"Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud". That line resonated with many within theAfrican American Community. It was a statement of racial and cultural pride, at a time when many in the African American community felt they were under assault. Today many Black Americans are expressing that same sentiment but in the voting booth rather than on popular hit records. Barack Obama has energized a voting bloc of African Americans that has long been apathetic to the United States electoral process, and many people Black and White alike are unhappy with the reason so many Blacks support Obama. One of the main critiques some in the media have thrown out is that Blacks are supporting Obama simply because he is Black. To that we seriously have to ask how out of the norm of American politics is this?
Various groups rally around candidates from their ethnic circle regurlarly. George Stephanopoulos writes in his book "All Too Human" about his glee at seeing Michael Dukakis ascend to the governor's mansion in Massachusetts. He also talks about the pride he was filled with seeing Dukakis make a bid for the presidency in 1988 and how Greek Americans everywhere were supportive of Dukakis and his efforts. And to be honest there is nothing wrong with that. It makes complete sense to be supportive of one from their own ethnic community.
A comparison that is even closer to Obama is that of John F. Kennedy. Kennedy was an Irish Catholic that galvanized a nation with his youth, energy and his ethnic heritage. Kennedy had a politically active family but it was his charisma that gave him that unique quality that so many Americans fell in love with. Kennedy also drew criticism because of his religious affliation. That same affiliation energized his Catholic supporters to rally around him in part because he was like them... he was Catholic.
When many Americans, particularly Black Americans take to the polls this November, they will more than likely be voting for Obama. He's reported to have the support of about 92% of Blacks. Yes, many will say he is the most qualified candidate but a large part of the reason they will vote for him is because they feel he is the most qualified candidate, who also happens to look like them or share the same cultural heritage as they. And to be honest, there is nothing wrong with that.
For many of the critics who feel Blacks should not be supporting Obama on the basis of race, they need to first be honest with themselves about the way many White ethnic groups have gotten behind a candidate that came from their ethnic clan. Second, people must also realize that because of the circumstances that African Americans came to this country they can not rally around people who come from the same country as they do, so in turn Black Americans support people who are also of African descent. Ultimately people should not have a problem with that, unless hyprocrisy is on the loose.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Indeed, it is only natural for one to see the need to support the candidate with whom they best relate. But on the flip side Mister Baker, had Obama not been the ray of hope and the outstanding candidate he is, had he been the image of deception and curruption, many African Americans would still base their decision on his image. This is what I find rather problematic. These decisions based on superficialities can in many cases do us more harm than good. But despite the harm we bring upon ourselves by "rallying behind our own kind" we proceed just because we feel it is our duty. This is what I find unacceptable.
Post a Comment