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?
Mike S. vy gd on politics and its essential nature. So is it.
And everybody has an ethnic group, even those who think they don’t.
And to root for the home team is also programmed by nature (ie those who did had a higher chance of survival and thus became more prevalent, a larger and larger part of the gene pool).
But at points we encounter those from “outside”, and accomodations are made if we are to succeed. And eventually we become a nation and identify ourselves with that nation as also part of ourselves.
May that day come soon. Of course some people, and we know who, have other plans for us. The same ones who Obama referred to who had said that the workers in Detroit had received a payback as part of the the auto deal, when in fact thay made considerable sacrifices. Liars continually lie, some will buy the message. Hopefullly fewer and fewer.
In my state of Massachusetts, you could register as an independent and go vote in which—either primary happens to be very interesting. And any chance I got to vote against Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy, I took
SICK HATERS. IF THERE IS ASIANS FOR OBAMA, WOMEN FOR OBAMA, HISPANICS FOR OBAMA, MUSLIMS FOR OBAMA, AFRICANS FOR OBAMA.
ETC
why does it hurt you satanic hell dwellers. that an African Americans for Obama. Blacks dont have any rights, hun hell dwellers
SwM,
Romney won Michigan. Now Santorum can join his brothers and sisters on the Chicken Dinner circuit. What a farce this whole thing has been!
Nal,
I read the whole thing … it’s as difficult as trying to determine the “American Culture”,
I’n curious. What did you think of the material?
Thanks Nal, like Colbert said: “I don’t see race!”
Ditto the put me in the column with The Janitor crew. (Nice having the Urban Politico.com in the house.)
Talking Dog, high paw, keeping it simple: “His dad is African. His Mom is American. That brings us to African-American. No better example. Great President by the way.”
Now quoting the Corrigan brothers: “He is as Irish as Riverdance, Guinness, and Joyce; in 2012 there is only one choice!”
If anyone’s interested in the science of races:
Are there human races?
AY,
Think about Obama being the cellist, if he knew how to play as a first chair, then he could take the worst instrument and make it sound as if it were the finest of the lot.
The conductor is the machine that had put Obama in place, it appears that they have had a few miscues in leading. Since both the player and conductor are not doing either real well, then the entire orchestra sounds out of balance.
I hope I have explained this to your satisfaction. Good luck, I have some people to meet, they need my assistance more than you. Keep the Faith or as I feel more comfortable saying, Semper Fidelis.
S. Oak,
What are you implying? Who is the player and who is the leader? What do you mean by mistuned instrument?
I do not think that I understand the significance…. Please explain…. Thank….
If we had a skilled musician able to play a malfunctioning cello would the conductor take notice? It is only because we have a bad conductor that the mistuned instrument is even noticed. That is all from the pit.
I think we should have Whites from the Right for Romney –
how would that set with the Head Honkey?
SwM,
Thanks for the vid at the UAW. He knows how to talk to labor and they love him for saving American Auto.
Bda,
Thanks and same to you … 🙂
I707,
I think the med cart will be by soon…. I have not snarled you and am still taking the high road…..you find the ditch all by your lonesome…. Btw…thought you were having connection issues….. Whatever..I think it’s symbolic….
“One thing this topic is missing is reality. We pretend to live in a world were all things are equal, and what is true for one is true for other, when we KNOW that isn’t the case.”
The_Fed,
This is your money shot and everything that follows it merely bolsters the truth of this first statement. Things in our world are not equal and being Black in our country is but one of the many compelling narratives that prove the inequality. There is much to be critical about relating to Barack Obama, but this is not one of them. To disagree with Obama’s actions and policies is one thing, but then to not acknowledge that the slings and arrows directed at him have been not only highly prejudicial, but distinctly unfair, is indeed living as if in an alternate reality. It is quite curious that someone born in Hawaii has had to spend most of his term defending his US citizenship. Yet a man of limited intellectual capability, probably having lost a dubious election, is given free rein to prosecute two wars, destroy our economy. Yet in the “interest of fairness” some judge them equally. In politics all is pretense and we the 99% merely can take our best shots and hope for the best.
“Mike, have you seen some of the latest social psychology studies that show the very rich and successful (in the financial sense) are more likely than not to see nothing wrong with cheating, scamming or stealing?”
OS,
We really both didn’t need a study to understand this.Both of us old farts, having been fairly successful in our careers, both came to forks in our road where we had to choose between our personal integrity, or personal gain. I guess that in both our lives we’ve chosen the former. Few people make it to the “top of the heap” by living lives marked by integrity. Certainly, this is true of all politics in general.
If apologist were not so sorry, maybe we could turn this country in the positive direction. I do not care if you are male, female, transgender, white, black. The person so chosen, must not make race or gender an issue.
“I think your analysis gives short schrift to those who value integrity in thought and action. These would be the same people who felt personally harmed when they realized they were being manipulated to lie to themselves and others by president Clinton during the Lewinski scandal.”
Bob,
Given what I wrote at 10:48am, as quoted below, I don’t think you are correct:
“let me remind you that there are also many people who I respect deeply on this blog who will not vote for Obama and whose positions I’ve acknowledged as being truly principled. The difference twixt them and you, is that they acknowledge that others could have a different view and still remain people of principle.”
I quite understand why someone would’t vote for Obama on principle and I accept that as a principled thing to do. I was addressing Jill specifically and doing so because I resent her implying that those of us who would vote for Obama are not as principled as she is. I’ve criticized Obama and his administration since his election, but in my analysis of America politics my choice is to vote for what I consider to be the lesser of two evils.
I’m not a lawyer, nor legal scholar, but I understand as much about the workings of the America political system (note I say political, not constitutional) and American History, as anybody writing here. I fully understand why someone would not vote for Obama out of a high sense of principle, but I would like my position dealt with in a like manner. I’ve also concretely laid out my principled reasons for voting for him. I’m hardly an “Obamabot” as she has characterized all Obama voters, nor is SwM.
“Above all, don’t lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others.”
Bob, I went through 10 years of intensive Gestalt Therapy, 5 of them in training as a psychotherapist. The basis of Gestalt Therapy is helping a person to understand the lies they tell themselves. I don’t lie to myself and I also can confidently say that in my life’s journey I never compromised my integrity and I would have been far more successful had I made those compromises.
Nevertheless, the view that integrity and politics, from any human era or place, are congruent, is naive at best. Politics is the struggle for power and that was as true for the Founding Fathers, representing the nascent nations wealthiest citizens, as it is today. I truly wish that humanity were different and that documents like our Constitution, philosophers like Kant and great novelists like Dostoevsky, beliefs had meaning for the narcissistic and sociopathic people who seek political power. Unfortunately, politicians almost all lack true integrity, in that their most basic beliefs are subsumed by their drive for power. I hate that, but I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t acknowledge that truth. That’s why when it comes to political power I opt to make the choices that will do the least harm and seek to align myself with those who in a future, long past mine, will finally take the ego-maniacal insanity out of the political process.
Everybody is in traffic, fixing a drink, arguing with the teenager, feeding the dog, promising to buy ice cream, ordering pizza for all, or maybe thawing up frozen burgers in the micro. Right? Got you plugged Whaddaya say AY?
I could put handles on the tips but won’t—–you who are doing something you shouldn’t be are relieved.
I just finished my stew and couscous and taking a sip of red.
Mike S thought I merited reading an old post of his on what I call “racial injustice”. I agree and feel deeply this injustice. The problem speaks to how difficult we are to steer to abandoning racism—or are we being steered as some would insist. You know, it’s even of one of my old favorites: “they are steering us”.
Is it party politics: to encourage 6 times greater incarceration of black men than white ones. To what gain? Creation of an incarceration system to make money? To deeper ingrain the racial bias and bigotry? I don’t know ,quite simply.
Or is it both sides wanting to have a political bone to chew on—-which never disapppears. Such an idea sounds sick. But there are many who think the system is sick, for different reasons.
Shan’t try to get deeper, beyond my capability to unearth the truth.
Thanks to Mike S. Can we slip and turn our backs to it? Or will it pop up again when discussing other items, like JT on playing the as he sees it divisive race card by Obama. Myself see Obama playing to all underdogs, telling them to keep themselves fired up, much as Saul Alinsky would have done to his people. And I also see him saying to them, you too are part, an important part of this nation, for just the group you are, just as you are—-don’t abandon your real selves. Sounds like Mike S. therapy goal for his patients. And it’s Obama saying you are just as important as the bigots and the code worders, the banks, the one-percenters, etc. Don’t give up and don’t stop helping me. Sorry, a little side ramble there. But as Mike S. wrote then, this is important to me—–and that goes for me too, all of it.
I’m always quick, too quick to pronounce as I did a few days ago, that Mike S. latest is the key problem of the world. And this one at least earns the award of the key problem of the nation.
Until MLKjr’s dream is realized, we will all suffer from the drippings from this festering sore, with it’s febrous outbreaks, outrages against the body politic and endangering all our children’s mental and social health.
Solutions: Well the hidden Republican plan is revival of an old. old scheme.
To ship all convicts, deemed irredeemably lost, to another continent, to establish the basis of a new colony. Most likely it will be the first ferries to Mars who will carry them there. Unless Anarctica melts first. Any bets on which comes first?
But first they have to get rid of Obama, preventing any such black or minority repeats, and entrench by legislative action their retrograde movements. Then having almost dissolved the Union, they will then realize that being big dogs in a big nation is worth the trouble, as long as they can keep the conspiracy hidden from view. Viva 99 percent. Viva Wikileaks.
Viva Chomsky, Ellsberg, and MLK, JFK and RFK:
And of course the national slogan in Mexico: Viva yo.
eniobob
1, February 28, 2012 at 9:22 am
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.