For Friday Black Kos extended
Sen. Obama's much anticipated speech on race was made today. Ironic isn't it that mass culture that for years told Black people just get over it can't seem to get beyond this issue of race? Yeah, the Black guy who wants to get over it, keeps on getting dragged INTO IT by the media, pundits, talking heads, and yes ex-presidents. Who needs to get over it? I find Reverend Wright’s talk inflammatory, don't get me wrong. I was "schooled" in the economic self help, proud of African heritage, universe of Black thought. I have over and over told Blacks people and progressive of all striped to do the following:
Don't say "America supports Middle East dictators, supported Apartheid South Africa, and over through elected left-leaning governments in Latin America" say "American CONSERVATIVES America supports Middle East dictators, supported Apartheid South Africa, and over through elected left-leaning governments in Latin America."
The first sentence is easy to demonize, easy to look like you don't love this country. It also allows conservatives to hide behind the flag. Many Americans fought against those policies. Many more Americans didn't know about them, and when they are awoken to it fight them. Don't blame America, blame conservatives.
Don't say "White America keeps Black people down", say "CONSERVATIVE policies and demonization of Black America keep them down"
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I am angry every time I get pulled over by cops for DWB (driving while Black). I am a law abiding person but it has colored my view of police even though I know they are there to protect and serve. So I ask other balck people think about how a speech like that affects middle of the road Whites who should be our allies? When I'm angry of being profiled just because I'm Black, I can't then profile White people saying their all guilty. Yes we are all human, and we all generalize sometimes, we all blame "others", "them", "those other people" at times. But as leaders, whether behind the pulpit, political, parenting, or just in life we need to do better.
As someone who was once arrested (for being in the "wrong place" at the wrong time) and who later received a written apology from the police department. I understand Reverend Wright’s anger, I have felt it. But we can do better.
Assessing Race in America, Obama Calls Pastor Divisive.
Senator Barack Obama renewed his objection to the controversial statements delivered by the longtime pastor of his Chicago church, but declared in a speech here Tuesday that it was time for America to "move beyond some of our old racial wounds."
"It’s a racial stalemate we’ve been stuck in for years," Mr. Obama said. "Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naïve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy — particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own."
In an address at the National Constitution Center, a building steeped in the nation’s historic symbolism, Mr. Obama delivered a sweeping assessment of race in America. It was the most extensive speech of his presidential campaign devoted to race and unity, a moment his advisers conceded presented one of the biggest tests of his candidacy.
I agree with dnA on this one
The question is really whether America has already decided Obama is too black to be president. If that line has been crossed, than there's really nothing he can do to convince them otherwise. Ultimately though, you have to wonder whether Obama being marginalized because of his race (and whatever you think of Wright, putting his words in Obama's mouth is about seeing Obama as the sum of racial fears) was an "if," rather than a "when".
Whether or not he gets elected, his candidacy has complicated the way we talk about race in America. On some level, that has to be a good thing.
But I'm still left wondering WHY the media CAN'T GET OVER IT! Why the media can still quote the racial divide in voting in South Carolina and Mississippi and not get called on the fact that those state have long bad histories of racially polarized voting? Why can the comments like Blacks and Latinos are divided go unchallenged when facts show otherwise. Would it have a difference if before the Texas primary, instead of a story of a Clinton Latina supporter from Dallas divisive talk on the airways, the story was about how the former Mayor of Dallas (a Black Man) won 77% of the Latino vote in his state wide senate race? If Hillary can declare which states are importnat or not so can I. I have a simple rule, states that fly the confederate flag on their state grounds, or football games (ol' Miss), count less then states that don't on the issue of racial voting habits. Offensive? Maybe? Untrue? Maybe? But I have just declared it!
But I wish someone on TV would ask one of our esteem fourth estate members, in between cocktails, why they can't GET OVER IT!
Thank you Sen. Obama you have caused the people who are really obsessed with race to poke out their empty heads. Idiot's like Rush accusing Obama of wanting to be the nation's racial-healer-in-chief, rather than its commander-in-chief. Don't realize that our president isn't just commander-in-chief, but also HEAD OF STATE. He represents us to the world, as well as to the nation. Conservatives have seldom care, understood this, or realize it. So much for their unshakeable belief in the origional intent of our founding fathers. I want a president who opines on important social issues. Today Obama you have crossed the threshold, you are the HEAD OF STATE I want leading this great nation.
But we all need to call the media on this one. GET OVER IT!