The Ongoing Evolution Of Obama's "Post-Racial Politics"
Thompson begins with an early strategy meeting, in which Obama lays out his philosophy in five words:
Halfway into the session, Broderick Johnson, a Washington lawyer and informal adviser to Mr. Obama, spoke up. "What about race?" he asked.Mr. Obama's dismissal was swift and unequivocal.
He had been able to navigate racial politics in Illinois, Mr. Obama told the group, and was confident he could do so across the nation. "I believe America is ready," one aide recalled him saying.
The race issue got all of five minutes at that meeting, setting what Mr. Obama and his advisers hoped would be the tone of a campaign they were determined not to define by the color of his skin.
Obama has shown a desire to box away his experiences as a student activist during the 80s. In his autobiography, he has been dismissive of his days in the anti-apartheid, pro-multiculturalism, pro-affirmative action battles at Occidental, Columbia, and Harvard. He regards his experiences in Chicago's Southside, which he still cites as the transformative period of his life, as certainly more authentic. Yet his language--drawing freely from Gandhi and Chavez--suggests he has a more conflicted relationship to his student activism years than he is ready to admit.
Was he so eager to suppress the memory of that era's campus culture wars (over multicultural curriculum, affirmative action, hate speech, etc.) that he embraced too naive a view of how to articulate an approach to race in his campaign?
Staff divisions didn't help. Early on, high-ranking white advisors deliberately steered him away from African American audiences.
Instead of following a plotted course, Mr. Obama's campaign has zigged and zagged, reacting to outside forces and internal differences between the predominantly white team of top advisers and the mostly black tier of aides.The dynamic began the first day of Mr. Obama's presidential bid, when white advisers encouraged him to withdraw an invitation to his pastor, whose Afro-centric sermons have been construed as antiwhite, to deliver the invocation at the official campaign kickoff. Then, when his candidacy was met by a wave of African-American suspicion, the senator's black aides pulled in prominent black scholars, business leaders and elected officials as advisers.
Aides to Mr. Obama, who asked not to be identified because the campaign would not authorize them to speak to the press, said he stayed away from a civil rights demonstration and did not publicize visits to black churches when he was struggling to win over white voters in Iowa.
Remember this Cornel West rant on the weekend Obama announced his candidacy? Black aides struggled to rectify this mistake. Thompson later describes how Obama took care of the snub of Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the Covenant With Black America. (West is now prObama.)
(In an aside, Rev. Al Sharpton takes credit for Jena 6, not only inviting comparison of himself to Martin Luther King Jr. and Obama to LBJ, but entirely rewriting the history of the protest. It was actually called by Color of Change and organized by thousands of young activists working in an entirely decentralized manner on the web and in the schools.)
Obama's black advisors pushed to make Michelle Obama central to the campaign.
"It took Barack a while to agree," said Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a Harvard professor who is part of the black advisory group. "But we told him she had to be the one to confront the myths and fears of black voters."Here was a black woman, a mother, who grew up poor, learned to sleep without heat and rose above that to get an Ivy League education," Professor Ogletree added. "But she was also the kind of woman who would take her shoes off because her feet hurt. She was real from the moment she stepped on stage."
In other words, Obama's black advisors told him, forget the "color-blind" pitch. Michelle embodied the idea that no one could escape history, that a "post-racial" politics still needed to account for racial solidarity and to directly address the desires and needs of racially oppressed communities. She delivered big-time in South Carolina, the turning point for Obama in the African American electorate.
But, in no small part because of their denial of the realities of race, Obama and his campaign still had to play catch-up against the Clinton campaign with Latino leaders and communities.
The campaign claims it has learned from California, and his Latino field director says Obama will apply to Texas the same kind of attention it has lavished on Iowa and South Carolina.
One quote should raise worries. Here's his top advisor, David Axelrod, who seems to suggest that the campaign still views even African Americans more as emergent--useful for votes and campaign donations--than insurgent--needing to be considered carefully in agenda discussions.
"He believes you can have the support of the black community, appealing to the pride they feel in his candidacy, and still win support among whites," Mr. Axelrod said.
Do "post-racial politics" merely mean a new way of marginalizing a racial justice agenda?
Jeff Chang is the author of Can 't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation and the editor of Tot al Chaos: The Art And Aesthetics of Hip-Hop. He blogs at: www.cantstopwontstop.com/ blog.
Follow Jeff Chang on Twitter: www.twitter.com/zentronix
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Here the problem. If a canidate is seen as too pro their individual subgroup then everyone outside of that group will think that canidate getting elected will probably be to their individual detriment. This isn't just a race issue, look at Huckabee -- he is the most conservative of the Rupublicans but can't win because the non-born-again Christians don't trust him because he is in your face born again. So the question becomes do you want minorities to be forever locked out from running as President? For as long as a canidate is in a minority group and their minority support is alone insufficinet (which is the definition of being a minority), then to even get a nomination in either party that canidate most broaden his or her appeal by appearing not to favor one group over another, but by favoring all Americans. This doesn't mean that a progressive racial justice agenda wouldn't result from such an admistration, but it has to be packaged in a way that is seen as fair to all.
I think it important, and as a Black man, I like the idea that Senator Obama presents himself as a candidate for America, rather than a Black candidate of and for Black America (to a greater degree than for inclusive greater America).
I think his announcement from Springfield is relevant if he want to be an American candidate, rather than a Black Candidate.
Racial issues will always be marginalized when "doubts" such as Chang expresses becomes the focus of conversation between idiots who don't pay attention to the actual candidates but spend their time reading opposing propaganda all day. Then he claims that Barack has a "pitch" which he suggests is all manufactured by advisors.
But there has been gathering a well respected viewpoint: that Barack Obama reveals himself to us daily and what we see is good. There is genuine leadership and maturity evident.
None of the baby darts Chang throws (and trying to create controversy about his camapaign staff was the sleaziest) will stick.
We, as Americans, need to accept again how inspiring it is to hear from a genuine political voice instead of a parsed, managed political personality. Obama inspires us. He flat out 100% does.
All advisers can do for a politicians is blunt the negative responses. The positive response to Obama come from the kind of person he is. Consultants can't create that. Ever.
**
I think it important, and as a Black man, I like the idea that Senator Obama presents himself as a candidate for America, rather than a Black candidate of and for Black America (to a greater degree than for inclusive greater America).
I think his announcement from Springfield is relevant if he want to be an American candidate, rather than a Black Candidate.
Most white candidates present themselves as a
candidate for the people, there's nothing wrong with that. But BO is half black, looking at him he's all black to most. Black people expect him to say something about racial
divide and injustice that still exists in this
country, he hasn't, that is just not reality.
But obviously black people are ignoring the white candidates in favor of Obama, because he is insprirational and white people voted for him and he has a chance to win in spite of his color. Like Axelrod said black voters are caught up in pride and identity.
"Most white candidates present themselves as a
candidate for the people"
I disagree. Most white candidates visit black communities once every four to five years.
Huh? I am totally confused, I believe (I am a African American ,) that change can be achieved without the in your face confortational style....I have wittnessed the back lash of the American people to "percieved angry agendas" and other social expierements ..busing housing.et
"I believe America is ready" still applies.
Tonight's election returns bear out that faith.
Isn't the whole point of a racial justice agenda to finally reach a place in this country where race really doesn't matter? Obama thinks we are a lot closer to this end point than many other minority activists. If he is right why is this a bad thing?
pmharrell.
WELCOME POST-RACIAL AMERICA !!!!
we will always have to work for justice, case by case. black or white , female or male will from time to time unfortunately experience injustice.
Well, the fact is Obama is wrong if he thinks
this country is closer to the end of the racial divide. Take a look at the schools and neighborhoods in states that there are large black populations. As John Edwards says, when are we all going to start living together. Neighborhoods in the country are divided and unequal, with less opportunity for people of color. WAKE UP. Just because you don't address
the problems, doesn 't mean they don't exist, quiet racism and hangman ropes, KKK and Neo Nazis are your bosses and work on Wall Street and at Exxon/Mobil.
" As John Edwards says, when are we all going to start living together. "
Well we all can't buy multi-million dollar homes. If I could, I would move next door to John.
Sir, no need to inject negative information @ this point. You are really nnot going to change anyones mind.
I like the fact that Senator Obama made his campaign about America with equal proportion to all identities, rather than being the 'black' candidate of and for Blacks alone (or to a greater degree).
Springfield was a suitable start if you want to encompass America as a whole and reach out to everyone.
Don't be ridiulous, why would he not include whites when he addresses the people, afterall he is half white, raised by a white mother and grandparents in Hawaii, his black grandma is in Kenya. He identifies with the white pop-ulation more than the people of color. There never was a black candidate, that was just for blacks, if chose to feel that way, that's your problem. Obama is dividing the country instead of unifying the country.
Yeah, that's why he's husband to a black woman and father to two little black girls. Sure. The fact is the man is running for the Presidency of the United States. He should be concerned about national issues. If you want a black activist, find a local councilman or alderman and run him for Mayor.
"Obama is dividing the country instead of unifying the country."
You, sir, are lost...
When you have a guy who says that blacks achieved 90% equality with whites, then you have a prescription for non action in the four years of an Obama presidency on the issue of racial inequality.
You can't lead if you don't know the basic realities.
And, of course, since Obama's top three advisors are market ideologues there isn't going to be much substantial change on economic matters in this country. Indeed, Obama would have all that corporate support if they thought he was going to take us in a more democratic direction. He isn't considered a
"player" by corporate lobbyists for nothing.
Tell me again how any blacks voted for the black candidate.
I don't think I understand your question. In the "South" (i.e., states that were in the Confederacy), African-Americans make up a large minority (30-45%) of the total electorate. Virtually all of them vote Democratic. In this particular primary season, they have voted overwhelmingly (85%+) for Obama.
They are free people, and can vote for whomever they want to, but it is hard to look at the results and not conclude that the Black *voters* think Obama is the Black candidate.
Does that make them "racist"? Maybe technically, but I'd say they were voting in their perceived self-interest, just like we're all supposed to do.
racist:
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Not sure how this definition ties into your comment claiming that Blacks are the "Racist vote"
Does voting for Obama indicate that Blacks think they are superior to whites or that Blacks have the right to rule others?
Are you upset?
One critical choice Sen. Obama has made is to keep at a distance those well known Black political and social leaders, like Rev. Jessie Jackson, who alienate white voters. He has affilied instead with moderate Black leaders who have broad bases of voters and supporters.
Jessie Jackson was part of civil rights movement in the sixties and marched with and went to jail with Martin Luther King. If whites today, are alienated, because he reminds them of all the racism in this country, that's too bad. Jessie Jackson supports BO, its pride I guess.
I'm an old white guy. I admire Jesse (sic) Jackson. He's endorsed Obama. This does not surprise me. If Obama had not run, I'm pretty sure Jackson would have endorsed Clinton (on similarity of position), but Jackson has always been an advocate of A-A power -- look at his 84 and 88 primary campaigns.
He couldn't fail to back Obama.
For this reason, weirdly, his endorsement has no effect on me. It's just too unavoidable.
PART 4b of 4
I felt it; I believed it; and I trusted her. She instantly became my firewall in the White House and I decided that even though I didn't trust him with my agenda and our issues that I could trust her. So I flipped right then and there; and I felt so much better to be openly supporting him.
Of course it has only gotten better for me as I have become convinced by him also; and as I have come to actually hear from Michelle Obama herself. I get more chills listening to her now, than him. In part because her spoken word matches up perfectly with the non-verbal vibe I got from her. Partly because she has a presence that is more impressive than Sen. Clinton's as an accomplished, strong woman. But more so because I am overwhelmed that God is still interested in speaking a "word" directly to me through her...for that was so clearly all HIS work. Now everytime I see and hear her like tonight on Larry King, my spirit starts shouting for me and them.
God Bless you Mr. Martin for keeping them honest at CNN; God Bless Suzanne Malveaux for staying professional while doing the same; and God Bless The Obamas staying open and available for GOD to use you in such a mighty way. I just hope more of us out here do the same and buckle ourselves in because as Obama takes the country POST-Partisan; we'll also a free ride BEYOND BLACKNESS that forces us to shed some of the racial identity subplots that led many Black leaders to accuse him of not being Black enough and even led me to be so dismissive of Obama in the first place.
PART 4 of 4
But I am proud to say that I changed my own mind and began to support him last NOV, well before any of the voting. My opposition to him had always been shallow, and based on nothing really, as you can see. But I take great pride now in gloating with my wife about my instantaneous flip-flop back in NOV, which wasn't based on any issue or even any word spoken by him. But something caught my attention that made re-visit my race-based dismissal of him; or should I say "someone".
Yes, I caught a couple of still photos and then some video clips of the candidate's wife back then. I didn't even know her name and hadn't heard a word come out of her mouth either. But I felt a connection and got a strong vibe from her through the TV. Sounds crazy, I know; but at least I announced it to my own wife then so she and God are my witnesses. It was as if Obama's wife had heard my dismissals of her husband and wanted to let me know she would be there at the table representing for us. I heard this from her loud and clear:
"If they punk him; that's just like they're punking me. And they're not about to punk me."
I felt it; I believed it; and I trusted her. She instantly became my firewall in the White House and I decided that even though I didn't trust him with my agenda and our issues that I could trust her. So I flipped right then and there; and I felt so much better to be openly supporting him.
ps: the above quote should say
"If your statement below is accurate, it appears that Obama truly is the "Manchurian Candidate" many GOP BLOGS are saying he is. Please SAY IT AINT SO!!"
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