Now that the Democratic presidential campaign has moved beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, race moves to center stage. Indeed, the mainstream media narrative that Sen. Barack Obama "transcends" race is the real fairy tale.
More than 100 years ago, W.E. B. DuBois wrote that "the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line." The political sparring over whether Sen. Hillary Clinton made racially insensitive remarks about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shows that race remains a problem in the 21st century.
On "Meet the Press," Clinton complained that "the Obama campaign is deliberately distorting this." She added: "I think it is such an unfair and unwarranted attempt to misinterpret and mischaracterize what I've said."
Obama shot back: "Senator Clinton made an unfortunate remark, an ill-advised remark, about King and Lyndon Johnson. I didn't make the statement. I haven't remarked on it, and she, I think, offended some folks who felt that somehow diminished King's role in bringing about the Civil Rights Act. She is free to explain that, but the notion that somehow this is our doing is ludicrous."
It's ludicrous for Obama to think he can have it both ways. He hopes to stay above the racial fray at the same time his campaign plays the race card in South Carolina, where African Americans make up half of Democratic primary voters.
Obama must walk a fine line as he holds out to white Americans the promise of absolution for racial injustices. As Rutgers University historian David Greenberg recently wrote: "Ultimately, it [Obamamania] is a fantasy of easy redemption. America's racial history -- mixed into our culture at its foundation -- will be with us always, even as personal prejudice recedes and inequality is chipped away. For all we know, a President Obama might make the so-called underclass his top priority."
If Obama successfully navigates the racial shoals, he may indeed be a "Magic Negro."
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By: Aaron on 1/16/2008 10:31AM
I've read several interesting and informative blog on why race matters, equally I've twice as many stupind and irrelevant statements as well. Which only goes to prove that race DOES matter!!!! Far be it of me to be that naive. For the most part this a country full of bigots and zealots, neither of whom can really show any REAL FACTUAL information as to why Sen. Obama is not qualified to be president.
American media has always used propaganda as a means to dictate and control the minds and emotions of John Q. Public, this was as strong tactic used during WWII. You may ask what does this have to do with anything, well if you have to ask then I suggest you spend sometime time researching Y/OUR American history. The point is this, while we spend time attempting to debunk each others point of views, we are using internet (manipulated) sites and information to do so. All the while, we're neglecting to address the REAL issues. Whether you're Black, White , Asian, Hispanic, or whatever we all are victims of rising gas prices, increasing costs to do business, the continued stripping of internal resources for the comfortablity of teh rich, and not to mention the way OUR government continues to look pass (sweep under the rug) the current state of our health care system. COME ON PEOPLE, those concerns are not really about color, as much as they're about money. Even as a sub-culture race will come intoplay within those issues some how.
The point is this, no matter what the colore of your skin is, as a society, we are more aloke than different. I truly believe WE ALL want the same thing, better jobs, better schools for our children, better living conditions, and better health care to name a few. However, many of us still allow the media to tell us what we should think about a subject or topic. Until people start to look beyond their own menial existance, we will never earn the respect of each other let alone the world at large. PLEASE WAKE UP!!!!
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By: JAMES TURNER on 1/16/2008 11:07AM
YOU SO CALL BLACK FOLKS WE MAY NEVER GET THIS CHANCE TO PUT A BLACK BROTHER LIKE IT OR NOT IN THE " WHITE HOUSE" HELL I HOPE THE NAME
WE THE PEOPLE GOT IT BACK......
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By: yvonne on 1/16/2008 12:43PM
"charlene norman at 11:59PM on Jan 14th 2008"...Please, Charlene, Obama is not half Nigerian, he is half.."?"...I am white and I know the difference between the country of Nigeria and the country of Kenya. I have good friends from both countries and they are very different cultures from each other and within each country. Please keep facts straight about this wonderful man Barack. Thank you.
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By: Vernon on 1/16/2008 3:34PM
When is it political suicide for a potential presidential candidate to cow down and not speak his mind for fear of distancing himself from white voters. I would rather have someone in office who will step forward and defend the things he stands for. White people have done it for years and when the shoe is on the other foot then they want to chasnge the rules of the game. If putting a George Bush is an American standard of what a president should be like then I think it won`t be long before we get to choose a person form another country to lead. Who in their right minds would vote for someone like Bush and feel proud of it? There surely won`t be much reading to be done when reading about Bush`s terms in office unless it becomes part of the comic strips.Obama will restore America to a respectable nation like we were accustomed to and it doesn`t have to be a white person to do it. Out of all the candidates running I have yet to see or hear anyone with the intelligence and courage and convictions as that of Obama. To not elect Obama is to say to the world that America will not submit to change and is willing to stay stuck in the past with prejudice and fear. People fear that in which they know that they are guilty of whether past of present. America is like one big house hold and whatever affects one affects all in a household. So I have to ask what is it that white America is fearful of unless they feel that their sins and their ancestors sins will be revisited upon them. Guilt has a way of gaining the coinfidence of weak minds and the republicans knew that during the past elections.
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By: mazzooni on 1/16/2008 4:31PM
few black politicians courting white votes promote black issues and concerns, to suggest obama will do anything substansive for black masses is absurb...that an imbecilic white man has occupied the white house 2 terms speaks volumes to me about american attitudes toward race...bush's ratings continue to go down,he should be in the negatives,facing impeachment as suggesed by mcgovern ,yet his numbers never go below the mid 30s why, he is the choice of white corporate america...REAL blacks understand that whites will always select a white woman over a black man, a white man over a white woman...if either mrs clinton or mr obama wins the nomination, republicans win ,which party succeeds really doesn't matter since corporations rule the federal government ...continue these silly arguments, nothing will change in america until we the people DEMAND it...and so far this generation doesn't want real change...too comfortable with the status quo
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By: Lloyd Mallory on 1/16/2008 4:15PM
The simple truth is Obama cannot win there are only two people in elective office right now who are black in State wide elections Obama and the Governor of MASS. Regardless of the hype there are not enough blacks who can vote to get him in the WH.If the DEMS lose the WH this time which we need so badly will will have succeeded in sending a message BUT that will not get us much. You can see how the right wing is pushing for his winning the nomination because they know they cannot beat Hillary or Edwards. Probably the only time you will hear RUSH push for a Black to win anything.If obama gets the nomination Bloomberg will be our only hope when he steps in. Take this to the bank and get as reality check.
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By: DINAH on 1/16/2008 5:17PM
RACE DOES NOT HAVE A FACTOR
WHAT'S COLOR HAVE TO DO WITH IT LONG AS THE JOB GETS DONE HE'S SMART GIVE THE MAN A CHANCE THAT'S THE PROBLEM TODAY WE LOOK AT THE COLOR OF A PERSONS SKIN AN NOT THERE CHARTER WE THE PEOPLE IN AMERCIA NEED TO WAKE UP AN MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR LIVES NOT COLOR IT IS DEAD IT DOES NOT EXSIT USE TO BE NOT ANY MORE ROSE PARKS WHEN SHE TOOK A STAND NO MORE SITING ON THE BACK OF THE BUS SHE MENT THAT WHAT ARE WE DOING WE ARE STILL SITING ON THE BAC OF THE BUS KEEP SITING I'LL MOVE FORWARD FOR YOU FACTS ABOUT IT I HAVE HAVE A GOOD DAY
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By: Jimmy Jam on 1/16/2008 6:22PM
As if you didn't know the Media asking does the color
of Obama change your mind, for alot YES, there are some of us who don't want to vote for someone who cares about us. keep thinking the the GOP have your
best interest at heart, forget it, your vote and they'll forget about you after that.Its time to WAKE
UP do we want another 8 years of MISERY com- on you'd
better act like y ou know what TIME IT IS.
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By: Elmo Jones on 1/16/2008 6:23PM
Walk in the strength of knowledge folks, and not so much supposition. The knowledge that you hold as valuable because it is what happened, as it relates to the past, the present, and the future.
That knowledge then appreciates in value because, you now know what has happened, what will most likely happen, and you now understand what strategies will be used against you.
One man died on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. I will not expound further on his level of committment to that great cause.
Another died in bed on his 100,000 acre ranch in Texas. He would’ve been fine, and well off without politics. But he made waves anyway, think about it.
You make the call, quickly, accurately, and then move on. Do not be sidelined by disruption of any kind. That is the goal here. Disruption and a clouding of your aim, thereby causing you to miss your goal, entirely.
When you walk in knowledge, no man or woman can use willful disruption as a weapon against you, by introducing controversy or, pouring gas on a spark.
"She wants to be starting something." And Mr. Obama, you don't want to be feeding into it, it is already yours.
In 1965 President Lyndon Baines Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall to the post of Solicitor General for the United States. Where he won more cases for the United States than any other person. He subsequently was appointed to The United States Supreme Court in 1967.
Upon his first appointment to the Office of Solicitor General President Johnson said.
“Appointing Thurgood Marshall was the right thing to do, the right time to do it, and he was the right man for the job.”
Due to his forward outlook concerning racial equality in America, I’d like to think that President Johnson would think that owing to his qualifications, electing Barack Obama to the office of President of the United States of America, is the right thing to do, the right time to do it, and he is the right man for the job.
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By: interesting on 1/17/2008 9:23AM
Excellent article. Finally someone talked about it. Obama is trying to have his CAKE and EAT IT TOO. He want's to make his race a non-issue, but then makes the statement that Clinton's (both of them) offended African-Americans. Eventually, it will backfire on him for this reason. A negro who wants to consider himself a field slave instead of a house slave will eventually find out that MASTER (that is white people in control) will still view you as an N-word and will make sure you won't get what you want.
The best thing for him, his supporters, and his wife was to not even do that. Acknowledge that Clinton was right that LBJ did do his part to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 and state that it took a "collective effort" by all to get this important piece of legislation passed in a hostile time in America. Instead the n-word wanted to show his Pro-black approach. Now, true whites who are skeptical of his rhetoric will really show how they feel during the election process. Bad move!
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