Dear Sir/Madam:
I was watching "Morning Joe" today when one of your writers, Richard Wolffe, was being interviewed by Joe Scarborough and John Ridley regarding a question presented in your cover article about Senator Obama, the question being "is he black enough?" Mr. Wolffe argued that it is legitimate to pose the question about race and the presidency, while Mr. Ridley took offense to the question being asked to a black man and not to a white one.
As a black American, my instinct was to defer to Mr. Ridley’s conclusion on the matter since I had yet to read the article. Why should a black politician have to endure a litmus test, while his white counterpart does not? However, after reading the article, I became frustrated for a reason that had nothing to do the "litmus test" presented. As far as I can tell, I would have to side with Mr. Wolffe on the matter as to whether the article is legitimate, since it was Cornel West, a black man, who presented this concern to Senator Obama. What Mr. Ridley does not explore, or present as an example, is whether a white candidate had ever been asked the same question by a white citizen. I don't believe that white Americans have this racial concern of white candidates, and therefore have no inclination to ask the question. But also, are Americans ready for a black president? How is the Senator addressing this issue? I find these to be relevant questions worthy of a cover story.
However, I became insulted by not only Mr. Wolffe and Daren Briscoe, but also by Senator Obama in their misunderstanding of Mr. West's concerns. The three offenders appear to think that the issues surrounding Mr. Obama’s "blackness" is whether he dresses, talks, acts and thinks like the stereotypical black American. This concern over his racial identity completely misses the point. Being "authentically black", whatever that means (a point Mr. Ridley addressed) is irrelevant to the issues that concerns much of black America. Furthermore, Senator Obama offers that the "radical" black concerns of today are rooted in the black power movement of the 60s and therefore irrelevant in today's political environment. Meanwhile, your writers suggest that his popularity makes the question of his "authenticity" moot, so they are free to ignore the real question.
The point Mr. West is making is whether Senator Obama hears the concerns of the black Americans who are entrenched within the black community. I am not only talking about black churches and black organizations, but also black neighborhoods and schools. That being said, I was completely taken aback when Mr. Obama implied that these issues have been resolved in the 60s and early 70s. He then goes on to insult the idea of a president working for all Americans by signaling he only wants to satisfy those who vote, by listing off middle class voter concerns about gas prices and sending their kids to college. As admirable as these aims are to many Americans, myself included, it leaves those who identify with Mr. West’s frustration still wanting an answer. Unfortunately, your writers were not up to the task of actually asking the appropriate questions.
Therefore, the "authenticity" that Mr. West questions has nothing to do with the presidential candidate's appearance, delivery of speech or even identification with the majority of the black community. The "authenticity" in question has to do with his concerns for the welfare of those black Americans who aren’t thinking about college, but how to feed their children. It has nothing to do with filling the gas tank, but keeping young, black adults from being filled with bullets. It has to do with poor black Americans being trapped within a system that is apparently indifferent to their plight. As a black politician, there are those of us who would hope that he would be more receptive to the concerns of the less fortunate within the black community. What causes consternation is not whether the Senator wants to go to a black barbeque, but whether he believes that there are still major issues within the black community that, contrary to his belief, need resolution. If the Senator believes these matters were taken care of in the 1960s, 70s, 80s or 90s, then he is sadly mistaken.
Sincerely,
Relevant excerpts below
"Questions about black "authenticity" are hardly unique to him; many successful African-Americans face them, too. Obama just happens to be grappling with the issue in full public view as he runs for the highest office in the land."
[Comparing the Senator to other successful African Americans causes the confusion in what was being asked of him, a politician, who would be in the position of changing policies.]
"To the candidate, the debate says more about America's state of mind than it does about him. 'I think America is still caught in a little bit of a time warp: the narrative of black politics is still shaped by the '60s and black power,' he tells NEWSWEEK. 'That is not, I think, how most black voters are thinking. I don't think that's how most white voters are thinking. I think that people are thinking about how to find a job, how to fill up the gas tank, how to send their kids to college. I find that when I talk about those issues, both blacks and whites respond well.'"
Although I am not an Obama supporter, this would not be a reason to not vote for him, since the other candidates seem as disinterested as he on these matters. (John Edwards, my choice, being the exception)