I know that many black people are proud that Obama is the president.
I have an entirely different perspective about the Obama presidency and what it represents.
Understand that Obama was supported by whites NOT BECAUSE he was black and NOT BECAUSE of his ideals but foremost because he was an Ivy-Leaguer WITH a socioeconomic affiliation that they gave credence to.
This Obama victory does not mean that America is no longer racist.
This Obama victory does not mean that America is no longer classist.
If Obama had the exact same demeanor and ideals but he was as dark as Wesley Snipes and the illegitimate son of Shaquaniffah and if he had graduated from a community college or a black college (instead of Harvard) then please believe me when I tell you that Obama WOULD NOT have been elected to the Senate…. and would NEVER HAVE been taken seriously as a presidential candidate.
Yes, socioeconomic class affiliation still matters in this country.
I keep reading blogs of black people saying that “now the barriers are shattered” and they are living on Fantasy Island because NO the class barriers are not shattered and a black boy from the projects has the same probability of being gunned down by the age of 18 as he did BEFORE November 4th… black women have the same probability of dying from HIV as they did BEFORE November 4th.
I am happy that you are happy for his victory but Obama will not change how blacks are viewed in this country as long as classism is alive and well.
Barack Obama is the President of the United States Not because he is Black, but because he was the best man for the job, and because John McCain wasn't!
I believe we as Black people have earned a right to be PROUD. Why not be proud of a man so eloquent, humble, poised and who brings people of all backgrounds together? The fact that he happens to be Black… is only icing on the cake!
So what liberal ideal does taking money from the poor and giving it to rich corporations over and over again fall under exactly?
ReplyDeleteGHB - I also believe that Barack Obama was elected because he was the best of the two candidates. He was a better choice than John McCain. John McCain was not even a choice.
ReplyDeleteI think many voted for Obama because he was Black, but also, as you say, because he was a Harvard graduate - and smart.
And you are right that because he was elected president does not change the chances of racism and the condition under which Blacks exist.
But I do believe that it did help the situation.
McCain was a major and popular choice. He only lost by a just few points. However, he was truly past his prime. I doubt that the McCain of 2000 would have lost. He'd have had none of the "old man" baggage if he'd been 8 years younger last year.
ReplyDeletei don't get the classist, racist thing here. black youths are killed mostly by black youths and i'm going to assume that black women that get THE HIV don't get it exclusively from whites who are trying to keep them down. i think this guy is smart, harvard law can't be easy, but also think he is media made. time will tell who is right.
ReplyDeleteGHB: "I am happy that you are happy for his victory but Obama will not change how blacks are viewed in this country as long as classism is alive and well."
ReplyDeleteGenerally, I agree with you, but I also feel there is a latent racism that has emerged since the election. It is no longer politically acceptable to attack a leader on the basis of race, but people of bad faith will find other ways ... like this birth certificate conspiracy madness. Call it by any name, but it is racism masquerading under the cover of lunacy.
i would agree with (o)ct(o)pus - i hear more racist comments now than i did before the victory. it is as if it is ok to say racist things because barack is liberal. and liberals are bad, mmmmk?
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