1) Harry Reid's words are no different from what Hillary Clinton or most other white liberals might say. During the 2008 presidential election, Hillary used Obama's race against him in a multitude of contexts, like trying to associate him with "bad black people" like Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Minister Louis Farrakhan. We also remember when Hillary's husband Bill went to South Carolina and compared Obama's chances of winning to Jesse Jackson's 1984 Presidential campaign- effectively arguing that America is not ready for a black president. What this effectively says is that being "too black" is not acceptable in American politics. So, to call Harry Reid a racist for his remarks about Obama means that we are calling half of Capitol Hill racist as well. What is most unfortunate is that this statement might have some truth to it, since we live in a racist society.
2) America still sticks with "acceptable forms of blackness": People sometimes forget what diversity actually means. In many predominantly white organizations, diversity means having black faces pursuing the same agenda as everyone else. That's not real diversity. The diversity of ideas and perspectives is the kind of heterogeneity that really makes America its best. I would not call Harry Reid a racist for saying that America wouldn't vote for a dark black man who speaks "negro dialect." Rather, I would call Harry Reid a racist for not helping our nation to find avenues for the broader acceptance of those with diverse backgrounds. For every Harvard Professor I meet who speaks proper English, I meet an even more intelligent brother from "the hood" who communicates in an entirely different way. Harry Reid and others should learn to understand that intelligence doesn't just come in the form of "caucasian dialect."
3) Rather than simply calling Harry Reid a racist, our nation needs to talk about it: When I spoke to a representative in the Obama Administration about having a national conversation on race, the man ran away like a broke baby daddy receiving child support papers. The truth is that during black history month, we have an obligation to our nation to have that difficult conversation on race that is going to lead us to understand our biases, fears, and potential as a nation. America will only be great when we truly learn to love one another. Harry Reid should not be the focal point of this conversation.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (25)
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By: James on 1/10/2010 2:21PM
our current president is in a position that no other president has found himself not only dealing with partisanship issues from republicans but racisim issues with in his own party his scenario would read just as the old saying goes keep your freinds close but your enemies within your own parties closer i wish nothing but blessing for the president and i feel sorrow for this narrow minded nation that still lets imaginary colors blind it while the true problem run rampant behind our backs
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By: russell rodems on 1/10/2010 11:43PM
instead of swying how much they are worried about african americans plight how bout ... americans plight i hate to tell em this but the leaders of this country are supposed to represent americans reguardless of race sex creed religion you know ....without discrimination reguardless by singling out a specific ethnicity he proves he is a racist and should step down
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By: Mike on 1/10/2010 7:07PM
My problem is how (blindly & sheepishly) black people, including the good Dr., will submit to this conversation. You folks don't mind being dissected and analyzed by the likes of Sen. Reid. He, in your mind, has the humanity to discuss my God given melanin (he didn't get none & has to buy it from the pharmacy) and my speech pattern, which he's never understood. I don't think he possesses that humanity and it's no wonder with this common practice of whites, that blacks are at the bottom of all qual of life stats in our nation. These jealous-of-our-melanin and envious/stumped-by-our-unique-creativity (ebonics) whites are filled with pre-conceived notions about us. These whites always misunderstand and paint our unique gifts as negative when they're positive.
I'm here and will clear this stuff up so we all understand what's going down. Dr. Watkins - your answer is yes. Reid can't help but be anti-black racist cause we live in a 400 yo anti-black white supremist capitalist system/machine with a media system that teaches whites to be anti-black racist.
In the end Reid was saying, "hey, all us whites are anti-black racist and we've always been jealous that blacks have melanin & we don't and we've never understood their creativity with the English language." We can only vote for someone that doesn't remind us of our jealousy.
So don't forget black people this is all their problem, not ours - AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT RIGHT AWAY.
BTW, I can speak and write English as well as any white which is the case with most blacks. We also have a vernacular we enjoying using amongst ourselves but you needn't fear it. Just keep buying those rap records and study them.
BTW whites, you speak and write Americanized English and I, as a black man, don't particularly like your Italian & so-called jewish NY accents or you're Boston Irish accents or your southern accents. There as clear and grating a fingernails across the chalkboard to me, but you folks like them.
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By: james on 1/18/2010 8:19PM
I consider this to be stupid...all of it!!!!
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By: castle on 1/10/2010 11:03PM
HARRY TOLD THE TRUTH!!!!
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By: Tammy on 1/11/2010 4:25AM
When Pres. Obama apologizes for calling his white grandmother a "typical white person", then Sen. Reid should apologize for this.
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By: TryThinking1956 on 1/11/2010 10:03AM
Mr. Reid said nothing that every white man - or woman, for that matter - has either said or thought during the course of the last election. Let's admit that the remarks, though crude and ill-thought out, are true. Obama would NOT have won, had he been darker or had he spoken in a less articulate manner...which is how Mr. Reid should have phrased it. To compare his comments - as Michael "House Negro" Steele has done - to Trent Lott's nostalgic and wistful observation that the country would have been so much better had they elected a segregationist president, is ignorant and absurd. I don't care what a man thinks; I care what a man does. And, Harry Reid has done as much as any contemporary white legislator to try to stop the overt republican agenda brewing in this nation. Under the guise of the "tea party" these crackers are on the prowl to lynch this President. If not actually, then surely in theory.
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By: klf on 1/11/2010 1:48PM
I agree with your post; however, let's take a look inside our own race (I am an African-American too) and address the same issue. When the astronauts in both the Challenger & Columbia space shuttles were killed, was there mourning and celebration of the 2 African American astronauts/scientists in our community & press? Not much! I recall there was more press on Tupac's, Aallyiah (sp?), Biggie's & Lisa (Left-Eye) Lopes' deaths. And let's not forget the amount of African American males who refuse to join gangs that have been murdered! Moreover, there is a stigma in the school system in some urban communities that if a African American male or female shows any interest in science, math or any type of academic studies beyond high school, they are considered trying to "be or act white". This is shameful and it must be dealt with by US, not by the so-called "liberal press" or so-called "liberal elitists" (yes, I am a liberal, but I see this happening every day).
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By: calvin robinson on 1/11/2010 10:37AM
First things first,
What was the context of the question that lead to harry's response? Does anyone know?
If the question was dealing with the potential of a Black man becoming president of the US, then Harry's racial (not necessarily racist) response is warranted.
If Harry was making a political assessment of Barack's potential as a Black man and America's readiness to vote for a Black president then I think his assessment was spot on.
Harry did not say that "he" was prepared to vote for Barack because he did not resemble the average Black person. He said that the country may be ready to do so. There is a big difference.
Harry knows the white race as he should and these type political assessments are necessary and professional when getting behind a winning candidate. You can believe that Barack's campaign advisors were making the same or very similar assessments themselves. It is part of the campaigning process. You will recall that the Mormon who was running faced similar scrutiny. Is America ready for a Mormon president?
We must not be so immature as to regard anyone who mentions race as being racist. We are Black with a history of being maligned in this country and the struggle continues. I am glad Harry recognizes this and has a good read on our counterparts in this country.
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By: Lauchland on 1/11/2010 11:10AM
What Harry Reid said, is what white men say in private all the time. He just happened to say it around some white men who broke the code of silence. Harry Reid is a part of a system, that for 400 years tried to destroy, enslave, and disenfranchise black people, and since he has been in the senate, I have never seen him speak against racism nor try to promote any level of equality. He went along w/the status quo and continues that process today. You, Dr. Boyce are wrong for trying to defend Senator Reed, he has not been a great leader, and I know you are trying to stay in the good graces of of the producers at CNN. This system ain't even close to changing, no matter how many light skinned negroes they promote to us. Harry Reid is no different from his, as he would probably say my honorable and esteemed colleague, and friend Sen. Jesse Helms or Strom Thurmond,, he just doesn't openly express himself the way helms or thurmond did. Racsim is as entrenched in every facet of America as the air we breath or the blood that flow thru our veins. Obama's election means nothing in regards to that changing anytime soon!!!
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