressure on Obama to shift more spending to cities and other areas of the USA heavily populated by Black and Hispanic underclass persons. The problem will be the many whites of all economic classes who don't want to see that shift for reasons based on racism. Obama as President won't be able to cure hundreds of years of racism. He will have to select his fights but he will make a significant difference for the better over the next probable 8 years. His election might be the trigger to give hope to many Black Americans and move them to make decisions for the better on the city, town, neighborhood and family level.
White Americans need hope too. Obama understands that.
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