Authentic Obama

Eugene Robinson (my favorite writer at the WP) wrote an excellent Op-Ed related to yesterday's post. You can get it here.

When I heard some were questioning Obama's "Blackness", I was forced to relive past feelings and thoughts regarding "Blackness." It reminded me of what I struggled against as a young and gifted African-American born into a family where educational excellence was not the norm. It reminded me of my own days of questioning who and what I was. It also reminded me that we are not yet ready for an African-American president. I wanted it to be true but how can we be when issues like this come up?

I think the media is making a bigger deal out of his Blackness than any Black person I know! Outside of Stanley Crouch and Cornell West, I have yet to hear anyone bring it up. I keep seeing stories questioning his Blackness - and how it is an issue in the Black community - but have yet to hear anyone that really thinks that way. Maybe it's just the people I know or listen to and read, but all are either already on board or wanting to know more about his views. For most "colored" voters, he will not get a free ride because of his race as they intend to make sure he's the "one" before endorsing him. His race is a bonus, but, in our Post-GWB world, issues matter more.

After posting about Barack being "too Black", I decided to ask my mostly-White playgroup how they felt. Most thought the idea of questioning his ethnicity or racial loyalty was ludicrous. But, one response sticks out in my mind. One lady, a native of Chicago, said people need to understand that he lives in Chitown's southside and that's why he attends a Black church. On the surface, this sounds like a logical explanation. But, if we dig deeper, it's the root of the problem. Why does this BLACK man have to explain the why's and what's regarding his church, friends, wife or anything else? Shouldn't the fact that he is, in fact, a Black man be enough? Did our forefathers allow their secret love children to be anything but Black? Are any of us African-Americans 100% Black? As I look around, most of us look much different than our assumed West African ancestors. Who are we to judge him? I think most of us would agree we are in no place to do that. Who is Biden, or anyone else, to say he's an abnormal Black man or question what an entire race feels about it?

Why did we think we were ready?!

In our racially-conscious society, any reminders of his race could be an issue. People like him because he talks about issues relevant to everyone and, sadly, anything that goes against the mainstream could hurt him as people start to question his loyalties. We tend to see things as "us" and "them" issues. To win, he has to walk a fine line and not lean towards either side. That seems impossible!

An article, published in Time magazine, sums this whole thing up well....

Obamania is rooted in the belief that 50 Cent, not Barack Obama, represents the real black America.

Back in the real world, Obama is married to a black woman. He goes to a black church. He's worked with poor people on the South Side of Chicago, and still lives there. That someone given the escape valve of biraciality would choose to be black, would see some beauty in his darker self and still care more about health care and public education than reparations and Confederate flags is just too much for many small-minded racists, both black and white, to comprehend.

Barack Obama's real problem isn't that he's too white — it's that he's too black.

Oh no Oprah

After reading a superb blog on Oprah, which includes an ONSD moment, I had to give some space to my Oprah commentary. I know this story is not new but it deserves some space! Now, I love me some Oprah. Remember In Living Color's gossip monger with the undying affection for Ms. Jenkins? Well, I feel the same about Oprah. On any normal day, I would say "Nobody betta not eva say nuttin' 'bout Ms. Winfrey," just like she did. But today is different. For a few weeks, I've marinated over Oprah's comments and the hypocrisy has driven me batty.

Eugene Robinson, of the Washington Post, made excellent points in the aforementioned blog (get it here.) He points to an article, in Ms. Winfrey's mag, where she talks about the South African children she blessed with a big home, caretaker and many "things". Upon visiting them unannounced (the apparent price of her gift), she noticed the children all had cell phones ringing constantly and that they preferred discussing Ipods and sneakers....WAIT. STOP THE PRESSES. Isn't this the same conclusion she drew about American kids. Didn't Ms. Winfrey defend her lavish spending on foreigners by saying WE are the ones out of touch with the importance of education. Didn't she claim our kids are too interested in Ipods and sneakers? Didn’t she imply that our children were not worthy of her billions because they are greedy and selfish bastards? Something is awry Ms. Winfrey. Something is awry.

More hypocrisy:

**Last year, The Oprah show did a week long special on the education crisis. She had Mr. and Mrs. Bill Gates kick it off. They spoke of how far behind our children are (in comparison to other nations) and warned that America’s superpower status was quickly fading. Additionally, she showed us the terrible conditions children in Washington, DC and Chicago have to deal with. She asked; “how can we expect them to succeed when their conditions don’t encourage success?” I cried and applauded Ms. Winfrey for examining this issue. Education has long been a major concern of mine. Seeing as how Black children are the ones hurting the most, I see education as THE most important issue preventing financial growth in our communities. But, Ms. Winfrey felt the need to bash our kids? Didn’t Ms. Winfrey say the majority of the problem lies in no one expecting much of them? And here I was thinking she was our savior.

**“Oprah’s favorite things” is possibly the most watched episode every season. We tune in to see just what Ms. Winfrey is into. As with her book club, we take her word as golden. If Oprah says it’s good, well it’s good. Certainly, a billionaire TV host knows the good stuff right? And that she does. From Ralph Lauren purple label sweaters to Ugg Boots and overpriced beauty products, Ms. Winfrey knows the good stuff….So why the hell can’t our kids want that too? Seeing as how she’s a role model for many, maybe their Ipod and sneaker fascination was slightly influenced by rich folks like you…and Mr. Gates ;)

**Did she really spend $1 million the opening party? Did said party involve flying her celebrity friends to South Africa, on chartered jets, so they could stay in a FIVE star hotel free of charge? Wow, how un-materialistic of you Oprah! I guess you showed those Africans how to keep education at the top of their list.

**Reports say Oprah’s school is costing more than $200,000 per kid. And here and I was thinking the $9,000, spent by my county, was good. Damn Oprah, you showed us!

In all fairness, Ms. Winfrey has a new defense. She says she has given a lot to American schools but kept it a secret. Well, I’m sure, had she done something CLOSE to what she did for those South African girls, we would all know about it.

Apparently, money and materialism are the America way. Who knew?! ;) Oprah, when you decide to give away all of your billions and live in a South African village breastfeeding sick babies, I’ll give your saint status back. But, for now, I reserve the right to say something bad ‘bout Ms. Winfrey.