Dear World: I Like Black People

Dear World:

Let me just put this out there now so no one is surprised by any future action I might take.  The next person who, either directly or indirectly, suggests to me that the only reason I support Barack Obama for president is because "I like black people better" is getting the teeth knocked out of their mouth.  Man, woman or child, friend, foe or family, it doesn't matter.  It's happened 3 times now and I will not tolerate it a 4th.

The anger that this evokes from me has almost nothing to do with my views on race.  What pisses me off to the highest level of pissivity, is the accusation of prejudice.  That somehow, all things being equal, I'm going with the black people.  And you know what?  I might.  But my views on the subject don't deserve to be demeaned with a casual "he fancies black chicks" sort of condescension.

My wife is black.  My in-laws (whom I currently live with and am deeply indebted to) are black.  My kids are bi-racial. My best friend since high school and her daughter (who is my goddaughter) are black.  So, yes, I love Black people.

Every single person I have been in a fight with since adulthood (if I recall correctly) is black.  Every bully I have dealt with since 1984 is black.  The only person who has ever spit on me is black.  I have had Black men who I don't know from Adam scream the most racially offensive stuff you can imagine at me on the street.  So, yeah, I hate Black people.

The people who told those bullies to back off are black.  The people who dusted me off after the fights are black.  The girl who wiped the spit off me is black.  The guys who screamed back at those men with me are black.  So, indeed, I like Black people.

My experiences within the Black community are as wide and diverse as the people themselves.  Which is to say, they run the gamut.  Which is precisely my view of White people.  Saying that I only like Barack Obama because he is black insults me as much as a Clinton (or McCain) supporter would be insulted by charges of racism in regards to their support.

Let's recap:  I like Barack Obama for his stances, for his policies and for his leadership abilities.  If you insist that I only like him because he is black, I am going to SYFPH for you.  In fact, it might not be much of a FPH once I'm done.

Thanks for your attention,

James