6 Other Ways to Say "Barack Obama is Black"
Posted: Wednesday, October 08, 2008
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
A recent CNN report begins with a line similar to this: Race still matters in America, the question is How much will race matter in the 2008 presidential elections?
As an African I am very grateful for how far America has come in race relations. My gratitude to those who shed capital, much heartache, sweat and blood, allowing us to eat at any restaurant, sleep at any hotel, sit anywhere on a bus, train, subway or plane, without seeing signs like "For Whites Only".
In our lifetime, the biggest evidence of America's leapfrog progress in race relations is the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama, who would not be where he is today without the active support and actual votes of millions of whites, Hispanics, Jews, Asians and others, beginning with the Democratic primary elections.
Despite all the progress, however, it can be said that race remains the wild card, the X-Factor in the 2008 presidential elections in these United States of America. No matter how far ahead Obama may be ahead of Senator John McCain in the polls, there is no room or reason for comfort for him, because of the so-called "Bradley effect", less commonly known as the "Wilder effect".
According to Wikipedia, "the Bradley effect refers to a tendency on the part of voters -- black as well as white -- to tell pollsters that they are undecided or likely to vote for a Black candidate, and yet, on election day, vote for his/her white opponent."
But that is not the only tide Obama has to swim against. There are also non-blacks who have learned to conceal their unlikelihood of voting for a black candidate in the wrappings and trappings of some really clever talking points. These are what may be called "Other ways to say He's Black".
1. "He's just too liberal." "He's too liberal for me." "He's too liberal for this country." These people don't see that John McCain is not that conservative; he has signed on to so many liberal policies.
2. "He makes me nervous." "I'm uncomfortable with him." "He makes me uncomfortable."
3. "I'm scared of him being in that White House." "He could be dangerous to our national security."
4. "He sympathizes with terrorists like Bill Ayres."
5. "He's a Muslim, but he won't tell you that." "He's Arab." "His middle name is Hussein. He's Barack Hussein Obama." That probably ranks as the favorite of them all -- the religious litmus test. Is it anti-American to be Muslim? Is being "Christian" a requirement for the presidency of the United States?
6. "I can't vote for him, and it's not because I'm racist. I would vote for General Collin Powell for president." That's easy to say when General Powell is not running.
Of course, there are some elderly whites who still say it the old fashion way: "I can't vote for that black boy."
You know what, I think I prefer the straight talk kind. At least, we don't have to guess or second guess what they mean. It's the ones who "speak in tongues" that worry me.
For the vast majority of Americans who have conquered "the skin thing", let's hope that race will not be a major factor on November 4th.
This Article has been viewed 1,193 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)John Zogby (the Zogby Poll) recently had something to say about race and the current Presidential election. I can't site the statistics his poll revealed, but he did say people were more honest these days about saying they would not vote for Obama because he was black, or the converse, that they were voting for him for being black.
The consensus is there's not much you can do to change that, but on the other hand, the number is not a deal breaker for Obama.
Great articles, by the way, thanks.I'm one of those who's betting that race will not be a fact to change the outcome of this election. But I've been wrong before. We'll know for sure come November 5th, that is, if we don't have another Florida tug-o-war. ~mogama~
Fact....Obama is 50% white and 50% black.....most blacks are voting for obama only because he is perceived as black .....is that racist? or is it only racist when people do not vote for a candidate because of his skin color?Racism takes many forms, some less harmful than others. Some of the most racist people I've heard are black, Asian and Hispanic. Thanks for your comment & question. ~mogama~Dear Sir:
1-Do you agree that blacks who are voting for Obama only because of his skin color are racist ?
thanks
SamSam, racism has a specific meaning. A racist is one who sees himself or herself as superior to others based on "race" alone, or vice versa, one who considers others inferior on the basis of race. The racist then says or does things to diminish or subjugate those he or she considers inferior to his/her "race". Let's not re-define racism or racist, and thereby water down this very serious evil that has produced slavery, lynchings, segregation, apartheid, etc. ~mogama~I think you are scooting around the question. Personally, I see more reverse racism now adays. Please do not bring up slavery and lynchings. I understand that they are important parts of African American history, but they're no longer relevant. I don't support anything you just listed, and no one I've ever met does either. You can't use them as proof of racism when they are nearly obsolete. Secondly, what you said is not true. Racists do subjugate inferior races, but they also glorify their own. That is what Sam is saying. Many black people voted for Obama because he was black, viewing him as superior. Don't deny this!I am not racist at all, and I hate being called one because I don't support Obama. And now, two years into his far from illustrious time in office, I hope you see why. I don't look at his color, I look at his awful plans.Well, Maggie, I really don't have a problem with your disagreeing with Obama on "his awful plans". No, I don't consider that racism at all. That's a sign of maturity. I have my own bones to pick with Mr. Obama for some of his ideas. I'm not sure you actually read my article, or if you did, you may be reacting on a knee-jerk basis. I quoted the actual words of Americans; I didn't make those up. So I don't understand how you conclude that I consider anyone racist simply because he/she does not support Obama. If I said that, that would be ludicrous, but I did not. Please read the article again after you've calmed down a bit. ~mogama~
mogama this is just a thought not about the artcile. How is it we lost "MAN". Are we to judge on color, race, religion, sex or ones value as a human being? You shall know a man by his works not you shall know a black man, red man, etc, by his works. Hey enough said. I think it demeans him as a man to be identified in that manner. Just the man and perhaps we can debate in truth.I totally agree that we should be looking at the man, not his color. I'm betting that the elections will focus on the man. I really believe that the vast majority of Americans have advanced beyond "the skin thing". What a blessing that is! ~mogama~Certain revelations mark my life like clothes pins on the clothes line. One happened when I read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech on the injustice of the Vietnam Invasion. It occurred to me, and also later re-reading his other speeches, that in fact the man was speaking to all human beings, not black people.
It also helps to re-read and re-live the exploitation of Africa for human beings, and how there has never been reparation or reconciliation, or never any acknowledgment, really of what white slave merchants and the American slave economy (more so than ANY other nation on earth) did to people with black skin. There will never be a true interracial connect without a national dialogue.
As for the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, there is a thin-skinned aversion to his rhetoric because he touched a nerve, and I'm thankful he did, less thankful that Obama felt the need to apologize and distance himself.Strong words there, Greg. I see that your views on the subject have gone through some serious mental works. ~mogama~
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.