"Get Me More White People"
The hypocrisy of the mainstream regarding race is beyond the pale when it's displayed in the Obama campaign. At Skybo Gym in Pittsburgh, Michelle Obama appeared to give a speech to the surrounding Pittsburgh university community. Here's what transpired under the headship of Obama's event coordinators:
Race in America
If there's one thing this year's election has shown, it's that America is still wrestling with the concept of race. This is apparent because of the successful campaign of Senator Obama. But, what exactly is Obama? Up to now, most refer to him as "Black." Is he? His mother was White, so why not identify him with the person he's most genetically connected with? She gave birth to him. She carried him for nine months. She even raised him. Why not call him a White man? It's 50/50, correct? Or, why not be more truthful and refer to him as America's first racially mixed presidential candidate? The reason is that he "appears" Black to most people--at least the kind of Black to which America has grown accustomed in the 21st century.
This is very telling. It lets us know that the blurred line of racial demarcation is not so blurry. Obama is dark enough for nearly all Americans to consider him a Black candidate. That's fine. He's probably quite comfortable in that role. But, again, there is no real debate over the fact that he's considered a Black candidate. Therefore, the greater Black community--comprised of Blacks from Jamaica, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, or Africa--all identify with Obama simply because of his similar appearance. To say that Obama holds the majority of support from the eclectic Black community in America because of his policy positions is just sheer fallacy. The issue is race first, and policy, a close second. I say that because a stridently conservative Black candidate would likely not garner the same messiah-like worship as Obama.
The Future of Race
It is said that time heals. That given enough of it, all wounds will dissolve and never again come to mind. Such is the assumption regarding race in America. But, what the Obama campaign teaches us is that this assumption does not correspond to the truth. What's developed is only a greater sensitivity and a greater silence--and these reinforce each other. But the truth always comes out when most is at stake. In this case, the Obama campaign needs more White people, because their objective is to paint the portrait on TV screens of what they envision for America.
Therefore, never mind the fact that a White person is Italian, Irish, Swedish, German, French, or English in origin, "we just need more White people" for the cameras. And, never mind the fact that Obama is the child of a Black father and White mother. Obama is most definitely the first serious, and most viable, Black candidate. I highlight this because I've so often heard that Whites are not an ethnic group per se, because they can originate from any number of European nationalities. However, the same is true, as I've noted above, with Blacks. I know many fine Black Christian leaders in the Northeast that were born in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, or the Bahamas. But, when the cameras are on, Black and White as categories are not considered in terms of national origins--only skin color.
This is rather simplistic, but it demonstrates, as I've stated, that America is still ignorant concerning race; and that ignorance is bound to come back and bite her. The Obama campaign has brought out this ignorance as both Black and White pundits have chimed in on the race question made so important by the Illinois Senator's campaign.
While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama’s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan’s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, “Get me more white people, we need more white people.” To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, “We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.”You better believe it's being done outright! Politics is about manipulation, and it's important to the Obama campaign to show that he is a candidate for the people, i.e., he represents Whites as well as Blacks. So, apparently, race matters a great deal to those who pretend there's no such thing.
“I didn’t know they would say, ‘We need a white person here,’ ” said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. “I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn’t know it would be so outright.”
Race in America
If there's one thing this year's election has shown, it's that America is still wrestling with the concept of race. This is apparent because of the successful campaign of Senator Obama. But, what exactly is Obama? Up to now, most refer to him as "Black." Is he? His mother was White, so why not identify him with the person he's most genetically connected with? She gave birth to him. She carried him for nine months. She even raised him. Why not call him a White man? It's 50/50, correct? Or, why not be more truthful and refer to him as America's first racially mixed presidential candidate? The reason is that he "appears" Black to most people--at least the kind of Black to which America has grown accustomed in the 21st century.
This is very telling. It lets us know that the blurred line of racial demarcation is not so blurry. Obama is dark enough for nearly all Americans to consider him a Black candidate. That's fine. He's probably quite comfortable in that role. But, again, there is no real debate over the fact that he's considered a Black candidate. Therefore, the greater Black community--comprised of Blacks from Jamaica, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Haiti, or Africa--all identify with Obama simply because of his similar appearance. To say that Obama holds the majority of support from the eclectic Black community in America because of his policy positions is just sheer fallacy. The issue is race first, and policy, a close second. I say that because a stridently conservative Black candidate would likely not garner the same messiah-like worship as Obama.
The Future of Race
It is said that time heals. That given enough of it, all wounds will dissolve and never again come to mind. Such is the assumption regarding race in America. But, what the Obama campaign teaches us is that this assumption does not correspond to the truth. What's developed is only a greater sensitivity and a greater silence--and these reinforce each other. But the truth always comes out when most is at stake. In this case, the Obama campaign needs more White people, because their objective is to paint the portrait on TV screens of what they envision for America.
Therefore, never mind the fact that a White person is Italian, Irish, Swedish, German, French, or English in origin, "we just need more White people" for the cameras. And, never mind the fact that Obama is the child of a Black father and White mother. Obama is most definitely the first serious, and most viable, Black candidate. I highlight this because I've so often heard that Whites are not an ethnic group per se, because they can originate from any number of European nationalities. However, the same is true, as I've noted above, with Blacks. I know many fine Black Christian leaders in the Northeast that were born in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, or the Bahamas. But, when the cameras are on, Black and White as categories are not considered in terms of national origins--only skin color.
This is rather simplistic, but it demonstrates, as I've stated, that America is still ignorant concerning race; and that ignorance is bound to come back and bite her. The Obama campaign has brought out this ignorance as both Black and White pundits have chimed in on the race question made so important by the Illinois Senator's campaign.
