RSSBlack…Maybe? Pt.2
By now, I’m pretty sure most of you’ve heard about former congresswomen Geraldine Ferraro’s comments on Barack Obama. If not, here they are for you to read:
“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”
When I first read her statement, I thought to myself, “this racist, no good, Clinton-lovin…” You get the picture. But after getting home and really examining the circumstances that make up this election, I realized something.
Barack is lucky to be black…
Before you prepare your rebuttal let me explain. I’m not talking about the Affirmative Action type of luck that Ms. Ferraro is alluding to. I’m talking about the fate-time-is-now type of luck that has seized him. It’s the kind of luck that Martin Luther King believed when acknowledged that he didn’t choose to lead the movement, but rather the movement chose him.
Barack Obama is lucky for many reasons but the major one has been captured in his campaign slogan. He’s lucky to be black because black represents change. Obama may not admit to it, but the real change he represents is a change in American’s minds.
Because we are bombarded with so many sensory messages each day, our minds tune out the things we are used to seeing. What a black president does is shocks our minds into paying attention. Most of the young voters, who are supposedly apathetic, have been shocked into paying attention. This shock, this jolt of excitement, this spark has made it exciting to not only watch but to also be involved.
He’s also lucky to be black because being black affords you a certain perspective. America will quickly teach you that you’re black, but it will also force you to see the world from a white point of view. Therefore Obama can play in both the black and white worlds. It’s similar to what’s W.E.B Dubois described as a double consciousness in his book “The Souls of Black Folk” (Read it here).
Let’s take it further. Obama is lucky to be a light-skinned black man. Why, you ask? It’s because although he’s black, he’s light enough to nurture white voters into accepting him. Imagine if a Wesley Snipes-dark-black brother was running for office. How many white voters would trust him?
And don’t think that I’m saying that all white voters overtly discriminate. What I’m saying is that we all have subconsciously inherited prejudices that we’ve adopted over time. Because of this, it takes time to reverse that trend. A midnight-type candidate would be way too radical of an image for America, even if he shared Obama’s charm and spoke as eloquently.
Again let’s go further. Barack Obama is lucky because his name is “Barack Obama.” Change is the mantra, right? A president by the name of Barack, in America? Now that’s change. Plus it’s one of those names you like to say. My little man is three and he loves to say Obama’s name, even though he pronounces it wrong. Ask any good marketer and they’ll tell you the importance of a name.
What Ferraro failed to acknowledge was Hillary Clinton’s luck. Ferraro said nothing about Clinton being lucky that her husband was elected president. Hillary’s claims of experience come from her piggybacking off of her Bill’s presidency. If Bill was never elected, how could Hillary claim she’s more experienced than Obama?
Again, I’ll take it further. Hillary is lucky to be white. Why? Because if you’re white, you can grow up dreaming about being the president and actually have examples to look at that substantiate what you imagine.
And let’s not forget that being a woman also affords the double consciousness that I mentioned earlier in the post. Hillary has it, most women do and they’re lucky for it.
At some level, anyone fortunate enough to make a legitimate run at the presidency is lucky. George Bush proved how being born into a privileged clan and having a family member in office prior to his candidacy benefited him. Why is Obama wrong for using the gift he’s was born with to win?
I don’t’ know. I guess black is the new white.
16 Comments, Comment or Ping
"a mom"
I really don’t think that at this point it really matters what Geraldine said. Obama said this morning on “Good Morning America” that some of what she said was true and that he has always had respect for her. My focus is on the man who will be president. This guy has so much class and he shines so bright, I’m glad I paid attention to my heart because I was all Clinton at first. I was a Billy Clinton girl. But watching how Hiliary has run her campaign. She is no Bill. I realized she is not the person I taught she was, and that she has said some hurtful things that are very borderline to me. I really can’t agree with her doggy dog attitude and for a person who has been their she should know better. Her experience should speak for itself and she should not have to be the way she is. Obamas experience also speaks for him and I feel he has run a clean campaign. Everyone says he needs to be more like her with the bashing, but if you know who you are why.
[Reply]
Malia
I feel you TROUBLMAN…just flip through a magazine and check out the ads. In any group of three or more models, one invariably will be black. (If there are six or more models, one will be Asian and one Hispanic.) Same on TV. In any commercial for beer or snack food, one of the guys on the sofa is always black. This probably misrepresents the incidence of interracial hanging out, but it isn’t just tokenism. It’s a harmony fantasy, buried deep in the collective conscience.
The phenomenon has many social and cultural ramifications, one of which is opportunity — including political opportunity. Barack has this extraordinary ability to seduce and inspire his audiences with his messages of hope and uncompromising determination. “We have the chance to bring the nation together,” he says. “A nation healed, a world repaired.” He’s said it so often it sounds almost perfunctory — but Obama’s version of perfunctory can still send a chill up your spine.
And I agree with you A MOM—–Fuck Geraldine!
((well I know you didn’t put it quite that way …………………………….but you know what I’m sayin))
[Reply]
Rito
What I find funny here is that all of those people lecturing about the need to focus on issues instead of race/sex don’t seem to stop and think for one moment that the main reason that Hillary or Barack might lose is not because one is a woman and the other is black, but rather because they’re both Democrats … or are you expecting Republican voters to simply STOP caring about issues and switch to the other side only to “make history.”
After all, how willing would Democrats be to cross over party lines if Colin Powell or Condoleeza Rice were running on the Republican ticket?
[Reply]
LoveOfPeace
Unbelievable. It’s probably a good thing that the race and sex card are out in the forefront because it will hopefully make the ignorant see their inadequacies. Obama is the face of the new America. He represents what our population is becoming. Hillary is doing the right thing by proving that women should have an equal shot at the office. Other countries, including a muslim country, Pakistan, had women lead them. What is the matter with us? We hide behind the cloak of “political correctness” and no one wants to admit to racism or sexism, but it needs to be in their face and they need to be embarrassed by their ignorant and archaic views. As a nation of plurals, we have no right to segregate people based on what we see on the outside. It’s never about the package, it’s about the contents. So, all of you ignorant racist louts out there, stop wallowing in your fear of the different and embrace the fact that you’re damned lucky to be an American. Someone in your past had the foresight to come over here for a better life. Learning to all work together and get past the outward differences would be a step in the right direction. I would love to see this abominable behavior obliterated in my lifetime.
[Reply]
Diane
Honesty in media is a rarity, and such a touchy subject as racism dealing with elect-ability will not be touched by most media sources. So it’s refreshing to see someone taking a stab at it and taking a risk. I’d like to see Obama win, and I think people will overcome their own racism when they realize what he brings to the table for America. He won’t be crying at a news conference about what he wants to do to change this place. He’s got the confidence to hit sink the eightball. And so far he’s kicking butt with his campaign.
As far as the tokenism is concerned I think it’s an unfortunate aspect of marketing that alot of us see and deal with. Is it right, is it natural is it real? I don’t know we all deal with ideals that drive consumer acceptability. It’s as distasteful to me as it is to you. America needs less make up, less vanity, and less stereotyping. And in return maybe we’ll get honesty, and integrity back for the future.
[Reply]
Felicia
I’m sure Obama will be glad to know that he needn’t waste any more time on campaigning since apparently he only had to be “acceptably black” to sew this one up. WOW! What in the world was he thinking spending all that time on education, honest living and political studies? PLEEEEEEZZZZZ! Stop it, just stop it with the race thing. I sincerely hope that people will not vote for (or reject) Obama simply because he is black or for Hillary simply because she is a woman. While the election of either of these potential candidates would indeed be a ground-breaking event in our nation’s history (the first non-white or the first female president) personally I would hate to be remembered as only that.
[Reply]
Malia
Wow, great point Felicia!!!!!
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Mark
On the issue about race and sex, and being acceptably black, I frown upon. Too much emphasis is placed on these reasons. We all need to realize that “IT IS NOT ABOUT COLOR (Race) OR GENDER, IT IS ABOUT BEHAVIOR.” This applies to everyone. We all know that most blacks or the most talked about ones, are shun upon because of their “swagger”, baggy clothes, street slang and not so “clean” cut appearance. This is their behavior; therefore in the eyes of the media they are not acceptably black. Token blackness is closer to that of Caucasian behavior thus making it acceptable.
Racism and sexism exist because of how we behave towards stereotypes and our actions determine what perspective we have on them. It is not until we stop look at color and gender and start looking at our behavior that we will be able to overlook racism, sexism and other issues that face our society.
Now that my 2 cents has been added to the jar, I hope it made some sense and someone somewhere will interpret it the way I meant it.
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
FELICIA
Are you denying that there’s a such thing as acceptably black?
I would hate to be remembered “only” as that, but I wouldn’t mind being know as the first black or female president. It’s sad that we’re still approaching these firsts, but it’s also good that we’re approaching these firsts. We gotta start somewhere right?
[Reply]
Cypher
Without analying the comment to much, I thiink this is a big mistake for the Clinton campaign. I feel she was already in trouble last night when she lost Ole Miss, but now after calling for the Obama camp to fire someone in their camp for saying that Clinton was a monster, she’s going to have to take action just to stay afloat. Basically it’s sink or swim time for the Clinton camp.
[Reply]
TROUBLMan
RITO
Republicans aren’t excited about John McCain. He’s Hillary Clinton’s doppleganger. One thing I will say, is that if Clinton wins, it will let all the air out of the Democrat’s campaign. If so, they may lose because no one will be excited to vote for identical candidates in Clinton and McCain.
[Reply]
"a mom"
If Clinton wins I thnk we will be O.K. because Obama has put a fire under us that hasn’t been around for sometime. We don’t realize how much power we have especially the young people of this nation. Our future.
This computer alone has been a better tool for this election than actually going to our voting places. The percentages in this election tell us that we can control some of our destiny, if we really want to.
[Reply]
BIG Tone
Lucky to be black, for real? I think he is more lucky that Bush has fucked this country up. Obama aint the first black guy to run for president. What he is doing is good marketing. Clinton is more lucky then Obama. She is piggybacking off Bill. She knew she was going to run back when Bill got the blowjob. Thats why she stayed “true” to him. Clinton aint the first women to run for president either. I said it before and I’ll say it again…
When they cheat Obama out of this race I will NOT vote for Cliton. I also know I am not the only person who feels this way. Here is an issue for you: GAS PRICES. $4.25 a gallon. CHANGE THAT!
[Reply]
Boosy
MARK - I feel you. TOKEN-dom is a topic i definitely with to explore. I have seen tokens get mad when another black comes to the vicinity of their friends
[Reply]
Entreprenulius
Race is an issue because there is rarely a dialogue in the public between races…and when there is a dialogue the speakers and listeners get too sensative to stay in the ring and argue points.
We’re so damn sensitive in this country that we can’t finish the conversation…or worse yet, we’re too scared to start one.
We are an amazing race…that is the human race. Our differences are the sexiest thing about us…and I say that to suggest the level of intrigue rather than a suggestive reference.
Even if we were to get in “the ring” and truly have a dialogue about race…our cultural differences will complicate the reception. I am a loud, passionate Black man. When I argue I can look like I’m going to jump out of my seat and choke you, but I’m only making my point.
There are lots of Black brothers and sisters out there who act the same way. I have seen many White people in a heated exchange and it’s much different. On the contrary…a white stock broker from New York is going to argue differently from a White masseus from San Diego. That’s what I love about the racial debate…it makes us uncomfortable…and Lord knows we are TOO DAMN comfortable. For the sake of us all, we NEED that open debate…don’t confuse this with the bickering within races…I’m talking about the dialogue within races.
I love the TroublMan reference to Dubois…the double consciousness is and always will be a stuggle for any Black Man or Woman trying to make something of themselves beyond their “at birth” surroundings.
Barack has an opportunity to kill all of the birds with one stone…smash Hillary in the polls..address the “lucky to be Black issue”…address the “controversial” sermons…and make America look in the mirror with one speech. He has the capability, but let’s see if he has the courage…now THAT would be GANGSTA! (to borrow a term from my man Q).
Let’s see if he seizes this moment…that would be truly PRESIDENTIAL
[Reply]
Entreprenulius
BTW - I just wanted to correct a line from my last post (find it) - instead of the”…dialogue between races…” I meant “..dialogue between races…”
I normally don’t proof read…but that was too important to let slide
[Reply]
Reply to “Black…Maybe? Pt.2”
SEE ALSO
♦ TROUBLMan - Black…Maybe?
November 9, 2007
♦ TROUBLMan - Damned if You Do
December 11, 2007
♦ TROUBLsome - Join the Club
February 6, 2008
♦ TROUBLsome - BaracKKK
February 19, 2008
♦ TROUBLMan - Game Face
January 9, 2008