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Juan Williams is an example of why many in the community think black Republicans and conservatives can't relate to Black America.There are several items that most Americans can not pinpoint about why they can not believe, deal with, or accept Black Republicans or conservatives, notably Black conservative political pundits.
Williams just highlighted one reason that they can get their hands all over. ...
NPR ombudsman Alicia Shepard sharply criticized Williams for the statement last week, and said that the organization has asked that he no longer be identified as affiliated with NPR when appearing on The O'Reilly Factor. In response, Williams issued a partial, half-hearted apology for what he called the "faux controversy," according to Think Progress.
Mr. Williams' ambiguity of political affiliation aside, his regular appearances on Fox's "Fox News Sunday" and The O'Reilly Factor paint him as a conservative in the eyes of most Black people. His criticism of Michelle Obama (not his first) serves as the symbol of contrast between Black conservative thought and the gist of African-American thought: namely, that Black conservatives have lost their ability to relate to a genuine Black experience in America, regardless of socioeconomics.
I disagree. After all, driving while Black, voting while Black, and shopping while Black – among some other transcendent experiences – happen to Black people everywhere throughout America, despite Mr. Obama's new digs on Pennsylvania Avenue and Steele's new position in the RNC.
Williams also offered many by saying that "...her (Mrs. Obama's) first instinct is to...'blame America', you know, 'I'm the victim..."
Although Black America will never get ahead by fostering a victim mentality, it is also troubling to hear a leading national Black talking head voicing an opinion that seems to trivialize the racial challenges that still exist in our country.
James Byrd, Jr . wasn't murdered in the 1950s. He died during the last Democratic presidency. Jonny Gammage and Abner Louima weren't accosted by police officers in North Carolina and Mississippi of the 19th century. They suffered in urban America within my lifetime – and probably yours as well.
Barack Obama was elected president the night of November 4, 2008. By dawn, racial epithets about the 44th president were found in several public places throughout America.
Pointing out disparities and addressing the injustices still found in an image-driven America (and the racial consequences that come with that) from the White House pulpit doesn't make Mrs. Obama some nouveau Carmichael. In fact, it makes her a girl-gone-good from the south side of Chicago that has a chance to make America better by presenting the shared perspective of many from a unique position of influence – a perspective that both Black liberals and conservatives can relate to.
After all, having a "R" or a "D" after your name doesn't matter when you're DWB (driving while Black) in the middle of the night.
Playing victim and remembering one's history doesn't have to be the same thing, especially when hoping for change for the better.
____________________
Lenny McAllister is a Republican political commentator and guest co-host for Fox News - Charlotte's morning show "Fox News Rising," where his commentary can be seen every Monday. His website is lennymcallister.com
Comments: (37)
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By: Sick and Tired on 2/16/2009 9:56AM
Steppin' and fetchin' political style.
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By: dre on 2/16/2009 11:26AM
Remember when u sat on the porch and ate sunflower seeds? Remember that bad one that you popped open, bit into and got the worst taste ever? Remember you spit that nasty seed out like was spoiled milk? After that, you continued eating them and enjoying the sun until you got candy. Basically you forgot about that nasty seed, right? Well, I remember the first time I heard Juan Williams. It reminded me of coming across a bad sunflower seed. He's as ridiculous and distasteful as most of the other right wing empty shells. He still is and still reminds me of the bad sunflower seed.
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By: Jewel on 2/17/2009 3:57PM
Love your analogy! Mr. Williams is definitely on "the payroll" to the point where he makes no sense. Do we all have to agree - NO. But, he is the type of black person I steer clear of.
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By: Jarvis on 2/16/2009 4:58PM
Look...I am an Independent Conservative Thinker.
Although I do not agree with Juan Williams all the time, he makes some good points about Black Victim-hood Mentality.
The way I see it...most blacks are Democrats with Socialist...Entitlement...the Government should handle it way of thinking.
This type of thinking is good if you live in Cuba, China or Russia. But not in the U.S.
Blacks, with $800 Billions in consumer spending power, cannot continue to use Racial Challenges as an excuse for the poor conditions of the Black community.
Blacks, need conservatives like Juan William to De-program the minds of Blacks who are still trap by (PDSS) Post Dramatic Slave Syndrome.
I just hope it don't take another 150 years to complete this De-programming the minds of the Black community.
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By: laiconna on 2/16/2009 7:48PM
Race is a challenge for blacks in all walks of life. The objective is to avoid allowing it to defeat us. In person, a black can never disguise his/her race. Believe it or not, the first thing people see is the race and then they deal with the person as an individual. But they're always dealt with as an individual of color.
I certainly don't view myself as a victim. I'm a victor specifically because I have not allowed racial stereotypes to define and limit me. People such as Juan Williams have had their moments of being black also. When I hear a black say that they have never experienced racism in any form, I have to scratch my head and wonder how that could be.
http://laiconna.wordpress.com/
I certainly don't view myself as a victim. I'm a victor specifically because I have not allowed racisl stereotypes to define and limit me. People such as Juan Williams have had their moments of being black also. When I hear a black say that they have never experienced racism in any form, I have to scratch my head and wonder how that could be.
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By: TheSharperWon on 2/17/2009 1:11PM
Go head on with your bad self!!!! Tell the truth and shame the devil. I'm neither Democrat nor Republican, but I am so SICK of this victim mentality. We're victims, yet, as I do some community work, canvass the neighborhood, go into homes only to find, the latest 50" Plasma or LCD widescreen in your living room, while you tell me you need this or that government program to provid milk for your baby. We have got to step our game up. Displaced values and priorities!
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By: Kevin Facey on 2/21/2009 12:18PM
Personally, when I first remembering Juan Williams, it was from "Eyes on the Prize" documentary. Since then, however, my opinions of him has somewhat changed. While, I do feel, that there is a segment of the black population, that plays the victim, I do agree with Mr. McAllister, that individuals like, Mr. Williams, should not trivialize the past struggles of black people in this country.
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By: Ann Wooden on 2/16/2009 7:19PM
What people seem to FAIL to realize is that it doesn't matter what party you belong to , it is the fact that no matter how much you know , where you live, your level of education , you still will be charged more, not given the same oppurtunities that people with white skin do. Juan, speaks of talking victim, I've seen it happen time and time again. When they saw Colin Powell once a person said to him BOY get me this, rather it was a funny incident to her and her white friends, he could never say to her do a dance for me without her screaming and someone coming to her aid andx her saying HE ASK ME TO DANCE FOR HIM> Arrest time. Juan ,, when I can go into any establishment with good credit and still be charged 10 % higher interest rate, when I can apply for a job because I past the test then you can say I'm not a victim anymore. Why didn't they get you as their NRP president? You are talking with your eyes wide open and they're laughing at you.
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By: Renee on 2/16/2009 7:42PM
Society does not recognize that the majority of Blacks are in the middle class. That the majority of people who are on welfare are white. That the majority of us are not in prison, probation or parole. That we also believe in family values and raise our children. Now there are many who are in poverty and are finding it difficult to navigate their way out of the abyss. Do not continually judge us as a homogenous group, because we are not. Some have issues and some do not. I haven't seen anything that Michelle Obama has done to perpetuate the victim syndrome. I commend her for recognizing where she is from, because there are many from south Chicago who only hear bad things and with her and like many others there are many positive aspects coming from the area.
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By: Deanostent@aol.com on 2/16/2009 8:04PM
Post your thoughts on Obama on WhatObamaMeansToMe.com
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