I'm still working on a blog entry about some of the past real-life Black presidential candidates, but in the meantime...
just today, NPR's All Things Considered did a report called Will American Voters Elect a Black President? which dealt with the idea of a Black president in general and Barack Obama specifically. The point which resonated the most with me is the idea that although there are clearly Black candidates who are qualified to be commander and chief and leader of the free world, the white electorate has a basic fear that a "black president" would seriously address and eliminate white privilege. And that is one deep and serious security blanket for a lot of folks. Like Chris Rock said: "there's not a white man in this room that would change places with me, none of you and I'm rich"
just today, NPR's All Things Considered did a report called Will American Voters Elect a Black President? which dealt with the idea of a Black president in general and Barack Obama specifically. The point which resonated the most with me is the idea that although there are clearly Black candidates who are qualified to be commander and chief and leader of the free world, the white electorate has a basic fear that a "black president" would seriously address and eliminate white privilege. And that is one deep and serious security blanket for a lot of folks. Like Chris Rock said: "there's not a white man in this room that would change places with me, none of you and I'm rich"
black presidents (part one)
6 comments:
eric b for president!
salaam,
im skeptical of a lone figurehead really having that much of an impact or making a difference (for the positive)....
meanwhile....CNN Links Barack Obama To Axis Of Evil"
salaams yeah, the cnn piece was a bit silly (more than a bit). but interesting i guess. thanks.
While i would love if this was a reality the way America is now its just a fantasy.
when i fantasize of a black president the role of morgan freeman in deep impact (aka the end of civilization movie) comes to mind, and Deebo from the fifth element (another movie where the threat of apocalypse is a main story point)that. Thats really really sad for me ya know.
With the debate being phrased as electing a "black president" I think it is obvious that America is not ready. Using the term in and of itself proves that racism is alive and well in this country. The struggle will continue.
I too am disturbed that people think that if a black man runs for president (and possibly wins) that this shows racism is over. We have one black senator in the united states. ONE! That is it. Until our reprsentatives are reflective us as a nation, I do not want to even start a disccusion about the arrival of the end of racism.
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