For you TransGriot international readers wondering to yourselves why a cum laude Harvard law educated constitutional law professor isn't soundly beating like a drum a guy who graduated 894th out of 898 students in his Naval Academy class, here's the major reason why.
Racism.
This was recorded during the West Virginia Democratic primary back in May, but it speaks volumes as to why many African-Americans were pissed that Hillary's campaign team injected race into her attempt to win the nomination and a major reason why we African-Americans were adamant about her NOT getting the Dem nomination for VP.
There are enough white people would rather let this country go down the toilet than see a Black man run it and see his family move into the White House.
10 comments:
I hear you. Though I have to say that all the white people I know that don't like Obama really aren't concerned with color.
I don't like any of the candidates myself.
Sylvr,
let's get real for a moment. There's 15-20% of the white electorate that will not vote for an African-American no matter how qualified he (or she) may be.
This man is light years more qualified education wise, taught constitutional law, and has more of a connection with working class and middle class issues than John McCain ever will. World leaders and people in various nations adore him.
'Not liking Obama' is code for "I don't want this n****r in the White House.
I think that a lot of white people are willing to explain their unwillingness to vote for Obama in ways that don't sound racist, but I also think that white people have decades of practice learning to say racist things while trying to make it sound like we're just being rational, objective, or reasonable, or whatever code word you want to throw into the mix, and thus "not racist."
Of course, I do consider "I can't vote for Obama because of X, and want to vote for McCain" to be code for "My racism is more important than America's health as a nation."
In Seattle, we picked up a button from an Obama campaign table that says, "Women for Obama." Maybe they should make one that says, "White women for Obama." I'd wear that one proudly.
Deepak Chopra makes an interesting psychological interpretation of Sarah Palin's appeal. He thinks that she is the good side to the negative emotions which some people feel toward Barack Obama.
I wonder what people here think about this idea?
Chopra's blog
what crack pipe is Chopra smoking?
Monica and Lisa,
Not every one is a racist bastard. I'm a cracker, born and raised in the dead center of the bible belt. But two of my girlfriends were African-American and most of my friends are. Color doesn't make a difference to me one way or another and I tend to make friends that think the same. As I said I don't like any of the candidates. But that has more to do with wanting to be very careful about whom we pick.
I mean, look at Bush, he REALLY fucked things up.
If I have to choose, I'd vote Obama hands down, he's the best one up there. And the racist jerks that won't vote for him for no other reason than his color should be shot.
I've gotten into more fights protecting other people from prejudice than I have defending myself as a member of the Trans community. So I don't appreciate the assumption that I or my friends are one of those bastards I've been fighting my whole life.
Don't assume all white people are the same. 'Not liking Obama' is not a code. For some fools it might be, but not for my friends and not for me.
Sylvr,
You're not telling me something i don't know already. Don't forget that one of my best friends is of German heritage and I was the bridesmaid/DJ at his wedding.
The reality is that many whites have latent or blatant prejudicial assumptions about me and my people they haven't addressed yet.
Racism/prejudice does play a major role in why African-American don't get elected to the Senate, governorships or any statewide political office.
Anybody who tries to say otherwise isn't being intellectually honest.
I'm late coming back to this, but:
Sylvr,
While you may not feel that color makes a difference in your dealings, I can't even claim that much for myself - I've put my foot in it enough times to know that I can't just wish my white privilege away.
And I see a lot of white people every day - online alone - who won't even admit they put their foot in it when they're give a flashlight, roadmap, and written directions to just where, exactly, they put their foot in it.
They get defensive, they get angry, they try to blame the person calling them out.
And for a lot of white people, it's not even that his color is the only reason. It's that his color magnifies reasons that otherwise wouldn't matter so much, because it's so much safer to decide against him for those reasons instead of just saying "he's black."
Tim Wise presents an analysis of how white privilege affects the election right now.
And yeah, I'm late coming back. :(
Monica and Lisa,
No arguement, there are alot of racist bastards out there that won't admit they are.
I was only saying that I know afew people that honestly don't like Obama for political reasons.
I also know a few that do dislike him for reasons of color. And I don't get on well with these people.
I can't honestly say color has ever effected my thoughts on a person. White heritage or not.
I grow up with a very diverse group, most of my 'family' are friends of family. I've never 'stuck my foot in it' in this matter, it rarely even crosses my mind until I get into conversations like this.
I think it's bull that people should react to difference so much.
That "You're not like me, you must be evil" thing makes me flip-bat crazy.
But that's just me.
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