President Barack Obama this month launched “African Americans For Obama.” This video shows Obama with an articulate and moving message tied to African American month, but is it the right message? There is no question this is a direct appeal to race as a unifying theme with supporters — a move that would be denounced if tried by his white opponents. In the video, Obama states “I don’t think there’s a better time than Black History Month” for this effort, but some view this as the worst time for an open injection of race as a motivating factor in politics. I am frankly divided on the issue because I can see the justified pride of this community in President Obama. However, I remain uneasy over a direct appeal from the President on race — just as I have criticized past appeal to sectarian religious groups by presidential candidates.
It has long been a touchstone of American politics that appeals to race are dangerous and divisive. That certainly does not mean that race is not a factor in politics. However, the common open references to race that marred prior elections in the sixties and even the seventies were considered things of the past. If African Americans are united by their racial bond with Obama, does that mean that other candidates can appeal openly to white communities? Clearly other communities organize around their common identities from Cubans to Koreans to Italians. However, organizing solely on the basis for skin color should raise some legitimate concerns and objections, in my view. Indeed, we have strongly condemned past candidates who made even veiled references to race.
One answer could be that blacks have a shared history of oppression that whites lack. This history gives them a special bond not found in other communities. I do believe that argument has merit. Yet, this is a significant change in the long-standing aversion to open appeal to race as a unifying theme.
It is an interesting issue that is worthy of debate among people of good faith. It is not just limited to politics (though that tends to be the most unnerving). There is a growing movement toward incorporating race and gender distinctions in public policies. I have previously written about how we have reinforced segregation principles in our schools and prisons (here and here and here). I do see the distinction drawn by those who see a clear distinction for African Americans and I find aspects of that argument quite compelling. However, in the long struggle to remove race from politics, this troubles some of us.
On the social level, there is also a growing trend toward voluntary segregation. There is an array of race-based dating sites, the most prominent being BlackPeopleMeet which advertises widely. Once again, the question is the likely response to a dating date for white people. Unlike religious dating sites which deal with communities with established religious practices and limitations in dating, a race-based dating site offers a form of voluntary segregation.
It creates an interesting contrast in how our laws treat real and virtual meeting spaces. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination or segregation in places of public accommodation. Thus, a public restaurant cannot adopt the exclusionary practices as the place “where Black people eat” or “where White people eat.” Yet, presumably these sites are restricted to members of particular races. These are perfectly legal as associations, of course.
I also realize that associations have long been defined on exclusionary groups from Italian-Americans to Irish-Americans to share cultural norms and practices. Moreover, I do not question the right of people to choose racially exclusive associations — as much as I abhor them. I understand that people feel that they need the shared experiences and culture in such sites. I support the right to have such sites and association regardless of my dislike for racial exclusionary practices. However, I believe this trend — particularly in politics — undermines rather than advances the cause of men like Martin Luther King and the successes highlighted during Black History month. To that end, I think that the President is being a bit irresponsible in organizing part of his campaign along racial lines. I have leveled similar criticism on this blog and in columns over candidates making sectarian appeals to their own faith groups. A reference to a candidate’s own faith can have the same divisive (if unintended) impact on our political discussion.
More than anyone else, a president should be a unifying figure in our country. I did not vote for Obama because he was black and I do not believe that people should support or oppose him on that basis now. What is fascinating is that Obama doesn’t even need to organize along race. He has always received overwhelming support in the black community. Yet, his campaign has decided to take this step despite the inevitable criticism for “playing the race card.” While race will continue to play a role for many citizens in their voting, the President should stick to “Americans For Obama” rather than organize citizens according to their race in my view.
What do you think?
People of color will make their decisions based on who they feel will govern well … Obama or Romney … Obama or Santorum … Obama or Paul …
Telling them that they are voting for Obama because he’s black is as ridiculous as telling civil libertarianism they are voting for Paul because he’s white … right?
It amazes me to what extent people still don’t get it.
Samuel L. Jackson: I Voted For Obama ‘Because He Was Black’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/12/samuel-l-jackson-obama-vote-black_n_1271797.html
BTW:
Since Black History Month is coming to a close,I will share this,this is not your usual discourse for Black History Month.Keep that in mind.
“Frankly
1, February 28, 2012 at 7:38 am
Do I wish he hadn’t done it? Yeah, I guess so. But you know what? I have a greater wish that it wasn’t necessary,”
Much ado about nothing.
People of color will make their decisions based on who they feel will govern well … Obama or Romney … Obama or Santorum … Obama or Paul …
Telling them that they are voting for Obama because he’s black is as ridiculous as telling civil libertarianism they are voting for Paul because he’s white … right?
It amazes me to what extent people still don’t get it.
The word “history” is part of Black History Month, so, what is the history?
The hate felt by many is a hate of the history, because it is shameful, “unAmerican”, embarrassing, and widely denied.
But to continue the hate will only extend the history of hate.
The best way to rid the abnormal history is to replace it with a normal history.
Looked at the facebook page for African Americans for Obama. I think I will check like. The only problem was that their were too many white people posting negative things about Obama on it. I think african americans were always going to vote for Obama for a second term but not so enthusiastically. The republican primaries have changed that for both women and minorities.
“There is no question this is a direct appeal to race as a unifying theme with supporters — a move that would be denounced if tried by his white opponents.” Are you serious Mr. Turley?
That question is almost laughable after listening to the crazyass, republican candidates for the past year or more. They have attacked Obama in every way just short of coming right out and say the ‘N’ word. From Mitch McConnell’s announcement that his one goal was to see that Obama was a one term president to Gingrich & Santorum referring to him as evil, they’ve dished it all at Obama. Those good old white boys running for president have made their campaign an all out attack on the black man.
That video is so tame in comparison that I wonder what made you think of this question.
We are all Africans. The entire world, the result of an African migration tens of thousands of years ago.
I wonder what the Klan and the Skin Heads think about that?
Africa is our mother, the human race began in her womb.
Just you wait!
A GOP rump or Trump will begin demanding fullest documentary evidence that Obama actually is African American. They’ll say that *IF* he is American, then he’s actually Iranian American.
That aside, I think that while various narrow social or interest groups do back candidates in elections, it is not appropriate for the candidate themselves to to front such groups.
Ideally, a voter should opt for a candidate of the same race/gender/sexual_orientation only when this a minor factor after the more universal boxes get ticked – all else being equal.
according to the show The Journey of Man, we are all descended from a tribe of African Bushmen.
They showed the scientist telling an Australian Aborigine he was the result of a migration from Africa and not of a spontaneous creation from the soil of Australia. The Aborigine was visibly shaken and incredulous.
It has always been very cynical of Obama to use race in his campaign. That said, he should go right ahead. Black men and women are no different than any other group of people he cynically markets to.
Every person needs to look at what is being said and what is being done. If those two things don’t mesh, pay attention to what is being done. If you approve of what is being done, by all means vote for Obama. If you think what he does is wrong, then do not work, support, or vote for him. It’s that simple.
Black agenda report is an excellent place for critical commentary and analysis on Obama by members of the Black community.
I don’t think it is a bad thing he made a direct appeal in campaign slogan form to appeal to the black community. It is no different than his appeals to blacks at al sharptons conference, in churches on fathers day, or addressing the naacp or the cbc. Furthermore with the race baiting politics of late, if Gingrich, santorum romney and Paul can appeal to the black community to vote against the best food stamp, welfare , snob president why can’t Obama appeal to the black community in an opposite way. Race is embedded in our politics because Obama is president. It neither erodes or builds on the civil rights movement it shows just how far the whole country must grow from it.
On the points of purposeful segregation I think black people meet exists because stats show black women dont get a lot of replies on traditional online dating sites like match or eharmony. So now there is a place virtually to help blacks in the dating game. Same goes for miss black America… Black beauty isn’t often celebrated so a space was created for us to celebrate ourselves. It’s no different than our separate awards shows.
It is Black History month and he is running for office. Isn’t that enough to appeal to his strongest demographic? Appealing to them doesn’t mean he is selling out whites.
I think the African American community was a strong part of his base in 2008. He has lost a large percentage since then and he knows he needs a strong turnout if he plans on getting re-elected. I also think that the community at large thought it was “Obama Time” and they could count on Obama as a black man to right all the wrongs. Unfortunately those hurt most over the last three years of Obama’s economic policies are African Americans. I’m sure they hear about how many parties Obama has had and how often he plays golf and just ain’t buying it.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/22/african-american-support-waning-for-obama/
African American support for Barack Obama is softening amid a sense that the president has ignored the economic travails faced by this once rock-solid pillar of his political base.
A Gallup poll last week found Obama’s poll numbers in the African American community down from its once stratospheric 95 percent approval early in his term, to a still-high, but notably lower 81 percent — tying his worst ever showing from earlier this year.
Realclearpolitics.com, which compiles an average of major polls, put the president’s approval rating among all Americans at 43.5 percent.
Observers say weaker support for Obama owes to a faltering economy that at 16 percent unemployment for blacks — nearly double the national average of nine percent — has hit the African American community especially hard.
Frankly,
I agree that those kind of just like me politics work best in local elections….. I think that the issue is broader when they get into national office…. They are supposed to represent everyone equally….yeah right… But one could hope…
Nal,
Can you just imagine the looks on some of the mighty folks if they have really realized that it they originally evolved from a place like Ethiopia….. And thief Jesus was just a little darker skinned than they imagined….
In a rhetorical kind of way it is amusing….
I’m old enough to remember when the Italian, Irish and Swedish pols made direct appeals to their communities for support based solely on their ethnicity. Having been in a ‘minority’ community myself I completely understand both their motivation and the underlying message. This does not surprise me in the least.
Do I wish he hadn’t done it? Yeah, I guess so. But you know what? I have a greater wish that it wasn’t necessary, that we didn’t have the stain of apartheid on our nations soul. But we do & I expect that each minority uses the same tactics and techniques to overcome the lesser degrees of prejudices they experienced.
The melting pot is starting to congeal. Maybe the melting pot was an illusion to begin with.
We can all trace our ancestors back to Africa. Race is an illusion, skin color is not.
Hello…they have been using racial epitomes again him since before the very beginning….I do have an issue with this type of targeting….his message should be content neutral….
I’m not seeing the problem here. As noticed there are tons of other racially/ethnically based groups in and out of the political arena. The President must hold on to the black vote as that could conceivably make a difference, depending on who the Republican nominee is.
The race based dating sites, like so much else started in large part because whites and blacks generally speaking do not date/marry each other. So a black person hanging out on a majority white site might not get the hits s/he’s looking for. Also for black people in America (historically, though with immigration this is changing) race and ethnicity were virtually identical. So a black oriented dating site is no different than a Jewish geared dating site or an evangelical one or so on. Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy, etc…
Arguably the Republicans are trying to maximize appeal to whites. It’s done underground, though some open white nationalists would like it to be open. At this point I would almost prefer if Santorum and Gingrich just dropped the pretense and said we need to hold onto the white vote.